Volume 18, Issue 33
Serving Durham, Middlefield and Rockfall
Friday, November 25, 2011
Two to four more weeks Durham BOS has special meeting of road clean-up expected for Middlefield By Elisabeth Kennedy Special to the Town Times
Jack Hendley, a member of the Middlefield Public Works Department, is using a clamshell attachment to load brush into one of the trucks. Photo by Cheri Kelley By Cheri Kelley Town Times
See Clean-up, page 18
In this issue ... Calendar............................4 Christmas Trees...........16-17 Obituary..........................27 Sports ..........................28-31 Town Briefs ................10-13
Alfred). Francis is confident that reimbursement will be received for Work Place Alliance, and the town should receive 75 percent reimbursement of storm-related expenses from FEMA. Options for a change in the speed limit on Maiden Lane were discussed and a motion to file an application with the State Traffic Commission for said change was approved. Francis provided updates See BOS, page 7
An “angel among us”
Carol Douglas was named an “Angel Among Us” at the Elk’s Durham Middlefield Night on Saturday, Nov. 12, for her contributions to the Durham Fair, including volunteering her time and donations. Carol is pictured here with her husband, Walter Douglas. Submitted by Karen Kean
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“It’s the mother-load of wood chips,” Middlefield First Selectman Jon Brayshaw said, describing the resulting chips from all the brush that has been cleared up in the aftermath of the two storms that hit Connecticut since August. “One storm blended right into the other, and we have never stopped the clean-up process. At this point, Brayshaw said that the town easily removed 100 or more truckloads. The truckloads are converted into cubic yards because this is how FEMA requires it to be measured. When FEMA pays municipalities, they typically contribute 75 percent of the cost; that cost is based on what they deem appropriate for each expense. According to Brayshaw, they are very careful to not give more money than necessary. Joe Geruch, the finance director for Middlefield, and Terry Parmelee, the emergency management director, are
keeping track of every minute financial detail. Connecticut was declared a disaster area and is capable of getting funding from FEMA, but the process is still underway, and the town is still unsure if they will actually be receiving a contribution. Either way, Brayshaw said that taxpayers should know that there will be a cost to the town; the extent of what that means is still unknown. He met with the Board of Finance (BOF) last week to alert them to possible financial obligations that the town might have. The Public Works Department is made up of five people and has been working very hard to get the town cleared. They have gotten completely out of sync with other public works projects because of all the time dedicated to the clean-up. Brayshaw said that they probably won’t get back on track until the spring. The crew is using a payloader
A special meeting of the Durham Board of Selectmen (BOS) was held on Nov. 21. The board accepted the resignation of health director Brad Wilkinson with gratitude for his service. There were no nominations to the Conservation Commission. First Selectman Laura Francis indicated that the appointment can be handled next month because it is a 2011 appointment. Francis reported there are two vacancies on the Recreation Committee. Selectman Jim McLaughlin nominated Art DiNicholas to fill the 2012 vacancy. Selectman John Szewczyk seconded the nomination, adding that DiNicholas will be a great addition to the committee. The nomination was approved. Discussion of Durham Activity Use Policy was tabled as the policy is not complete. McLaughlin expressed dismay that a recent town-sponsored activity was held on private property and suggested the Recreation Committee be required to obtain approval from the Board of Selectmen for town functions held on private property. Francis will check the liability insurance policy to see what is covered. Francis announced an opportunity to nominate a resident for the American Red Cross Community of Heroes contest, indicating that nominations must be in by Dec. 15.
The board discussed and granted the request from the family of Jane Churchill to serve wine at a memorial service to be held at the Durham Library on Saturday, Dec. 17. Francis read the October fiscal analysis, expressing gratitude that departments are working hard to manage their budgets. Overall expenditures are at 41 percent and revenues at 44 percent despite two unanticipated programs (Work Place Alliance and storms Irene and