Posted 6-28-04

CONNECTICUT STATE CERTIFICATION COMMITTEE

2004 Town Clerk

Certification List of Candidates

Kurt Novak – Town Clerk   Beacon Falls

Joan M. Locke – Town Clerk  Brookfield

Donna E. Rajczewski – Town Clerk Darien

Elizabeth P. Browne – Assistant Town Clerk Fairfield

Cynthia A. Esposito – Assistant Town Clerk Hamden

Linda Melillo – Assistant Town Clerk  Hamden

Beverly A. Fortin - Assistant Town Clerk Harwinton

Lorraine A. Chocholka – Assistant Town Clerk Morris

Gale L. Fernandez – Ass't Registrar of Vital Statistics New Milford

Mary Jane Whalen - Assistant Town Clerk Orange

Carol A. Skultety – Town Clerk Plainville

Anita R. Schwager - Assistant Town Clerk Simsbury

Christina L. Davis – Assistant Town Clerk Somers

Suzanne M. Litwin – Assistant Town Clerk Tolland

Antoinette C. Spinelli - Town Clerk Waterbury

Diane J. Keemon - Deputy Town Clerk Waterford

Virginia M. Stewart - Town Clerk Watertown

Dolores G. Sassano - Town Clerk Wethersfield 

Agnes M. Pier – Deputy Town Clerk Windsor

Dolores G. Slater – Assistant Town Clerk Wolcott          

Posted 6-23-04

Please review the 2004 Legislative Summary on the Legislative Committee's Update page http://www.ctclerks.com/filestorage/1230/CTC_04_Final_Summary.doc

Posted 6-22-04

Congratulations to Darlene DiProto, Town Clerk in Cromwell who has been awarded the designation of "Certified Municipal Clerk" (CMC) by IIMC.  Darlene has been employed by the Town of Cromwell since June 1987, serving as Assistant Town Clerk before elected to her current position of Town Clerk in November of 1997.  She has attended courses and seminars sponsored by CTCA and currently serves as County Vice-President of Middlesex County.  She is active in Middlesex Chamber of Commerce and the Cromwell Historical Society.

Posted 6-16-04

Thank you to Deb Calamari, Town Clerk of Chester for donating a beautiful, hand-made cross-stiched wall hanging for the Crafty Clerk Raffle for the New England Conference.  The raffle will be held in November, at the Boston Conference.  We need more donations.  Please be creative and generous. Call me at 860 349-3453 or email me at lfrancis@townofdurhamct.org if you have any questions or need ideas. You can bring your donations to your next county meeting.  Thank you, Laura Francis

Posted 6-14-04

Dear Town Clerks:

I am requesting a listing of all of the current three digit prefix numbers in your town.  While this information is available in the phone books for many towns it is not complete for all towns and we are trying to generate a complete listing for our files.  This information will be used in conjunction with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). 

The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) is the world's largest telephone survey. The BRFSS is CDC supported, state-based, random-digit-dialed telephone survey of the population 18 years of age and older. It is designed to monitor the prevalence of the major behavioral risks among adults associated with premature morbidity and mortality. Information from the survey is used to improve the health of the American people.  The survey is completely confidential.  The information from the phone prefix number will be used to help generate prevalence information by geographic area within Connecticut in addition to the State data that is already available.  More information on the BRFSS is available on the CDC web site:  http://www.cdc.gov/brfss/.

Please submit your responses to Nancy Dickman at the Connecticut Dept Public Health, Bureau of Community Health, Division of Health Information Systems and Reporting, 410 Capitol Ave MS #11PSI, Hartford, CT 06134. 

Should you have additional questions, they can be addressed to Diane Aye (860) 509-7756 or Diane.Aye@po.state.ct.us

Thank you for your assistance.  

Sincerely,

Diane Aye

Epidemiologist Health Information Systems Reporting

Bureau of Community Health

Posted 6-10-04

Jennifer Gelb,  Associate Attorney for the Office of Legislative Research of the Connecticut General Assembly needs our help.  This information may affect future legislation.

She would like to know:  "Which towns elect their boards of education at a town meeting rather than a general election?"  Also, if we could please urge clerks who know of other towns that do this but are not yet Web-connected to respond for the other towns. 

