Making Good on Commitment to maintain Skatepark: Youth input "A Must" to repair facility on Hill Street

Jewett City needs to make good on its commitment to keep the skatepark on Hill Street a safe place that is properly equipped and operational.

The joint Borough & Town project opened in 2004 after two years of planning, meetings, and input from parents and youth.

The original $10,000 cash and in-kind contributions got the skatepark started, but the lack of additional financial support over the last three years has left the park in disrepair. As reported by The Day in a December 27, 2006 news article, it is more than understandable that residents have questions about the future of the skatepark.

"We want to address it before it becomes a safety issue. We want to be proactive and preventative," was the direction urged by Marc L. Cournoyer, former Town Recreation Director, in a December 2006 letter to the Warden and Burgess of Jewett City. [Mr. Cournoyer's last day of employment as Griswold Recreation Director was the end of March. Plans for hiring a replacement have not been reported by the media.]

Tony Hawk Foundation: Action Plan Model & Possible Funding Source
"Supporting Youth and Public Skateparks" is the mission of the Tony Hawk Foundation. A statement from the foundation website says it best.

After receiving thousands of e-mails from parents and children across America who either did not have a safe, legal place to skate or were ostracized-and in some cases arrested-for skating on public property, Tony decided to establish a foundation whose mission would be to serve this population. He wanted to help them develop quality places to practice the sport that gives them much-needed exercise and a sense of self-esteem. So in 2002 he established the Tony Hawk Foundation, financed the organization with a personal gift, and assembled a board of directors that represents a diverse range of backgrounds and expertise. [www.tonyhawkfoundation.org]

Action Plan Model:
Direct grass-roots involvement by skaters is the hallmark of the the Tony Hawk Foundation. Youth must take the lead to organize skaters, plan the project, fundraise local dollars, and design the skatepark.

The foundation has published four articles on each of these subjects to provide guidance and inspire the possibilities.

1) click here - organizing
2) click here - planning
3) click here - fundraising
4) click here - designing

Possible Funding Source
The Tony Hawk Foundation makes grant awards between $1000 and $25,000 twice each year in April and December. The competition for funding is definitely extreme. Youth engaging the application process with the support of local government will create opportunities for individual learning, personal responsibility, and community pride.

The requirements of the Tony Hawk Foundation grant process can be found by reading the following documents:

1) click here - Letter from Tony Hawk
2) click here - Grant Eligibility Guidelines
3) click here - Grant Application Worksheet

Support of the Board of Warden and Burgess and direct youth involvement are critical to submitting a competitive grant application to the Tony Hawk Foundation.

Ron Ward, JCP Candidate for Warden committed to Skatepark
"The youth of Jewett City have demonstrated an interest in having the skatepark," said Ron Ward. He continued, "Now it is time for the Borough to make the skatepark safe and operational for our youth." A new skateboard shop will open at its School Street location on May 1st. The owner of the shop understands the market potential here in Jewett City. It is time to encourage our youth, support a new local merchant, and provide a top-notch skatepark.


Other Resources
Skaters For Public Skateparks: www.skatersforpublicskateparks.org
Skate Park Guide: www.skateparkguide.com
Skate Park Association of the USA: www.spausa.org
Skate Park: www.skatepark.org

The Day - editorial published December 28, 2007: click here

photo credit: Tim Martin, The Day - December 27, 2006

Two Adults & Two Youth - all part-time - supervise Griswold Rec. After-school Program

Marc Cournoyer, director of the Griswold Youth Center, resigned to take a position at the University of Connecticut. His last day was March 29.

While Cournoyer is gone, two part-time adult workers and two part-time high school-age workers will supervise the after-school program.

Cournoyer began working in Griswold in October 2002 as a part-timer running the Youth Services Bureau and overseeing the after-school program at the Youth Center. In summer 2003, the program was expanded and Cournoyer was made director of the summer recreation program, which is the town's summer camp program.

In 2005, the recreation and youth service bureaus were combined, which made his position full-time. He expanded youth services to the schools, expanded the recreation program from a summer program to a year-round one and expanded offerings of other programs.

He also helped with two moves for the Youth Center. The first was from Main Street to School Street. Last summer, the Youth Center moved into Slater Mill Mall.

Cournoyer will become a program coordinator for the Windham County 4-H programs out of the University of Connecticut extension office in Brooklyn. In that position, he will oversee all the 4-H youth programs in Windham County.

Entire post is an excerpt from a news article by Julie A. Varughese
published by Norwich Bulletin - April 9, 2007: click here to read

Taking Time to Hire Quality Educators is Best for Students and Community

Good Game Plan In Griswold
The Day - Editorial published April 5, 2007

The Griswold school system appears to be a victim of its own success.

