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12/26/2017 11:00 PMJanuary
The year begins with relief—specifically senior tax relief. After years of work to implement an elderly property tax relief program, also known as a senior tax freeze, to help qualified Madison’s seniors in need, residents overwhelmingly approve the program at Town Meeting on Jan. 26.
The local budget process begins as town officials grapple with mid-year state budget cuts handed down from Hartford just before the start of the New Year. On Jan. 24, the Board of Education (BOE) approves its proposed 2017-’18 fiscal year budget of $56,919,205, a $1,433,001 or 2.58 percent increase in spending. The BOE also continues its school utilization study discussions (see related story here).
The Town Campus baseball field renovation project restarts following Board of Finance (BOF) approval on Jan. 18 and the Board of Selectmen (BOS) officially appoints the firm Fitzgerald & Halliday, Inc. (FHI) as the Academy School facilitator on Jan 26.
Daniel Hand High School’s (DHHS) VIBE Show Choir kicks off its new season on Jan. 13.
Tragedy strikes on Jan. 12 when Marjorie Ehrenfreund, 84, is struck and killed by a car in the Stop & Shop parking lot.
February
The proposed E.C. Scranton Memorial Library renovation project is approved by a significant margin at referendum on Feb. 7 with 1,897 “Yes” votes and 550 “No” votes cast in an 18.7 percent voter turnout. The current renovation plan for the library is a scaled-down version of the plan that Madison voters narrowly defeated in a 2008 referendum vote. Current designs for the building work to preserve the historical architecture while improving the streetscape and expanding the floor plan.
On Feb. 8, Governor Dannel P. Malloy presents his two-year budget proposal to the state legislature. The proposal includes significant cuts to municipal aid and a shift of one third of the teacher pension costs to towns. The proposal alarms local officials and state legislators.
A fire breaks out in the kitchen of Cristy’s Madison Restaurant and Bar on Feb. 26 in the late hours of the evening. Fire crews from five area departments are able to quickly contain the blaze, but the damage closes the restaurant for extensive renovations.
March
On March 9, the BOS puts forward the town fiscal year 2017-’18 budget of $24,738,964, a proposed $424,134 or 1.74 percent increase in spending over the current year.
Combining the town and BOE budget, the overall proposed budget comes to $81,658,172; a $1,857,138 or 2.33 percent increase in spending before moving to the BOF for review.
On March 16, State Representative Noreen Kokoruda (R-101), State Senator Ted Kennedy, Jr. (D-12), and First Selectman Tom Banisch sit down with residents to discuss how the state and town budgets are shaping up.
Despite BOS efforts to cut capital spending, on March 23, the BOF restores some capital funding, fearing long-term ramifications if funding is reduced too severely this year. After the BOF’s changes, the town budget is $24,966,439, a $651,609 or 2.68 percent increase in spending. Additionally, the BOF votes to bump the first selectman’s salary starting in January 2018 from $80,250 to $100,000.
The Madison Police Department is officially re-accredited and the communication department receives its first accreditation, making the department a leader in the area. Nearly 100 people attend the first workshop meeting at Walter C. Polson Middle School on March 28 to debate the potential future use of Academy School.
Residents partake in the Exchange Club’s Leprechaun Run on March 19.
April
Madison Police Department K-9 Gwen, a 13 year-old female black Labrador retriever affectionately called Gwenie by officers, retires after a long and exciting career as a narcotics detection dog.
The Madison Historical Society (MHS), as part of its 100th birthday celebration, creates the Madison A-Z project, asking residents to submit a word or two that exemplifies what makes Madison unique.
The Town Campus baseball field project struggles to stay on budget and on deadline. As of April 10, approximately $146,000 of the $150,000 project budget is spent and conversations begin over how the project got out of hand.
On April 18, the BOE votes to move forward to referendum with a plan to rebuild Ryerson Elementary School and renovate Jeffrey Elementary School, but receives mixed reactions from the public (see related story here).
An Ad-Hoc Library Expansion Building Committee is established for the E.C. Scranton Memorial Library renovation project. The BOS awards the field house contract for the Strong Center project to Pat Munger Construction Co., Inc., for $481,024 on April 24.