Clerks can respond directly to Jennifer at jennifer.gelb@po.state.ct.us.

or call her at  860 240-8400 or fax (860) 240-8881

County VP's, please send this to those clerks not signed up on our email list.

Thank you.

Posted 6-7-04

Cheryl Carriere, Assistant Town Clerk in Winchester is recovering from recent surgery.  Get well wishes can be sent to Cheryl at Winchester Road, Winsted, CT 06098

Posted 6-2-04

Check out the new Duplicate DEP License form in the Document Directory

Posted 6-2-04

It is with regret that I must inform you of the passing of Ruth Benoit, May 30, 2004.  Calling hours will be Thursday, June 3 at the Coventry Funeral Home, 2665 Boston Tpke (Rte 44), Coventry from 2-4 and 7-9 pm.  Funeral Services will be Friday, June 4, 1 pm at the First Congregational Church, 1171 Main Street, Coventry, Ct.  Memorial Contributions may be made in Ruth's name to the Ruth Benoit Scholarship fund, c/o Coventry High School, 78 Ripley Hill Road, Coventry, CT 06238 or the Coventry Volunteer fire Assn, PO Box 1, Coventry, Ct 06238.

 Susan Cyr, Town Clerk of Coventry

Posted 6-2-04

Some of you might remember Abby Marks-Beale from the Reading Edge, Wallingford, CT.  She ran a seminar for us at one of our Town Clerk Academy Classes.  I found the following in a Woman's Day magazine aricle.  It is from a publication that Abby Marks-Beale has written about how to manage your email.

1) Check your email only three times a day.  Reading mail every time the computer beeps wastes your time and disrupts your focus. (Personally, I check more than this.  You must find a system that works for you and your office)

2)Set a limit on each e-mailing session (anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour) and stick to it.

3)Sort, sift and throw away. Any message that can be managed in two minutes or less should be.  If your response will take longer, put it on your to-do list. (Please note, there are guidelines from the Public Records Administrator on the disposition of electronic & voice mail.  Please refer to General Letter 98-1 (Revision of GL 95-1)

4)Set up electronic files for e-mail you wish to save, and throw away the rest.  Try to have no more than 30 e-mails in your in-box. (Oh, am I in need for an intervention on this one!)

Several of you have expressed some interest this subject.  I hope it helps.

Laura

Posted 5-28-04

Please go to our Document Directory at http://www.ctclerks.com/content/1309/default.aspx .  There is a new spreadsheet template available to track dog licenses for reporting and an updated form for reporting preservation revenue to the State Library.

Posted 5-27-04

Lisa Leary, East Haven Town Clerk will be home for the next 3 weeks recovering from recent surgery.  Cards to cheer her up can be sent to Lisa at 12 Maynard Road, East Haven, CT 06513.

Posted 5-26-04

TO ALL TOWN CLERKS - From the Secretary of the State Elections Division   

The following is an email sent to all registrar of voters.  We are sending it to you for your information.

Public Act No. 03-241 made two substantive changes affecting the endorsement of candidates for municipal office (except justices of the peace) in a state election year.  Sec. 22(c) of that act amended CGS Sec. 9-391 to read in part, as follows:

"The candidate so endorsed for a municipal office to be voted upon at a state election, other than the office of justice of the peace, shall file with the town clerk a certificate, signed by that candidate, stating that such candidate was so endorsed, the candidate's name as the candidate authorizes it to appear on the ballot, the candidate's full street address and the title and district of the office for which the candidate was endorsed.  Such certificate shall be attested by the chairman or presiding officer and the secretary of the town committee, caucus or convention which made such endorsement." (emphasis added)

Thus, if you are up for election in November, the certificate of your endorsement that has been/will be filed with the town clerk must contain your name as you authorize it to appear on the ballot, your address AND your signature.  If your certificate has already been filed, please reexamine it add your address, if necessary, and authorize your name as you wish it to appear on the ballot by signing the certificate.

Posted 5-24-04

Posted 5-24-04

Congratulations to Joan E. Gerdsen, CMC, Town Clerk of Mansfield who has been accepted into the First Level Membership of the IIMC Master Municipal Clerk Academy.  Joan has been employed with the Town of Mansfield since 1989.

