Council Hears About Lawmakers’ Hopes For ‘Short Session’

By John Voket

Newtown’s three current representatives in Hartford, as well as another who will likely begin serving the town after a redistricting proposal is ratified, sat down for a fast-paced 90-minute session January 11 with the Legislative Council, as well as members of the Boards of Selectmen, Finance and Education.

The purpose of the forum, which was attended by fewer than a half-dozen members of the public, was to hear about legislative initiatives that may play out in Newtown’s favor — or to its detriment — in the upcoming 2012 “short session,” which begins February 8.

Senator and Minority Leader John McKinney was joined by Representatives Chris Lyddy, DebraLee Hovey and Dan Carter. Rep Carter, whose district includes part of Danbury and Bethel, is poised to begin representing a small area of western Newtown in the Dodgingtown and Hattertown neighborhoods once a statewide redistricting proposal is formalized.

Rep Hovey represents several neighborhoods in Botsford and the southern part of town, as well as neighboring Monroe.

Although his colleagues often deferred to Sen McKinney first on questions about educational funding, brownfields remediation, taxes, and other budget-related issues, each of the representatives initiated or added to the senator’s responses, particularly when the conversation turned to areas where any of them may have concentrated efforts as committee members.

The lawmakers spent a few minutes talking about the collaborative relationships they share individually and collectively with Newtown’s First Selectman Pat Llodra.

Sen McKinney singled out the recent state action that forced the closing of a transfer station in Hawleyville, praising Mrs Llodra’s leadership, as well as the responsiveness of other town staff and officials, and residents who were an added source of advocacy in demanding state intervention in the matter.

Rep Hovey reminded the council that she and Rep Lyddy have a standing monthly meeting with Mrs Llodra to learn about what the town needs, as well as learning about the latest developments related to town operations.

“As a council, you can always be assured your first selectman is in touch with your state delegation,” Rep Hovey said.

Rep Lyddy added that to some degree, the relationship between Mrs Llodra and the delegation was the envy of some other lawmakers.

“Pat has been an incredible advocate for Newtown. Not every first selectman in the state serves as well as Pat does with us,” Rep Lyddy said. “This is a very unique situation where we have constant communication, constant feedback, constructive criticism, and really looking at the issues together, breaking it down, and I think that is unique among mayors and first selectmen across the state.”

Rep Carter said while he was not yet officially installed as a representative for Newtown, he was ready to go to work on behalf of the community. “You didn’t vote for me but I’ll vote for you,” he said, adding, “There are a lot of common issues facing the Second District, which may include Newtown.”

Rep Carter also observed a unique relationship between Mrs Llodra and the delegation.

“The first opportunity I had to come in to one of her meetings, I saw a real leader. It’s nice to have that kind of foresight and vision in a leader who knows where she wants to go and is backed up by everybody in this room,” Rep Carter added. “Having that definitive vision early-on is a true credit to what happens here in Newtown.”

After reviewing and responding to questions about the anticipated business coming up in the 2012 session, the lawmakers also entertained questions and responded to observations posed by council members, along with Mrs Llodra, finance board Chair John Kortze and Vice Chair Joe Kearney. School board Chair Debbie Leidlein was also on hand, and thanked the officials for their continued work on behalf of the students and school district.

Listen to the full audio transcript of the Council’s Legislative Forum, and view video highlights at newtownbee.com