Connecticut Postings

Ever since Stratford’s former Chief Administrative Officer Suzanne McCauley was among several high ranking officials who walked out on new Mayor John A. Harkins during his first day in Town Hall more than two months ago, the town has been operating without its second highest official.

That changed on Monday when Geen Thazhampallath, 35, former top aid to Middletown Mayor Sebastian Giuliano was in his Statford office at Town Hall for his first day as the town’s new CAO. Harkins had been working as mayor and CAO since he was sworn-in Dec. 12 when he replaced former Mayor James R. Miron — whom he defeated the previous month.

“It’s been a whirlwind, there’s a lot of information to digest, people to get to know, and issues to become aquainted with,” Thazhampallath said, adding that becoming familiar with the mayor’s proposed fiscal budget is among his top priorities. “I started just a few days after the mayor released his budget proposal for fiscal 2010-11, and that’s something I am diving into as quickly as possible.”

The new CAO said he has been impressed with “the high level of dedication I have seen in the departments I have visited so far. I’m excited to be here, and to help in whatever way I can within the scope of my responsibilities. ”

It’s endorsement season, as candidates for statewide office try to line up as much party support as possible headed into May’s party endorsement conventions.

Trumbull First Selectman Timothy Herbst Wednesday cast his lot with Republican Tom Foley for governor. Foley is a successful businessman and former U.S. ambassador to Ireland. He was tapped by President George W. Bush to lead efforts to stimulate private-sector development in Iraq after U.S. forces toppled Saddam Hussein.

Herbst’s statement:

“As a municipal Chief Executive, I have seen firsthand how poor decision-making by the Hartford bureaucrats has hurt towns and cities across Connecticut. In light of our current challenges, the people of Connecticut are facing a critical choice this November. Connecticut needs a Governor who is a Hartford outsider, determined to fundamentally change the culture of our state government. It is for these reasons that I am proud to endorse Tom Foley for Governor.”

Author Renowned author/educator Alfie Kohn to speak at Fairfield University

Author and educator Alfie Kohn will give a lecture at 7 p.m., Wednesday, March 31 at the Quick Center at Fairfield U.  Admission is free but tickets are required.
 
Kohn will share ideas for working with children as opposed to doing things to them and will discuss controlling techniques, such as time outs and positive reinforcement and whether they are counterproductive over the long haul.
 
To get tickets, call Kimberly Noll at United Way of Coastal Fairfield County at (203) 339-6308 or email her at  knoll@unitedwaycfc.org by March 29.

NEW HAVEN — A witness who claimed a Shelton developer told him he bribed that city’s mayor was questioned at length this morning about a number of inconsistencies about dates he claimed those conversations took place.
William F. Dow, III, the attorney for James Botti, the developer accused of bribing Shelton Mayor Mark A. Lauretti, pointed out that Andre Czaplinski’s previous testimony before a grand jury was different from testimony Czaplinski gave in federal court Tuesday.
Dow also questioned Czaplinski as to his opinion of Botti’s truthfulness.
“I recall Jim bragging about things,” Czaplinski said.
“Saying things that are not 100 percent accurate,” Dow asked.
“Maybe a few times,” Czaplinski replied.

There could be a leaky roof at the Shakespeare Theater in Stratford less than six months after a $500,000 repair job, and damage may have been sustained inside the theater during last weekend’s wicked rain and wind storm.

Town officials are investigating reports that a leak began either during, or after the storm that did most of its damage in the lower Fairfield County area.

With rain and wind pounding the region, Mayor John A. Hakins was taking no chances, and had a member of his staff check on the long-shuttered Elm Street theater during the storm. While no leak was found, the issue was raised again during a Town Council Building Needs Committee meeting Monday night at Town Hall, and on Tuesday the mayor’s office indicated it was having work crews check again.

“We’re going to have our Public Works and Town Engineering departments check on it, and if there is a roof leak the company from outside Connecticut that did the work will be contacted to come back and fix it,” said Adam Bauer, Harkins’ chief of staff. “The roof was completed by the previous (Mayor James R. Miron) administration last fall, and we’re hoping there wouldn’t be a leak so soon after such a major repair job.”

A man working on the Moses Wheeler Bridge reconstruction project was injured today when a trench he was working in partially collapsed, trapping his lower extremities.
The 47-year-old man was taken to Bridgeport Hospital and with non-life threatening injures.
His name was not released.
He was working in a trench, protected by a trench box composed of wooden beams, which is supposed to protect the worker from any collapse of the trench.
Apparently, the soil shifted and part of the trench box broke, trapping the man’s lower extremities.
During his rescue, the man remained alert.
The incident took place in an area beneath the bridge on Naugatuck Avenue. The man was part of a crew working on supports for the bridge.
State police remain on the scene investigating the cause of the trench collapse.
The injured man is expected to survive.

Police have released the name of the suspect in Sunday’s murder of Ryan Simpson of Woodland Drive, Milford.
Philip Moncrease, 32, of Virginia Avenue, Bridgeport, has been charged with murder, first-degree reckless endangerment, disorderly conduct, operating under suspension, engaging in pursuit, reckless operation, interfering with police, criminal attempt at assault on a police officer and possession of marijuana.
Moncrease is being held in lieu of a $1,000,000 bond and is expected to be arraigned in Milford Superior Court this morning.
Moncrease is accused of stabbing Simpson with a knife during a physical altercation at Simpson’s home.
Moncrease fled the scene in a vehicle accompanied by the youthful offender who was arrested on March 14 for her alleged involvement in this incident.
Officers observed the vehicle operated by Moncrease and attempted to stop him when he continued on entering I-95 northbound.
The vehicle exited the highway when West Haven police officers deployed stop sticks. Moncrease attempted to collide with a police cruiser and continued on until the vehicle stopped in New Haven, where Moncrease fled the vehicle on foot. Police took custody of Moncrease who sustained injuries after struggling with the police K9s during the apprehension. Moncrease was transported to the hospital and kept under police observation until his release from the hospital early today.
Moncrease was found to be in possession of marijuana during the incident. Investigation revealed that Moncrease had discarded the knife allegedly used in the incident on the highway which was recovered by police.