Egidio's plans call for bigger, better parks - Southington Library and ...

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( continued from I age 2)
Casey said, "While the Senate
Democrats worked hard to pass
legislation to betterprotect firefighters
and proposed tougher laws against
those companies failing to
disclose the presence of hazardous
materials, the Republican majority
failed to implement those
proposals."
Casey emphasized that a critical
need exists to have more advanced
training for firefishters and to put
teeth in our noufication law. A
$330,000 legislative proposal
would have purchased state of the
art equipment designed specifically
for use in chemicals fires, and
would have doubled the number of
firefighters who could receive
hands-on education throughout the
state's special Hazardous Materials
Training Program. State. Senator
SAev¢ Casey also said that the state
must make serious efforts to
Democratic candidate for Hartford
County said h 'has a platform of
progressive leadership.
He said, "I propose to restore
public confidence in the Hartford
County Sheriffs Department and
make it an effective part of the
State's legal system through the
careful selection qualified personnel,
in-service training, and the
adoption and implementation of a
code of official conduct."
Rioux said he will develop a
seven point program involving the
selection process of personnel, inservice
training, financial accountability,
a code of official conduct, a
dress code, updating the department
manual, appointing a six
member advisory board to assist in
the operations for the departrn nt
and inaugurating these programs.
Carl Sokolowski
In a letter to the editor, Probate
Judge Carl Sokolowski spoke out
perfect a decentralized data base for the necessity for legal expersys
em w tc can prow e ins n l judges'7
access to hazardous materials infor- He said, "I would like to point
marion in every community--information
that could save many lives."
According to t/asey, with
these new training programs in
place coupled with 'healthy communication
among local officials
and firefighters at every level, we
will be prepared to combat dangerous
chemical fires and ultimately
save lives."
Dayeare
Casey announced that he "will
suppart additional fimding f r
daycare needs for lower income
families."
Under current sate law, lower
income families may receive up to
$30.00 per week for their first
child and up to $15.00 per week
for their other children based upot
financial need. Yet according to the
Connecticut Department of Human
Resources, the average cost of
daycare in Connecticut is $75.00
per week. Funding for the existing
program, comes trom the federal
government and is administered by
Connecticut's Department of Human
Resources. However, Casey
said that "State funds should be
appropriated to in rease the level of
mdto lower inco fl.€families needing
daycare ani that families
should no longer be penalized with
50 percent less funding for a
second or third child needing
daycare."
Casey said that "according to a
recent survey, over 45 percent of
single, non-working mothers say
that they would work if affordable
child care services were available."
Case.y also said that "child care
servmes allow parents to become
members of the labor force, as well
as improve the productivity, attendance
and turnover rotes of parents
who are currently working."
Cheryl Richards
Republican State Representative
candidate for the 22nd district,
Cheryl Richards, said if she is
elected she will. seek committee
assignments that allow her to best
serve the needs of our districL
"The committee assignments I
will request for the, next legislative
term, once elected,' Richards said,
"will be for seats that will put me in
' the best possible position to serve
the needs of the three communities
I will represent."
"My first choice," she
explained," will be the powerful
AppmpriadonsCommitteethatcontrois
the state budget. This is the
committee," she continued, "that
decides which programs are funded
and at what levels our local town
and city budgets are greatly affected
by decisions coming forth
from the Appropriations Committee,"
Richards said, "as well as
all state run programs."
"Having served on the Plainville
Town Council," Richards
said, "I am well aware of the f'mancial
needs of communities as
well as the programs created by
state laws that require additional
l al costs. I believe my experience
wtll carry some weight on the
App,,m,priarions Committee."
My second, but also an importam
choice will be to serve on
the Transportation Committee that
has overstght of the Department of
Transportation and Motor Vehtcle
Department."
AI Rioux
High Sheriff AI Rioux, the
out an incorrect statement in your
article about Nicholas DePaola in
the October i6 issue. He is reported
as saying that there are only
52 a.ttomeys among the 131 Connectlcut
Probate judges. My own
count is that there are 68 (An accurate
count is not easy. It is easier to
underestimate the umber of attorneys
than to overestimate it.)
