April 30, 2010

Hotel Tax Increase Approved By House - Courant.com

Hotel Tax Increase Approved By House - Courant.com: "The state hotel tax would rise from 12 percent to 15 percent under a bill that passed the state House of Representatives by an 88-50 vote late Thursday and is headed for action in the Senate.

One-third of the 3 percentage point increase would go to the cities or towns where the hotels that collected the money are located; two-thirds would go to the regional planning organizations on a pro rata basis."

Town Budget Hearing Slated For April 27

Town Budget Hearing Slated For April 27

Vernon Town Council Approves Spending For Herbicide

By JOSEPH A. O'BRIEN JR.

Special to The Courant
April 21, 2010

The town council has approved spending $16,625 on herbicides to battle the invasive plants that have taken hold in Valley Falls Pond and Walker's Reservoir.

Members of the conservation commission agreed in March to follow the recommendation of George W. Knoecklein of Northeast Aquatic Research in Mansfield, who urged the town take action against the variable-leaf milfoil that's thriving in Valley Falls Pond and the milfoil and fanwort that have infested Walker's Reservoir East.

"These plants," the commission wrote in a memorandum to Mayor Jason L McCoy, "if left unchecked, can potentially degrade natural habitat and disrupt or eliminate native plant and animal species, including the wild trout population, in the Tankerhoosen River, in Tankerhoosen, Dobsonville and Talcottville ponds and potentially in the Hockanum River."

The town council this week voted to spend $3,350 to treat Valley Falls Pond and $13,275 to treat Walker's Reservoir East.

The town has applied to the state Department of Environmental Protection for the necessary permits to apply the herbicides. Public notices will have to be published and signs posted at both locations informing people about the intended pesticide use.

The commissioners had considered other eradication methods but concluded that the herbicides would likely be the most effective one.

Mechanical harvesting would make the problem worse because both species spread and propagate through fragmentation that would occur during harvesting. Also, harvesting is good for only one growing season. Officials considered introducing sterile grass carp to dine on the invading plants but were concerned that these fish would get into the river ecosystem and raise havoc with the trout.

Suction harvesting, in which a diver uses an underwater, venturi vacuum to remove the plants, was deemed too slow and too expensive. Vacuuming the 6 acres of Walker Reservoir would probably take 12 weeks and cost about $108,000.

The commissioners acknowledged that there would probably be concerns about the herbicides' effect on the environment and "that citizens may question their use." The herbicides "can be expected to eliminate fanwort and milfoil from the ponds for a period of three to five years," the commission said.

The commissioners also urged that the town develop a long-term, comprehensive management plan to control invasive species. "We specifically recommend that in the intervening years before these plants return to their present density, the town consider planning and budgeting for the future use of suction harvesting, which we understand may become more cost-effective."

Groundbreaking For Mill Project Slated April 28 - Courant.com

Groundbreaking For Mill Project Slated April 28 - Courant.com: "Groundbreaking For Mill Project Slated April 28"


The groundbreaking ceremony that will mark the transformation of the former Roosevelt Mills sweater factory into residential and commercial space will take place April 28, according to Mayor Jason L. McCoy.

The ceremony, which will take place at 2 p.m. on the site of the once busy factory at 215 East Main St., had been set for March 30 but had to be rescheduled due to inclement weather.

The development, to be known as Loom City Lofts, will include 68 one-bedroom apartments on the upper floors and roughly 10,000 square feet of retail and office space on the first floor. The project is supported by state funding through the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development.

Roosevelt Mills has been vacant since 1998. Before anything could be done with the site it had to be cleaned up. Tests showed it was polluted with chlorinated solvents including tetrachloroethene, a cancer-causing chemical that was used to dry-clean sweaters. Another chemical, sodium persulfate, was used to destroy the tetrachloroethene and itself will breakdown into sodium and sulfate, two elements found naturally in the soil that are not harmful.

The mill was built in 1906 and was one of the first reinforced concrete buildings in the country. It was the last textile factory in Rockville, once known as the Loom City, to go out of business.

— Joseph A. O'Brien Jr.

Groundbreaking For Mill Project Slated April 28 - Courant.com

Groundbreaking For Mill Project Slated April 28 - Courant.com

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April 11, 2010

In Loving Memory Frank J. McCoy Former Mayor of Vernon Connecticut

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. April 24, 2010
at the Sacred Heart Church, 550 Hartford Turnpike, Vernon Connecticut 06066
 

The Life and Time of Frank J. McCoy December 21, 1922 - April 6, 2010

The Life of  Frank J. McCoy December 21, 1922 to April 6, 2010

Former Mayor Frank J. McCOY, Esq.



McCOY, Frank J. Frank J. McCoy of Vernon, CT, passed away on April 6, 2010 and joins his wife Jeanette McCoy. He was surrounded by his family. He was born on December 21, 1922 in New Haven, CT and graduated from Milford High School in 1940 before serving as a Sergeant in the United States Army for three years in the European theater during World War II. He graduated from Yale University in 1949 and the University of Connecticut School of Law in 1956. He practiced law for 54 years and served as attorney for the Vernon Fire District during its consolidation with the City of Rockville in forming the Town of Vernon. He served two terms with the Vernon Town Council and Mayor of Vernon for four terms in the 70's and 80's. He served as President of the Connecticut Conference of Mayors and served for over 30 years as Attorney representative on the advisory review board for the Whiting Forensic Institute. He was the service officer for the Soldier Sailors Marine Fund for over 40 years helping war time veterans who were in need of financial assistance. In 1960, he formed the Vernon Midget Football League, which was the impetus for football being brought to Rockville High School. He was a coach in Vernon sports for over 40 years, coaching recreation basketball, baseball and football. In 1965, he formed and sponsored the Vernon Orioles baseball team who continue to play in the Hartford Twilight League until today. He is survived by his five children: Jack McCoy (June), Wayne McCoy (Laura), Karen McCoy (Gary Blinn), Dennis McCoy (Diana) and Attorney Frank McCoy, Jr. (Jane); his four grandchildren, Jason, Kevin, Jennifer and Kathleen; his brother John McCoy and sister Helen McCoy (deceased).
 
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. April 24, 2010 at the Sacred Heart Church, 550 Hartford Turnpike, Vernon, CT 06066.
 
For online condolences, visit www.fullerfuneralhome.com.