WEEKEND EDITION J HlanrhpBtpr Irrali Manchester's Award-Winning Newspaper u Newsstand: 35e - Home: 30® Saturday, June 1,1991 Bolton voters pass $9 million budget Inside Today. By HAROLD C. SHAVER It had been feared by many in CASE that if the budget a 3 percent tax increase. Manchester Herald referendum was defeated, further cuts would come from exist­ i^lectmen-elect Grant Davis, a member the Common Sense ing school programs. Coalition, a group also opposed to the budget, said he believed BOLTON — With a round of applause, the results of the the town would live to regret the decision to approve the N The new budget will provide for a tax increase of an $9.19 million budget were announced Friday night at Com­ budget. INDEX average of $190 per homeowner, based on an the average as­ munity Hall; the 1991-1992 budget was passed 1005-to-900. sessment of a home valued at $129,000. The new figures “They know not what they do,” he commented as he left 16 pages, 2 sections The number of those who voted represents about 67 percent Community Hall. Bubble Gum........................................15 of the towns’ voter list of 2,851 eligible voters. reflect an overall increase of 2.57 percent over the current budget of $8.96 million and a new mill rate of 21.9, a 1.5 mill C la s s ifie d ...................................... 1 2 -1 4 “This should put a lot of indecision at rest,” said Michael The 7 percent figure was carved out of the original budget Comics.................................................16 increase over this year. The overall tax increase is 7 percent. Harney, co-chairman of the Citizens Alliance for School Ex­ that represented a 8.93 percent tax increase. Revisions were F o c u s .................... ;..............................2 cellence. results show that people want to see that their m ^ e after two public hearings last April when residents G am es.................................................15 Opposition groups, such as The Neglected Taxpayers, had voiced their views on possible cuts. The revisions included Lotteiy;...................................................2 town facilities are up to a certain level...especially the cur­ sought an increase of less than 5 percent. Their recent fliers riculum in the schools.” Obituaries..............................................2 compared Bolton to other towns, such as Coventry, which had Please see BUDGET, page 8. O pinion.................................................. 3 People....................................................2 R elig io n ................................................. 5 Senior Citizens.................................... 5 m Sports...................................... 9-11 Weicker keeps T elevision .......................................... 6 -7 W eath er................................................. 2 his promise News Bi-partisan budget plan vetoed In Brief By JUDD EVERHART But legislative leaders say there is no chance that a new budget can be House broadens The Associated Press crafted an passed over the next five living will law HARTFORD — Gov. Lowell P. days. They also say there’s little -•■ 'I a HARTFORD (AP) — The Weicker Jr. vetoed the 1991-92 no­ chmee they will attempt an override House of Representatives on income-tax bipartisan budget Friday of the veto. Friday overwhelmingly ap­ night — the first such veto in two Weicker favors an income tax and H i proved a bill broadening Con­ decades — with a message that it believes there is no other way of necticut’s right-to-die law to bet­ would have created greater deficits stimulating the state’s economy ter ensure that comatose or ter­ and further damaged Connecticut’s without tax reform: a combination minally ill people are allowed to struggling economy. of an income tax and dramatic reductions in the sales tax and busi­ die according to their own stated The veto came just 16 minutes wishes. ness taxes. after the Senate sent it to his desk After a debate that lasted and fulfilled a promise Weicker had He said he would not insist on an nearly four hours, the House made weeks ago when details of the income tax in the final budget, tell­ voted 133-11 to send the bill to sales tax-bas^ $7.7 billion budget ing reporters, “if you can do it, do the Senate. plan became public. it” without an income tax. “This is Supporters of the bill said “Though these words say ‘veto,’ not a pride of authorship game. This they were acting to bring Con­ my hope is for accord,” Weicker is ^ l^ n g a budget.” necticut law into conformity said in a two-page veto message, “I^o n ’t think the people of Con- with recent state and U.S. which he hand^ to Secretary of the nectieV ought to be held hostage to V- Supreme Court right-to-die State Pauline R. Kezer after signing the political conflicts in this build­ rulings. In addition, lawmakers