The month ends in tragedy after local man, 52 year-old Glenn Cuban, is struck and killed by a south-bound Acela Express train on the tracks near the station on Bradley Road on April 26.
May
Town Campus baseball field debates continue on May 1 at a special meeting of the BOS. Officials and baseball community members debate how the project got off track and leave the field unready for play at the start of the baseball season. Despite initial hopes to keep the project under budget, on May 22, the BOS votes to approve a $23,000 special appropriation to cover potential project overages.
Madison voters pass both the town and BOE fiscal year 2017-’18 budgets at referendum on May 16. The town budget passes with 763 “Yes” votes to 422 “No” votes. The BOE budget passes with 763 “Yes” votes and 426 “No” votes. Voter turnout is low with only about 9.2 percent participation. The combined town and school budget is $81,885,644, a $2,084,610 or 2.61 percent increase in spending.
The Madison Lions Club celebrates the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Lions movement as a civic organization on May 17.
On May 18, the Planning & Zoning Commission approves a new LED electronic marquee for the Madison Art Cinema, allowing for the digital display of movie titles and times.
Residents partake in the Memorial Day Parade on May 29.
June
On June 7, the BOS and BOF, vote to send the current BOE five-school model to address a rebuild of Ryerson Elementary School and a renovation of Jeffrey Elementary School in two separate referenda to referendum this September (see sidebar).
Our Lady of Mercy (OLM), the main Catholic elementary school serving Madison and Guilford, is set to stay in Madison until 2023 after receiving another extension on the property lease.
On June 19, the Daniel Hand High School Class of 2017 celebrates commencement exercises on the Green in front of The First Congregational Church, then were treated to a world-tour-themed Nite in Hand safe graduation party at their alma mater.
For the Town Campus baseball field, Banisch announces a challenge to the members of various Madison baseball leagues: If they can raise $6,000, Banisch has secured a donor for an additional $6,000 to cover the cost of the field dugouts. Meanwhile, local contractors line up to help finish work on the field free of charge.
At the end of the month, after more than a decade’s worth of service to the Town of Madison, Director of Engineering Mike Ott resigns. The resignation is presented to and accepted by the BOS on June 26.
On June 26, Selectman Bob Hale (R) announces he will not seek a third term in November. On June 30, Banisch announces he will seek a second term as first selectman.
“I’d like to announce that I am running again for the job of first selectman, a job I love in the town that I love,” Banisch says. “I hope you’ll give me the opportunity to continue to serve you.”
The Madison Beach Hotel (MBH) formally kicks-off its sixth season of the Grassy Strip concerts on June 28, but opening night comes with the ever-present shadow of the lawsuit brought forward by some of the hotel’s neighbors. The lawsuit heads to court later this summer.
July
The state enters the new fiscal year with no budget. Municipalities like Madison are left hanging, awaiting final word on what level of monetary aid the town is to receive this year.
Residents partake in the July 4 parade organized by the Exchange Club of Madison and led by the MHS in honor of its centennial year.
The Capital Improvement Program (CIP) committee starts planning for fiscal year 2018-’19. Before jumping into planning, the CIP committee looks back at the prior year, highlighting project difficulties and the need to possibly change the regulations of the committee to prevent projects from being re-directed after approval in the future.
Madison Republicans and Democrats put forward their respective candidate slates for the upcoming election. While some boards have contested seats, current First Selectman Tom Banisch (R) is running unopposed.
August
State budget concerns continue after consecutive news from Hartford asking towns to report how much money is in their fund balance accounts and a threat from Malloy that if no budget is adopted by Oct. 1, 85 school districts will lose all of their Education Cost Sharing money and another 54 would see reduce in funding.
The Town of Madison, the Madison Beach Hotel, and a group of residents end up in court in early August to debate the legality of some events held by the hotel in general and on the piece of town-owned property known as the Grassy Strip. The parties end up in court for seven days. The case is tried before a judge, rather than a jury, and a verdict is not expected until after the New Year.
The East River Reading Room is sold and is to be used as a home for a new non-profit in town. Proceeds of the sale go to the E.C. Scranton Memorial Library renovation project.
