NewHartfordPlus.com

Video Segment 1: Operations Update

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At their Regular Meeting on Tuesday, November 22, First Selectman Dan Jerram gave a series of updates, including a report on operations related to the recent snowstorm and resulting power outage. In this first video segment, the Board also discusses a property transfer at RRDD1.
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Video Segment 2: Opportunity for Public Input

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In the second video segment below, Dan Eddy, Chairman of the Brodie Park South Study Commitee, requests $1,800.00 for studies of three potential sites for future sports fields. First Selectman Dan Jerram also discusses a letter received from the Conservation Commission concerning the Commission’s role in the stewardship of Town property. Later, a resident expresses concern about a lack of support services for Senior Citizens as highlighted by the late October storm.
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The New Hartford Historical Society hosted a presentation on Wednesday, June 15, on ‘The Old Mill (a.k.a. Barn or Tannery) and the Blacksmith Shop In Bakersville’ by historian William Hosley.   Over 100 residents, from all parts of town, packed the Senior Center for this unique event – a testament to the affection which the buildings inspire in all of us.  Bob Moore, NewHartfordPlus techie, was also there and he recorded the presentation which he has now processed and made available on YouTube.

Enjoy Bill Hosley’s presentation and the announcement at the end by Scott Goff about his family’s plans for the Old Mill and the Blacksmith Shop, even as the Old Mill was being dismantled.

Click on the following image to see the video on YouTube.

Click on the image to see the video on YouTube of the presentation on The Old Mill & Blacksmith Shop in Bakersville by Bill Hosley

See also Maria Moore’s July 11 Photojournal of the Bakerville Barn In Its Last Days.

The 4th of July parade in Barkhamsted is a small-town affair of the best kind: friendly, fun and with formalities kept to a minimum. Bob Moore, NewHartfordPlus’ “techie” was there to video the event and has posted the parade on YouTube; click on the YouTube image to view Bob’s video.

Our apologies: a “snafu” with the video camera resulted in the ceremony at the school being unavailable.

The horn section of Barkhamsted's 4th of July parade this year. Photo: Maria Moore

Also see our photographer’s, Maria Moore’s, photojournal of Barkhamsted’s 4th of July parade and ceremony.

Text & Video By: Maria & Bob Moore

Patty Larkin gave a terrific performance during the sixth and final concert in this year’s Nights at the Beekley Music Series. A seasoned performer, she was perfectly at ease playing to the sold-out house during Saturday’s show at the Library-turned-night club.

Patty’s performance ranged from the conversational ‘Lately’ to the haunting, looping sound of ‘Dear Heart’ with several stops along the way at rock-infused numbers, such as ‘The Book I’m Not Reading.’ Such a broad, musical range might have challenged less experienced performers but Patty moved freely among the genres, making each a part of her distinctive repertoire. Many in the audience were long-time fans, as evidenced by the avalanche of requests they made in response to her invitation for song suggestions at the end of the first set.

Following is Patty performing ‘Beautiful,’ on her blue Fender Strat, which could have easily inspired the name of the song:

By: Bob Moore

This past Saturday, April 30 was the the perfect Spring day to begin the baseball season in New Hartford. The Opening Day ceremony had been scheduled for last Saturday, April 23, but had to be postponed because of heavy rain that day. Yesterday was perfect, the field was filled with young players eager to start the season and it was time to “Play Ball!” Following is the video of the Opening Day Ceremony.

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Photo of Opening Day 2011 at Brown’s Corner:

Opening Day 2011, Brown's Corner, New Hartford CT. Photo: Maria Moore

The Annual Budget Meeting was held yesterday evening at 7:00 p.m. The meeting followed the procedure that has evolved in New Hartford since 1990, when the town’s budget began to be automatically sent to referendum by the town’s Selectmen, and by so doing removing the voters ability to discuss and make changes to the budget before voting on the budget at the meeting or at referendum.

Following is the video of that 2011 Annual Budget Meeting which lasted less than 10 minutes. Below the video is a written account of that meeting, with our reporter’s attempt to introduce the budget for discussion at that meeting and Daria Hart’s introduction into the proceedings of a 1992 letter from then-Town Attorney Pickard which specified the steps to follow at the Annual Budget Meeting, one of which is the consideration of the budget during the meeting.

