Toxic cleanup
Thursday, 11 March 2010 12:27
Repercussions of the Town Council’s unanimous vote on Raymark waste could be felt well into Stratford’s future.
For years, federal and state officials have cited a lack of consensus among townspeople as a reason for not moving forward with a comprehensive plan for dealing with contamination left over from Raymark.
The cost of unforced errors
Written by John A. Harkins
Thursday, 11 March 2010 12:25
Any municipal government is going to be routinely embroiled in legal proceedings brought by some resident or employee. Those legal proceedings will inevitably cost the taxpayers money in the form of attorneys’ fees, court costs, and settlements. This is the way of the world, and it is why the Town Attorney’s office is one of the larger line items in the Town of Stratford’s budget.
As mayor I must accept the inevitability of routine legal proceedings involving everything from labor negotiations to personnel issues to tax appeals. This does not mean, however, that I should not do everything in my power to avoid unnecessary legal entanglements. To do so is not difficult, requiring only a commitment to good government and competent management.
Clock is ticking on the animal shelter
Written by Stephanie Phillips
Monday, 08 March 2010 13:15
After years of delays, many Stratford residents were disappointed when the Town Council’s Building Needs Committee voted to rebid the contract for a new animal control facility. While required because of ongoing legal issues, anyone who has visited the current facility on Frog Pond Lane can understand the disappointment of animal lovers, as well as the frustration of the dedicated officers who care for the animals housed there.
Give them shelter
Friday, 19 February 2010 12:35
Animal shelters, by their nature, can be sad places. From behind bars, dogs and cats abandoned, abused or neglected, peer out, hoping the next person to stop and look at them might take them home.
Add to that image rusted bars, holes in walls and leaks in ceilings. That’s the pathetic state of the Stratford Animal Control facility on Frog Pond Lane.
