East Windsor Selectmen Cover A Lot of Ground

There was a smorgasbord of topics and speakers at the East Windsor Board of Selectman meeting Tuesday night where discussion ranged from budgets to Girl Scout cookies.

“We are now selling Girl Scout cookies,” announced parent Michelle Hess, who along with her daughter, Rebbecca, 12, helped mark the national Girl Scout’s organization’s 99th anniversary.

Hess made her cookie-sale pitch seconds after First Selectwoman Denise Menard  presented a proclamation celebrating the anniversary. The Hess girls and co-troop leader Marian Rolocut and her daughter, Brianna, 13, were representing East Windsor Girl Scouts. Disappointing, the girls did not possess a single Thin Mint or Dulce de Leche.

 “We’re just taking orders,” said Rebbecca, whose badge-loaded sash showcased her participation in Troop 10017.

Other speakers addressing the board on not-so-celebratory topics were Town Treasurer Cathy Cabral, who offered a budget overview and Republican Registrar of Voters Linda Sinsigallo, who asked and received approval for $4000 for a potential June referendum.

Library Director Vincent Bologna and Warehouse Point Library Association President Elyse Spielberg used a humorous approach in urging the board not to cut their 2011-2012 budget, which has no increase from the previous one, they said. 

To survive the difficult economic times Bologna asked for extra money to buy a printing press so he could manufacture bogus money. But after the meeting had a more serious tone saying “if we get cut that means personnel and that results in less library hours.”

On an even more sour note - sourer than a Lemonades cookie- the board expressed frustration with compiling with a state mandated – without a pinch of state funding – Storm Water Management Committee. In fact several board members bemoaned the town cost in creating the storm water committee, which would be composed of town board leaders.

“We have no choice, we have to do this,” said Selectman John Burnham.

In other news, Menard announced the town’s snow removal bill cost less than $25,000 and that two town-lease barns were destroyed by winter storms. She also intends to attend a North Central Chamber of Commerce breakfast focusing on economical development, she said.

The board also reappointed Ronald Hwalek to the Veterans Commission and appointed Loretta C. Wentworth, a Navy veteran, to the same commission. The board plans to meet Saturday to continue discussing the town’s budget, which does not have any confirmed numbers, Menard said. The budget will presented to the board of finance by March 22.

Despite tough economic times, it was noted the town’s grand list stayed above the $1 billion mark for the third year, and grew by $4.3 million, or 0.4 percent.

Asked after the meeting how she feels about her town during the current economic climate, Menard said, “I think we’ve weathered this fairly well. I think East Windsor is one of the bright spots in Connecticut.”