"Even the correct numbers are
misleading if they seem to indicate
that legal training is not needed in
nobate matters. The truth is that
owledge of the law is importani
to the office, and very important in
the busier courts. The Probate
Judge is responsible for protecting
the Constitutional and legal rights
of many persons" chddren, parents,
heirs, creditors, mentally ill persons,
incapable persons, and others.
The Judge must sort throdgh
the briefs and legal arguments
made by some of the most competent
and resourceful attorneys iu the
state Our law does permit a Probate
Judge to help answer questions
or decide cases; but in abusy
court the judge must have the ability,
experience and judgment to
make decisions promptly and
alone.
"Many of our Connecticut
Probate Courts serve very small
populations. A few of them reported
no activity of any sort in the
first quarter of this year. Some of
them have so little activity that they
keep no regular hours, or are only
open two hours or so a week.
"The busiest third of the Courts
are served by judges who are
virtually all attorneys (34 ot 44, or
77%). The least busy third of the
judges are overwhelmingly not
attorneys (only 11 of 44, or 25%).
In a study done this year by the
Probate Assembly, Southington
was determined to be the 39th most
busy Court--thereby being in the
top third.
"Fifty five courts re open fullrime
or almost full-time--thirty
hours or more per week. Of those
55, forty (73%) are served by
judges who are attorneys.
"Why are there any nonattorney
judges? There are many
reasons. In at least eight of the
probate districts, no attorneys reside
within the borders. (A Probate
Judge must reside in the district).
In other diswict, no doubt, none of
the resident attorney cared to be
nominated or elected. In some
towns, the imbalance o,f party registration
makes election of the
majority party's candidate a certainty;
and therefore the persons who
make the nomination for that party
determine the qualification of the
person who will serve. In several
districts, after the death or retirement
of a Judge, an experienced
Clerk oJ" the Probate Court was
nominated and elected. (Judge
Mary Scott, of Wallingford, and
Judge Salafia of Norwich, among
others, were elected under those
circumstances.) Also, no doubt,
sometimes the popularity of one
candidate overshadows the qualifications
of the other.
"Southington is a large town,
and growing rapidly. We have
about 225 new estates each year.
Because of the relative youth of our
population, we have more than an
average amount of adoptxons and
protective mattersconcem ngchilden..
The Southmgton Probate
Jud.ge ts called upon each day to
review the work of numerous
attorneys on those and other matlets,
and to help persons who are
not represented by attorne.ys. Legal
training and probate experience are
not mandated by law for a new
Judge of Probate, but they arc
highly desirable. Long ,before my
election as Southington s Probate
Judge in 1975, I concentrated m)
training and practice in the area ot
probate and estates. 1 believe that
that specialization--plus the eleven
years experience as Southington's
Judge--have been important to m
ability to ser, e the residents ot
Southington."
Open house
There ,w,ill I e a "Know your
Candidates Open House, Sunda)
October 26 from 2-5 p.m. at the
home of Jim and Diana Putnam on
157 Tall ood Drive, Southington
Judge Sokolowski and Ann
Dandmw, the Republican candidate
for the 30th Assembly District will
be present to meet guests and an
swer.que-g goTr .
Richard Arnold
Richard Arnold, the Republican
ed his opponent with failing Connecticut's
consumers.
Arnold said, ' -Ie's out hunting
rabbits with a howitzer and avoiding
the biggest consumer rip-off ot
all.-,-state government. Connecticuts
$350 million surplus is
obscene."
He said, "That represents more
than $100 for every man, woman
and child in Conn_ecticut. The average
family of four gave the state
$400 more than it had to last year."
The Bridgeport attorney said
the attorney general has been bus)
focusing on press conferences,
fundraising fraud and furniture
stores, but does little to correct
abuses of power in state
govemment.
"Joe Lieberman is an integral
part .of a morally bankrupt admintstrauon
that's characterized by
waste, mismanagement, inefficiency
and cronyism It has cost the
citizens of this state millions during
the past six years"
Arnold said, "We need someone
to tell the governor that commissioners
fired for inefficency and
mismanagement, shouldn't be h red
back as consultants to their
replacements."