Superintendent Elizabeth Osga faces the formidable challenge of replacing four top administrators in the system that has a single elementary, middle and high school, all located on the same campus.

But rather than signaling that something is wrong with the town's public school system, the mass exodus is a signal that things are right. A willingness to be innovative has apparently made its administrators attractive to other jurisdictions.

Middle school Principal Preston Shaw has been hired as a middle school principal in Holden, Mass., near his home. Mr. Shaw directed the transformation from a junior high to a middle school during his 11 years in Griswold and successfully introduced a team teaching approach.

During his eight years in charge, Griswold Elementary School Principal Paul Carolan's willingness to try different approaches helped capture the attention of the Regional Multicultural Magnet School in New London. Mr. Carolan is expected to become director there once the governing board gives its formal approval later this month.

The elementary school also loses its principal, Alfred Souza III, who will become principal of a Berlin elementary school. Mr. Souza had introduced computer software for assessing student math skills, then using the data to make instructional adjustments.

Jack Cross, Griswold's first curriculum director, departs after eight years. There was little coordination before Mr. Cross was hired. Students would find themselves going over the same topics in consecutive years while needed subjects went ignored. Mr. Cross, who is leaving to become assistant superintendent in Clinton, has aligned courses and eliminated needless repetition.

All the administrators leave at the end of the school year.

Superintendent Osga said Griswold's use of teacher evaluation standards tailored to specific curriculums, as well as classroom observation by administrators to provide constructive feedback to teachers, has caught the attention of other school systems, adding to the marketability of Griswold's administrators.

The challenge for Superintendent Osga and the Griswold school board is to find quality replacements who share the same interest in continued innovation. The superintendent has a good game plan. A selection committee of staff, parents, board members and school administrators will evaluate finalists. Replacing the two principals will be the top priorities. Once an elementary principal is selected, that person will take part in the hiring of assistant.

The curriculum director will be hired last because that position is the least critical to opening school next fall, according to Superintendent Osga. Positions should be filled by mid-August.

But the superintendent said she would not be rushed into a poor choice. If a quality candidate cannot be identified for any of the jobs, a position can be filled with an interim appointee while the search resumes, she noted.

That is wise. Griswold should strive to build on past successes, even if it means administrators will move onward and upwards, just hopefully next time not all at once.

JCP eBlog! publishes Facts on Republican candidate's alleged campaign wrong-doing

JCP eBlog! articles by Ron Ward, Jewett City Party Founder and JCP candidate for Borough Warden


February 22, 2007 - Republican candidate for warden removes the official seals of the borough and town from her campaign website [read article: click here]

March 18, 2007 - It's all a political move to smear their names, say Republicans Brooks & Hatfield, about Jewett City Party's Ward filing a complaint [read article: click here]

April 3, 2004 - Griswold Town Attorney uses public Tax Dollars to defend Brooks against Allegations of Election Campaign wrong-doing??? [read article: click here]


click here - View the Official Town of Griswold Seal and Borough Seal as it appeared on the Republican candidate's website.

click here - On February 21st, the Republican candidate's website removed the Town Seal & Borough Seal and looked like this.

click here - On February 22nd @ 9:00 am, First Selectman Hatfield resigned as campaign Treasurer for the Republican candidate's election campaign effort.

click here - On February 22nd, the Republican candidate's website added a disclaimer that looks like this.

click here - On April 3rd, the Republican candidate responded to allegation that Griswold Town Attorney used Public Tax Dollars to provide Brooks with a legal defense

Griswold Town Attorney uses public Tax Dollars to defend Brooks against Allegations of Election Campaign wrong-doing???

Michael Zizka is the Attorney for the Town of Griswold. Mr. Zizka wrote a letter to the State Elections Enforcement Commission (SEEC) on March 1, 2007 regarding Complaint No. 07-160 filed by Ron Ward on February 22, 2007. The only legitimate reason that the Town Attorney might offer as an explanation for his March 1st letter would be defending his client, the Town of Griswold.

Complaint filed with State Election Enforcement Commission (SEEC)

The complaint filed by Ron Ward on February 22, 2007 with the SEEC alleged,

"Anne P. Hatfield, Griswold First Selectman, has used the official town and borough seals, which are public property, to give the appearance that the Government of the Town of Griswold has endorsed the Republican Party candidate for the office of Borough Warden." [read complaint: click here]

Hatfield at the time of the complaint held three offices: 1) First Selectman of Griswold; 2) Treasurer for the Melinda Brooks election campaign effort; and, 3) Vice Chairman of the Griswold Republican Town Committee.

