New Britain Lawmakers Tell Mayor: Don't Cut School Funds

By DON STACOM, dstacom@courant.com The Hartford Courant 9:39 PM EDT, April 30, 2014 NEW BRITAIN — All five members of the city's legislative delegation are cautioning Mayor Erin Stewart against rolling back the school budget, saying it would violate state law and endanger future state aid. "The current impasse over the education budget allocation is troubling and we fear the implications it might have on future education funding," the five Democrats told Stewart in letter Monday that they released publicly Wednesday afternoon. Stewart, a Republican, is proposing an $118.8 million school budget for next year; local educators say that would be $4.4 million less than they're getting now — and a violation of the state law that protects school budgets against such reductions. But Stewart has said the financially struggling city would have to raise taxes even further to come up with the $4.4 million in dispute. Stewart maintains that money was an independent state grant last year, and never should have been counted as part of the regular school budget. The state's Minimum Budget Requirement law requires communities to spend at least as much on education as they did the year before, but the formula doesn't include one-time state grants. State taxpayers already cover well over half of the cost of running schools in New Britain, one of Connecticut's poorest cities. Sen. Terry Gerratana and Reps. Robert Sanchez, Peter Terczyak, Rick Lopes and Betty Boukus told Stewart that they have consistently brought back higher state aid for education each year. Any spending plan that violates the Minimum Budget Requirement would jeopardize that, they warned. On Wednesday night, Stewart said the legislators' argument leaves out an important fact: Part of the state aid they cite is Alliance District funding, which the state can cut in the future. She contends that former Mayor Tim O'Brien never should have counted a $4.4 million increase in Alliance District funding toward the overall budget. "The question that needs to be asked is what happens when that Alliance grant runs out," she said. Stewart and the council will set a budget and tax rate later this spring. She has said finances are so bleak that New Britain requires a nearly 5-mill tax increase while cutting jobs, raising fees and trimming some services. Copyright © 2014, The Hartford Courant

New Britain Lawmakers Tell Mayor: Don't Cut School Funds

By DON STACOM, dstacom@courant.com The Hartford Courant 9:39 PM EDT, April 30, 2014 NEW BRITAIN — All five members of the city's legislative delegation are cautioning Mayor Erin Stewart against rolling back the school budget, saying it would violate state law and endanger future state aid. "The current impasse over the education budget allocation is troubling and we fear the implications it might have on future education funding," the five Democrats told Stewart in letter Monday that they released publicly Wednesday afternoon. Stewart, a Republican, is proposing an $118.8 million school budget for next year; local educators say that would be $4.4 million less than they're getting now — and a violation of the state law that protects school budgets against such reductions. But Stewart has said the financially struggling city would have to raise taxes even further to come up with the $4.4 million in dispute. Stewart maintains that money was an independent state grant last year, and never should have been counted as part of the regular school budget. The state's Minimum Budget Requirement law requires communities to spend at least as much on education as they did the year before, but the formula doesn't include one-time state grants. State taxpayers already cover well over half of the cost of running schools in New Britain, one of Connecticut's poorest cities. Sen. Terry Gerratana and Reps. Robert Sanchez, Peter Terczyak, Rick Lopes and Betty Boukus told Stewart that they have consistently brought back higher state aid for education each year. Any spending plan that violates the Minimum Budget Requirement would jeopardize that, they warned. On Wednesday night, Stewart said the legislators' argument leaves out an important fact: Part of the state aid they cite is Alliance District funding, which the state can cut in the future. She contends that former Mayor Tim O'Brien never should have counted a $4.4 million increase in Alliance District funding toward the overall budget. "The question that needs to be asked is what happens when that Alliance grant runs out," she said. Stewart and the council will set a budget and tax rate later this spring. She has said finances are so bleak that New Britain requires a nearly 5-mill tax increase while cutting jobs, raising fees and trimming some services. Copyright © 2014, The Hartford Courant

Former New Britain's Town and City Clerk tanks Citizens and Staff.