Posted 5-19-04

Posted 5-17-04

Today, the Attorney General issued an opinion concerning same sex marriages to the town of Westport and the town of Lyme.  In addition, the Attorney General wrote a letter to Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney on the same issue.  Town clerks can access the opinion and the letter through the Attorney General's website:  www.cslib.org/attygenl There is a link to both documents on the first page of the website. I hope this is helpful.

Richard Kehoe
Special Counsel
Attorney General's Office
55 Elm Street
P.O. Box 120
Hartford, CT 06106
 
Phone:  (860) 808-5322
Fax:      (860) 808-5387
URL:      http://www.cslib.org/attygenl

Posted 5-13-04

There will be a refresher training class for current Passport Acceptance Agents on May 20, 2004 from 9:00-4:00 at the Cromwell Town Hall, 41 West Street, Cromwell, CT.  For more information and to reserve your seat, please call DarleneDiProto, Cromwell Town Clerk at 860-632-3440.

Posted 5-12-04

Just a reminder that the deadline for the New England Conference Connecticut '05 Theme contest is June 15th.  There will be a prize given for the winning theme.  Entries should be sent to Leslie Cotton, Southington Town Clerk, 75 Main Street, Southington, CT 06489 or cotton@southington.org.  Put your creative thinking caps on and make Connecticut proud.

Posted 5-7-04

 Posted 5-7-04

The Senate and House passed a budget that keeps the conveyance fees at their current rate of .025 and .050 for one more year. This means that next July , we will go back to the old values except for the targeted communities which will be at .036. The "bottom line" is that the budget bill is now in the hands of the Governor for signing. Until he signs or vetoes's, we have no reason to project what the conveyance fees will be !

Also, please disregard the marriage license policy paper that the executive board distributed at the conference.  A meeting has been set up with Diane Gustafson and Dave Antolini at DPH.  We will collaborate with them and distribute a policy statement that is more clear.

Thank you Joe Camposeo

Posted 5-3-04

I also wish to thank Esther Williams and her Assistant who donated hand-made notecards.  Keep the donations coming!

Posted 5-2-04

Thank you to Kate Wall, Patty Ulatowski and DeeAnn Brennan for their contributions to the Crafty Clerk Raffle.  I will be at  Town Clerk Academy on Friday, May 14.  Anyone who has a contribution can bring it then.  The raffle will take place in Boston in November.  We need your help to have an attractive raffle display.  As always, thank you for your support. Laura Francis

Posted 5-2-04

Please go to the Department of Revenue Services page under ST of CT Agency News and view a procedures memo from  the DRS Audit Department.  You must use your password that was distributed at the Spring Conference to access that page. 

Posted 5-2-04

The CTCA Clothing Catalog is now on line.  Please click here to view.  Instructions for ordering is on the order form.  Please do not forget to add shipping and handling.  Orders can be picked up at Barker's Specialty, in Cheshire, at any time to save the shipping and handling fee.  We are going to try and do that anytime we are close to an event where many of us will be gathered.  For instance, had we had more time, we could have picked up an order and bring it to the Town Clerk Academy classes.  Unfortunately, I don't think we have enough time.  Thank you for your support witht his program.  Proceeds from the clothing sales will benefit the NEACTC Connecticut Conferences.  Don't forget to show the catalog to your staff. County V.P.'s, please print the catalog and mail to those in your county without email.  Thanks. Laura Francis

Posted 4-27-04

Click here for a notice of a job opening for Assistant City Clerk, Waterbury, CT

Posted 4-27-04

One of the good ideas that came out of Website Training has been created.  Please check out the new Document Directory portion of this website.  The directory is a listing of documents and forms that you can download for your personal use.  It is only the beginning, but it's complete enough for you to get the idea.

If you have a document that you use in your office and you would like to share it with your colleagues, please email it to me as an attachment to lfrancis@townofdurhamct.org  Please do not send any .pdf files if possible.  They cannot be altered.  Our intention is to post documents that can be personalized with your name and your town where appropriate. 

Thank you for your continued support with the website.  Keep the good ideas coming.

Laura Francis

Posted 4-23-04

Posted 4-22-04

Click here for up-to-date vendor list for the Spring Conference.

