03/05/10 The Greenwich Time Wont Report On What's Going To Happen At The Next Planing And Zoning Meetting, But Greenwich Roundup Will

Click To Enlarge P And Z Documents

TOWN OF GREENWICH PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION
Town Hall Meeting Room
101 Field Point Road, Greenwich, CT
March 9, 2010

FINAL AGENDA

REGULAR MEETING 6:00 PM

1. Update and progress report on POCD Implementation.

2. Former Cos Cob Power Plant Town of Greenwich; application FSP #4037-C for a final coastal site plan for placement of earthen cap, stabilization of existing shoreline for remediation, construction of turf field, playscape, open air pavilions, walking trail, amphitheater, parking, roadways, utilities and conceptual water access plan on a 9.678 acre property located at 22 Sound Shore Drive in the R-6 zone. (Staff: KB) (Must decide by 4/3/2010) (Maximum extension available to 4/3/2010) (Continued from the 1/5/2010 and 2/23/2010 meetings) (Seated: Heller, Farricker, Heimbuch, Maitland, and Brooks, [for Marchese]) (Page Number: 9)

3. Boxwood Trading Company; application PSP #4067 for a preliminary site plan for the alteration of the exterior area to the rear of the building that had been used for parking on a 3,482 sq. ft. property located at 33 Lewis Street in the CGBR zone. (Staff: CT) (Applicant’s Presentation: 10 minutes) (Must decide by 3/11/2010) (Maximum extension available to 5/13/2010) (Continued from the 2/2/2010 meeting) (Seated: Heller, Farricker, Heimbuch, Maitland, and Marchese) (Page Number: 111)

4. DISCUSSION ITEMS:
a) Greenwich Academy; 200 North Maple Avenue – discussion on changes to approved site plan due to removal of landscaping near tennis courts and drainage revision. (Page Number: 137)
b) 96 Lewis Street; confirmation of approval on revised building plans to allow 5 parking spaces instead of the 6 required to comply with Section 6-100. (Page Number: 163)

PUBLIC HEARING 6:30 PM
5. 382 Greenwich Partners, LLC; applications FSP #4070 and SP #4071 for a final site plan and special permit to construct a residential rooftop terrace on an existing mixed use building on a 16,019 sq. ft. property located at 382 Greenwich Avenue in the CGBR zone. (Staff: CT) (Applicant’s Presentation: 10 minutes) (Must open by 3/11/2010) (Maximum extension available to 5/15/2010) (Page Number: 169)

6. Arenz/Bernard; application FRSB #1982 for a final re-subdivision for a proposed equal area exchange of 3,790.67 sq. ft. on a 3.617 acre property located at 40 Beechcroft Road, and 44 Grahampton Lane in the RA-2 zone. (Staff: PL) (Applicant’s Presentation: 10 minutes) (Must decide by 3/15/2010) (Maximum extension available to 5/14/2010) (Page Number: 201)

7. Peter M. and Patrick P. Buccieri; applications FSP #4074 and SP #4075 for a final site plan and special permit to demolish an existing 2-family residence, detached garage, and construct two structures with a total of 5 dwelling units per units on a 0.5707 acre property located at 24 Harold Street in the R-6 zone. (Staff: CT) (Applicant’s Presentation: 10 minutes) (Must open by 3/11/2010) (Maximum extension available to 5/15/2010) (Page Number: 213)

8. Luca’s Steakhouse, Inc., and Sherwood Plaza Realty, LLC, Luca Gabriele, Daniel Gabriele, and Eugena Gabriele; applications FSP #4045 and SP #4046, for a final site plan and special permit to make changes to the façade, rear entry roof equipment and surrounding sound enclosure and revise the landscaping plan and transformer location, which are revisions to the approved site plans and special permit (FSP #3996 and FSP #3463 and SP #3467) for changes to the restaurant and banquet facility building on a 1.89 acre property located at 35, 39, 43, and 47 Church Street, 2, 3, and 4 Putnam Court and 32, 36, and 42 Sherwood Place in the CGBR/CGB/R-6 zones. (Staff: DF) (Applicant’s Presentation: 10 minutes) (Must close by 3/10/10) (Maximum extension available to 3/25/10) (Opened at the12/15/09 meeting) (Seated DH, FF, RM, FB [for Heimbuch], MA [for Marchese]) (Page Number: 247)