Video of 2011 Annual Budget Meeting

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Report on the 2011 Annual Budget Meeting

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The Annual Budget Meeting, which now lasts between 5-10 minutes, was sandwiched between the Board of Selectmen’s meeting last night. First Selectman Dan Jerram opened the selectmen’s meeting and then adjourned it for the Annual Budget Meeting. At the end of Annual Budget Meeting, the First Selectman again opened the Selectmen’s meeting.

For the most part, the Annual Budget Meeting followed what has become established as its normal path:

• Reggie Smith Jr. was elected the Moderator of the meeting.
• Reggie read the legal Notice of the Annual Budget Meeting (see a copy of the Notice below).
• Reggie then announced that in accordance with State Statute 7-7, the selectmen had removed Item # 1 from the agenda of the meeting; that is, the selectmen removed from the meeting the consideration of the budget, and with it, the ability of taxpayers present to directly cut or remove specific line items from the budget.

At this point, the normal procedure was interrupted by Maria Moore, a taxpayer in New Hartford and NHPlus’ editor/reporter, who made a point of order motion asking for the floor to be opened to discussion.  Reggie asked on what basis and our reporter answered to discuss the budget, as provided under State Statute 7-344.  Reggie responded: “While I as a citizen may or may not agree with you – and actually I do –  according to State Statute the Selectmen also have the authority to remove this item from the agenda therefore this item does not exist on this day and any questions on the item do not exist therefore we must move on to Item # 2.”  Our reporter then asked: “Even though by removing it you are breaking a state statute?” Reggie responded: “In accordance with this issue of 7-7, the Selectmen are not violating the law and I’m not going to discuss this further.”

At this point Daria Hart, Registrar of Voters and the unofficial Parliamentarian of our town meetings, said: “Point of Information.” At which Reggie said: “Sure.”  ”I thought that, based on a letter received in 1992, a letter received from then Town Attorney John Pickard, we have the option to discuss and vote, and to discuss and move the discussion to…”  Reggie cut Daria off at this point saying: “Returning to what the Selectmen have done, according to 7-7, they have the legal authority to remove that item  from the agenda, therefore at this time we are not going to take any more questions.  This item is closed as far as this Moderator is concerned.  Thank you for your time.”

With that, the meeting returned to its  normal procedure.  Reggie proposed the motion to move item # 2, the budget, to referendum.  Jamie Hall made the motion, Sue Lundin seconded the motion and hearing no discussion, Reggie called a vote and a strong “Aye” came back in response; the only one opposed to the motion was our reporter, Maria Moore.

The Board of Finance’s proposed budget, which was not submitted to consideration by taxpayers at the Annual Budget Meeting, is the budget that will be voted on by the taxpayers at the referendum on May 3.

Roll Call of the 2011 Annual Budget Meeting

As we did with last year’s Annual Budget Meeting, see our report of April 27, 20 10, we are including the roll call of those in attendance at this year’s Annual Budget Meeting.  Please note that the Annual Budget Meeting was to be immediately followed by a Board of Selectmen Meeting at which State Senator Kevin Witkos (Republican) was to given a presentation on the state budget for the upcoming fiscal year; this may have influenced the attendance of those at the Annual Budget Meeting.

Officials at the meeting:

• First Selectman Dan Jerram (R)
• Selectman Tom Klebart (D)
• Absent: Selectman Bruce Gresczyk (R)
• Town Clerk Donna LaPlante (D)

Moderator:

• Reggie Smith, Jr. (R), Board of Finance member

Taxpayers (from the left):

First row:

• Christine Hayward (not a New Hartford resident), administrative Assistant to the First Selectman
• Alesia Kennerson (Republican), Board of Finance member

Second row:

• Sue Lundin (party?), New Hartford Public Schools Board of Ed Chair
• Jim Jerram (party?), father of First Selectman
• Maureen Jerram (party?), mother of First Selectman
• Jamie Hall (Republican)
• Anne Hall (party?)

