DICESARE CASE EXPENSIVE
The Town of Stonington and its insurance company have now spent more than $341,000 in legal fees in connection with the 2015 firing of former highway supervisor Louis DiCesare II. The town released the bills on Wednesday after “The Day” filed a Freedom of Information Act request for them. The document also reveals that the Connecticut Interlocal Risk Management Agency expects to spend another $118,000 to cover losses and legal fees connected with the lawsuit. DiCesare still has two union grievances pending against the town that need to be ruled on by an arbitrator and a civil rights lawsuit pending in U.S. District Court. Settlement talks between the town and DiCesare have so far been unsuccessful, as the two sides remain far apart on a settlement amount.
CONN COLLEGE OFFERING EARLY RETIREMENT
Connecticut College has offered eligible employees an early retirement with extra benefits. The reason they gave is the trend of a dwindling number of high school graduates. The board of trustees approved the move in February, even after learning the small private school received a record breaking number of applications for the coming academic year. Across the country, other private colleges have also deliberately downsized in recent years.
MIDDLE SCHOOLERS INGEST LACED CHOCOLATE
Westerly Police are investigating a case of five school students ingesting chocolate laced with THC, the active ingredient in marijuana. The incident happened yesterday at Westerly Middle School when a 13-year-old girl was examined by a school nurse and was showing signs of marijuana ingestion. The girl admitted that she and four other girls had eaten the candy. A few pieces of the chocolate found on one of the students were seized as evidence.
WESTERLY FINED
The Rhode Island Department of Health has fined the Town of Westerly $7,500 for failing to tell Pawcatuck residents last month about excessively high pH levels in the water that Westerly provides to them. A violation letter was also issued stating that the Westerly Water Department was required to report the problem to the health department within 24 hours, and to notify the public as soon as possible after that. In his email report to the health department five days after it discovered the problem, Public Works Director Paul Corina said he “was not sure of the exact reporting requirements for that type of issue.”
TWO PEDESTRIANS RUN OVER
Two people suffered non-life-threatening injuries when they were struck by a car walking in a crosswalk on Steward Street around 7:30 Wednesday night in New London. Police said the male pedestrian suffered injuries to his leg. Both were conscious and alert when emergency responders took them to Lawrence & Memorial Hospital for treatment. Residents say the streets in that area often are dark, making it hard for drivers to see pedestrians. They said the female driver was visibly upset after the crash. Police are investigating.
BUDGET HEADS TO RTM
Following a week-long review, the Waterford Board of Finance Wednesday recommended a $93.1 million total municipal budget that would increase spending by about $2.4 million. The proposed budget represents about a $1 million, or 3.5 percent, bump over this year’s spending, said to be driven by higher retirement and insurance costs. The 22-member Representative Town Meeting will conduct a final review of the budget in May.
SCOTT QUALIFIES
John Scott, a Republican candidate for the 40th District House seat, has announced that his campaign has reached the necessary fundraising threshold with $5,700 to qualify for the state Citizens’ Election Program. Scott said more than 160 people in Groton and Ledyard have made donations. Scott held the seat from 2014 to 2016. It’s currently occupied by Democratic Rep. Christine Conley. To qualify for the program, a candidate must raise $5,100 from at least 150 residents living in the district.