9. 644 West Putnam Associates, LLC; applications FSP #4051 and SP #4052 for a final site plan and special permit to construct a new two story, 36,139 square foot commercial building with retail on the first floor to be used by a bank and a drug store, with drive-up windows (ATM only for the bank), and retail/office on the second floor with 191 spaces and 8 handicapped spaces on a 74,512 sq. ft. property located at 644 West Putnam Avenue in the LB and GBO zones. (Staff: DF) (Applicant’s Presentation: 10 minutes) (Must close by 3/16/2010) (Maximum extension available to 5/20/2010) (Continued from the 2/9/2010 meeting) (Seated: DH, FF, RM, RH, MA [for Marchese]) (Page Number: 291 )

10. 429 Taconic Road, LLC; applications PSP #4068 and SP #4069 for a preliminary site plan and special permit to demolish the existing house, cottage, 2 garages, pool house, pool, and tennis court, and construct a new house, barn, garage, indoor riding ring, outdoor riding ring, and associated drainage improvements on a 13.295 acre property located at 429 Taconic Road in the RA-4 zone. (Staff: KB) (Applicant’s Presentation: 10 minutes) (Must open by 3/11/2010) (Maximum extension available to 5/15/2010) (Page Number: 318)

11. David Vitka; applications PSP #4076 and SP #4077 for a preliminary site plan and special permit for a proposed parking lot on vacant property located on a 6,799 sq. ft. property at 336 West Putnam Avenue in the GB zone. (Staff: PL) (Applicant’s Presentation: 5 minutes) (Must open by 3/11/2010) (Maximum extension available to 5/15/2010) (Page Number: 374)

12. Urstadt-Biddle Properties; applications PSP #4079 and SP #4080 for a preliminary site plan and special permit to convert 350 sq. ft. of an existing 18,186 sq.ft., building from Day Care to medical office on a 0.945 acre property located at 25 Valley Drive in the GBO zone. (Staff: MK) (Applicant’s Presentation: 10 minutes) (Must open by 3/11/2010) (Maximum extension available to 5/15/2010) (Page Number: 391)
REGULAR MEETING CONTINUED

13. APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
February 23, 2010

14. OTHER:
a. Executive Session on pending litigation or personnel matters.
b. Other items as may properly come before the Commission.

APPLICATIONS HEARD PREVIOUSLY THAT WILL BE HEARD ON SUBSEQUENT MEETINGS

Greenwich High School Music Instruction Space and Auditorium Expansion; applications PSP #4035, SP #4036 and MI #0578 for a preliminary site plan/special permit, and municipal improvement to increase the floor area from 412,945 square feet to 450,253 square feet through the construction of a new Auditorium and stage house, create a secondary entrance plaza, maintain the 663 parking spaces on site, realign bus loop and student parking along east side of the school, add handicapped accessible parking spaces, realign entry drive currently adjacent to the north of the science wing, restripe northern parking lots, enlarge and reconfigure western parking lot, and minimize footprint of southern parking lot on a 54.87 acre property located at 10 Hillside Road in the RA-1 and RA-20 zones. (Staff: DF/PL) (Applicant’s Presentation: 10 minutes) (Must close PSP and SP by 5/13/2010) (Maximum extension available to 5/13/2010) (Must Decide MI by 5/3/2010) (Continued from the 2/2/2010 meeting) (Seated: Heller, Farricker, Heimbuch, Maitland, and Marchese)

Aquarion Water Company of Connecticut; applications FSP #4057 and SP #4058 for improvements and additions to the Aquarion Water Company Treatment Plant including the construction of a new clearwell for increased capacity, construction of a new chemical storage facility, and the construction of a temporary sound barrier during construction so as to mitigate noise impact on the southerly neighbors on a 5.75 acre property located at 10 Dekraft and Butternut Hollow Roads in the RA-2 zone. (Staff: PL) (Applicant’s Presentation: 30 minutes) (Must close by 5/13/2010) (Maximum extension available to 5/13/2010) (Continued from the 2/2/2010 meeting) (Seated: Heller, Farricker, Heimbuch, Maitland, and Marchese)

Planning and Zoning Staff; for amendment AM #10-0001 to amend sections of the Town of Greenwich Building Zone Regulations as follows: TEXT IN BOLD TO BE ADDED, STRIKETHOURGH TO BE DELETED. (Page Number: 132)
6-5 (3.1)-Bank shall mean… Federal Government of Connecticut Department of Banking. Bank locations are subject to site plan and special permit approval from the Planning and Zoning Commission.