Posted 4-19-04

Posted 4-16-04

Here is the latest Vendor list for the Sping Conference.  Click Here

Posted 4-15-04

CCM is sponsoring an E-Government Expo "Connecting to the Community" on May 12, 2004 at the Omni-New Haven Hotel from 8:30am-3:00pm.  I am going to be speaking at one of the Sessions called "Municipal Departments: Going Online".  I encourage all of you to attend if you can.  I went last year and found the sessions very informative.  You will also have an opportunity to visit with vendors that provide services oriented to municipal e-government.  You can get more information by clicking on the following link http://www.ccm-ct.org/education/051204expo.html.  Hope to see you there, Laura Francis.

Posted 4-14-04

Click here to view a current list of vendors who will attend the April conference.  Please visit them.

Posted 4-14-04

The Legislative Reception on April 15th from 4:00-7:00pm will be held in room 310 at the Capitol.  Please attend.

Posted 4-13-04

Please click here to view the list of vendors that have responded for the Spring Conference as of 4-7-04.  Please plan on visiting them during your vendor time.

Posted 4-12-04

Congratulations to Dee Ann Brennan, City & Town Clerks of  Norwich, who has been awarded the prestigious designation of "Certified Municipal Clerk" (CMC).  Dee Ann has been employed by the City of Norwich since 1980, serving as Assistant City & Town Clerk before her appointment to her current position in December of 2001.

Posted 4-8-04

Kimberly Garvis, Assistant Town Clerk of Durham would like to thank everyone for the well wishes while she was out recouperating from surgery.

Posted 4-8-04

Due to a change from the kitchen of the Windsor Marriott, the meat medley banquet choice is no longer available.  It will be replaced with Filet Mignon.  If you have already sent in your registration and would like to change your choice, please call Sarah Becker at (860) 395-3153 or email at sbecker@town.old-saybrook.ct.us.

Posted 4-7-04

Please visit the Legislative Update section of this website to view a report on the Duties and Liabilities of Town Clerks as Process Recipients

Posted 4-6-04

A REMINDER : The CTCA Legislative Reception will be next Thursday April 15th from 4 to 7 PM at the State Capitol. Last year over three hundred people attended including virtually every State Rep and Senator. Last year many were looking for their town clerks. Unfortunately some clerk's were not there and passed up a great opportunity to speak the issues with their reps. Not to mention all that were there enjoyed great food as well as the company !

We hope clerks can come out in force this year. This will be a key opportunity for us to let them know how we feel about Presiential Ballots, conveyance fees, marriage licenses, ethics and much more. Hope to see you all there !

Posted 4-6-04

The Finance Committee took no action on the Governor's budget regarding conveyance. You will recall that the Governor is proposing that come July 1, 2004, the conveyance fee in the eighteen target towns will be .036 and the remain towns would go back to .011.

Earlier today, I spoke with Giancarlo Casa of CCM (Connecticut Conference of Municipalities) He said that they will attempt to get an amendment to continue the present conveyance fee schedule of .025 and .050 for target towns.  I mentioned to him that many clerks around the State would likely support CCM's efforts to continue the conveyance. He was pleased to hear this and would welcome our involvement!

So now is the time to contact your reps and ask them to support amendment that call for a continuance of the current conveyance fees.

Be sure to point out that

1. Since last year, conveyance revenues have helped to close local budget gaps due to reduced funding from State and other resources.

2. Give them a precise example of what your town's local conveyance revenue before and after the law was changed last April.

3. Let them know if there have been no complaints from real estate agents some of whom are claiming that extended conveyance is reducing the number of property sales?

Giancarlo also offered to speak with any clerk or answer any questions.  He can be reached at 203-498-3021.

Also, please get your reps to sponsor Our Presidential Ballot Bill No. 5592 if you have not already done so.   We need to have resounding support by CTCA!  Joe Camposeo, Legislative Chairman

Posted 4-1-04

Posted 3-30-04

Just a friendly reminder that this is the year that we will conduct the Crafty Clerk Raffle at the NEACTC Conference in Boston, MA in November, 2004.  I know that all you talented clerks are hard at work.  Kim is knitting, Leslie and Cathy are cross-stiching, Katie is stenciling, Donna's good at wreaths, Sandra makes flower arrangements and I heard Karen can make baskets!  Many thanks  to Ann from Haddam, who already donated a hand-knitted afghan.  If you are not so inclined, baskets or gift bags with craft items will also be accepted. A clerk at your friendly neighborhood craft store will help you pull together  patterns, with all the materials to go with a certain project.