Second row:

• Maria Moore (Unaffiliated), editor/reporter NHPlus
• Daria Hart (Democrat), Registrar of Voters, unofficial Parlimentarian of town meetings
• Katie Fisk Natale (Democrat), New Hartford Public Schools Board of Ed member
• Unidentified taxpayer
• Unidentified taxpayer
• Noel Gauthier (Republican), Northwestern Regional # 7 Board of Ed member

Back row:

• Dan LaPlante (Republican)
• Elaine Carmelich (Democrat), New Hartford Public Schools Board of Ed member
• Penny Miller (Republican)
• Steve Tuxbury (Republican), New Hartford Public Schools Board of Ed member
• Denton Butler (Republican)

Standing at the back of the Senior Center:

• Rob Jerram (Republican), Northwestern Regional # 7 Board of Ed member, brother of First Selectman
• Carleen Jerram (Republican), wife of First Selectman
• Ben Witte (Republican), Board of Finance Chairman
• Annie Witte (Republican), town bookkeeper
• Lila Tuxbury (Republican) Registrar of Voters
• Gordon Ross (Republican), Town Treasurer
• Steve Nadeau (party?), Principal of New Hartford Elementary and Bakerville Schools

Note: Cameraman Bob Moore, (Democrat) NHPlus techie and husband of our reporter Maria Moore, was at the meeting as the cameraman and did not participate in the meeting or the voting.

Future Updates:

We will continue to report on the issue of the procedure being followed by the town’s Selectmen to bring the town budget to a vote.

1992 Letter from then-Town Attorney John (Jack) Pickard

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The point of interruption made by Daria Hart was to officially introduce into the proceedings the May 1, 1992, letter from then Town Attorney John Pickard to then First Selectman Bruce Gresczyk.  The letter says:

“The steps which should be taken to remove the decision on the annual budget from the town meeting to a separate vote are as follows:

1.  Give notice of the Town Meeting at least five (5) days before and include in the call an item: “To consider and act upon the Town Budget recommended by the Board of Finance for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1992.”

2. Hold a Selectmen’s meeting at least five (5) days prior to the date of the Town meeting and vote to remove the above item on the call for submission to the voters in the manner provided in C.G.S. Sectin 7-7.

3.  At the Town Meeting the budget can be discussed, but no vote is taken.

The vote should be scheduled not less than seven (7) nor more than fourteen (14) days after the Town Meeting.  The question could be phrased as folows:

Shall that (stet) the Town appropriate the sum of $__________ as its budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1992?

If you have any further questions, please call me.”

Below is a copy of that letter:

Bunny Day is alive and well and is still as popular as it has ever been as it held its 30th event recently at New Hartford Elementary School. “Paul, I can’t believe you’re still doing this!” Our reporter said to Paul Cryan as he hurried around, making final preparations for the 3-5-Year Olds Egg Hunt. Our reporter’s son is 25 and he’d enjoyed Bunny Day in the early ’90s at the then-Pine Meadow elementary. “I know it, it’s been 30 years since we started this when my son was young. Now this year, my grandchildren are here.” Paul said with a smile, as he hurried off on his duties.

Soon it was time for the children to line up, for Paul to show them the special egg which entitled the child who found it to claim a prize from the prize table. And then, the egg hunt started and the children darted to and fro, filling their Easter baskets with the small, chocolate eggs that lay scattered across the field. All too soon the eggs had all been found and happy family groups gathered around their littles ones, admiring the stash of goodies in their baskets.

And how about the stragglers, those who got to the race after it was over? “You won’t find too many out there, buddy. Here’s a few for your basket.” Paul was overheard to say to a youngster who stood there with an empty basket, as he discretely scattered a couple of handfuls of chocolate eggs on the grass in front of the excited child.

“Happy Easter, Everyone,” and a special “Happy Easter” to Paul Cryan and the other sponsors of Bunny Day, for continuing this happy ritual for our children, and our children’s children, to enjoy!

Video of 3-5-Year-Olds Race At 30th Annual Bunny Day, Saturday, April 16, 2011

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Tom Goddu, whose daughter Tessa was participating in the 3-5-Year-Olds Race, shot a video of that race and has posted it on his YouTube Channel sk8sonh20.  Thanks to Tom, we’re posting that video below.  Please click through to watch that video on YouTube so that the number of views can be added to Tom’s video.