After learning about the complaint, Hatfield immediately resigned her position as election campaign Treasurer. [Read the 9:00 am - February 22, 2007 - Hatfield resignation letter: click here]

Hatfield submitted her resignation on the same day that the SEEC received the complaint filed by Ron Ward. [read February 27, 2007 - SEEC acknowledgment letter: click here]

Regarding the Republican candidate for Borough Warden, the complaint alleged,

"Melinda Brooks election campaign has taken copywrited materials (including, but not limited to the Official Seal of the Town of Griswold and the Official Seal of the Borough of Jewett City) from the official town of griswold website and incorporated the materials into her election campaign website."

Regarding the allegations against the Republican candidate for Jewett City Borough Warden, The Day in a March 2, 2007 news article reported,

"Brooks said she never intended to illegally use copyrighted information on her Web site or give the impression that Hatfield, in her capacity as first selectwoman, had endorsed her candidacy. She said Hatfield never gave her permission to use the material and that she didn't ask."

It was also reported that Brooks stated, "If I made a mistake, I'll take full credit for it." [read The Day - March 2, 2007 news article: click here]

Only Legitimate reason for Griswold Town Attorney to write March 1st letter

The Griswold Town Attorney is strictly prohibited from using public tax dollars to defend Melinda Brooks, Republican Candidate for Jewett City Borough Warden, against the allegations that she used copyrighted materials from the Town of Griswold website on her privately owned election campaign website.

Town Attorney Zizka is also strictly prohibited from using public tax dollars to defend Melinda Brooks, Republican candidate for Jewett City Borough Warden, against allegations that she used the Official Seal of the Town of Griswold which is the public property of the Town of Griswold on her privately owned election campaign website.

The only allegation that Mr. Zizka, Griswold Town Attorney, might possibly be permitted to address while using public tax dollars is the allegation regarding Anne Hatfield in her official capacity as First Selectman of the Town of Griswold.

Defense submitted to the SEEC by Town Attorney Zizka in March 1st letter

Public tax dollars were used to pay Michael Zizka, Griswold Town Attorney, to write a letter to the State Elections Enforcement Commission in which Mr. Zizka made the following statements,

1. Frankly, I am puzzled by Mr. Ward's allegations, and I am not sure why the Elections Enforcement Commission should be involved.
2. There is a distinction between an Official Town seal and a pictorial representation of the official Town Seal.
3. The official Town seal is a device that physically embosses a raised design on a document to show that it is an official Town document or record.
4. However, an artistic representation of the seal is not the official seal.
5. I am not aware of any legal restriction that precludes a candidate for office from displaying a picture of a municipal seal in an information website, so long as the website does not otherwise purport or appear to be an official website of the municipality.
6. I have spoken with the Town Clerk's office, and they are not aware of any specific ordinance, order, resolution, or other official pronouncement by which the Town adopted an "Official Town seal."
7. The sealing device may have been approved by the Town's selectman many decades ago, but, since selectman's minutes are not indexed, there is no reasonable way for us to determine where to find any reference to that potential approval.
8. As for the alleged misuse of copyrighted materials, it seems to me that that is not a proper issue for the Elections Enforcement Commission.
9. The holder of a copyright may take issue with a violation of his, her, or its copyright, but that is a matter between those two parties.

Allegation against Hatfield is not mentioned in March 1st defense letter

The March 1st letter written by Town Attorney Zizka does not even mention the allegation being investigated by the SEEC dealing with the Griswold First Selectman. The complaint alleges that Hatfield:

"used the official town and borough seals, which are public property, to give the appearance that the Government of the Town of Griswold has endorsed the Republican Party candidate for the office of Borough Warden."

At a minimum in his March 1st letter (paid for by public tax dollars), Griswold Town Attorney Zizka should have mentioned that First Selectman Hatfield, in her official capacity as First Selectman, did not authorize Melinda Brooks to use the official town seal on her privately owned election campaign website.

In fact, Melinda Brooks was quoted the very next day, March 2nd, as stating, "Hatfield never gave her permission to use the material and that she didn't ask." The potential liability to the Town of Griswold and the First Selectman might be non-existent if the Republican candidate's statement is proven to be correct.

Although the First Selectman and the Town Attorney have failed to address the allegation made against Hatfield in the February 22nd complaint filed with the State Election Enforcement Commission, the residents and taxpayers of the Town of Griswold have paid the bill for Town Attorney Zizka to write the March 1st letter. A letter which should have only been written to defend the interests of his client, the Town of Griswold.