I will be accepting any completed projects at the April conference.  If you can, please box or bag your donation for easy storage between now and November.

Remember, this is one of the major fundraisers for the Connecticut NEACTC conference in November of 2005.  Let's make some money and show off our talents!

Thank you!   Laura Francis

Posted 3-25-04

Westbrook Town Clerk's new address needs to be corrected. The address is:

Westbrook Town Clerk, 866 Boston Post Road, Westbrook, CT  06498

Thank your very much. Lori Baldi, Town Clerk

Posted 3-24-04

Posted 3-23-04

Posted 3-23-04

Please click here for a letter from Joe Camposeo, Legislative Committee Chairman regarding Presidential Ballots.

Posted 3-22-04

Bill Riiska, former town clerk of Winsted passed away March 18th.   His wife lives at 153 Wallens Street, Winsted, CT 06098. He is survived by his wife Margaret and adult children.

Posted 3-17-04

Cheryl McIntire, long term Assistant Town Clerk of Coventry, has suffered an injury from a fall.  She will be incapacitated for at least a few weeks.  Cards may be sent to her at 111 High Street, Coventry, CT 06238

Posted 3-17-04

Yale University cordially invites CT state and municipal elected officials and staff and elections officials to an educational symposium on the critical issues confronting the nation in voting and voting technologies.

"Voting in an e-Democracy"

Friday, April 2, 2004

Luce Hall at Yale University
34 Hillhouse Avenue
New Haven, CT

This symposium is by invitation.  There is no fee, but seating is limited and registration is required by March 26.  Register online at www.eng.yale.edu/eVoting.  Details and logistics can be found at this website.

Posted 3-16-04

Our condolences to Woodbridge Town Clerk Stephanie Ciarleglio.  Stephanie's husband Richard passed away.  The wake will be held at Celantano Funeral Home 424 Elm Street New Haven which is at  the corner of Dwight Street Wednesday 3-17-04 from 4:00pm to 8:00pm.  Mass will be  at the Assumption Church Center Road in Woodbridge on Thursday 3-18-04 at10:00am. The church is close to the Woodbridge Town  Hall.

Posted 3-15-04

It is time to contact your State Representatives and State Senators.

Please ask your legislators to vote for and/or sign-on as co-sponsor to House Bill #5592.  It would be best if you can encourage them to sign on as co-sponsor.  This is the Presidential Ballot bill that our association is supporting.  After serious negotiations with the chairs of the GAE committee, this bill is a compromise for what we hope is the last Presidential Ballot election.  Essentially, this bill allows Town Clerks the authority to create a separate balloting location, whether in your office, or another room or building.  In addition, it allows Clerks to hire Presidential Ballot Assistants for the purpose of issuing the ballots.  We realized that there will be issues for Clerks to work through.  We will have an open discussion at the April 30th morning session of the conference.

You can easily reach your State Representatives at http://www.cga.state.ct.us/asp/menu/hlist.asp  and your State Senators at http://www.cga.state.ct.us/asp/menu/slist.asp.

Posted 3-15-04

To all Town Clerks:

Phone 860-566-1100 ext 304, Fax 860-566-1118
email: lpelletier@cslib.org
website: www.cslib.org

Posted 3-12-04

Here's a good cartoon about a current event topic!

Posted 3-11-04

Congratulations to Tanya Lane, Town Clerk of Newington, who has been accepted into the Second  Level Membership of the IIMC Master Municipal Clerk Academy.

Posted 3-11-04

All conference materials are now on our website, including the tax exempt form, hotel registration and directions and the Wednesday Night Event Flyer.  Please visit www.ctclerks.com and go to the Announcements page or the Spring Conference Event Page.

We are encouraging you to download these forms to register for the conference.  Please email Sarah Becker at sbecker@town.old-saybrook.ct.us and let her know that you have the material.  We want to cut down on the mailing this conference in an effort to substantially reduce the cost and time associated with these large mailings.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Posted 3-10-04

The Connecticut Town Clerks Spring Conference will be held April 28-30, 2004 at the Windsor Marriott.