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Photos Of 30th Annual Bunny Day

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The images below were taken by our photographer, Maria Moore, who bravely sat at the farther end of the field as the swarm of 3-5-Year-Olds and sundry supporters rushed towards her in search of Easter eggs. “I should be getting Hazardous Duty pay!” She said to herself, making sure she was farther back than the farthest eggs.

The Board of Finance held a Budget Hearing on Tuesday, April 5 at which all three budgets were presented by their respective bodies to residents. Bob Moore, NewHartfordPlus techie, video’ed the three-hour meeting and he will be adding three separate videos of the hearing as they are processed.  Below is the first video of the Regional # 7 presentation:

Video # 1: Northwestern Regional # 7 Budget Presentation

After Board of Finance member Reggie Smith opened the meeting and handed the chairmanship back to Ben Witte (who had rearranged his work travel schedule to be at the hearing), the first budget was presented by Molly Sexton Read, Chairperson of Northwestern Regional # 7 Board of Ed. Following is the video of her presentation:

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Video # 2: Town Administration Budget Presentation

The second budget presentation was made by First Selectman Dan Jerram. Following is the video of his presentation:

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Video # 3: New Hartford Public Schools Budget Presentation

The final budget presentation was made by Superintendent Dr. Philip O’Reilly. Following is the video of his presentation.  Included are some of the comments made after the presentation.

By: Bob Moore

‘Changing Land, Changing Animals,’ a presentation by Marjery Winters, Assistant Director at Roaring Brook Nature Center, was sponsored by The New Hartford Historical Society and the New Hartford Land Trust on April 4. In her presentation Marjery discussed how land use in this region has changed over the last 500 years and how those changes have affected the wildlife in our area. She also discussed how current land use management practices will affect wildlife in the future. Following is her presentation:

‘Changing Land, Changing Animals’ is the third in a series of presentations sponsored by the New Hartford Historical Society; the first was a discussion of the Founding of New Hartford by Town Historian David Krimmel, and the second was a talk by Peter O’Brien on The People, Material Culture and Relationships in New Hartford in the 18th Century.

Video & Text By: Bob Moore

The New Hartford Historical Society recently presented the second in a series of talks providing insight into the early days of New Hartford. Peter O’Brien presented ‘The People, Material Culture and Relationships in New Hartford in the 18th Century’. The video of that talk is available on YouTube by clicking on the image below. Here is a link to the interview we did with Peter on the day before his talk.

We also produced a video of  Town Historian David Krimmel’s presentation “The Founding of New Hartford”.

The next in the series  is scheduled for April 6th. Margery Winters, Assistant Director at the Roaring Brook Nature Center, will discuss how land use in this region has changed over the last 500 years and how these changes have affected our wildlife.  The presentation begins at 7:00 p.m. on the third floor of the New Hartford Town Hall, 530 Main Street..

By: Bob & Maria Moore

The Board of Finance held a Special Meeting on Tuesday evening, March 22, with a twofold purpose: the first, to hear public comments on the budget process so far, and the second, to discuss the Town Budget for the upcoming fiscal year 2011-12. The meeting was held at Ann Antolini in the Multi-Purpose room to accommodate any number of residents who might turn out for the meeting.

Bob Moore, NewHartfordPlus techie, videotaped the Public Comment section of the meeting and is making that video available below.

Altogether, about two dozen residents attended the meeting and of those 8 or so gave their input on the budget. Most of those who spoke addressed the high cost of education in the budget and asked for those costs to be brought under control.

A much greater number of residents had chosen to communicate in writing with the BOF members, and of those the overwhelming majority were in support of a zero-increase budget. They, most likely, had written in response to an email that circulated among taxpayers alerting them of the 5.69% increase in property taxes that would result from the proposed budgets that had been presented at the Saturday morning Budget Workshop.see the copy of the email posted on NewHartfordPlus.

“I received 30 emails, and only one was in favor of the budgets that were proposed (at the Board of Finance’s Saturday morning Budget Workshop).” Ben Witte, BOF Chairman said. He then read aloud portions of several of the emails he had received to give a sense of residents’ input: to hold the line on spending, especially on education. “Looking at the names on these emails – they’re not the kinds of people you usually hear from.” He commented. Other BOF members agreed, saying that they too had received similar emails.