Former Town and City Clerk Thanks The New Britain Citizens and his Staff. Let me begin by taking this opportunity to express my appreciation to all the voters of New Britain who elected me for town clerk for so long a time. It warms my heart to know so many care. At the same time, I would like to thank the entire staff at the town clerk’s office; without them, nothing could be accomplished. Each and every one of them do a superb job in serving the public. They do this because first they are nice people, but most importantly because they are fully knowledgeable in what they do! Many people do not know the complexities of the town clerk’s office and what’s required to carry out all that’s done. This staff does it all and does it well. . Day in and day out, the staff does all that’s expected and more and all under the direction of Audrey Malkemus, deputy town clerk. Audrey is and has been the driving force in the office. Her friendly manner, her many years of service and her knowledge of every facet in the office and city hall is unsurpassed. Audrey made it easy for me for many years. So to Audrey and the entire staff I say thank you from the bottom of my heart. Peter J. Denuzze Former New Britain Town Clerk

Fraudulent Budget

By: NBCJ

Former Town and City Clerk Thanks The New Britain Citizens and his Staff.

Let me begin by taking this opportunity to express my appreciation to all the voters of New Britain who elected me for town clerk for so long a time. It warms my heart to know so many care. At the same time, I would like to thank the entire staff at the town clerk’s office; without them, nothing could be accomplished. Each and every one of them do a superb job in serving the public. They do this because first they are nice people, but most importantly because they are fully knowledgeable in what they do! Many people do not know the complexities of the town clerk’s office and what’s required to carry out all that’s done. This staff does it all and does it well. . Day in and day out, the staff does all that’s expected and more and all under the direction of Audrey Malkemus, deputy town clerk. Audrey is and has been the driving force in the office. Her friendly manner, her many years of service and her knowledge of every facet in the office and city hall is unsurpassed. Audrey made it easy for me for many years. So to Audrey and the entire staff I say thank you from the bottom of my heart. Peter J. Denuzze Former New Britain Town Clerk

Former Town and City Clerk Thanks The New Britain Citizens and his Staff.

Let me begin by taking this opportunity to express my appreciation to all the voters of New Britain who elected me for town clerk for so long a time. It warms my heart to know so many care. At the same time, I would like to thank the entire staff at the town clerk’s office; without them, nothing could be accomplished. Each and every one of them do a superb job in serving the public. They do this because first they are nice people, but most importantly because they are fully knowledgeable in what they do! Many people do not know the complexities of the town clerk’s office and what’s required to carry out all that’s done. This staff does it all and does it well. . Day in and day out, the staff does all that’s expected and more and all under the direction of Audrey Malkemus, deputy town clerk. Audrey is and has been the driving force in the office. Her friendly manner, her many years of service and her knowledge of every facet in the office and city hall is unsurpassed. Audrey made it easy for me for many years. So to Audrey and the entire staff I say thank you from the bottom of my heart. Peter J. Denuzze Former New Britain Town Clerk

New Britain’s Second World War Forgotten Hero Dies 8-13-12 At The Age Of 93

Mr. Alex Gotavaskas served his boot camp at Camp Edwards with the 231 first infantry battalion and shortly thereafter was sent into the Normandy Invasion that occurred on June 6, 1944. He personally confided to me that he lost many of his fellow infantry companions that drowned while attempting to reach the beach. Once upon his arrival on the beach he indicated that he went from fox hole to fox hole for a period of nine months, without having a bath, citing that “he was lucky to still be alive.” To get him to talk more of his service experiences reluctance was all I was able to get. You had to understand his sense of humor and every that had the opportunity to know him enjoyed his humor. He would appear at Berlin’s McDonalds twice daily and would leave his friends without telling them he was leaving with his familiar walking gate that many tagged him as “the glider.” Always his friends would ask did Alex leave? In an attempt to get him upset I would often say I am leaving and asking him to open the door for me. His reply always would be unprintable. The day Prior to his death a young boy scout open the door for me with my driving home laughing to myself on what I would say to him unfortunately, that never occurred. One could say Alex got the last laugh on me. A coal minor form Shenandoah Penn. came to New Britain’s vibrant manufacturing community seeking employment, after his infantry service, and found that work at Stanley Works. After retiring with his completing 25 years of service he was hired by New Britain’s Board of Education where he again retired. A Friend to all that we now miss. A War Hero that the City of New Britain should “Honor” forever fs