it at 9:50 p.m. “In spite of differen­ ing.” the governor said. “The w ork X stud tliBy tell tremendous pres­ ces, each of us has applied .ourselves wc do here is their business. This is sure fi-om elderly people who diligently to the task of developing a their lives. And that’s the reason I are concerned about having con­ budget. didn’t want to let a minute go by in trol of their final days. terms of dealing with this legisla­ A “Now, diligence must be matched The “living will” bill makes by results. R ^ult means a balanced tion.” clear that if a person has a writ­ tmdget and an economy that has the Research continued on how state ten living will, or has made an promise of jobs,” said the indepen­ government would function after oral declaration that he doesn’t dent governor, an income tax advo­ June 30, the last day of the current want to be kept alive through ar­ cate. The veto message was budget year, if a 1991-92 budget * 4 tificial means, the will or ivepared well before the document hasn’t been approved by then. ^ Without any new laws, the current declaration takes precedence arrived in his office. over the wishes of family mem­ sales tax-based tax structure would The veto sets the stage for a spe­ Qsfy Tuctor/iyUuichMtAr H#nUd bers or doctors. remain in place, keeping money cial legislative session after the A HERO’S REWARD — John Webb, second from left, a boiler technician with the U.S. Navy, It expands the state’s existing regular session adjourns on Wednes­ flowing in to state coffers. stands with his famiiy Friday at their home at 155 Waiker St., Manchester. Webb came home right-to-die law, which covers day, although Weicker said he still The $7.7 billion budget — includ- only the terminally ill, to those hoped a special session could be from the Persian Guif Thursday, and on Friday, famiiy and friends celebrated his return with a who are permanently uncon­ avoided. Please see VETO, page 8. party. Also pictured, from left, are his mother Louise, his father Bert and his brother Wayne. scious — people in irreversible comas or- persistent vegetative states. Hike in gas prices baffles consumers, retailers Reports: snipef By DENISE LAVOIE frustration every week when they drive into their favorite ’gas $1.13 on March 4 to $1.30 on May 28 for regular self-serve, wounds three The Associated Press station only to see new, higher numbers on the price boards. according to survey figures compiled by the Automobile Club “We’re Ae ones the public sees and they expect an explana­ of Hartford, an affiliate of the American Automobile Associa­ NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP) HARTFORD — Ask a service station owner why gas prices tion ft-om us, but we can’t give them one,” said Charles Mat­ tion. Similar increases have been seen across the country. — A sniper inside a city housing have steadily inched up to $1.30 a gallon. He’ll probably tell ties, president of the Service Station Dealers of Connecticut, Prices began to increase in early March, just after the end of project wounded several people you he doesn’t know. * which represents more than 100 station owners in the state. the Persian Gulf War. During pre-war hostilities, consumers Friday and pinned down police Retailers, distributors and consumer groups are all at a loss Gas prices in Connecticut have jumped an average of 17 with gunfire, a television station to explain why prices keep going iq). Customers vent their cents a gallon since the first week in March, climbing from Please see GAS, page 8. report^. Eyewitnesses told WFSB-TV in Hartford that at least three people were wounded by the Younger Coventry sniper at the (^nnipiac Tbrrace L* * apartment complex in the Fair Haven section of the city. veterans Police were responding to planning reports of a gunshots being fired at the complex when someone began shooting, police at the join VFW troop day scene told the tdevision station. The New Haven Police Department refused to release By RICK SANTOS By RICK SANTOS any information or confirm the Manchester Herald Manchester Herald report when contacted by The A^ociated Press late Riday. 1 MANCHESTER — More than 15 COVENTRY — Get your free years.after the Vietnam War ended, seats on the bus while they’re hot. the membership roles of veterans’ 4 The ride will take you to and from Lexus auto organizations are just now begin­ Westover Air Force Base in ning to show significant numbers of Chictqiee, Mass, to welco&e home wins top honor the once-maligned Vietnam vets. troops fi'om the Persian Gulf as part AGOURA HILLS, Calif. And in stark contrast, veterans of of Coventry Day at Westover. (AP) — Lexus rated first in this year’s war in the Persian Gulf Coventry Day has been scheduled owner satisfaction in the 1991 region are signing up for such for next Saturday, June 8, said JJ).