Vol. VII, No. 31 Complimentary (860) 928-1818/e-mail: [email protected] Friday, April 27, 2012 THIS WEEK’S QUOTE Despite rain, officials urge caution while burning ‘THE BEST THING TO DO IS NOT LIGHT “What you don’t ANY FIRES AT ALL’ see with your eyes, BY KERENSA KONESNI region earlier this week, emergency don’t invent with VILLAGER STAFF WRITER personnel and state agencies are your mouth.” An unseasonably dry spring led to asking that residents continue to be a burn ban that has been in effect for cautious about burning brush. most of the last month, and despite According to the Department of the rain that fell throughout the Environmental and Energy Protection (DEEP) springtime gen- Courtesy photo erally sees an increase in the risk for brush fires. With a lack of snowmelt INSIDE Local officials are stressing that resi- this year after a predominately dry dents follow their towns’ rules when it winter, and very few days of rain in comes to brush burning — or better yet, A8-9— OPINION not to burn at all, because of this spring’s A12 — SPORTS dryness. Please Read FIRE, page A11 B2 — HOT SPOT B3— OBITS B4 — CALENDAR ‘First Fridays’ return next week ‘IT’S THE MOST EXCITING THING LOCAL HAPPENING BY MERYL E. WILLETT with a few new twists. and that’s all I’m going to tell VILLAGER STAFF WRITER “I think this year we are you,” said Osbrey. PUTNAM — Last year was going to try and expand on The opening First Friday the flagship year for First all of the ideas we had last of the season will be held Friday events in downtown year, and yes — the ‘Art Friday, May 4, on Main Putnam, and this year’s Attacks’ are coming back,” Street in downtown Putnam events are taking the ball said Putnam Business from 6 to 9 p.m. First Friday and running with it. Association President Karen Committee Co-Chairman The events, which show- Osbrey, adding that for the Sean Condon, owner of case music, art, food, street first Art Attack she is Glimpse of Gaia on Main vendors and the acclaimed requesting the help of the Street, explained what peo- “Art Attacks,” was met with community. ple can expect for the May 4 The House of Representatives on Friday, April 20. success last year and is “We are asking that people event. Fishing Derby Fun expected to return this year from the community bring a “For music we will have Page A9 with the same flair and qual- strip of cloth or a ribbon The Scotch Bonnet; we will ity of entertainment, but that is at least 3 feet long, Please Read FRIDAYS, page A11 A day at the EVERDAY ECOLOGIST PAGE A5 ROUND ROBIN RELAYS State House PAGE A7 VILLAGER OFFERED SNEAK PEEK INTO LEGISLATIVE SESSION BY MERYL E. WILLETT VILLAGER STAFF WRITER Editor’s Note: On Friday, April 20, Villager Staff Writer Meryl Willett was personally invited by State Rep. Mike Alberts, of the 50th District, to visit to State House in Hartford. Willett spent the day tour- ing the building and sit- Visit our website with ting in on one of the final your smart phone or tablet FISHING FUN days of the legislative ses- device! sion. Just scan the “QR code” below with your device and PUTNAM — The Rotary HARTFORD — The lay- instantly be linked to our Fishing Derby drew more than out of the House of website, www.villagernews- 80 participants despite the rain Representatives’ cham- Villager Staff Writer Meryl papers.com, where you can Sunday, April 22, on the bers includes two boards Willett in the Charter Oak read the PDF versions of Quinebaug River at Rotary called “tote boards.” Senate Chair. our newspapers! It’s as easy Park. These boards posted on of the State House in the as that! the walls list all of the Justin St. Martin of Putnam braved Democrats, Republicans, House of Representatives the rain and participated in the the Speaker of the House, Friday, April 20. Putnam Fishing Derby. and Deputy Speaker. All Explaining that the participating members Democrats sit on one side LEFT: Mark Lefebvre of Danielson are shown, so when a vote and the Republicans the tries his luck. is taken it is clear who other, each side has a voted already, and what majority and minority way they voted, explained leader that often speaks in For more photos, turn to page State Rep. Mike Alberts at support of bills being A9! the beginning of his tour Please Read STATE HOUSE, page A13 Benjamin Kipp photos A2 • Friday, April 27, 2012 PUTNAM VILLAGER Board of Finance settles on 1.5-mil increase MERYL E. WILLETT library’s capitol budget; a $10,000 reduction Peter Benoit was right when he