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The Bethlehem Elementary School Math Team competed in its first Continental Mathematics League competition in January.
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Region 15 Hosts Budget Feedback With Residents
MIDDLEBURY-SOUTHBURY - "We will develop sufficient community standing and support to pass budgets that ensure the resources needed for student programs and facilities."

Thus spake Strategy #2 of the Region 15 second generation Mission Statement 2009-2015.

With that admonition in mind, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Frank Sippy and the administrators of the seven Region 15 schools held a Budget Feedback Night at Pomperaug High School on February 2.
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Planning Chairman Resigns
MIDDLEBURY - With a fairly light agenda, particularly when compared to past meetings, the main topics of discussion at the Thursday, February 5, Planning and Zoning Commission meeting were the resignation of Terry Smith as chairman, the enforcement issue at Wayne Gargoni's property on Washington Road and the lack of a blight ordinance in town.

Mr. Smith, who has been chair of the Planning and Zoning Commission for approximately eight years, said he is ready for a break.
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Panel Approves Moratorium
on Affordable Housing Plans
OXFORD - The Planning and Zoning Commission voted last week to impose a moratorium on affordable housing until it creates and approves regulations governing such developments or until January 15, 2011, whichever date comes first.

Allowing 15 days for appeals, the moratorium will become effective on February 25.
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Southbury Selectmen Deny Police Officer's
Tuition Request
SOUTHBURY - Officer Donald Nevins told Voices at deadline time last Friday afternoon that he was undecided about filing a complaint with the Southbury Police Association in connection with the Board of Selectmen's vote on Thursday, February 4, to deny his request for tuition reimbursement amounting to $3,077.67 for a course on Employee Benefits at the Quinnipiac University School of Law.

"I am considering it at this point," he said.

Under the terms of the current union contract he has 20 days in which to file.
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Selectmen Approve Amendment
to Agreement With Towantic
OXFORD - For the second year in a row, the Board of Selectmen has voted to approve an amendment to the Omnibus Amendment and Settlement Agreement with Towantic Energy, LLC.

The deal was negotiated recently with G.E. Energy Financial Services which acquired the rights in 2007 to build the 512-megawatt, electric-generating Towantic Energy plant on a 20-acre parcel on Woodruff Hill Road.

The original agreement, which spelled out Towantic Energy's financial obligations to the town, was negotiated during the administration of Paul Schreiber in 2000 and renegotiated in 2004 by then-first selectman Augie Palmer.
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Two Bethlehem Intersections of Concern
to Board, Residents
BETHLEHEM - First Selectman Jeff Hamel, at the Tuesday, February 2, Board of Selectmen meeting, discussed safety concerns about two areas in town: the intersection of Route 61, Bellamy Lane and Kasson Road and the intersection of Route 132 and Hard Hill Road North.

"People were highly concerned that maybe we should solicit the state to help," said Mr. Hamel.
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Board Authorizes More Funds for Examination
of Tax Office
OXFORD - The Board of Selectmen last week authorized an expenditure of up to $4,500 from the Board of Finance's contingency fund to pay auditors to continue examining records in the tax collector's office.

The appropriation, which needs finance board approval, will enable the auditing company, Michaud and Accavallo of Ansonia, to focus on financial activities during the period between July 1 and September 30, 2009.

The review is in connection with an allegation of missing cash in that office.
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