Branford Eagle

Politics

Jury Still Out On Tabor Plan

by Diana Stricker | Feb 2, 2012 10:18 pm

An environmental expert told Branford residents that tests indicate no significant contamination on the portion of Tabor Drive where a public works facility could be built. Other concerns at the public hearing Wednesday focused on construction costs, traffic and flooding issues.

About 150 people crowded into the Board of Selectmen meeting,and adjourning rooms, to hear information about the Tabor Drive property, which was the site recommended by the Public Works Building Committee.

The committee’s (some members pictured above) second choice was a property on Northeast Industrial Road. Total construction costs for each project were estimated around $10 million.Contamination concerns are not limited to the Tabor site. The committee’s report on the two sites says the Northeast Industrial Road location has been contaminated from previous industrial uses. The consultant said the town would have to ensure that the owner remediates the problems before any purchase is made.

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Civility Sought

by Diana Stricker and Marcia Chambers | Jan 30, 2012 10:59 am | Comments (8)

Anyone who attends Branford’s Board of Selectmen (BOS) meetings (pictured) or watches the televised sessions on BCTV knows there are problems.  In the past few years, the meetings have become increasingly raucous, with some residents monopolizing the public comment period, or popping up to voice opinions without permission.

There are no rules for conduct or public participation at the meetings, but two of the three selectmen say that may change.

The third selectman says common courtesy could solve the problem.

State law is not so lenient.

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Should Democrats Sit Alongside Republicans?

by marcia chambers | Jan 13, 2012 8:57 am | Comments (2)

Members of the newly elected 30-member Representative Town Meeting (RTM) took their seats on either side of the aisle Wednesday night, Democrats on one side, Republicans on the other. But they may not be seated side-by-side, separated by an aisle, for long. If the Republicans and some Democrats have their way, the RTM will soon be seated by district, not party.

As it turns out, it’s an idea that was tried in the past. But it failed.

Kurt Schwanfelder, former Republican majority and minority leader on the RTM, and an RTM member for 22 years, said in an interview that the seating-together idea was tried two or three times during his tenure. It failed each time, he said.

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“Frosty The Doughman” Cheers A Movement

by Sally E. Bahner | Dec 26, 2011 1:06 pm | Comments (7)

Members and supporters of Occupy Shoreline CT recently held their ninth rally along Main Street in Branford, one of their last before 2011 draws to a close.

While many of the Occupy Wall Street encampments in major cities have been dispersed, Occupiers in New Haven have maintained their presence. The shoreline group’s members, while supportive of the New Haven effort, believes they can relay their message without pitching tents.

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Guv Bears Gifts

by marcia chambers | Dec 22, 2011 5:24 am | Comments (3)

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy delivered holiday gifts to Branford in person yesterday, awarding the town a total of $180,000 for two projects, one to complete a pedestrian walkway around the Green and the other to study housing needs for the town’s elderly and the disabled. 

Standing on the steps of Town Hall in a drizzling rain, the governor, who worked closely with town leaders across the state during Hurricane Irene, told a small group of people attending the event that he appreciated First Selectman Unk DaRos’s input and decision making during the storm.

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Unk’s 6th Term Begins

by marcia chambers | Nov 23, 2011 5:51 am | Comments (3)

U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal yesterday administered the oath of office to First Branford Selectman Anthony “Unk”DaRos, calling his style of governance “tough, principled, smart.” DaRos enters his 11th year as the town’s chief operating officer.
 
Blumenthal told an audience of roughly 100 people who turned out at 8 a.m. to witness the swearing-in at the Blackstone Memorial Library that it is these qualities that “I have always admired about Unk and about the style of governing he has brought to Branford.”

(Click here to read about the election.
Click here to read about its aftermath.)

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Voters Are “Stupid”

by marcia chambers | Nov 10, 2011 4:34 pm | Comments (22)

Branford’s voters Tuesday night rejected Joy McConnell’s campaign for first selectman. Before the night ended, she had some words in return for the voters—and for her party.

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Unk DaRos Wins In Branford

by Marcia Chambers and Diana Stricker | Nov 8, 2011 9:25 pm | Comments (11)

Branford’s Anthony “Unk” DaRos won a sixth term as first selectman Tuesday night, defeating Republican Joy McConnell 3,915 votes to 2,993. He carried all seven districts as he had in 2009 when there were five.

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Get Ready to Vote Tuesday

by marcia chambers | Nov 7, 2011 1:48 pm | Comments (1)

Voters go to the polls tomorrow to elect Branford’s first selectman, top Town Hall officials 30 members of the Representative Town Meeting and three new members of the Board of Education. Tuesday is expected to be an ideal day to vote, sunny and with temperatures in the low 60’s, forecasters say.

Polls open at 6 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 8 and close at 8 p.m. Click here to find out where to vote.

Click here for a street list for the 7 voting districts.

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Meyer Flyer Prompts GOP Complaint

by marcia chambers | Oct 17, 2011 9:11 am | Comments (10)

Shortly after state legislative hearings on Tropical Storm Irene were held on Sept. 19, state Sen. Ed Meyer used his franking or stamp privileges to send newsletters to his constituents in the shoreline towns that make up the 12thDistrict.  Branford was one of the towns. The newsletter was entitled “Connecticut After Irene.” One side of the page read:  “Get Assistance.” The other side said: “Get Answers.”  In between were two photos. 

The top photo showed Meyer asking questions at the hearing.  The bottom photo showed two first selectmen in his district testifying at the same fact-finding hearing and seated side-by-side. The cutline under the photograph read as follows: “Guilford First Selectman Joseph Mazza and Branford First Selectman “Unk” DaRos testify before a joint legislative hearing on Connecticut’s readiness and response to Tropical Storm Irene.” Mazza is a Republican; DaRos a Democrat. DaRos is running for reelection; Mazza is not. 

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