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Page 8 an independent newspaper, open to ' all oarti s, influencedby none. Pu dish by The Step Saver, Inc. Anthony L. Urillo, president James J. Senich, editor Jennie M. Urillo, secretary/treasurer News & Editorial Advertising & Circulation P 0 Box648.213Sprang Street P 0 Box548, 213SpmngStreet Southmgton, CT 06489 South ngton, CT 06489 Telephone 203 621-6751 Telephone (203 628-9695 MEMBER NEW ENGLAND PRESS ASSOCIATION CAC AUDITED CIRCULATION * PUBLISHED EVERY THLrRSDAY OF THE YEAR And the chairman is... - The Planning and Zoning Commission faces important issues that could restructure the town. It needs a solid chairman to guide it through the difficult days ahead. However, when the PZC had its first meeting last week, one day after the election, a now member, Andrew D. LaPorta, refused to vote for his party's nominee for chairman. The Republicans wanted veteran PZC member Carl Verderame to chalx the commission -- a good choice, indeed. LaPorta. a Republican, wouldn't vote for Verderame, insisting that he. LaPorta, get the nod. LaPorta is a freshman member ofthe PZC and in his first elected post. He feels his marmgement backround for a publlshing company makes him an ideal candidate. LaPorta also runs a local funeral parlor and does some substitute teaching at Southington High School. Verderame is a IongUme member of the PZC and has earned the credentials as a hard working member of the commission. He tackles issues with great endeavor and always does his homeworl Verderame makes sure every I is dotted and T crossed before voting on an issue. w( rs was a k The death of Sam Bowers (see front page story) leaves an incredible void. The man worked for his town and community formany, manyyears. He was diligent and te asious in his approach to making Southington a better town. Bower's stamp of quality is left with the Water Department. the Planning and Zoning Commission, Bradley Memorial Hospital and the Southington Historical Society. He worked for all these causes when the town needed great leadership and In other words, Verderame has earned the chairmanship. He would be an ideal successor to DouglasTopshe, whose Democratic party is now in the minority with a 4-3 vote favoring the Republicans. Topshe would be an ideal candidate as well t.o continue as chairman of the PZC, but the GOP has the numbers and would llke to have its own choice. That's the name of the game. Topshe out and, Verderame in would be a smooth transferral of a solid chairman leaving and an equally solid member taking over. But LaPorta wants the last word and his vote is the swing vote. Once a chairman is voted in, will the maverick role of LaPorta make the next couple of years a circus at the PZC? This isn't what the commission needs. It needs a smooth, apolitical commission. Verderame and Topshe don't play political games. Nor do they vote for or against to be mavericks. To vote for one's opinion is fine. Politics shouldn't rear its ugly head on any commission, especially the PZC. But to hold up matters and issues Just to be a maverick is silly. Pure and simple. Give the chairmanship to Verderame. J,S, guidance. It needed a firm hand...yet the hand of a person who put the town first. That personified Sam Bowers. He was a legend in his own time. Southington's greatness is due to people like Sam Bowers. He never asked for the limelight. But he deserved it. Let it be chronicled in our pages, Sam Bowers had as much to do with Southington becoming a viable community during its growing stages than anyone else. He was a legend. J,S, Why are we last? It was well after I0 p.m. election day when Southington's election results were in. Cities and towns in the area were already set with their results. Waterbury, much larger than Southington, had its results announced at 8:35 p.m. Why is Southington always last to tally its res,ults? Is the system in need of modernization? It's frustrating to wait so long in our computer world. Obviously, those working the polls and compiling election results are working hard. It's a long, tiring day for all those involved. But if they are bogged down by an old system, the results will always be late. It makes it difficult for the media covering the election. Deadlines must be met. When the results are late, those reading their favorite daily nowspapers the next day can't find complete results in some papers. FrustraUng indeed. J.S. be th,e. chairman otth'r-e PZCIIIWAP tH. ! And il' you don t let me have it-I'm going to hold my breath until I turn bluelllll THE OBSERVER, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1987 'on and Off the Record bb'-Bob oufflas Record budge bulge for state possible Connecticut could have a record setting state budget next year - a $6 billion record. During the past three years putting together a state budget has been a political cakewalk for legislators because bonanza surpluses have made the job painless. The state has been in an economic boom which has fueled both increases in state spending and tax cuts. At some point, neither avenue may be available to lawmakers, but for the near future, including the next election year, more spending and limited tax cuts are on the GeneraIAssembly's agenda. The specifies won't be known for several months, but budget requests by state agencies could easily push the state budget o ver $6 billion for the first time in history. State agencies have already told the governor's budget people they want 13 