The MHS, in conjunction with its centennial celebration, launches the web-based tour of the Madison Green National Historic District. The tour includes 33 structures and buildings dating from the Colonial era to the modern era on the Green, along part of Boston Post Road, and a few additional historic structures on Meetinghouse Lane and Britton Lane.
Tuxis True Value Lumber & Hardware, a shoreline staple since 1961, is no longer. Madison welcomes regional building supply company Ring’s End Lumber in its place. As of Aug. 28, the Tuxis sign is off the front of the building on Bradley Road in downtown Madison.
September
Students head back to school on Sept. 5
On Sept. 7, the Town of Madison officially issues a request for qualifications (RFQ), asking interested parties to come forward and prove they have the desire and the means to do something with the former Academy School.
On Sept. 24, members of the Madison and greater shoreline community gather on the Madison Town Green to unveil and dedicate the Gold Star Family Memorial, honoring those members of the military who have lost their lives in service to their country and their family members who have borne the pain of their loss.
On Sept. 26 Madison voters reject the plan to rebuild Ryerson Elementary School. With the school plan now defeated, town officials and interested parties are gearing up for what happens next. The project is defeated with 2,722 “No” votes to 1,452 “Yes” votes. Voter turnout is 32.3 percent. After the vote, Superintendent of Schools Tom Scarice says the result is a setback, but he said it wouldn’t define the quality of work done in the schools. However, Scarice says he has concerns going forward.
“I am concerned for the potential issues with competing for dollars like we have never had to do before with facilities projects and concerned about disruption for students,” he says. “But that said, we are going to do everything to the best of our ability to make sure that we can continue to perform at the highest levels.”
October
Governor Dannel P. Malloy’s Oct. 1 budget deadline passes and the state is still operating under executive order, making the governor’s threat of deep cuts to municipal aid an increasingly viable threat to towns. On Oct. 4, shoreline Republicans unite to publicly urge the legislature to end the budget impasse and voice their support for a possible override of the governor’s budget veto.
The Ad-hoc Library Expansion Building Committee considers looking to sign with another architect to keep the E.C. Scranton Memorial Library renovation on track.
Town officials elect to keep the Town Campus baseball field closed for the fall season until a proper insurance review is conducted following safety concerns.
On Oct. 10, the American Legion Griswold Post 79 in Madison makes history and appoints its first female commander, Donna Farrell.
On Oct. 13 Madison Police, in conjunction with other regional police departments, apprehend one of two suspects believed to be involved in an armed robbery of a Westbrook Denny’s earlier that day. The suspect is caught near the area of the I-95 rest stop near exit 62.
After a contentious referendum, on Oct. 17 the BOE unanimously votes to close Island Avenue Elementary School (see related story here).
Nearly 11 months after the first budget proposal was released, Governor Dannel Malloy puts pen to paper and signs the majority of the bipartisan budget into law on Oct. 31. While the bipartisan budget came as a victory and a relief to many, local legislators and leaders keep an eye on the cuts and possible future cuts within the new budget.
November
Uncontested first selectman candidate Tom Banisch keeps his office on Election Day, Nov. 7. Democrats take control of the BOE and the BOF is split 3-3.
Some unanticipated costs for the Strong Center field project stir up concern at the CIP and BOF after the first selectman brings forward an unanticipated special appropriation request. The BOF ultimately approves the special appropriation request, but makes it clear this is the last special appropriation for this project.
The Madison Senior Center puts forward for plans to have a membership fee in the new year and the Ad-Hoc Library Building Committee, after working with a new architect, puts forward some changes to the library renovation project, including the elimination of the Hull Building.
The BOE lays out plans for the reconfiguration of the middle schools in town as the district prepares to contract from six schools to five (see story here).
DHHS field hockey and boys soccer take state championships.
December
Residents gather downtown the first weekend in December for the annual tree lighting and the arrival of Santa.
On Dec. 11, DHHS Tigers take their 12th football state championship.
The CIP committee struggles with certain financially unknown projects in the program including a playground for one of the middle schools and a potential upgraded HVAC system for the library renovation project.
On Dec. 17, hundreds of people gather on the Madison Green to light candles at a Vigil for the Victims of Gun Violence on the fifth anniversary of the tragedy at Sandy Hook.
On Dec. 19, the BOE settles on a model for the district’s middle schools.