(3.2) Bank –Drive-In – shall mean any… A Bank Drive-In is permitted only as an accessory use to a principal bank use and structure on the same site and is subject to site plan and special permit approvals from the Planning and Zoning Commission. The terms drive –in, drive-up and drive-thru and similar variations shall be synonymous.

SEC. 6-100 ADD TO USE GROUPS 1, 4, AND 8

BANKS - (INCLUDING DRIVE-INS) WHEN AUTHORIZED BY SPECIAL PERMIT
USE GROUP 4 - DRIVE IN BANKS – when authorized by Special Permit.

USE GROUP 8

Banks (not including drive-in banks) (Note A)

6-5 (13.1) Drive-In, Drive-Thru Establishments - Conversion from one Drive-thru, Drive-in establishment to another type of Drive-thru establishment requires site plan and special permit approval. This includes Fast Food establishments, banks and other types of uses with drive-ups.

Sec. 6-103- LBR Zones

(E) Ground Floor Uses – Except for access to and egress from upper floor permitted uses, uses on the ground floor shall be limited to uses listed in Use Group 8, except for Sales Agencies of real estate, employment, insurance or travel firms, which are not permitted on first floor of the LBR zones. These uses are considered office uses and not retail uses. Other Use Group 8 uses shall occupy…

Sec. 6-103.1 - CGBR zone

(B) Ground Floor Uses
Except for access to and egress from upper floor permitted uses, uses on the ground floor shall be limited to uses listed in Use Group 1 except for sales agencies of real estate, employment, insurance or travel firms, which are not permitted on first floor of the CGBR zone and only on the upper floors if parking is provided on site, since these uses are considered office uses and not retail uses. Other Use Group 1 uses shall occupy…

Sec. 6-98 - Use Regulations for R-6, Multi family and RMF zones

a) (1) All uses permitted in the R-7 zone and a two-family dwelling

(2) The following Uses as Special Permit uses …

(A) The building of a two-family dwelling, conversion from a single-family to a two-family dwelling, addition or alteration to a single-family dwelling to create a two-family dwelling, the building of one or more multi-family dwellings…

6-5 (2.1) Animal day care and animal grooming establishments are not permitted in any residential zone nor retail zones (CGBR and LBR), but are allowed in the LB, CGB, GB and GBO zones subject to site plan and special permit approvals, and licensing from the state. These facilities are not considered kennels.

Renumber 6-5 (2.1) (2.2) Attic
(Staff: DF) (Left open at the 2/23/2010 meeting) (Seated: Heller, Farricker, Heimbuch, Maitland, and Marchese)

Richard Jablonski and Maria DelPilar - T-Mobile Northeast, LLC; applications FSP-TELE #4088 and SP #4089 for a final telecommunications site plan and special permit to construct an 80 foot tower with two sets of T-Mobile antennas concealed within and related ground equipment cabinets, within a 600 sq. ft. leased area of residential property per Section 140.1 of the Building Zone Regulations and Section 16-50(l)(e) of the Connecticut General Statutes on a .3202 acre property located at 44 Talbot Lane in the R-6 zone. (Staff: KB) (Applicant’s Presentation: 10 minutes) (T-Mobile tabled this application and granted an extension)

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01/06/10 READER SUBMITTED COMMENTS: Acting Zoning Enforcement Officer Casey O'Donnell's Email Stops Donald Kiefier's P&Z' Board

You Wont Read This In The Greenwich Time .......

Casey O'Donnell Asserts That He Is Greenwich's Approving And Enforcement Officer And Will Not Let Donald Kiefier And Planning And Zoning Commission Violate Food Plain Regulations At The Cos Cob Power Plant Site

Forget About The Connecticut Open Meetings Laws !!!!!