percent more money next year. This could hike state spending in the general fund to $5.65 million, up from approximately $5 billion this year. Add that to a proposal from the state Department ofTransportation, which has its own separate fund, to spend $330 million, and another $186 million from the Education Excellence Fund, and bingo - there's a quick $6 billion. The budget working for this current fiscal year approved by the legislature earlier in the year included a whopping 14.5 percent increase in state spending. This year, Gov. william O'Neill and the Democrats who control state government, opted for the major increase in state spending instead ofmajor tax cuts which were urged by the Republican minority in the legislature. While preliminary budget numbers for the budget year beginning next July I already suggest a double digit hike in spending, that decision will be reached later this year when the budget folks sit down with O'Neill and political realities axe analyzed. O eill and the Democrats will be working towards a budget balancing act that they feel will both serve the state and the election year goals of the party in power. So far, OWeill has been cautious about promising major tax cuts. He has suggested statewide tax cuts are possible, but has repeatedly favored increasing state aid to cities and towns to help hold the line on tax property taxes. Another surplus is predicted for next year and the prize ofthe projected surplus will go a long way in determining haw high spendingwlll be allowed, d the extent of tax cuts. OWefll goes before the General Assembly in Februm-y to outline his budget proposals for the next fiscal year. If all agency budget requests are given the green light, O Neili could very well announce a record $6 billion state budget, again with no tax hikes, and the likelihood of tax cuts, modest or otherwise. Not a bad way to start off an election --Connecticut .Law...in plain language " by Attorney General Joseph I. Lieberman year. Your rigl' TS as an older person Thomas Moriarty once said, "Laws not enforced cease to be laws, and rights not defended may wither away." As this state's chief leg P0fflcer, I View it aS thy responsibility to see that our laws and rights are enforced and defended. That is why my office, in cooperation with Governor Bill O'Neill and Commissioner on Aging Mary Ann Klinck, has prepared a new update of a book we first published in 1985, called "Your Rights As An Older Person." In this book, we present a whole host of laws, programs, benefits and regulations in easy to understand terms. Topics covered include social security, medicare, medicaid, age discrimination, housing rights, energy assistance. legal aid and property tax relief. One of the benefits described in "Your Rights As An Older Person" is a special energy assistance program to assist the Iow-lncome elderly (60 and over) and handicapped. It's called the State Appropriated Fuel Assistance Program (SAFAP) and, with cold weather fast approaching, here's a brief summary of how it works: You are eligible for energy assistance if your household includes an elderly or disabled member and your annual income i less than twice federal poverty guidelines. For a household of two persons, if your annual income is under $14,800, you will be given a basic benefit pf $400 to help you pay un ald fuel bills. Additional benefits may be available in To apply for SAFAP benefits, you must complete an application with the local Community Action Agency (CAA) or designated CAA "intake site" in your area. Checkyour telephone listings, or call your town hall for the office nearest you. Another program helps low-income homeowners and renters of ali ages pay their utility and fuel heating bills. It's called the Connecticut EnergyAssistance Program (CEAP}, and you are eligible if you already receive cash assistance from the Department of Income Maintenance or your household'.s annual income, certain cases. - based on family size, is at or below %150 SAFAP also provides payments rang- of the federal poverty guidelines. For ing from $45 to $362 to eligible renters example, a household with two members whose heating charges are included in is eligible ff annual income is at or below their rental payments. $11,100. Finding skilled workers is even more of a problem for Connecticut businesses this year than it was last, according to the results of a survey of companies Just released by the Connecticut Business and Industry Association (CBIA). The annual survey is used to help set the group's priorities for the 1988 session of the state legislature. According to Richard H. Mattoon, CBIA research analyst, "The lack of skilled workers is widespread in all segments of our state's economy. "Eighty-five percent of the manufacturing companies responding to the survey said they are havihg trouble finding production workers, and 83 percent said --lh a of skllledTraflespeople and craftspeoplc." Mattoon sald. Eighty-elght percent of construction firms are also finding a shortage of skilled worker . Service businesses are also feeling the labor crunch "The shortage of available office-support applicants is a major Labor snortage key issue concern expressed by 93 percent offinancial and insurance firms, 88 percent ol'the personal-services businesses, and 85 percent of the professional-service firms. Maitoon said. Companies responding to the CBIA survey say they are still concerned about rises in the costs for liability and health insurance. "Approximately 