With the Public Comment portion of the meeting closed, the BOF members then turned their attention to a discussion of the Town budget for the upcoming fiscal year; see our companion report After Taxpayers Give Their Input, Board Of Finance Considers Budget, Eyes 1.8% Tax Increase.

Following is the video of the Public Comment section of the March 22 Board of Finance meeting:

By: Bob & Maria Moore

Guggenheim Grotto, a Dublin-based alt-folk group, recently performed at the ‘Nights At The Beekley’ Music Series at the Beekley Community Library.  The duo, playing to a packed house, more than fulfilled their audience’s expectations with their repertoire of original songs.  Drawing inspiration from such diverse sources as a troubadour brother, Leonard Cohen, and “a retreat from hell” on Cape Cod, the two weaved a rich mantle from the fabric of their modern lives interwoven with their Celtic roots.  They delighted their audience with their mix of musical instruments, but never more so than when they accompanied themselves with the evocative sound of the ukelele.

Their last number epitomized the evening: They performed ‘The Universe Is Laughing’ while standing on chairs at the back of the room, accompanied only by a ukelele. It was a poignant performance, and at the end of the song, the audience let out a collective gasp of appreciation.

The lights were out for the last song, and so the video was dark. But the audio on Bob the techie’s camcorder was good, and he made it the soundtrack for a montage of photos taken by three photographers who were there that evening: Wayne Lin, an amateur photographer from Stratford (see more of Wayne’s work at his Flickr account); Matt Ludmer, also an amateur photographer; and Maria Moore from NewHartfordPlus. Below is Guggenheim Grotto performing ‘The Universe Is Laughing’ on Saturday, March 12 at the Beekley:

By: Bob Moore

Following is a video recording of the public comment section at the beginning of the Brodie Park South Study Group/Committee held on February 24 on the third floor of the Town Hall. A large number of New Hartford Football supporters, as evidenced by their Wolverines red sweatshirts, attended the meeting as well other members of the public.

Members of the Study Group initially sitting at the conference table at the front of the room were (from left to right): Rick Berneike (Youth Sports), Alison Murdock (Conservation Commission) and Dan Eddy (Chairman of the Study Group and Rec Commission member). Shortly after the start of the meeting they were joined by Corina Hughes (Friends of Brodie Park) and later former First Selectman Bob LaGoy (sitting in for Jean Cronauer of Open Space Preservation). Absent from the meeting were John Maschi, Rec Commission Chairman, and a representative from the Senior Center Board.

Dan Eddy recapped the work of the Committee for the audience, followed by First Selectman Dan Jerram, who presented figures obtained from Youth Sports of the numbers participating in each of the various sports in New Hartford. The floor was then given over to members of the public for their comments and questions.

By: Bob Moore & Maria Moore

Amy Speace came to New Hartford and her performance lit up the Night at the ‘Nights at the Beekley’ concert on Saturday, February 12.

As David Sessions said to the audience in his introduction: “I’ve told Amy that we’re the kind of a crowd that likes to hear her talk about her music and I hope to learn a lot more about it this evening.” And that’s exactly what Amy proceeded to do.

The evening was a delightful mix of stories of the people in her life, and the stories in her songs, which sometimes related to each other and sometimes did not. But no matter. The stories were charming, and Amy’s music stands on its own, with no need for props or help of any kind. Accompanied only by her guitar and ukelele, Amy enchanted her audience. Whether crooning a love song as in “It’s too late to call it a night,” or whooping it up as in “Double Wide Trailer,” her sweet, melodious voice carried her audience with her on a journey of musical discovery from Near-New York (Jersey) to Nashville and back again to New Hartford, where she made everyone feel,as she said at the beginning of the evening: “… you’re my kind of people!” And for her audience that evening at the Beekley, Amy was the star who lit up their night.

Amy’s music spans a vast emotional range. Here’s one example as she sings “Weight of the World” which was performed by Judy Collins at the Newport Folk Festival, albeit without acknowledgement. But let Amy tell you about that…

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Bob’s hands-down favorite from the concert is Amy’s rendition of “Battened Hatches” by New Haven composer Chuck E. Costa. Listen and you’ll see why Amy Speace’s music is so easy to love…