Planning And Zoning Commission Stops Public Hearing And Conducts Illegal Side Bar Meeting Over Casey O'Donnell's Email.

Barry Montgomery Reports:

The predetermined approval of the Planning & Zoning Board's Power House Park application was brought to an abrupt and rude halt leaving the audience in wonderment.

As the P & Z sat patiently listening to the audience, some in concurense, some with warnings of issues yet to come and only one who thought the project was a $10 Million boondoggle, the commission's common composure and stonewall attitude of a body already predetermined to approval, but needing to go through the charade of listening with great sincerity, knowing full well how they have decided to vote.

Chaos erupted. it started with quiet muttering of three of the members about something appearing to be causing contention. The balance of the members, objecting to the rudeness of these few for both the mutterings and knowing they were being excluded, demanded to be included.

"I've got the floor,"said one member.

The chairman, sensing rebelling in his usually obedient concurrers, called for a time out. In the middle of a public hearing no less, he stopped the tape, cut off a standing audience member about to speak and told the audience to amuse themselves, hoping no had the audacity to think they could listen in to this animated discussion.

What's going on we wondered, intimidated out off prying into this secret conversation unfolding before our very eyes?

Secret meetings in plain sight?

Apparently, someone forgot about the open meeting laws of our state.

Now there’s a new one for the august lawyers in attendance, full of solemn splendor and dignity?
Well it turns out that Casey O'Donnell, the acting zoning enforcement officer had tipped over the apple cart on the way to the coronation of the Town's pandering to the soccer dads who were anxious for another field.

No matter that it would be under the Electromagnetic Force (EMF) of the super high tension power lines with a radiation field so strong, the wires "sing" their carcinogen danger on developing children's bodies. A force so strong, it makes the flagpole hidden cell tower, bathing an elementary school, seem miniscule in comparison.

Anyway, Casey had sent last minute warnings that he would not let the Town bring and place 4 feet of soil over acres of coastal flood plain protected land even if it was the way the Feds had ordered the soil carcinogen to be "capped" so our little dears would not be scampering around in their bear feet absorbing the arsenic up through the souls of their feet.

We want no "Love Canal" here in Greenwich. It would seem so tacky to kill the babies of the "super elite rich" of the families who call Greenwich home. Never mind, the issue of the vast Nutcracker army of water rats who will also call the Power Plant Park their home too. Thanks to the wonderful habitat created by the mammoth stone "rip-rap" placed on the sound's banks at the cost of Millions. It appears no provision by the Conservation Commission was ordered to create a habitat for the Rat's predators.

We can't have "killer" animals living in a pristine Greenwich park, can we?

A $10 million park for soccer players and water rats?

Is there a poetic justice here by the powers that be in Greenwich?

It seems the powers that be have a sense of humor and whimsy to their reprisal.

But back to Casey and his monkey wrench. A little history is order. Back 40 or so years ago when the National government decided that they needed to protect everyone who lived on a river, pond or sea shore from the calamity of flooding; not by removal, but by government sponsored insurance.

But how to get the people to buy the insurance voluntarily?

And how to force every municipality to declare what a flood plain was?

So our congress passed a law.

Really, passed one without an unconstitutional super majority.

The demand was this: If a town failed to adopt the Fed's declared flood plain boundaries and corresponding regulations, no one, not one, no matter whether they were subject to flooding or not, could mortgage their home with any institution in any way insured by the Federal government.

100% voluntary compliance.

Well, fast forward to today.

It seems Casey seems to read the law so that if the Town violates the covenants, with the P & Z's blessings, of the no "filling" of coastal flood plains, no one, no matter where they live, will be able to get a mortgage with one of these Fed insured institutions. Not one mortgage in all of Greenwich.

The powers that be do have a sense of humor, don't they?

What's a little 4 feet of fill here, there and everywhere?

The Feds have to learn to take a Joke.

And then again, maybe we can make a deal for our house mortgages from Abu Dhabi?

They’re it the money these days, aren't they?

So now what?

