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Daisy Girl Scout Troop 64210 of Southbury recently launched a Valentine's Day project called Troop to Troop Valentines for soldiers deployed in the Middle East.
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Selectmen Okay $37 Million Budget Proposal




	The Newtown Board of Selectmen (from left) Selectman William Furrier, First Selectman Patricia Llodra and Selectman William Rodgers. (Lukauskus photo)

NEWTOWN - The Board of Selectmen, meeting Monday February 1, approved the 2010-11 selectmen's budget in the amount of $37,703,044.

The budget plan now goes to the Board of Finance for its review.
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Selectmen Defer Discussion
on Open Space Purchase
MIDDLEBURY - The Board of Selectmen, meeting Monday, February 1, deferred a discussion on the Land Preservation and Open Space Committee's request that selectmen investigate a possible town purchase of the Steinmann Monroe property, located near Shadduck Road.

First Selectman Tom Gormley said he wants selectmen and Town Counsel Stephen Savarese to review the Land Preservation and Open Space Committee's request.
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In Southbury Grand List Total Reflects
Slight Percent Decrease
SOUTHBURY - Town Assessor Michael Moriarty released details of the October 1, 2009 Grand List on January 29.

Reflecting the total value of taxable property in the town, the Grand List amounts to $2,589,622,975, representing a decrease of $12,903,683 or .004 percent compared with the 2008 List.

A small decline in Real Estate was seen, $2,330,440,261 in other words down .00004 percent in 2009, from $2,330,552,501 in 2008.
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Inland Wetlands Commission Tables
Railroad Discussion
NEWTOWN - The Inland Wetlands Commission, meeting Wednesday, January 27, tabled discussion of an application by Newtown Transload, LLC, the Housatonic Railroad Company, in response to a violation for non-permitted work.

Commissioners agreed they would prefer more time to review materials submitted by the applicant and give the town attorney time to research a question of their jurisdiction in this matter.
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Legislative Council Reviews Audit,
Budget Amendment, Council Committee Activity
NEWTOWN - The Legislative Council, meeting Wednesday January 20, discussed the financial audit for the previous year and budget amendment for the current year.

Council members also heard reports from council committees.

Council member Benjamin B. Spragg, chairman of the Finance Committee, reported the Boards of Selectmen and Education will soon submit their input on Newtown's budget to the Board of Finance.
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'Little Princess'

The Woodbury Middle School Drama Club will present "A Little Princess" at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, February 5 and 6, at Nonnewaug High School.

This musical adaptation of the Frances Hodgson Burnett classic will feature (front row, from left) Jerrica Olson as Miss Minchin, Amber Cardinal as Sarah Crewe and Megan Stone as Becky in the lead roles, with choreography by Shauna Clifford (front right).
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Zoning Chairman Organizes Discussion
of 'Inn' Definition
WASHINGTON - Zoning Commission Chair David Owen took command early at the January 25 meeting when the agenda item, "Definition of Inns," came up, setting parameters for the topic that has bogged down the commission for months.

The question has been an agenda item, as well as the subject of a special subcommittee, since last summer, due to the Zoning denial of an application for an inn at 101 Wykeham Road in December 2008.
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Zoners Continue Public Hearing on Flea Market
WOODBURY - The Zoning Commission continued the Tuesday, January 26, public hearing on Gus Kaloidis' application for a renewal of an antiques and flea market permit until 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, February 9, at the Annex Conference Room, 297 Main St. South.

Mr. Kaloidis' flea market has been operating at 40 Sherman Hill Rd. for the past 18 months. His permit expired and he is applying for a new permit.
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Wetlands Panel, Residents Discuss Roxbury
Cell Tower Plan in Absence of AT&T Reps
ROXBURY - Residents attending the Tuesday, January 26, Inland Wetland Commission meeting, asked if representatives from AT&T would attend the meeting on the proposed cell tower on Transylvania Road.

AT&T officials, who attended the Inland Wetland Commission meeting on December 15 to update the pre-application information and gather residents' input, also mentioned returning for a future meeting.
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Oxford's Grand List for 2009 Reveals Growth
of 4.5 Percent




	Personal property tax assessments in Oxford rose more than 117 percent, thanks primarily to Algonquin Gas Transmission, LLC, which completed construction on a compression station on Woodruff Hill Road late in 2008. Pictured above is a portion of the facility. (Quirke photo)

OXFORD - Despite the recession, the town of Oxford experienced a healthy growth in its 2009 Grand List, according to data released last week by Assessor Eva Lintzner.

The information revealed a 4.5 percent overall increase in taxable property from the previous year.
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Fertig Seeks Democratic Slot
in District Probate Judge Race




	John Fertig, Jr., Oxford judge of probate, announced last week that he will seek the Democratic Party’s nomination to run for the consolidated probate district that includes Oxford, Southbury, Woodbury, Bethlehem, Washington, Watertown and Roxbury. (Quirke photo)

OXFORD - Oxford Judge of Probate John Fertig, Jr., a Democrat, announced last week that he will seek his party's nomination for the district judge of probate seat.

The position will become available in January, 2011, when the state's 117 probate courts are consolidated into 54 court districts as a money-saving measure.
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Zoners Hear Project's Details,
Schedule March Public Hearing
WOODBURY - The Zoning Commission, at its Tuesday, January 26 meeting, scheduled a public hearing on Carol Winer-Sorenson's applications, one for a special permit to allow a restaurant and one for a special exception to allow a bed and breakfast at 557 Main St. South.

The public hearing will take place at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 9, at the Annex Conference Room, 297 Main St. South.
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Superior Court Decision:
Selectmen, Residents Discuss
Region 14 Board Vote to Appeal
WOODBURY - The Region 14 Board of Education's decision to appeal Litchfield Superior Court John W. Pickard's decision in the John M. Pratt, Jr., et al. vs. The Board of Education for Regional District 14 court case, was the main topic of discussion at the Thursday, January 28, Board of Selectmen meeting.

Selectmen talked about their opinions on the Board of Education's decision to appeal and five residents discussed the matter during privilege of the floor, including Attorney Robert Kolesnik, who represented plaintiffs Mr. Pratt and Susan Scherf in the case.
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