34 percent said that liability insuran ce was the cost of doing business that causes them the greatest concern. "Specifically, 20 percent said their products-liabillty insurance costs had risen between 26 percent and 50 percent during the last year," Mattoon said. Over 40 percent of the wspondents said premiums for health insurance benefits for employees had risen betweeh 10 percent and 20 percent, during the past year. Responding to a question about which state or local taxes most discourage capital investment, 33 percent cited cor- Depending on income levels, families can receive a basic benefit ofup to $600 in fuel assistance, with up to $300 in supplemental benefits availabIe in some cases.. All households are automatically eligible for CEAP and should apply at a local DIM office. Other eligible households can apply for CF_.AP funds from the same Iocai CommunityActionAgency or CAAintakesite described above. CEAP operates from October 1, when applications are accepted, through May 31, the last day heating bills are accepted[ted from beneficiaries. If you are applying for energy asalstance, but you're in danger ofrunning out of heating fuel before you are approved, you canxequest, through the Community Action Agency nearest you, a delivery of up to $200 of fuel. If your household is later found ineligible for CEAP assistance, you must repay such assistance within 90 days. The Department of Human Resources operates a toll-free hotline for people who need information on energy assistance programs. That number is 1- 800-842-1132, and it's open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Ifyou would llke to receive a free copy of'Your Rights AS An Older Person," Just write to me at this address: Attorney General Joe Lieberman 30 Trinity Street Hartford, CT 06106' attn: Older Persons Rights Know your rights, and use them. That's the law, in plain language. porate income taxes, while 22 percent said personal property taxe . " "Last year most companies c ed personal property taxes as the tax hat most discouraged investment," Mattoon said. "this year's switch to the corporate income tax reflects the impact of federal tax reform, which broadened the tax base, combined with no reduction in the state's corporate tax rate," he said. There will be a special Town Council meeting Monday, November 16 at 7:30 p.m. in the Town Hall to discuss charter revislon and other matters.
THIS IS YOUR PAGE, YOUR FORUM - WE INVr[E AND ENCOURAGE YOUR COMMENTS! P.O. BOX 648, SOUTHINGTON 06489, 621-6751 Johnson"s Congressional Report Wake up Washington, Wall Street is watching s unnerving as the recent rollercoaster ride on Wall Street has been, that turmoil has leant some long-overdue urgency to our efforts to reduce the federal deficit. Now, with fear spreading that our whole economy may be in Jeopardy, members of Congress and President Reagan have finally sat down to forge a compromise designed to steer the nation back onto a responsible fiscal course. It shouldn't have taken a market collapse to awaken us all to the perils of living beyond our means. Common sense told many of us long ago that we simply can't keep spending more than we have, expecting foreigners to fuel our excesses now and leaving our children to pick up the pieces down the road. The last time this nation had a budget surplus was in 1969, the sole exception in a period that has seen deficits in 26 of the last 27 years. And while the picture improved considerably last year, the gap between government revenues and outlays widened from $5.1 billlon in 1974 to a staggering $220 bflliorl in 1986. In recent weeks, investors in the nation's financial markets have been gripped with worry that the government will have to raise interest rates in order to attract the capital it needs to meet its borrowing obligations. Fearing such a rise could trigger a recession or worse, they are right to feel that getting our indebtedness in check should be priority number I. Clearly, our gaping budget deficit is Just one of several factors to blame for our see-sawing financial markets. But it is clear that Wall Street is craving proofthat we in Washington won't let the American people stifle under the weight oftheir own government's debts. As a member of the House Budget Committee, I have spent countess ,hours working to see esponsible spending priorities. Working with Democratic and Republican members of a special budget task force, I recently helped craft a package of spending cuts and tax increases that would reduce the deficit by about $40 " pearance of frugality. Almost inconceivably, a significant part of the proposal was based on the sort of dishonest accounting tactics that we specifically outlawed in the recent revision ofthe Gramm-Rudman-Hollings law. But the House leadership simply disregarded that law, and deceptively shifted nearly $1.8 billion in payments to next year's budget. That, of course, doesn't really save a dime. Another so-called savings in the bill simply shtRs new and unnecessary costs to community hospitals by delaying Medicare payments. Several hospitals in my district have let me know that they are already paying ridiculous sums in needless interest payments to cover expenses while waiting for tardy government checks. Such costs, naturally, are passed on to individuals in the form of higher hospital fees. Furthermore, while the measure raises taxes for many, it shamelessly billion. carves out special tax exemptions for Our proposal would have sent the