Taxpayer expense
Arnold has also charged that
Leiberman has turned the office
into a personal public relations mill
at taxpayer expense.
Arnold said, "It appears that
regardless of how big or small the
attorney general's involvement, Joe
Lieberman is smiling at the cameras
and cranking out press releases '
Joseph Markley
The best way to stop our
children from using drugs is to
educate them about substance
abuse and to increase penalties for
drug users, according to state Senator
Joseph Markley, (R- 16th).
"We've already accomplished a
lot in.the war against drugs,' Mark-
,ley said, "but it is still an uphill
battle."
"It.is essential that we imple
ment better d_r.qg. education programs
in the grammar schools
since drug use often starts at an
earl , age," Markley said.
I also believe that community
leaders--and active parent-teacher
organizations--can be very effective
in deterring our youth from using
drugs," he added.
"If our children see their role
models speaking out against drugs,
.it can only have a positive effect o.n
" hem. I have personally visited several
of the'schools in my district
and have spoken with the students
about drug use," Markley said
"More community leaders must
stand up and show our youth that
drugs are not necessary or destrable
in society."
"Only stiffer penalties and better
drug education programs in the
schools will lessen the grip of
drugs on our children. Too mank
young lives are being wasted'
Marldey said.
Markley said a.new law makes
a drug p usher subject to a captlal
murder charge if the person hc ,,r
she sells to dies from the dr g
St. Dominic
Show...Page 9
The ObsexveL Thuzsday, Octobex 23, 1986
Plaque honors Holcomb " ' '"'"..........
Former Governor Marcus H. Holcomb will not be forgotten in Southlngton as a plaque in his honor was
who resided in to n. Handling the official unveiling is Patricia Egidio. a member of the plaque tommittee.
New pt
superintendent 's plans :.
t continued from page 1 is short of. manpower.
One piece of equipment Egidio
the works to provide additional is looking into purchasing is a
parking for the picntc areas in the small backhoe attachment for a
parks John Deere tractor. The backhoe is
Another tdea. Egtdto said, ts needed, he explained, because at
the possibilit)of installing cobble- the moment an,ytime the Departstones
around the monument on the ment needs digging done they have
town green. The purpose of the to contract out for somebody. He
cobblestone, he said, v, ould'be to said the backhoe would allow the
bring back the historic look of the Department to do small digging
Green. Egidlo stressed,'h s just an bs and w-outdid,st about thesame
idea" at the moment. He said the amount as conta'acting someone
Department has to look into the
cost of the cobblestone ersus concrete.
Also, Egicho sat& lhere s a
m gWing sport, that we're neglect
--handball." He said he was
else to do the job.
As far as manpower, Egidio
said he would like to go to a twotrey,
maintenance staff. He said
t o crev, s would save valuable
dine and it would allow an even
looking into the possibility of in- more thorough maintenance of the
stalling handball court's in one of parks.
the parks. He said currently there is a staff
Egidio also satd the Parks of seven in a crew. e said these
Department plans to complete the se,,en people are responsible for
fitness trail behind Central Elcmen- six major areas of parks plus all
tary. He said it v, ill be a good toy, n open space.
walking and fitness trail " Eg dio explained the two crews
He said he has t o or three wouldcut down on fatiguepattems
other ideas but he has to feel out of the workers. As far as man
the Board of Park Commissioners hours and man power is concernand
the Town Manager on them ed, he said, two crews would
first. He said, "There's so much allow for a better relationship with
you can want to do, but there's so the workers and would give the
much you can do." workers more satisfaction in trek
In order to keep the parks well- work.
maintained, Egidlo said, there is a The tv, o-crew program, Egidio
need to upgrade the Departments satd, would also. eliminate the
equipment. He satd this ts neces- poss bdity of union grievances of
sary because the Park Department overwork and somebody not doing
More campaign briefs...
Ann Dandrow
Ann Dandrov,. the Republican
candida'e for the 30th Assembly
district, said she intends to explore
state funding programs to help
erase a shortage of elderl. housing
Dandrow said there arc about
100 Ilames on the waiting h,,t for
elderly housing in Southington.