said that the those needs, but I mean, we have all heard the VILLAGER STAFF WRITER in the building official’s office; reducing the 1.5 mil [increase] will not really hurt the peo- dismay of the board and the selectmen con- PUTNAM — On Monday, April 23, the Regional Engineer’s expense by $8,000; and ple because over the past few years there has cerning the Board of Education not present- Board of Finance discussed possible reduc- other professional services for the Economic not been an increase. It’s a gradual thing, but ing figures for the retrofitting of the high tions for the town’s budget, ultimately voting and Community Development office was we have to advance and progress and this school. We can’t make a commitment until to reduce the proposed mil rate increase that reduced by $5,000. For the remaining amount looks like the best way to do it,” said we have that. It’s holding everything up,” is to go before taxpayers via Town Meeting needed to bring the mil rate down to the Falzarano. said Falzarano. from 3.5 mils to 1.5. desired 1.5 mils, a total of $127,560 was need- One item that was brought forward by The reductions approved by the board on In order for the board to reduce the budget, ed, which will be taken from the town’s sur- Place to be discussed following the adoption Monday night represent a new proposed bud- various reductions proposed by Chairman plus account and used to supplement the bud- of a budget for the town is the possibility of get of $21,593,152 and will be sent to Town Tony Falzarano and Town Administrator get. creating a capitol improvement program Meeting on May 7 at the Putnam Middle Doug Cutler were discussed and approved by “I feel good about the budget as it stands,” where the town could bundle together capitol School Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. all members of the board, which totaled said Mayor Peter Place. “The board voted and projects for potential bonding. more than $1 million, and affected areas it has been reduced to a 1.5 mil rate. I feel “I’d like to be able to look at capitol expens- Meryl E. Willett may be reached at 860-928- included Economic and Community comfortable with what the Board of Finance es going forward over the next 15, 20, or even 1818, ext. 112, or by e-mail at meryl@vil- Development, the library’s capitol budget, did tonight. It always makes me feel bad 30 years — maybe for the library project, the lagernewspapers.com. general government, and Board of when there is any increase being proposed school, Town Hall, infrastructure costs to the Education, and eliminating the requested for the people of Putnam, but unfortunately town. These are items that will improve the position of a zoning enforcement officer. we are in a position right now where we have town and we can have the funding bonded in The motion made at the meeting intro- unavoidable expenses.” a lump sum,” said Place. duced the following — to cap the increase Falzarano said that the board tried to The packaging of capitol items was pro- being sent to Town Meeting at 1.5 mils, get- retain the most important items in the bud- posed years ago by a former mayor, and ting there with the following cuts: $527,000 get that were presented by Place and Cutler’s according to Falzarano that idea was shot from the Board of Education’s Capitol capitol priorities list. down by taxpayers due to the large sum of Budget; $570,806 from the General “Basically, we don’t want to strap the town money the package represented. Governments capitol budget; $100,000 cut with extremely high taxes, but the town is “We have to take care of what we have first, ACCURACYCCURACY WAATCHTCH from the bridge account; $10,000 from the due for a mil increase. I think that member and this budget will take care of some of A W The Putnam Villager is commit- ted to accuracy in all its news NEWS BRIEF reports. Although numerous safe- guards are in place to ensure accu- rate reporting, mistakes can occur. Flags of the State Capitol. Pictured, Confirmed fact errors will be cor- Davis honored at Rovero congratulates Davis, a stu- rected at the top right hand corner dent at Quinebaug Valley of page A3 in a timely manner. Academic Day Community College and an award If you find a mistake, call winner at Academic Day 2012 at the (860) 928-1818 during normal busi- HARTFORD — State Rep. Danny Capitol. Also pictured, David Baty, ness hours. During non-business Rovero attended the Legislature’s Dean of Student Services and Dr.