The Feds say you have to cap. The Feds say, but not with dirty clean fill. A town, home to the gangsters who figured to how to sucker the "little people" into wealth destructive mortgages, surly ought to be able to wiggle out of this conundrum.

They were so smart the last time.

They only collapsed the world's wealth by 40%.

Smart minds can solve any problem.

UPDATE:

As Ussual,

The Grenwich Time Is A Day Late And A Dollar Short

Zoning commission to look into FEMA regulations at proposed park

By Frank MacEachern, Staff Writer

A potential hitch that could affect flood insurance rates for town residents caused the Planning and Zoning Commission to delay voting Tuesday on a plan to turn the Cos Cob Power Plant at 22 Sound Shore Drive into a new town park.

The plan would make the 9.7-acre site into a park that would include an artificial-turf field, walking paths and a children's play area.

Midway through the meeting, however, it was discovered that part of the site's waterfront is in an area that could be strongly affected by large waves from tropical storms and may violate Federal Emergency Management Agency guidelines.

Comment:

Once Again,

The Greenwich Time Fails To Report The Full Story

There Is Nothing About Acting Zoning Enforcement Officer Casey O'Donnell Email

There Is Nothing About The Public Meeting Tape Recorders Being Turned Off

There Is Nothing About The Illegal Sidebar P&Z Meeting That Violated The Open Meeting Laews Of Our State

The Greenwich Time Continues .....

The National Flood Insurance Program is administered by FEMA and is a voluntary program whose goal is reduce the loss of life and damage caused by flooding, said Katie Blankley, the town's deputy director for planning and zoning.

In exchange for federally backed flood insurance, municipalities, like Greenwich, adopt and enforce regulations to control new construction, substantial improvements and repairs, she said.

Part of the proposed new park falls into that category, and the commission is going to check with FEMA to see if the development can proceed, she said.

Comment:

Shouldn't Katie Blankley, the town's deputy director for planning and zoning have with FEMA to see if the development can proceed, before the public hearing was started?

Why Doesn't Greenwich Time Reporter Frank MacEachern mention that affordable workforce housing for emergency responders, nurses and teachers was supposed to be on the Cos Cob Power Plant Site?

Maybe Hearst Newspaper Reporter Frank MacEachern Has Been Around Long Enough To Know What Is Really Going On In The Backrooms Of Town Hall?

The Greenwich Time Continues ......

The commission left the matter open and may discuss it at its next meeting on Jan. 26.

The coal-fired plant began operation in 1907 to provide electrical power for the New Haven rail line, which runs just north of the former power plant site. The plant continued providing power to the trains that transported millions of commuters until the 1980s when it ceased operations.

The plant was removed in 1999 and 2000 at a cost of $6 million that was shared between the town and the state. Soil contaminated by PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) has already been removed from the site.

Town officials plan to open the park to the public in 2012..... Blah .... Blah ..... Blah ..... Blah ......

COMMENT:

The Greenwich Time Just Runs Planning And Zoning Press Releases Though The Spell Checker, Before Hi ting The Publish Button.

Once Again Frank MacEachern Has Failed To Stay For All Of The Planning And Zoning Meeting And Hasn't Bothered To Ask Planning And Zoning Officials The Tough Questions.

Mainstream Corporate News Reporter Frank MacEachern Didn't Know About The Illegal Sidebar Meeting, Because He Wasn't There To See It.

However, Citizen Journalist Barry Montgomery Was There Tuesday Night And Reported It On Wednesday.

That's Why If You Want To Know What Is Really Going On In Greenwich You Have Got To Read The Local Blogs And Out Of Town Newspapers

PLEASE SEE:

03/06/09 WHAT WILL THE VOTERS THINK? - Will CT Governor Jody Rell Let Her Republican Buddies In Greenwich Weasel Out Of An Affordable Housing Deal?