"These are the 3eople ot the
past generation wl h made our
towns what they are today It doe.,
not seem unreasonable the should
be provided adequate housing m
legislators to pursue the needs of
Southington ove,r, the wants of highlc
el politicians,' Dandrow said.
"I agree that it has been studied
enough. 1 want to be sure the
changes rexealed in the studies
ordered by Southington's GOP
legislators are professtonally completed.'
she said.
Roads unsafe
Connecticut's roadways are unsafe
to drive because of spotty entbrcement
efforts caused by a too
which to spend their last )ears. ,mall state police force, Dandrow
Dandrow said. /,aid. . . . .
"Southington and Berlin have" " topk"a Republican urltiauve
managed to provide some level ot to give flae State Police additional
elderly housing with local funding, funding for a larger force last year.
but the increasing percenlage of I intend to be there to assist another
retired people wdt reqt rc ,omc boost in the ranks of the men trying
help from the state m mett.r the to enforce the laws on our state
need," she said roads.' Dandrow said.
Queen Street
Dandrow said she ants to
continue the efforts ol the five
legislators representing Southington
on solving the Queen Street
traffic problem.
"Now that mx Reig bhcan
counterparts have effetted the
study of Queen Street and formulated
the best sohmons, I v ould
like to as,,ure the , otk gct, done.
Dandrow ,,a d
t ed Cross praises...
continued from page l)
Irene Masciangioli RN, Dorothy
Orsine, and Catherine Kern.
Earning a pm for 15 years
service were. Gad Castiola,
Virginia Fontana, Lois Garrity,
Claire Grenier. Helen Luedke, and
l clyn Tomnta ¢tu.
Earning h _pm torl0 year
"l'he Dcmc rats ic, uccn scrvtce ere. Alice Crane, Marge
Street tu ,n,o a :;aff:c -v ,- --- ,-e DcPl/zol, L:unssa Dreiling and
the way they did w th the rest of Emma Vargas.
Connecticut's roads. It took GOP Earning a pin for 5 years
the job they're sut'0osed to Ix'
doing when filling m for-a sick
Egidio said the initial cost ot
two crews would be more but n
the long run tt ould lessen.
Asked if Southington ould bc
needing more recreation space
soon, Egidio said, 'We should /×'
sufficient for a while. He satd
there were enough parks if there
s... more le-,, elotgnen _ ,_" them
saad there could be an enormous
park in Panthom Park if was
developed properly. But he satd
ght now the funds and manpower
are not there
He also said if there is land
available, five to six )ears from
now, the town should look into
turning that available land into
parks.
Egidio said the key person
helping him is Gary Mongillo, the
operator foreman Egidio explained
Mongillo, who has worked for the
Department eight to ten years, goes
over the jobs that need to be done
with Egidio and together they conic
up v, ith priorities. Egidio said
Mongillo takes care of the regular
maintenance projects and makes his
job easier because Mongillo kno
v, hat to do.
"The other personnel are all
excellent workers very cons .tcnt
tous and thoroagh," Egtdio said
"My mare goal s to have good
looking sale parks
"Effective law enforcement
efforts come from planned pro
grams, not politically expedient
stopgap measures a few months
before an election," Dandrow stud
'The time to start action as before
drivers got lntu eangcmus dnwr g
habits."
Dandrow sam that dri,,er liceusing
procedure rot.st be reexa
mined to assu:¢ drl ,t , are trui)
quahfied, esl,,.. :,, , m mc as .
truck tin'
School meeting
The Board of Education will
hold a regularly scheduled meeting
tonight, Thursda), October 23. in
the Tov, n f.'ount,] Chambers at
Town ltall The mct'.,ng ., et to
begmat7 0pm
service were Joyce Becking RN.
Kay Berg, Mary Cellela RN,
Marybeth Chute, Betty Condron,
Hildegarde Connor RN, Clara
Coppola, Joseph Deut h, Pamela
Egidio LPN, Mildred J. Gilhan
RN, Be,,erly Itenna, Lots KelIe)
RN, Bo, ctlee M utto. Mar) Mes-
Bcmadmc Potit'pk, RN, M,trgaict
Pughclh. Nlary Riedmger. Mar
Stanco RN, and Norma E
Wayland RN.