those in districts represented by special kind ofstrong signal Wall Street and world members of the House. For instance, the markets must have ifwe are to stop a slide legislation forgives $4 million in taxes due from degenerating into worldwide reces- from an estate located in the district repsion. But instead of embracing that plan, resented by House Speaker Jim Wright, the House ofRepresentatives betrayed its continuing lack of discipline by narrowly D-Texas. Instead offavors for the few, we could adopting another package last week. tax-and-spending be listening to our constituents and doing away with some of the excesses of last Designed to trim about $14.5 billion year's tax reform. off this year's deficit, that ill-conceived Recently I have received letters from measure would accomplish its goals pri- young college graduates, for example, maril by collecting $13.26 billion in new desperately seeking the right to deduct taxes and other revenues. Unfortunately, the interest on their student loans, a it features only $860 million in true spending cuts, most of which would be realized by capping Medicare reimburse- privilige lost with tax reform. This small effort to Rlleviate the high costs of education would cost Just $100 million next ments. It is bad enough that the bill relies year, out of a $i trillion budget. Amid today's uncertainty, it is tempt- almost exclusively on revenue hikes, hag to put selfish interests first, while making a mockery of my :olleagues' earller vows to pair all tax increases wif.h reaching into the ba oftricks to create an illusion of austerity, But the real chal- genuine spending cuts. But worse still, it lenge before us is to put aside partisan includes the kind of phony spending sav- and parochial interests and forge a budget ings and cost deferrals that will not trans- compromise that rests onvision, compaslate into sustained deficit reduction in the year's ahead, but only create a false apsion and genuine restraint, Ban smoking on planes measure applauded Today's "yes" vote by the U.S. Senate on a bill to ban smoking on airline flights of 90 minutes or less promises to make America's skies healthier and safer, according to Edward Cantor, Esq., a member ofthe Board of Directors of the Americah Lung Association of Connecticut - the Christmas Seal People. The measure, if signed into law, would affect 65 to 70 percent of all domestic flights. "rhe Senate is acting on the compelling nature of the threat to public health posed by tobacco smoke," said attorney Cantor. "The American Lung Association of Connecticut believes final passage of this legislation would be a victory for the right of individuals to breathe smoke-free air to public places. And we think today's vote puts our country right on course to achieve a smoke-free society by the year 2000." Reports from the Surgeon General and the National Academy of Sciences show that involuntary smoking causes disease, including lung cancer, in otherwise healthy nonsmokers. These reports may also conclude that the simple separa- Important phone numbers The following is a list of important and emergency phone numbers. Feel free to clip and paste near the phone: Bradley Hospital.......................621-3661 Police Department....................621-0101 Fire Department.: ..................... 628-5521 Town Clerk. ...............................276-6211 Town Manager ............ 276-6200 Town Finance...........................276-6222 Assessor's office........................276-6205 Building Inspector....................276-6242 Housing Authority....................628-5200 Welfare Office .........................276-6271 Red Cmss.................................. 626-2600 Dog Pound................................. 628-8053 Health Department ...................276-69.75 Water Department..(Day] .......... 628-5593 Public Library.......................... .B28-0947 Schools......................................628-0331 Calendar House........................ 621-301 [ Town Planner...........................276-6248 Probate Judge ...........................276-6253 Town Engineer.......................... 276-6231 t.ion of smokers and nonsmokers m reduce but does not eliminate exposure to environmental tobacco smoke. Attorne Cantor pointed out that since involuntary smoking is a serious occupational lung hazard for flight attendants and crews, the Association ofFllght Attendants also worked for the passage of this measure. The American Lung Association of Connecticut will continue to support the legislation during the House-Senate reconciliation process, said attomey Cantor, adding that the agency was hopeful the bill would pass the full Congress and make it to President Reagan's desk soon to be s/gned into law. The American Lung ,a sociation of Connecticut - the Christmas Seal People, is part of the oldest voluntary public health organization in the country. Originally formed to combat tuberculosis, today the association works for the control and prevention of all lung disease, including emphysema, asthma, chronic bronchitis and their related causes such as cigarette smoking, air pollution and occupational lung hazards. Thanks for helping education To the editor: The Southington Parent Teachers Council [SPTC] has sent personal notes to all retiring Board of Education#nembers, but I felt that a public thank-you was also called for. Dear Friends: The Southington Parent Teachers Council offers deep thanks to all retiring Board of Education