Printer Friendly Version - Year in Review: Clinton 2022

By any standard, 2022 was another busy year which brought good and bad moments to Clinton. The highlights of the year are below.

Just as life was starting to get back to normal with more in-person events and meetings, COVID-19 cases once again start dramatically rising following the holidays.

Young residents pack the Indian River Complex on Jan. 11 with a clear message for the Parks and Recreation Commission (PRC): Please keep the skate park! The Commission says it will continue to evaluate the future of the property.

Kelley Edwards, the town’s Prevention Coordinator for the previous 10 years, resigns for a new job.

Town Manager Karl Kilduff announced that Lynn McCarthy, who was hired in Dec. 2021 to be the town’s first Senior Program Coordinator, has resigned after about a month due to personal reasons.

A sharp increase in blight complaints over the previous year is reported at the annual town meeting.

In recognition of his years of service to Clinton both in Town Hall and on the diamond, the Clinton PRC receives a recommendation to consider naming a baseball field at the Indian River Complex after Willie Fritz.

A parent is arrested at a girls’ recreational basketball game for deliberately defying The Morgan School’s mask mandate.

Citing rising electric costs, Hog Wild, the operator of the concession stand at the town beach, announces it will not return for a third season of operation. The PRC fears it will not have enough time to find a replacement before the start of the summer season.

The Town Council unanimously votes to send a proposed budget of $59,706,741 (a $1,326, 978 or 2.27 percent increase) to a public hearing.

The proposed town budget is $21,917,505 (a $564,758 or 2.64 percent increase) and the proposed education budget is $37,789,236 (a $642,220 or 1.73 percent increase).

Residents of Clinton and surrounding areas donated a number of items as part of a collection drive for Ukrainian refugees organized by Dr. Andrew and Nancy Berliner on March 7.

At a town meeting, Clinton voters unanimously approved a plan to spend COVID relief money on 13 separate items. Clinton receives $3.8 million dollars of federal money due to the American Recovery Plan Act.

The Town Council takes a step toward clearing one of the hurdles preventing the redevelopment of the Abraham Pierson School when it unanimously agrees to pay the Morgan Trust $75,670 to remove the deed restrictions on the property. The action still needs to approval of the state, however.

State Representative (D-35) and Town Council member Christine Goupil join Department of Transportation Commissioner Joseph Giulietti and Governor Ned Lamont at the April 6 ribbon cutting at the Clinton Train Station. Photo by Eric O’Connell/Harbor News

The long-planned (and delayed) upgrades to Clinton’s train station are complete. The improvements bring increased train service as well as accessibility enhancements to the property.

At its May 4 meeting, the Town Council unanimously approves Paul Orsini as the operator of the beach concession stand for the 2022 season, averting a season with no operator.

Despite the lowest turnout in recent memory, Clinton voters overwhelmingly pass the town and education budgets at a referendum on May 11. While the new budget increases spending, the tax rate will not increase.

Voters approve a town budget of $21,876,635 (a $531,088 or 2.49 percent increase) by a vote of 842 for to 284 against and an education budget of $37,789,236 (a $642,220 or 1.73 percent increase) by a margin of 797 for to 328 against.

The total combined proposed budget is $59,665,871 (a $1,173,308 or 2.01 percent increase).

The race for the 35th House District takes shape with two official candidates for the race: incumbent Democrat Christine Goupil of Clinton and Republican challenger Chris Aniskovich, also of Clinton. The 35th House District represents Clinton, Killingworth, and northern Westbrook.

The Town Council unanimously votes to move forward with an appropriation of $45,000 that will go toward capping the old landfill in town.

The Morgan School held commencement exercises for the Class of 2022 on June 13. Photo by Wesley Bunnell/Harbor News

Bike Safety and Giveaway Day hosted by Families Helping Families and the Clinton Police Department takes place on June 4.

The inaugural International Food and Beer Festival was held in the town hall parking lot in Clinton on July 8. Photo by Wesley Bunnell/Harbor News

The first-ever International Food and Beer Festival is held behind Clinton’s Town Hall.

Thanks to $458,000 in grant funding from the state, the American Legion Post 66 building is able to undergo serious renovations, the Post announces on July 29.

Notices are placed on trees in the Henry Carter Hull Library parking lot to announce the intended removal of the trees to make way for a paving project. The move upsets some citizens who are concerned over the aesthetic and environmental benefits provided by the trees. Tree Warden Gary Bousquet explains that the trees “have very intrusive root systems that can cause the parking lot to heave,” and that new, better-suited trees will be planted after the paving.

On Aug. 3, the Town Council unanimously agrees to a new contract with Town Manager Karl Kilduff. That contract will keep him in town for at least the next three years.

Residents weigh in on proposed charter changes at a public hearing of the Charter Revision Commission.

Green Party Candidate Hugh Birdsall of Clinton joins the race for State Representative in District 35.

A Town Council workshop is held for the council members to hear cost estimates associated with potential future uses of the vacant Pierson School. Per Kilduff’s estimates, renovations would increase the tax rate by 3.6 percent to 5.6 percent.

Clinton Human Services holds a presentation on one of the top issues facing Clinton: the high rate of suicide in town. Future presentations are planned.

Kilduff announces that an investigation by the state determined the old landfill is a good candidate for capping. The town moves forward with applying for permits for the work.

Following a unanimous vote by the Planning and Zoning Commission (PZC), the town will begin considering the potential sale of town-owned property at 36 R Killingworth Turnpike to an interested buyer.

The Clinton Athletic Hall of Fame celebrates the induction of its inaugural class.

The District 35 State Representative candidates meet for an informative debate, including one answer from Birdsall given in the form of song, at Clinton’s Town Hall.

Owner Steven Sinni announces he has decided to retire and will sell local favorite restaurant Chips Pub III. Jeff Mastroianni, owner of Chow in Clinton and Bacari Social in Westbrook, buys the restaurant.

Clinton voters turn out to the polls on Nov. 8 to cast their ballots. Of the town’s 10,049 registered voters, 7,101 cast ballots, representing 70.66 percent of the electorate. Voters favor incumbent Democrat Ned Lamont over Republican Bob Stefanowski in the governor’s race.

On the local level, voters favor incumbent Democrat Norm Needleman over Republican challenger Brandon Goff in the race for State Senator for District 33, and Aniskovich over Goupil in the District 35 race. Lamont, Aniskovich, and Needleman all win their respective races.

Following a public hearing on ideas for the future use of the Pierson School, the town announces it will send out a request for proposal asking developers to submit ideas on using the property for senior or affordable housing.

Shellfish Commission Chair Wayne Church announces that Clinton Shellfish beds can be open year-round.

Santa Claus comes back to town on Dec. 4 for the return of Christmas in Clinton.

The PZC approves a zoning change requested by the developer of the former Unilever property and also receives an updated master plan for the development. According to the plan, the development will feature 155 apartments and 53 townhomes, an indoor sportsplex, and a restaurant and brewery if built to completion.

At a public hearing on Dec. 7, the Charter Revision Commission receives feedback from the public about proposed changes to the Town Charter. Those proposals now go to the Town Council for review. Among the changes proposed by the Commission are the ability to hire a Town Manager for a term not to exceed five years, instead of the current max of three years, along with the cancellation of the annual town meeting and increasing the amount of money the town can appropriate without a referendum to $500,000 from $300,000.