03/07/09 READER SUBMITTED COMMENTS: Housing

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Please send your comments, news tips and press releases to GreenwichRoundup@gmail.com

12/10/08 Greenwich Time News Links For Wednesday

Boneheaded Jurist Helps The Greenwich YMCA

Discriminate Against The Handicapped

Shame, Shame, Shame On

Judge Taggert Adams

Who Turns His Back On The Crippled Of Greenwich

At Stamford Superior Court

Judge Taggert Is Going To Look Like Even More Of A Fool When The Perpetually Mismanaged YMCA Building Project Fails To Complete The Ramp In June Of 2009

YMCA wins handicapped-access case

Breaking News

By Meredith Blake/Staff Writer

Posted: 12/10/2008 12:28:34 PM EST

A State Superior Court Judge today denied a Greenwich man's request for an injunction to force the Greenwich Family YMCA to put in a temporary ramp to provide wheelchair access.

The Y reasonably showed that it was in the process of trying to get rid of barriers to provide access for all through their $40 million renovation and expansion project, a standard established under the Americans with Disabilities Act, said Judge Taggert Adams in Stamford Superior Court.

The Y, which is considered a public entity, is required to provide access to individuals with disabilities, and are in the process of making "reasonable modifications" to their facility through their construction to provide it, he said.

Providing a temporary ramp is "not readily achievable," and would put an undue burden on the YMCA, he said.

Luis Gonzalez-Bunster, who is in a wheelchair, filed a request on Nov. 13 for an immediate injunction ordering the Y to provide temporary access to the new addition that includes a new aquatics center with an Olympic-size pool. The new addition is just one part of renovation and expansion of the 96-year-old building, which has never been wheelchair accessible.

Full Story

MORE GRENWICH TIME NEWS LINKS:

Muslims gather to observe Eid al-Adha

Sounds of prayer filled the Hilton-Stamford Hotel ballroom Tuesday morning, as some 500 members of the Stamford Islamic Center observed one the faith's most important holidays, Eid al-Adha.

Full Story

RTM debates cutting projects

By Neil Vigdor/Staff Writer
Posted: 12/10/2008 02:31:48 AM EST

With the town laboring to close a projected $10.5 million budget gap, a debate is raging among elected officials whether to put the brakes on an estimated $49.2 million in capital projects for which the money has been appropriated but not yet spent.

Joan Caldwell, the second-highest-ranking leader of the Representative Town Meeting and chairman of legislative body's District 10/Northwest delegation, said it only makes sense to take a second look at projects still in the planning stage......

.....Members of Caldwell's RTM delegation unsuccessfully proposed a sense-of-the-meeting resolution Monday night to the full legislative body that would have placed a 90-day moratorium on all capital projects for which contracts have yet to be negotiated.....

.....First Selectman Peter Tesei said all options are on the table in the current economic climate.
"We are certainly looking at capital projects that we can pare back or not do so we can focus on completing the ones that are already in progress," Tesei said.

Among the projects for which funds have been appropriated but not spent are $1.1 million for an evaluation of the Grass Island municipal wastewater treatment plant; $1 million for an imaging and archiving system at Town Hall, $2.7 million toward converting the former Cos Cob Power Plant site into a waterfront park; $238,000 for a new police boat; and $500,000 for a master plan for the town's transfer station.

"That half-million might pay some salaries later in the year if we have a messy situation," Caldwell said of the money for the transfer station master plan.

Another major project on the drawing board that might have been affected by such a moratorium is the renovation of the Greenwich High School auditorium and music instruction rooms, for which the town has appropriated about $2.1 million this year for architectural and engineering work.

Bob Brady, who is a member of the project's building committee, said the town is close to reaching contracts with an architect and a construction manager after six-and-a-half months of work.

"We would hate to have to redo that and start all over," said Brady, who is also an RTM member and chairman of its Education Committee.

Some leaders have questioned the urgency to do the project, for which about $23.1 million has been placed in the 2010-11 budget. .....

.....According to preliminary budget documents prepared for the BET, the town needs to shed about $10.5 million in spending from the projected $364 million budget to avoid an estimated 7.4 percent spike in property taxes for the 2009-10 fiscal year.

In previous years, the budgetary gap has been about $5 million, according to town officials, who are predicting a $7 million shortfall in revenues from tax receipts, building permits issued and bank interest......

Full Story

Slay suspect sentto mental hospital

A 75-year-old Pemberwick man accused of killing his former daughter-in-law was ordered sent to a state mental facility Tuesday for treatment to restore his competency to stand trial.

