Monday, May 21, 2012
Test center will open in Cheshire on May 30.
The old system went like this: Parents brought their teenager to a DMV office and waited in a long line to register for the learner's permit test. They waited again for the teenager to take the test, and again, if the teenager passed, for the permit to be issued. The process could take anywhere from an hour or two to half the day. The new system will go like this: Parents or teens can still walk in to a nearby DMV (see above), or they can go online to make an appointment for the learner's permit test, then travel to a new test center in Cheshire to take the test on a specific day and at a specific time. The DMV announced the new system this week, though the test center in Cheshire — off Exit 3 on Route 691 — does not open until May 30. "…
When and where to vote - and some details on what you're voting for.
Polls open for the annual North Haven budget referendum on Tuesday, May 22 from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Voters decide whether to pass the budget or send it back to the drawing board. The question on the ballot is as follows: “Shall the town of North haven, in accordance with the recommendation of the Board of Finance approve and adopt a budget consisting of $45,720,684 for the Board of Education and $39,330,314 for the Town Government for a total amount of $85,050,998 for the fiscal year July 1, 2012 to June 30, 2013?” First Selectman Michael Freda supports the budget, which represents a 1.1 percent increase from the current fiscal year. There’s no tax rate increase in the budget. The school portion of the budget includes some restructuring. …
And, Murphy commends the approval of the National Defense Authorization Act.
BLUMENTHAL: The senator used Twitter to praise Twitter on Friday for support of the "Do Not Track" initiative, which protects users that don't want their online behavior tracked: Pleased that Twitter is protecting consumers' #privacy by supporting #DoNotTrack. Other companies should follow suit: http://bit.ly/J3jdqW LIEBERMAN: Sens. Lieberman and Susan Collins (R-Maine) sent letters to each GSA regional administrator on May 18 inquiring about conference budgets and spending between 2008 and 2012 in light of the controversy surrounding the Western Regions Conference of 2010, according to Federal Computer Week. “The waste, excessive spending, and possible fraud uncovered as a result of this investigation and continuing investigations cause…
Saturday, May 19, 2012
The governor signs into law the bill that would allow Sunday liquor sales, and some sellers say they will be open this weekend.
A new law allowing businesses to sell alcohol on Sunday, and on Monday holidays, is slated to go into effect this weekend. Gov. Dannel P. Malloy is poised to sign into law on Thursday a bill amending Connecticut’s Blue Laws, giving permittees the option of selling liquor and beer from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays. The law, slated to go into effect immediately, also allows stores the option of selling on Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day, and on Mondays following a Christmas or New Year's Day holiday that falls on a Sunday. Malloy signed the bill into law on Thursday at the Enfield Town Hall. After the law goes into effect the only state left to prohibit Sunday liquor sales will be Indiana. But some opponents have argued that the…
Friday, May 18, 2012
And, Himes applauds House passage of Mobile Workforce State Income Tax Simplification Act.
LIEBERMAN: The senator released a statement Thursday in response to the U.S. Postal Service's decision to delay closing mail processing plants until 2013. “I appreciate that the Postal Service is moving forward with its downsizing in a way that is consistent with the Senate-passed 21st Century Postal Service Act," he said. "The PMG assures us that no mail processing centers will be closed this year, which means the House still has time to pass a bill so it can be reconciled with the Senate-passed bill." HIMES: The congressman applauded on Wednesday the House passage of legislation that will reduce income tax and reporting burdens for Connecticut residents who occasionally commute to other states. The Mobile Workforce State Income Tax …
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Three members apparently weren't enough. There will now be five appointed officials, plus an alternate member.
North Haven’s fledgling Blight Prevention Appeals Board is getting a little bigger. The three-person board was expanded at a town meeting on Monday from three members to five members with one alternate. The reason is because three people just weren’t enough. “Increased membership is being sought to deal with any instances where…a member of the board cannot sit due to the inability to attend a meeting or a conflict,” said Lynn Sadosky, head of the Public Works Department. The board formed last year in response to a new local law aimed at curbing the amount of blighted properties throughout town. The ordinance banned rundown properties and the board is responsible for enforcing that law through public hearings and fines against the …
And, DeLauro and Murphy oppose Republican plans for domestic violence act.
BLUMENTHAL: The senator was one of a few legislators honored by the Sports Fan Coalition for supporting legislation to eliminate the FCC's sports blackout rule on Tuesday night. The other recipients were Commissioner Robert McDowell, Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), and Reps. Joe Barton (R-Texas), Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.), Steve Scalise (R-La.) and Brian Higgins (D-N.Y.). Blumenthal tweeted about the awards ceremony and posted this photo: "Honored to be Sports Fans Coalition’s Most Valuable Lawmaker for work on sports blackouts w/ @DavidGoodfriend @brifred http://bit.ly/Jf6F4j" LIEBERMAN: The senator released a response to the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee's approval of the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations …
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
And, Lieberman talks with CNN about the Taliban.
BLUMENTHAL: In an interview with The Daily Campus, the senator expressed his support for Know Before You Owe Private Lender Act, which would require private lenders to inform prospective student borrowers of all of their loan options, "so people don’t leap into committing." LIEBERMAN: Following the death of a Afghan peacemaker in Kabul on Sunday, the senator told CNN that the Taliban "is not interested in peace talks," according to GovExec.com. Lieberman also said that the U.S. should "continue to put pressure" on the Taliban to engage in these talks. HIMES: The congressman used Twitter to ponder what's coming this week in Congress' 2012 session: "Back in DC. Last week, GOP saved a non-existent $20 bn from TBTF banks and eliminated a …
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
The North Haven town and school budget has to pass the muster of next week’s referendum vote. First Selectman Michael Freda thinks the zero percent tax increase is one of the reasons to vote yes.
First Selectman Michael Freda calls the proposed 2012-13 budget a responsible – both for the future of the town and weary taxpayers. Before the $85.1 million budget for the 2012-13 fiscal year is adopted, voters will have their say at a town wide referendum on May 22. “The bottom line is that there is no tax increase,” he said at a town meeting on Monday at North Haven High School. Voters have the chance to vote at the polls for or against the next fiscal year’s $85.1 million budget, representing a 1.1 percent increase from the previous year. The school budget will go up 3 percent, while the smaller town side of the budget shrinks by 1 percent. If the budget passes as is, the mill rate on assessed property remains at 26.54. A home assessed…
And, Himes meets with Greenwich students during their class trip to DC.
BLUMENTHAL: The senator recently expressed some concerns about Lieberman's cybersecurity bill, which needs 60 more votes to move, according to Politico.com. He said the definitions of the bill must be "narrowed" and safeguards "strengthened" when comes to the type of data that the government would be privy to. LIEBERMAN: The senator told CNN's "State of the Union" the Senate Homeland Security Committee has scheduled a May 24 public hearing regarding the prostitution scandal involving U.S. military and Secret Service agents in Colombia. HIMES: On their annual class trip to Washington, DC, students at Central Middle School in Greenwich got a chance to meet and chat with Himes. "I always enjoy visiting with young people from my district. …
Anthony Karge
2:36 pm on Thursday, May 17, 2012
Here are some more details on the blight laws in North Haven. http://northhaven.patch.com/articles/blighted-property-could-really-cost-you more ›