The Madison Probate Court has jurisdiction over a wide range of important legal and family matters including the…More probating of wills, the administration of estates, and the administration of testamentary and living trusts. The court also is responsible for the guardianship of the mentally retarded, minor children and the estates of minor children. Termination of parent's rights, the finalization of adoptions and the granting of name changes also are determined by the Probate Court, among other issues. It also deals with the psychiatric commitment of children and adults, and drug- and alcohol-related commitment of adults.</p> <p>The Madison-Guilford Probate Court is ocated in Madison's Memorial Town Hall on the town green. The courts are being merged as part of statewide plan to bring number of courts down to 54 from 117.</p>

The Department of Finance helps manage the town's accounts, payroll, treasury and other fiscal affairs. The…More department's responsibilities include making a summary of town expenditures, appropriations, and current balances of reserve and capital project funds.</p> <p>The department then prepares a report with that information to be presented at regular meetings of the Board of Finance. The department also is responsible for preparing an accounting procedures manual relating to town government financial and accounting activities, which is then approved by a vote of the Board of Finance. Dorothy Bavin is the<b> </b>director of finance and Arthur Williams is the town's accountant and assistant treasurer.</p>

The inland and coastal wetlands agencies include the Office of the Inland Wetlands Agency and the state Department of…More Environmental Protection, Office of Long Island Sound. The Inland Wetlands Agency monitors town wetlands that contain only fresh water and poorly drained soils. The Department of Environmental Protection, Office of Long Island Sound watches over coastal wetlands, also known as tidal wetlands.</p> <p>The town's Inland Wetlands Agency includes seven members and three alternates. The Inlands Wetlands Agency meets the first Monday of the month at 7:30pm in Meeting Room A at the Madison Town Campus, 8 Campus Drive, unless meetings are cancelled. The meeting schedule is posted online. Robert Kuchta is the town's Inland Wetlands Officer. </p> <p>To find out more about regulations relating to coastal wetlands or tidal wetlands, visit the state Department of Environmental Protection, Office of Long Island Sound web page.  The state DEP's town assignments and contact information are also available online.  Madison is part of the DEP's Eastern District, which includes the shoreline from Branford to Stonington.</p> <p>For additional information about government agencies and organizations that help monitor the Long Island Sound wetlands, visit the Long Island Sound Resource Center.</p> <p>The wetlands provide buffers from the wind, shade and natural air conditioning, keep water from flooding non-wetland areas, and keep wells and reservoirs filled in times of drought. Wetlands also provide habitats for plants and animals and help moderate the earth's temperature.</p> <p>Inland Wetland Agency website: http://www.madisonct.org/Inland_Wetlands/faq.html; address, 8 Campus Drive, Madison, CT 06443.</p> <p>Department of Environmental Protection, Long Island Sound: website, http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?A=2705&Q=323790; address, 79 Elm Street<br>Hartford, CT 06106</p>

The Ryerson Elementary School of one of three elementary schools serving students Grades K to 4 in town. The…More principal is Kelly K. Spooner. </p> <p>The Ryerson School PTO helps support many school activities including arts programs, field trips, computer hardware and software, and refreshments for school concerts and special events. Parents are encouraged to volunteer. Annual fundraisers include the annual membership drive, book fair, the fall gift-wrap sale and the Fun Fair. Meetings are monthly, usually the second Monday of the month, at 7:30pm. For more information, parents can read the <a href="http://www.madison.k12.ct.us/page.cfm?p=1076">PTO page on the school website</a>.</p> <p>The classroom teacher selects room parents on a lottery basis. Duties include helping in the classroom and with holiday parties, scheduling parent/teacher conferences, collecting PTO dues and attending PTO meetings and helping with the Fun Fair.</p>

Island Avenue Elementary School is one of three elementary schools serving students grades K to 4. The principal is…More Kathy A. Nutley. PTO meetings are held in the school's multipurpose room. Times and dates are posted on the <a href="http://www.madison.k12.ct.us/page.cfm?p=554">school website</a>. Parents also are encouraged to become involved by h<a href="http://www.madison.k12.ct.us/page.cfm?p=534">elping out in the library</a>.</p> <p>Parents dropping off students should circle around the back and return to the front drop off point, making sure the child exits the car on the passenger side. To pick up in the afternoon, parents should park their cars and come inside the back of the school for the pick up line.</p>