At a hearing in state Superior Court in Stamford, a frail Gerardo Lombardi listened as a licensed clinical social worker said the defendant did not comprehend the case against him.

"It was determined that he was unable to understand the proceedings against him and he was unable to assist in his defense," said social worker Melissa McShane......

.....Lombardi is accused of shooting and stabbing Alison McKnight Lombardi in the backyard of 36 Nicholas Ave., the property next to his home, Sept. 4. Police believe the incident stemmed from a property dispute. ......

......Public Defender Howard Ehring told the judge it would be difficult to proceed with a probable cause hearing and eventual trial given Lomardi's current mental status.

Ferencek did not contest the evaluation report and felt treatment was a good idea if it could restore Lombardi's competence to stand trial.

"I would agree that based on the report he is not competent," Ferencek said.....

....Comerford committed Lombardi for 60 days of treatment at the Whiting Forensic Institute in Middletown.

The Whiting Forensic Institute is part of a broader Whiting Forensic Division of Connecticut Valley Hospital, a state mental hospital. ....

Full Story

Frantz oversees new service to Amsterdam

By Neil Vigdor/Staff Writer
Posted: 12/10/2008 02:31:18 AM EST

With less than a month remaining in his tenure as chairman of Bradley International Airport, state Senator-elect L. Scott Frantz of Greenwich was on cloud nine Wednesday with the announcement that Delta Air Lines subsidiary Northwest Airlines would resume nonstop service from Hartford to Amsterdam.....

....Frantz, 48, who was elected last month to fill the 36th District Senate seat of retiring fellow Republican William Nickerson, said Delta's decision to bring the flight back shows confidence that Bradley is a viable market for the airline industry. ...

....Frantz said he and other business and political leaders have been striving for several months to get the transatlantic flights to return and even promised $800,000 in incentives to Delta to help market the new route.

In addition, the state Department of Transportation sweetened the pot with $325,000 in landing fee and rent reductions to the airline, according to Frantz.....

Full Story

Police blotter

Godfrey Polistina, 57, of 1363 King St., was arrested and charged with third-degree assault and disorderly conduct Monday night after a dispute at his home, police said.

Polistina was released on a $10,000 bond and was scheduled to appear in state Superior Court in Stamford on Tuesday

*******************************************

Milton DeLavera, 48, of 50 South Main St., was arrested and charged with sixth-degree larceny Monday evening at Stop & Shop, 161 West Putnam Ave., police said.

A store manager reported seeing DeLavera stuff numerous store items into his jacket and pant legs, then leave the store, police said. Police then apprehended DeLavera.

DeLavera was released on a $200 bond and is scheduled to appear in state Superior Court in Stamford on Dec. 23.

*******************************************

William McGoldrick, 59, of 63 Indian Harbor Drive, was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct Saturday evening following a tenant-landlord dispute, police said.

McGoldrick was released on a $1,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in state Superior Court in Stamford on Monday.

*******************************************

Charles Smith, 54, of 415 High St., Milford, was arrested and charged with driving while under the influence Thursday, police said.

Smith, a Greenwich postal worker, was found to be intoxicated in a Greenwich Post Office parking lot at 29 Valley Drive, police said.

Smith was operating a postal vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, according to the police report. Smith had bloodshot eyes and a strong odor of alcohol, police said.

He failed a series of field sobriety tests at the scene, according to police.

Smith was released on a $250 bond and was released to a family member, police said.

He is scheduled to appear in state Superior Court in Stamford on Friday.

******************************************

Ben Mosley III, 19, of 5 Jamroga Lane, Stamford, was arrested Friday night and charged with second-degree failure to appear, police said.

Mosley turned himself in to police on an outstanding arrest warrant relating to an August arrest in which he was charged with possession of marijuana less than four ounces, police said.

Mosley was released on a $1,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in state Superior Court in Stamford on Friday.

'Sense of urgency' needed

By Colin Gustafson/Staff Writer
Posted: 12/10/2008 02:31:50 AM EST

Calling for a "sense of urgency," school officials are ramping up pressure on Hamilton Avenue School's building committee to secure the necessary approvals for occupancy for the reconstructed school building this month.

