On Monday evening, the Democratic Town Committee met to conduct regular business. In addition, there was a Democratic Town Caucus which elected seventy five members to the Democratic Town Committee for a two year term.

The town committee’s nominating committee presented its slate of candidates, which the committee as a whole then approved. The meeting then moved into the Democratic Town Caucus where the slate was quickly approved. The members of the newly elected Democratic Town Committee are largely the same as before, with a few new additions. Karen Cusick, a member of the Library Commission and former Democratic Town Chair in Seymour, Richard Kruger, a member of the GAT Commission and former Democratic Town Chair of Ansonia, and Marissa Von Beeden, who is also a member of the Library Commission were voted on to the Democratic Town Committee.

The town committee then resumed its regular meeting. First Selectman Ed Sheehy reported events in town. He reported that the Board of Selectmen voted unanimously to suggest a different location for the proposed cellphone tower on Litchfield turnpike. It was reported that the Amity Board of Education had again discussed the possibility of a cell phone tower at the high school, but there remained opposition by the board. First Selectman Sheehy noted that the Connecticut Siting Council would be holding a hearing at the Center on Tuesday to address this.

Mr. Sheehy also spoke about the Wednesday Board of Selectmen meeting where they were scheduled to award the bid on the repairs to the exterior of the former fire house. Elia Alexiades of the Fire Commission reported that the Fire Department has received its new tanker truck. Sen. Crisco reported on events in Hartford, noting that the deficit continues to increase and the there have been talks about trying to find ways to use stimulus funds to address the deficit. There was also discussion about another effort to get the May municipal elections changed to November for the small number of municipalities, including Woodbridge, that still hold municipal elections.

The next order of business was a presentation by Josh Hershman, son of DTC member Peter Hershman, who is considering running for State Representative in the 114th District which includes Woodbridge, Derby and Orange. Josh has recently graduated from Muhlenberg College and is studying law at University of Connecticut. It was noted that Woodbridge will have six delegates at the State Representative convention and Orange and Derby will each have four delegates. The dynamics of the race, should Rep. Klarides decide to run for a statewide office instead of for reelection as State Representative.

Finally, there was a discussion about current and expected vacancies in various town commissions, including one on Zoning Board of Appeals and one in Human Services. There was also a brief discussion about the election of officers of the Town Committee which should take place in May.

(Cross posted at the Woodbridge Citizen.)