Allegation against Brooks is obviously mentioned in March 1st defense letter

It is more than obvious that at least in statements five and eight, as numbered above, Town Attorney Zizka is defending the allegations made against Melinda Brooks, Republican Candidate for Jewett City Borough Warden.

Statement Five ("I am not aware of any legal restriction that precludes a candidate for office from displaying a picture of a municipal seal in an information website, so long as the website does not otherwise purport or appear to be an official website of the municipality"). This statement made by the Griswold Town Attorney has absolutely nothing to do with the allegation made against the Griswold First Selectman.

It is obvious that Town Attorney Zizka is using public tax dollars to defend Melinda Brooks, the Republican CANDIDATE for Borough Warden. It is being alleged that the Republican candidate used the Griswold Town Seal on her official election campaign website. Or, as Town Attorney Zizka described it "an information website."

In fact, after Ward filed his complaint, the Town Attorney's description (information website) was parroted by Brooks on her election campaign website in the following statement: "This site was created to bring the Borough residents information about the election, town, issues, and as a means of communication.)

Further, it is obvious that words written by Town Attorney Zizka, at tax payer expense, are being parroted by Brooks on her election campaign website (www.jewettcityborough.com) in the following statement: "This website was created by Melinda Brooks for the campaign and is not and never has been a town site, nor was it paid for by the town."

Obviously, an effort is being made by Brooks to make sure that the Republican campaign website (to use Town Attorney Zizka's words) "does not otherwise purport or appear to be an official website of the municipality."

Statement Eight ("As for the alleged misuse of copyrighted materials, it seems to me is not a proper issue"). This statement made by the Griswold Town Attorney has absolutely nothing to do with the allegation made against the Griswold First Selectman.

It is obvious that Town Attorney Zizka is using public tax dollars to defend Melinda Brooks, the Republican candidate for Borough Warden. It is being alleged that Brooks used copyrighted materials from the Official Town of Griswold website on her privately owned election campaign website.

Explanation given by Town Attorney Zizka for writing March 1st defense letter

In a March 19, 2007 email from Griswold Town Attorney Zizka written to First Selectman Hatfield, the Town Attorney states,

"My [March 1, 2007] letter to [State Elections Enforcement Commission, Investigator] Gilberto Oyola was prompted by Mr. Oyola's request for information, which was sent to me by [Griswold Assistant Town Clerk] Valerie Pudvah. Valerie was uncertain how to respond.

I, too, found Mr. Oyola's request to be confusing and I did not understand the legal or factual bases of his requests. I also thought that responding to his requests would be substantially burdensome, time-consuming and unproductive for the town clerk's office.

As Town Attorney, I believe I have a duty to protect all Town Officials and staff from such burdens, and that is the sole reason I sent my [March 1, 2007] letter to Mr. Oyola [the State Elections Enforcement Commission Investigator]."

[read March 19, 2007 email sent at 4:56 pm: click here]

Regardless of the March 19, 2007 explanation given by Town Attorney Zizka as to why he wrote a letter back on March 1st, it remains obvious that public tax dollars were used to pay the Griswold Town Attorney to defend Melinda Brooks, the Republican candidate for Jewett City Borough Warden.

SEEC request sent to Griswold Assistant Town Clerk

State Elections Enforcement Commission, Lead Legal Investigator - Gilberto Oyola, sent an email to the Griswold Assistant Town Clerk on February 28, 2007 at 1:03 in the afternoon. The only request contained in the email was to provide documents. [read February 28, 2007 email sent at 1:03 pm: click here].

From reading the email, it is obvious that the SEEC did not ask the Griswold Assistant Town Clerk to answer any questions. Nor, did the SEEC ask her to provide an opinion regarding any of the documents requested.

The hand-written notation at the bottom of the email states, "Mailed Seal ordinance . campaign filings .etc on 2/28/07"

Within three and one-half hours of receiving the SEEC request, the Griswold Assistant Town Clerk had mailed the documents requested and complied with the email received at 1:03 pm from the State Elections Enforcement Commission.

Town Attorney describes February 28th request from SEEC

After more than two weeks had passed, on March 19th, Town Attorney Zizka states, "Valerie [Griswold Assistant Town Clerk] was uncertain how to respond." [read March 19th description: click here]

Regardless of what happened on March 1st or March 19th, it is obvious that back on February 28th, the Griswold Assistant Town Clerk received a request for documents and within three and one-half hours, complied with the SEEC request by sending out the requested documents by the end of the business day, the same day of the request.

