A proposed merit evaluation system for administration of 55 nonunion municipal employees was unveiled in part at a specially called meeting Tuesday afternoon. Fourteen department heads and employees heard Labor Consultant Edward J. Mitchell explain the intent of the personnel program, which is scheduled to be in effect July 1. The town is seeking to establish a system of salary and wage increases based on an annual evaluation of performance of the nonunion personnel.

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 Legislative Council members who serve on the public works subcommittee have gotten their first briefing from the first selectman about the highway department’s budget request for 1978–79. This is the largest chunk in the selectmen’s budget and reflects a nine per cent increase over last year.

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Local tots will have their chance to participate in this year’s Hike-Bike for the Retarded at a “Wheel-a-Thon” which will be sponsored by the Newtown Junior Woman’s Club.

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The Board of Education’s projected budget deficit for this year, went down by some $10,000 according to the February fiscal report presented at the board on Tuesday night. The lowering was realized in the account for teachers’ salaries because some new people hired to replace faculty members who have left, are at a lower pay scale, Superintendent of Schools Albert Brinkman noted.

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The odds takers who were calling a close race for the GOP chairmanship were proved off base on Monday night as incumbent chairman Marie Kertesz handily defeated challenger Philip Kopp with a 32-15 vote by the town committee membership. The election was the first order of business for the GOP, with Mrs Kertesz turning the meeting over to Secretary Pat Llodra. Mr Kopp was nominated by Andrew Sedor while Mrs Kertesz was nominated by Vice Chairman Richard Sturdevant.

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Anyone who was out and about this weekend knew that the springlike weather was just great for traveling; and traveling is just what the Newtown Belvedere Color Guard did this past weekend. If you were around the center of town at noon, Saturday, March 11, you may have seen the familiar Belvedere bus leaving the Middle School parking lot with guard members and chaperones. Their destination this weekend was Franklin, N.H., on Saturday, and Burlington, Mass., on Sunday.

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The Board of Town Hall Managers Wednesday night invited representatives from various boards and commissions together for a think-session about the parking problems at Edmond Town Hall. The issue came to a head two weeks ago, February 27, when cars parked in the fire lanes behind Town Hall prevented fire equipment from leaving to go to a fire through the normal exit route. Thomas Goosman and Gerald Frawley representing the Board of Police Commissioners, Millard Goodsell representing the Board of Fire Commissioners, Harry Rishor representing the Public Building Committee, and First Selectman Jack Rosenthal were present.

MARCH 20, 1953

With little pause after last Saturday’s dedication and open house at Newtown High School, the building began to hum with activity which built up to a climax of expectancy for students of junior and high school grades with the opening of classes in the new school on Tuesday morning.

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The Newtown Rotary Club members will hear a description of the planned Shepaug hydroelectric project in the Housatonic River during a dinner meeting Monday night, March 23, at Hawley Manor. The speaker will be Quentin Q. Quinn, an industrial engineer of the Connecticut Light and Power Company.

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Called the one person most responsible for the location of Newtown High School and for its educational facilities that have been provided for the youth of Newtown for generations to come, Herbert H. Cutler, chairman of the Building Committee for the high school, was honored by a large gathering of persons connected with the building project, at a dinner last Saturday evening, March 14, in the Yankee Drover Inn.

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The adjourned session of the annual town meeting took place last Friday evening in the Alexandria Room of the Edmond Town Hall, when less than one minute was required to lay a tax rate of 22.8 mills on the grand list of 1952. This is an increase of 5.4 mills over last year’s rate of 17.4 mills. The new rate had been recommended by the Board of Finance, and a motion by First Selectman A. Fenn Dickinson that it be adopted was passed unanimously and without discussion. W.W. Holcombe served as chairman of the meeting, with less than 30 voters and taxpayers in attendance.

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Preceding the dedication ceremony of the Newtown High School, Governor John D. Lodge had lunch at the Yankee Drover Inn. Members of the luncheon party beside the Governor were: Raymond J. Trimpert, Alvin A. Coger, Mrs Frank Hubbell, Herbert H. Cutler, George M. Stuart, and A. Fenn Dickinson.

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At a meeting of the Newtown League of Women Voters held on Wednesday in the Cyrenius H. Booth Library, Edmund M. Foster, chairman of the Town Development Committee, spoke to the group on zoning, thanking members for their very active help in promoting interest in zoning throughout the town. First Selectman A. Fenn Dickinson was also a League guest and took part in a question and answer period at the conclusion of the meeting.

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Henry Allan Price of Sunset Hill, in his usual habit of studying the stars, did not fail to observe the close conjunction of Venus and the new moon on Tuesday evening, telephoning a number of his friends so that they could also enjoy the spectacle.

MARCH 16, 1928

St Mary’s Dramatic Club of Naugatuck will come to Newtown Monday night, March 19, and put on their cabaret minstrels in St Rose’s Casino for the benefit of St Rose Church.

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Mrs W.R. Burroughs, Mrs Irving S. Jones, Charles A. Peale, and G. Herbert Beers were high in score for the evening at the bridge played at the Newtown Country Club, last Monday night.

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Ezra J. Hall is driving a handsome new Chevrolet touring car, purchased of Hurd and Lillis.

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The public will be glad to know that the Sandy Hook Market, which closed several weeks ago, has been undergoing alterations and will be opened under the management of Joseph Smith of Bridgeport, on this Friday.

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The adjourned annual town meeting was called to order on Saturday by T.C. Pitzschler, and John J. Northrop, appointed chairman. After hearing the recommendation of the Finance Board that a 20-mill tax be laid, a vote to that effect was quickly passed.

MARCH 20, 1903

Principal Tibbetts expects to bring his horse from Salisbury sometime within a month or so, and then will be in a position to enjoy the fine drives for which Newtown is famous.

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William A. Hawley of Hawleyville and Leroy Mitchell of Pootatuck attended the convention of tobacco packers in New Milford Monday when some 400 were present.

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Miss Hazel Smith is a new pupil at the Newtown Academy.

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George Parker of Obtuse has accepted a position in the Hawleyville depot.

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George Beers’ family is afflicted with the chicken pox. Three of the children are ill.

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Mrs S.C. Glover is having a number of rooms in her house redecorated. C.W. Canfield is doing the work.

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O. Oleson, who is running the steam saw mill in the wood lot in rear of Jerome Northrop’s house, has moved his family into C.H. Peck’s tenement house.

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James B. Nichols, whose illness with typhoid fever was noted in last week’s Bee, continues to improve. He sat up for the first time, Tuesday.

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A meeting of the trustees of the Newtown Savings Bank will be held on Saturday at 2 pm for the purpose of declaring the semi-annual dividend.