Opinion

Stromoski’s Skews

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Rick Stromoski was a member of the Police Commission and voted with the majority in support of a grievance filed by a police officer seeking pension credit for time absent due to an on-the-job injury. The First Selectman declined to honor the vote. The issue is addressed fully in the article on this page.

Government/Town

Police Pension Issue Resolution Pending

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A festering dispute relating to a police officer’s pension resulted in disputes between the local Police Union and (some members of) the Police Commission (including our regular cartoonist Rick Stromoski), and the First Selectman’s Office. At this time, it appears that the dispute, while not fully resolved, has come to a head. And the resolution of the dispute may lead to greater clarity regarding the administration of the town’s pension. The underlying dispute involved whether an employee absent from work due to workplace injury covered by workers compensation is entitled to receive pension credit for that time. Officer Jeff Reynolds was out of work from October 2008 until October 2010, following serious injuries suffered as a result of being struck by cars while making police stops.

Government/Town

Highway Garage Plan Nixed

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Or should the headline be “Ffyler Place Project Nixed,” because the two projects are inextricably joined. But the November 6 tri-board Special Meeting of the Boards of Selectmen and Finance and the Permanent Building Committee discussed only the purchase of the existing warehouse/office building at 1160 South Street to become the highway garage. That would free the Ffyler Place property for developer Kevin Casey to build apartments there, which have already received several key approvals. At the tri-board meeting, developer Casey explained how problems in the South Street building would be corrected. With the help of architect David Quisenberry of QA&M Architects, he told how six inches of added concrete would make the floor strong enough for the heaviest highway trucks.

Letter to the Editor

Veterans’ Day Surprise

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Dear Editor,

Veteran’s Day in Suffield had many observances: flags on Main Street, flags on homes, flags at the Veteran’s Memorial Park in the center of town. And most moving were flags on resting places for veterans at Woodlawn Cemetery on Bridge Street. For me the most moving event was when the doorbell rang mid-afternoon and three young scouts from Troop 11963 were at the door. The young middle girl handed me a 3×5 card and five American flag wrapped Tootsie Rolls. The handwritten note on the card: “Thank you for your service”.

Letter to the Editor

A Proper Send-Off

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Dear Editor,

Is it time to let go of the Bridge Street School? I don’t mean in a cold way like demolish it or knock it down. I mean in a thoughtful and caring way to celebrate its passing. Perhaps, a ceremony to reflect on its meaning to the Town of Suffield. Perhaps creating a suitable commemorative structure or monument to memorialize the School and all that it meant to generations of students.

First Selectman’s Update

First Selectman’s Update

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Melissa Mack

I find it helpful every election cycle to reflect on the prior year and ask, why am I doing this job and what do I want to accomplish? The answer is always simple – to improve Suffield’s governance practices as best I can. The task, however, has not been so simple. When first elected in 2015, I quickly learned that the issues that prompted my involvement were just the tip of the iceberg. I underestimated the work to be done and how unpleasant it could be at times.

Op-Ed

Support for the Community Center

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The undersigned members of the Suffield Parks and Recreation Commission wish to express our support for the completion of a community center building in Suffield.

Editorial

The Value of Inclusivity

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Our small town, in every season of the year, seems a peaceful, even a serene, place to live. Its natural beauty is enhanced by the old homes on Main Street and the spacious farms and open land within the town limits. People here are generally warm-hearted and outgoing, quick to help friends and neighbors, interested in community efforts. But beneath its placid surface, there are controversial issues in Suffield that keep bubbling up. The challenge that surfaces first is the question of the earlier referendum to remake the Bridge Street School into a community center.

Library

Suffield Librarian Turns the Page

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Jackie’s retiring. Not an idea I was ready to deal with when we got her resignation letter in October. As president of the Friends of KML, I have been impressed with the number and variety of programs Jackie and her staff continued to provide, even though they were housed at Ffyler Place in a temporary situation for almost five years while the “big house” on Main Street was renovated and made usable again. Jackie grew up in Suffield. Her mother, Elaine Ives, her brother Roger and sister, Cathy Beaulieu, still live here.

Government/Town

The 19th Amendment

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The 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution granted American women the right to vote and was ratified on August 18, 1920, ending almost a century of protest. Courageous and determined women picketed repeatedly in front of the White House, despite a wholly unsympathetic Woodrow Wilson. They were ultimately subjected to arrest and imprisonment, anywhere from a few days to seven months. In prison, suffragettes were subjected to especially cruel treatment. According to J. Carter, Senior Editor at the Acton Institute, the 19th Amendment does not directly mention women.

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Building a Voter Guide

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We thought you might find it helpful to understand the process we undertook to produce the Voter’s Guide. To begin, we drafted questions for the candidates based on information we thought would be helpful for voters to know and then sought input from directors of some of the organizations.

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Voting in Suffield

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The November 5 Municipal Election will be held in the Middle School Gymnasium, 350 Mountain Road, from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.