Local Updates

The process of visiting with community groups and discussing key issues continued last week. It is these interactions I enjoy the most.  Our communities are fortunate to have many thoughtful, caring and hard working people involved and I learn a great deal from my every visit.

The Colchester RTC was particularly gracious in allowing me time at its last meeting to share some of my thoughts and priorities -- and they had plenty of questions for me, too. We discussed a number of bills pending in Hartford, including Governor’s Bill #5024, which would allow non-registered voters to both register and vote on Election Day.  While nearly any effort to boost voter turnout in an election is worthwhile, I believe this bill as it is currently drafted is flawed.  And I would not support it.  Lastly, I want to extend my deep thanks to Chairman Brenden Healy and to CRTC members Steven Schuster and Linda Grzeika for their warm and gracious support. 

Later in the week I attended an informative meeting of the Village Center business owners in East Hampton.  This is an informal group of business owners who are absolutely passionate about maintaining and improving the vitality of their Village.  Among the updates given – and there were several -- was one on the Airline Trail.  I’m told construction will begin on this in May and would bring the Airline Trail into Main Street. This would be great for the local businesses there and for those using  the Trail. Unfortunately, my attempt to extend the Airline Trail into Portland was not successful last month. You can read about that

I also took a few minutes to check out the regional dog facility serving the communities of East Hampton and East Haddam.  It is located in Moodus, at the Transfer Station.  While there were no dogs at the site when I visited, I am happy to report it is clean, ship-shape and ready for dogs in their time of need.  

As stated in my last post, changes are occurring rapidly in some of the bills I’m following, including the comprehensive “Sunday Sales” bill #5021.  The package store owners have already dropped their opposition to the small portion of the bill that actually involves the sale of alcohol on Sunday -- as a way of heading off other potential changes they dislike elsewhere in the bill. How do you feel about being able to purchase beer at your local convenience store? Sound off here. Hearings were conducted on The Education bill, SB 24 last week.  Not surprisingly, representatives of the teachers’ unions voiced opposition to the proposed changes to tenure.  In my view, the concept of tenure needs updating and I wonder how the Governor's proposal which includes parent evaluations might come into play? It is an important bill and will keep following this proposal.

Another bill gaining much needed public attention is a proposal to increase the minimum wage – including the minimum wage for wait staff who receive tips from customers as part of their compensation. Known as bill#5291, this costly mandate will dramatically impact small businesses, and negatively affect wait staff that can earn on average more than $20 per hour when tips are included. Ending the tip exemption is a mistake that will harm both restaurants, their customers and wait staff.  A few Legislators in Hartford say the mistake was a simple “drafting error” – that there was no intent to eliminate the tip exemption.  However, the words “tip exemption” are included in the actual title of the bill, so that excuse sounds a bit far fetched to me.

Coming very soon are formal announcements from my exploratory committee! For now, please continue to follow my blog here or at melissaziobron.blogspot.com and I invite you to connect on my new ‘politician’ page on Facebook!  (www.facebook.com/ziobron2012)