Town Officials Seek Way To Provide Recreation Programs To Families In Need

There was a time when the town's Beach & Recreation Department was able to provide substantial discounts and other support to families that might not otherwise be able to participate in the wide variety of educational and enrichment programs provided through that department.

Due to budget constraints, however, that support is no longer available.

At the same time, requests for such support are higher than ever.

After hearing about that problem from the Beach & Recreation Commission, Selectman William Gladstone asked the full Board of Selectmen Monday morning to take action.

Gladstone's proposal receives support from others on board

"I think this is something we should reverse," he said. "I don't think any kid should be denied a chance to participate in a program for lack of available funding.

He received support on that from other board members.

"I totally agree with you," said Selectman Noreen Kokoruda. "And we should do it for seniors as well ... Families can be in crisis and needing this support. It can happen in a week and it can happen in a day."

Kokoruda and the other selectmen also agreed that any such support program should be streamlined and easy for families to access. "The timeline needs to be short and the process needs to be easy," Kokoruda said.

Gladstone said that, while the Beach & Recreation Department was willing to provide such support, it wanted to make sure it was doing so in a way that conformed with town expectations with regard to any application process and that it would not be penalized if it did not meet financial obligations set by the town in terms of how much money the department needs to return to the town for programs it runs.

Selectmen say they will work with Board of Finance to develop appropriate funding mechanism and process

Scot Erskine, Madison Beach & Recreation Director, agreed with that assessment. 

"We just want to have it written down that we have these scholarships available," he said, adding that request for such assistance are mounting. "Still, we need to meet our financial obligations."

The selectmen said they would work with the Board of Finance to set up a mechanism to provide such scholarships, in the amount of several thousand dollars, in a timely manner so that such scholarships would be available soon.

Also at the Board of Selectmen meeting Monday morning, First Selectman Fillmore McPherson reported on his efforts to evaluate whether the town needs a blight ordinance. In late April, of Selectmen to consider creating a town ordinance that would address extreme examples of homeowners refusing to maintain their property, or accumulating junk on their property, to the detriment of their neighbors.

Existing ordinances and regulations examined regarding blight

Gedney pointed out several specific properties that appeared to be examples of the kind of "extreme blight" that might be targeted by such an ordinance.

McPherson said that, since the last meeting, he talked with the town's health division, building inspectors, and zoning enforcement officers to find out "what other hammers we might have, to see if we can deal with what we saw with what we have available to us." 

One of the properties evaluated Friday by health officials and zoning officers likely could be dealt with under existing regulations, he said.

Cautious approach towards any possible blight ordinance encouraged

"This does not mean we are not going to not explore a blight ordinance when appearances alone might prompt action," he said. But he expressed a desire to make sure that the town is fully aware of what can be done with existing regulations before it makes new ones. He said he also is discussing the issue with officials from other municipalities that have such ordinances.

Selectman Joseph A. MacDougald said he supported an extremely cautious approach to considering any kind of blight ordinance. 

"Once you start going into aesthetics and exterior appearances, that is not very well received," he said. He said he liked the idea of the town using existing health and zoning ordinances to approach problems as needed. At the same time, he said he realized that there are examples of properties in town that are extremely run down.

"We're not talking about peeling paint"

"We've all seen the pictures of these things and we're not talking about peeling paint," he said.

"We're not talking about someone who hasn't mowed the lawn," McPherson added.

Selectman William Gladstone recommended that the town's social service department be added to the mix as well.

"It seems like social services should be used as much as ordinances and enforcement and findings," he said.

In other action and discussion

In other action and discussion the selectmen;

• scheduled a public hearing for May 23, 2011 at 8 a.m. regarding program applications proposals submitted for the 2011 Connecticut Neighborhood Assistance Act Tax Credit Program for the Strong Center Project, the E.C. Scranton Memorial Library Children's Room, and the MADE Youth Leadership Program
• appointed an informal committee of Liberty Street residents to explore setting up an Historic Districts Study Committee
• approved an agreement with the South Central Connecticut Regional Emergency Communications System for a ten-year term from May 23, 2011 to May 23, 2021
• approved a solid waste disposal contract for the joint Guilford/Madison Solid Waste Disposal site with Covanta Energy of Wallingford
• retained the services of Milano and Wanat, LLC to represent the town in tax appeal cases, and authorized Miland and Wanat to retain the services of Albert W. Franke Associates Inc as an independent appraiser to provide the town with real estate valuations pertaining to assessment appeals
• awarded a contract for turf maintenance equipment to New England Power Equipment, Old Saybrook for a tractor for a bid price of $23,331 and to Turf Products Inc. of Enfield for an aerator for $24,330.32
• approved a request from Madison Youth and Family Services to accept a $10,000 grant from the Office of Policy and Management
• established a Madison Town Energy and Efficiency Committee, and encouraged residents to apply

The selectmen also encouraged town residents to vote in the referendum scheduled for Tuesday, May 17th on the