At a meeting in the Havemeyer Building Tuesday, Superintendent of Schools Betty Sternberg asked committee members to give her daily updates on their progress toward achieving a temporary certificate of occupancy. .....

.....However, there are still a few unresolved facilities issues - including a need for more exhaust fans in bathrooms and additional emergency lights - that must be addressed before town building officials will grant the certificate, building committee members said......

....Asked by Sternberg to give a realistic time-frame for receiving the certificate, building committee member Thomas Heagney said it would likely arrive next Thursday or Friday, Dec. 18 or 19, "at the latest,"......

.....The project, which was initially slated to span 18 months when work began in April 2005, has repeatedly missed deadlines, recently when builders failed to finish work in time for an Aug. 27 re-opening; then again when ventilation problems were not resolved by Columbus Day.

School officials had most recently hoped to have a certificate for the school by Dec. 5, so that the environmental testing and move-in process could move forward without having to deal with any outstanding facilities issues.

To date, however, several problems remain unresolved.

For one, while new exhaust fans have been installed in some bathrooms to correct air flow problems, other restrooms facilities have not yet received the equipment upgrade, which inspectors say is a prerequisite for the certificate.

In addition, emergency lights still must be installed on the campus, committee members said, and modifications to the boiler room's flue piping system need to be approved in order for the building to get the certificate.....

Full Story

Greenwich Academy squash poised to win another national title
When the Greenwich Academy squash team takes to the court today for its first match of the season at Convent of the Sacred Heart, it will begin another long journey to stake its claim once again as the best squash program in the United States.

Full Story

'We Were Late': Panelists take hard look at today's numbers
Although the region was one of the last in the nation to sink into a recession, it probably will be the last to emerge as the economy improves.

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Something to take your mind off the cold
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The "LOCAL" Hard Hitting Editorial From The Greenwich Time Editors: "Hard times for a state cultural icon"

It's not easy asking for money ata time like this. Unemployment is up and government bailouts are on many industries' wish lists.

The Mark Twain House & Museum, honoring perhaps Connecticut's most famous resident, has seen brighter days. Facing a financial crisis created by adding a $19.5 million visitors center, the museum needed a recent $500,000 gift from the Annenberg Foundation to stay out of bankruptcy, and is not yet in the clear ...... BLAH .....BLAH ..... BLAH ..... BLAH ..... BLAH ..... BLAH ..... BLAH ...... BLAH ....... BLAH ......

Arts center proposal is too good to pass up

To the editor:

Two years ago, when I had recently moved to Greenwich and begun to establish new roots for Quill Entertainment, a history-musicals nonprofit, Bea Crumbine showed me the Havemeyer Building and shared her and the Greenwich Center for the Arts board's exciting ideas about restoring it as a vibrant community arts center.

As a theater professional for some 30-plus years, I was thrilled to visit the theater space and imagine it filled with laughter, song, dance and applause. In addition, there would be classrooms and galleries - it seemed too good to be true. I immediately signed up Quill Entertainment as a potential tenant.

Alas, it seems it was too good to be true - and all for want of a lease and the willingness of the Board of Education to move. Office space can be found, but where in Greenwich can we find a pre-existing theater? In a beautiful, historic building? Right in the heart of town? With millions of dollars from the private sector already committed?

It boggles the mind to think our elected officials can be so short-sighted as to let this opportunity pass.

One article stated that the school board members wanted the priority to be on "projects impacting children's education." Surely, these members do not think education takes place only in the classroom. Surely, after numerous studies detailed the positive economic impact of the arts on communities, the board members recognize the "win-win-win" for the town.

Surely, after even more studies underscored the importance of the arts in the intellectual and spiritual growth of our children, the members can address other needs without abandoning this unique opportunity for important social gain. Surely . . .

As an artist, I am sick at this decision. As a proud member of the community, I am a little bit ashamed of it. I urge the members of the school board and the Representative Town Meeting to sit down with the GCA and move this project forward.

Greenwich deserves a center for the arts. Let us no longer have to apologize for lacking one.

Granville Burgess
Greenwich

The writer is chief executive officer of Quill Entertainment Co.

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