Public tax dollars used to pay for March 19th Town Attorney email

Why did Town Attorney Zizka send the email on March 19th at 4:56 pm to First Selectman Hatfield? Because First Selectman Hatfield sent an email request 56 minutes earlier at 4:00 pm to Town Attorney Zizka.

First Selectman Hatfield explained the reason for her email request by stating,

"Ron Ward has publicly accused me of "First Selectman Hatfield authorized the use of public tax dollars to pay the Griswold Town Attorney to write a defense in response to the on-going State Election Enforcement Commission investigation"

Can you please document for the record that this is not true (even if it is internally) in the event he continues to make these allegations.

The assistant town clerk contacted you as a result of election enforcements request."

[read March 19, 2007 email sent at 4:00 pm: click here]

The public accusation referred to by First Selectman Hatfield was not contained in any official complaint. The statement by Ron Ward appeared in an article that was published March 18th on the Jewett City Party eBlog! website. [read March 18th JCP-eBlog! website article: click here]

Even though the Town Hall is closed for official business at 4:56 pm in the evening, through some unknown means, by 10:26 pm that very same night, the Town Attorney email was posted by "anonymous" on the Melinda Brooks, Republican candidate election campaign website. [read Town Attorney Zizka quote on Brooks website: click here].

Facts regarding statements made by Town Attorney Zizka in March 1st letter

On September 5, 1973 the electors and citizens of the Town of Griswold met to consider and act on a proposal to designate the Town Seal as proposed by the Griswold Historical Society the official Seal of the Town of Griswold. [read September 5, 1973 legal notice of special town meeting: click here]

On August 17, 1976 the Griswold Board of Selectman adopted the New Seal as previously approved at a Town Meeting on September 5, 1973 as the Seal for the Town of Griswold. It was noted in the minutes that the Town realized a savings because the cost of the cast for the Seal for the BiCentennial also used as the Seal for the Town was paid by the BiCentennial Committee. [read August 17, 1976 Board of Selectman minutes: click here]

On November 30, 1976 the Connecticut Secretary of State sent a letter to the Griswold Town Clerk acknowledging receipt of the new Town Seal of the Town of Griswold adopted on August 17, 1976. The letter stated that the seal has been placed on file in accordance with Section 7-101 of the General Statutes. [read November 30, 1976 CT Secretary of State letter: click here]

The 1999 History of the Town of Griswold on page 181 indicates the process whereby the Town of Griswold adopted a new Town Seal. The Official Town Seal is described,

"The seal depicts a union of the Pachaug and Quinebaug Rivers in Griswold. Along the rivers are a barn, farmland and grist mill, symbolizing the importance of agriculture and mills to the town's heritage. Evergreen trees depict the formerly wooded nature of the community."

[read excerpt from History of Town of Griswold: click here]

Despite the assertions made by Town Attorney Zizka contained in statements six and seven, as numbered above, the Town of Griswold meeting minutes and the history of the Town of Griswold Seal are easy to find at the Office of the Griswold Town Clerk. Any member of the public could find the information without the benefit of an index or any specialized knowledge; or for that matter, any legal training.

Questions regarding the use of Public Tax dollars to pay for March 1st letter

Question: What does Town Attorney Zizka mean when he says the Assistant Town Clerk was uncertain how to respond? Regardless, of any confusion that may have existed, the Assistant Town Clerk complied with the SEEC request by the end of the business day on February 28, 2007.

Question: Why did Town Attorney Zizka provide a written legal defense on March 1, 2007 when the February 28th email from the State Elections Enforcement Commission only asked for documents?

Question: What was "burdensome, time-consuming and unproductive for the town clerk's office" that required Town Attorney Zizka to write a legal defense on the day after the Griswold Assistant Town Clerk had already complied with the SEEC request and mailed out the documents?

Question: How does Town Attorney Zizka writing a letter which obviously provides a legal defense to the Republican candidate for Jewett City Borough Warden "protect all Town officials and staff from such burdens" when the requested documents were already sent to the State Election Enforcement Commission.

Question: Why does Town Attorney Zizka state, "since selectman's minutes are not indexed, there is no reasonable way for us to determine where to find any reference to that potential approval" when any member of the public could find the history of the Town Seal and the approval documents by simply making an inquiry at the Office of the Griswold Town Clerk?

Question: Why does Town Attorney Zizka state, "I have spoken with the Town Clerk's office, and they are not aware of any specific ordinance, order, resolution, or other official pronouncement by which the Town adopted an Official Town seal" when the hand-written notation on the bottom of the February 28th email states, "mailed seal ordinance . etc on 02/28/07"?

Question: Should the residents and taxpayers of the Town of Griswold foot-the-bill for the Town Attorney to defend any candidate running for public office?