The price of the rooms will be $109.00 per night.  Please download the forms below to register.

Pre-Registration Brochure - Click Here

Registration Form - Click Here

Golf Tournament Registration Form - Click Here

Wednesday Night Event - Historical Windsor Tour Flyer - Click Here

Wednesday Night Event - Historical Windsor Tour - Click Here for Registration form

Tax Exempt Form for Meals and Lodging - Click Here

Hotel Directions - Click Here

Hotel Registration Form - Click Here

Posted 3-9-04

It is time to apply for scholarship funds for the New England Municipal Clerks Institute and Academy (Salve). 

 Click here for the Scholarship Application.

Posted 3-8-04

Eloise McCormack, from the Vital Records Department, City of Hartford sends out the following message
"THE REPORT FOR 2003 EVRS ATTESTED COPIES STATES EACH BIRTH BY STATE FILE NUMBER AND DATE OF BIRTH ONLY, Not by name."  Contact Eloise at emccormack@ci.hartford.ct.us.

Posted 3-3-04

Posted 3-1-04

Posted 3-1-04

http://www.cslib.org/grantforms.htm

LeAnn Johnson, CRM
Public Records Program Grant Specialist
Connecticut State Library
231 Capitol Ave.
Hartford, CT 06106
Phone 860-566-1100 ext 301
Fax 860-566-1118
email: ljohnson@cslib.org
website: www.cslib.org

Posted 2-26-04

By now all town clerks should have received their primary night reporting form and instructions from Tammy Mitman of the Associated Press-Hartford Courant Election Center. If you have not, please call Tammy now at 860-485-1076, or send an e-mail to her at tmitman@ap.org. The AP will pay the CTCA $25 for each call or fax requested and received on primary night, March 2. So please be prepared to call or fax your results in!

Also, some of you may have received another reporting request from an outside firm hired by the AP to conduct precinct sampling and exit polling on primary night. If you have, please remember that you also need to report to Tammy and the AP-Hartford Courant Election Center on the night of March 2. The AP-Hartford Courant Election Center is a separate operation, and they need your help. Thank you!

Posted 2-25-04

Posted 2-25-04

Congratulations to Leona Mainville, CMC, Town Clerk of Brooklyn who has been accepted into the First Level Membership of the IIMC Master Municipal Clerk Academy.

Posted 2-24-04

Congratulations to Sharon Miller, Town Clerk of East Hartford who has been awarded the prestigious designation of "Certified Municipal Clerk" - CMC.  Sharon has been employed with the Town of East Hartford since December 1999.  She attained her CMC through  completion of the IIMC-approved Municipal Clerks Institute conducted at Salve University.

Congratulations to Linda L. Smith,  Town Clerk of Canton, CT who has been awarded the prestigious designation of "Certified Municipal Clerk" - CMC.  Linda has been employed by the Town of Canton since January 2001.  She attained her designation as CMC through earning a BA degree in Social Systems and Policy from the University of Hartford and a MS degree in Organization and Management from Central Connecticut State University. 

Congratulations to Irene G. Masse, CMC, City Clerk of  Meriden, who has been accepted into the Second Level Membership of the IIMC Master Municipal Clerk Academy.

Congratulations to Kathleen Quin, CMC, Town Clerk of Windsor, who has been accepted into the First Level of the IIMC Master Municipal Clerk Academy.

Posted 2-23-04

Click here for information on a job opening for Town Clerk,  Town of Northborough, MA.

Posted 2-17-04

Please read the announcements on the Connecticut State Library page off the State Agency News section of our website.  The link is http://www.ctclerks.com/content/1322/1325/default.aspx.

Posted 1-29-04

If you signed up for a February website class and did not hear from me with a confirmation, email me at bbarrett@lisbonct.com.  We are full for the morning class but we still have openings for the afternoon class. 

Betsy Barrett, Education Chairperson

Posted 1-29-04

Posted 1-24-04

Please click on the link below for a copy of the completed project report on the Absentee Ballot Reform Pilot Program that was conducted by the Elections Enforcement Commission last fall.  Warning - It is a large pdf file.

http://www.ctclerks.com/filestorage/1230/Report_to_GAE_03-227_final.pdf