The Madison Beach & Recreation Department oversees programs at the town's parks, runs fall and winter day camps,…More and schedules a variety of educational and fitness programs for town residents. The department also oversees the town's annual tree lighting ceremony at Christmas, and manages the town's before and after-school programs.</p> <p>The department also runs the town's fitness room, which is located at the town campus. Information about the fitness room, the town's Surf Club, route: {:action=>"show", :controller=>"listings", :id=>"madison-surf-club"} -->, Bauer Park, <!-- name: Rockland Preserve, beach passes, and the before and after-school enrollment can be found <a href="http://www.madisonrec.com/info/dept/">on the department's website</a>.</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 town fire marshal is responsible for enforcing the provisions of …More href="http://www.cga.ct.gov/2005/pub/Chap541.htm">Chapter 541 of the Connecticut General Statutes,</a> which relate to fire, emergency and building services. The fire marshal is required every year to inspect daycare centers, movie theaters and schools, among other buildings. The Fire Marshal also investigates fires, inspects fireworks displays and provides advice and safety tips to the public, among other duties.</p> <p>Samuel E. DeBurra, Jr. is the fire marshal here, and Donn Dobson is the deputy fire marshal. The fire marshal's website provides details of the town's open-burning regulations and links to the Office of the State Fire Marshal.</p>

The town's registrars are responsible for elections. In addition to managing federal, state and local elections in…More town, the registrars also conduct primaries and referendums. They also maintain the integrity of all voter files, register new voters and do an annual canvas of voters. One registrar from each party is elected every two years.</p> <p>If you are interested in helping out during elections, please contact the registrars at 203-245-5671 or registrar@madisonct.org. The town's registrars are William Gowanlock (D) and Peter Metz (R).</p>

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 Madison Health Department is responsible for inspecting places where food is served including cafes, bakeries,…More food vendors and grocery stores. The health department also inspects illnesses related to food. The department also is responsible for inspecting all new day care centers and for re-inspecting centers every two years.</p> <p>The health department works to protect the town's water supplies. In conjunction with the Madison Water Pollution Control Authority, the health department is responsible for making sure sewage disposal systems in town are working correctly. Permits are required for all new and repaired systems. The health department also oversees the application process for drilling of any new wells, and administers rules and regulations relating to the Aquifer Protection Program, working with the Water Pollution Control Authority.</p> <p>Other areas of responsibility include communicable diseases, environmental protection, housing regulations, recreational area safety, school inspections, immunization and health education.</p> <p>John Bowers is the director of health and Mac Walker oversees environmental compliance.</p>

The Animal Control Department maintains kennels on Bridge Street at the intersection of Copse Road. Lost pets can be…More picked up there. Pet adoptions also can be arranged through the Animal Control Department by appointment. Rabies vaccinations are required of all dogs and cats in town. Failure to get a pet vaccinated can cost you $121. All dogs six months and older must be licensed with the Town Clerk.</p> <p>Phone calls to the <a href="http://patch.com/L-gCKJ">Madison Police Department</a> about animals are handled by the Madison Animal Control Department unless the animal control officer is not available. If an animal control officer is not available, a patrol officer will handle the call.</p> <p>Lease laws in Madison are enforced according to state statute and town ordinance. The state laws say that  "no owner or keep of any dog shall allow such dog to roam at large upon the land and not under control of the owner or keeper."  Fines range from $25 to $100. The applicable town ordinance requires dogs on public property to be on a leash of no more than 10 feet held by the owner or keeper of the dog, and requires dog owners to immediately remove any feces discharge when off the owner's property. Fines range from $25 to $50.</p>

The Planning and Zoning administrator provides staff support to the Planning and Zoning Commission, the Zoning Board…More of Appeals, the Advisory Committee on Community Appearance and Historic District Commission. The Planning and Zoning administrator makes sure that all of the town's zoning and zoning-related regulations, including those that relate to subdivisions, are followed. The administrator also reviews all zoning, subdivision and Zoning Board of Appeal applications.</p> <p>In addition to the Planning and Zoning administrator, the Land Use offices also includes the assistant zoning enforcement officer, the inland wetlands agent, the building official and assistant building official (runs building inspection program and enforce state code building requirements), the town engineer (responsible for all engineering contracts and construction projects including bridges, roads, driveways, athletic fields and marine development and issues flood hazard permits), the Health Director (enforces the state and local public health codes and ordinances) and the town Fire Marshal.</p> <ul> </ul> <ul> </ul> <ul> </ul> <ul> </ul> <p>The town has published <a href="http://www.madisonct.org/Planning_Zoning/docs/PlanningDevelopmentHandbook.pdf">a 25-page handbook</a> explaining the planning and zoning process and how it is implemented by the Land Use Offices. The handbook provides and explanation of the process and important contact numbers including the following:</p> <ul> <li>Building Department: 203 245-5618</li> </ul> <ul> <li>Engineering Department: 203 245-5611</li> </ul> <ul> <li>Fire Marshal: 203 245-5618</li> </ul> <ul> <li>Health Department: 203 245-5611</li> </ul> <ul> <li>Inland Wetlands: 203 245-5632</li> </ul> <ul> <li>Planning and Zoning: 203 245-5632</li> </ul>

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>

Daniel Hand High School is a public school serving students in grades 9 through 12. With student enrollment of about…More 1,300, the school has more than 110 general education teachers. The sports teams are the Daniel Hand High School Tigers.</p> <p>The high school is accredited by the New England Association of Secondary Schools and each year more than 90 percent of the graduating class goes on to post-secondary education. Barbara Britton is principal. Daniel Zittoun and Cynthia Schneider are assistant principals. </p> <p>The high school is named after businessman and philanthropist Daniel Hand, a descendant of the town's earliest settlers, who donated a two-story brick school building to the town in 1884.</p> <p> </p>