Wallingford News

Prudential Connecticut Realty, located in Wallingford, Conn., was recently recognized with the Gibraltar Circle Award as one of the Top 50 companies in the Prudential Real Estate network.

WALLINGFORD — Seven Republicans, including five incumbents, threw their hats in the ring Wednesday night for six Town Council seats that will be up for grabs in November — and longtime Mayor William W. Dickinson Jr. said he will run for a 16th term. Dressed in body armor and clothing that looked to be from the 16th century, Dickinson pulled out a telescope and discussed the work of Copernicus and Galileo, who realized that the earth was not the center of the universe. “The telescope doesn’t let us see the future,” Dickinson said. “But our ability to deal with what the future will bring depends on the structure of things we try to establish and live with.” In a time of high unemployment and uncertainty regarding the state budget, Dickinson said Wallingford is preparing for the future, whether it be “changing the way we purchase power and reforming the school system. “We are addressing those things as best we can,” he said. Town Council Chairman Bob Parisi, a Republican, said Wednesday that he promises to run a vigorous campaign as a team with his fellow candidates. If he is re-elected, he said, he will answer calls and letters from his constituents and try to find a solution to any problem they may have. Republican Councilor Vincent Cervoni said his four years on the council have been interesting, but he referenced project bids exceeding budget amounts and projected deficits, which he said could apply to surrounding towns. Republican Councilor Craig Fishbein said he will stand for smaller government, lower taxes and less interference in the day-to-day affairs of law-abiding citizens, just as he promised he would when he first ran for council, in 2009. He is proud of his work on the council, not being a “yes man” but examining the issues, thinking outside the box and doing what’s best for the town. Republican Councilor Tom Laffin sought a nomination to run for a second term, and promised to run as if it were his first time and take nothing for granted. Former Town Councilor Ray Rys also sought a nomination Wednesday. Board of Education member Christine Mansfield, a Republican, said she is running for a Town Council seat. As a businesswoman, she will advocate for pro-business and fiscally conservative policies. Committee member Steven Knight suggested that the party run all seven candidates as a slate. Registered Republicans will be able to vote to nominate candidates on July 17.

No wonder that Wallingford Town Council members grow impatient over lack of progress at the Wooding-Caplan property. For years, the site has been set to become a car lot in town center, where space can be at a premium. Officials had wanted the land transformed into a muchneeded parking lot before Celebrate Wallingford 2012. That downtown event attracted ample crowds — last October. Stalled plans call for widening and paving Wallace Avenue, an alley which connects Center Street to the 2.9-acre Wooding-Caplan property. Procured by Wallingford in 1991 for $1.5 million, the land also would be paved for creating about 100 new parking spots. Other municipal functions floated in recent time include erecting a new police headquarters there. However, the parcel remains grassy, bumpy and underutilized amidst busy downtown. Town crews from public works and the water department apparently have been booked on other assignments, and don’t have free hours for Wooding-Caplan work. Considering the years which have transpired without significant progress on this downtown lot, one wonders how civic employees cannot find time. Potential disconnect in communication among Wallingford leaders also could be unhelpful. When Town Engineer John Thompson told Town Council that Wooding-Caplan redevelopment required a public bidding process, some board members were surprised to learn that work would go out to bid. Councilor Craig Fishbein tellingly declared that he had thought public works would complete the entire project (R-J, 5-9). Instead, Thompson stated that costs for hiring contractors remain unknown, as does whether Wallingford has sufficient funds available to afford this undertaking. “Full disclosure is important, and as you can see it doesn’t happen,” Fishbein averred. He is correct to critique correspondence regarding the plan. That councilors and town hall were so far off in contrary beliefs about who would do the work speaks to how jumbled and stalled this project has become. But the center, with its popular eateries and shops, still needs additional parking. The Wooding-Caplan plot could easily provide more spots after proper treatment. If municipal officials think similarly, they should better organize and streamline town-department efforts for expeditious project conclusion, well before the return of crowds for Celebrate Wallingford 2013.