members. We truly appreciate the hundreds of hours you have spent away from your own families in order to improve educational opportunities for all the town's children. Good luck to all of you! Sincerely, Joyce Kogut President SPTC Southington police wish to remind residents that there is an overnight parking ban from November 15 through April 15. Town board meetings Board of Finance -- second Wednesday, conference room. Town Hall, 8 p.m. Board of Education-- second and fourth Thursdays, unless specificed, BOE office, 7:30 p.m. Industrial Development Commission -- Town Hall conference room, third Wednesday o-revery month. Senior Citizens Commission -- 7:30 p.m., Calendar House, 388 Pleasant St., second Wednesday every month. Town Councll -- second and fourth Mondays, 7:30 p.m., court room. Planning and Zoning Commission -- first and third Tuesdays. 7:30 p.m., Town Council Chambers. Board of Water Commissioners -- first Thursday, 7:30 p m., water dept. Board of Police ,--second Thursday, 7:30 p.m., police headquarters. Board of Fire Commis!sionera -- second Tuesday, [Ire office, 7;30 p.m, Parks & Recreation Commission - Dec, 2.6:30 p.m. Page 9 A couple of bnils graze off pring St.,The late ,afternoon sun creates shadows on the farm propex 'y located off Spring St. and Smoron Rd. Energy supplies, prices good Connecticut's energy supply and price outlook for this coming heating season are good, even though oil prices are up from last year at this time. Persian Gulf tensions are a continuing source of price uncertainty, potentially affecting not only #2 home heating oil, but electricity and natural gas prices as well. These conclusions are based on the 1987-88 Winter Energy Outlook Just released by the Energy Division of the Connecticut Office of Policy and Management. According to the report, the price of #2 home heating off should reach a winter peak of ninety cents per gallon. This would be about four cents higher than last year's peak. A key consideration in the price movement of heating off this year is the price of crude off. The Energy Division analysis sees today's price, $17.44 per barrel, as reflecting the current levels of production and Gulf hostilities, and therefore unlikely to change very much over the next few months. Supply will be sufficient to meet demand, which is expected to be unchanged from last year. For fuel oil and the other energy sources as well, demand estimates assume normal temperatures. Colder than normal weather will increase demands for all the fuels above the estimates in the division's forecast. Electricity supplies should be adequate to meet all customer demand in Connecticut this coming winter, and prices are expected to remain stable. Nevertheless, there will be several planned outages ofgenerating plants, and demand is expected to increase from last year's level, consistent with electric consumption growth trends and continued economic expansion in the state. Natural gas price is expected to average $0.723 per hundred cubic feet {ccfl. lower than last year by about 4%, reflecting lower-priced gas supply purchases by the local distribution companies. While demand may increase by 2- 2.5 percent, supplies are expected to be adequate, due to small system expansions that have taken place. . Same upward movement in #2 home heating off prices is already being seen as the heating season gets underway. The retail price of #2 oil rose 3.6 cents per gallon dm'ing October to a current level of $0,881, according to the Energy's Division monthly #2 fuel oil survey of November 2, 1987, which was released with the winter outlook. The price increase is attributed to brisk demand due to the colder than normal weather that has been experienced this season to date, although the sharp upturn in temperature (recently) is likely to slow the price rise. The survey also revealed a wholesale price of $0.612 per gallon, up from 4.8 cents from a month ago. Under Secretary for Energy, Bradford S. Chase, did raise a note of caution. An uneasy stability in the international petroleum Tmrket underlies the outlook for supply,demand and prices for fuel oil, electricity and natural gas, alike. "The bottom line is that all energy forms are tied to developments in the world off marketplace. To our benefit for some time now, a careful balance between the interests of petroleum producers and buyers has yielded very steady prices," concludes Reaching lawmakers U.S, Senator Christopher D¢ dd 444 Russell Building Washington, D.C. 20510 1-202-224-2823 60 Washington Street Suite 802 Hartford, CT 06106 722-347U U.8. Senator Lowell Welcker Jr. 303 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 1-202-224-4041 1 Corporate Center 11th Floor Hartford, CT 06106 T II F e. -1-800-8 2-u izt Our Representative U.S. Representative Nancy L. Johnson 119 Cannon House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 1-202-225-4476 1 Grove Street New Britain. CT 06053
Page 1 and 2: Volume 12. numberSO soUOO99 OUT . .
Page 3 and 4: Majority party to name Waack BOE ch
Page 5 and 6: Samuel Bowers: 1903-1987..i . was a
Page 7: The Observer, Thursday, November 12
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Page 13 and 14: THE OBSERVER, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12
Page 15 and 16: Southing on's 'Mr.T' to defend titl
Page 17 and 18: The Observer, Thursday, November 12
Page 19 and 20: THE OBSERVER, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12

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