By Keith M. Phaneuf

www.ctmirror.org

An emergency fix to Connecticut’s Freedom of Information law—crafted without a public hearing or committee review—was headed to Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s desk following today’s unanimous Senate vote.

The measure, designed to clear legal obstacles blocking the release of voter lists and other omnibus public registries, has been criticized by right-to-know advocates who argue that it offers little security to the protected public employees it is designed to safeguard.

“This bill attempts to strike a balance” between the public’s right to know and government’s efforts to safeguard police officers, prison guards and other employees in sensitive roles, said Sen. Gayle Slossberg, D-Milford, co-chairwoman of the Government Administration and Elections Committee.

The measure, which the House adopted 120-11 last week, was crafted in response to last June’s state Supreme Court ruling, which held that a statute barring disclosure of home addresses of protected employees applied to the motor vehicle registration lists that communities use to prepare property tax bills.

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By James Lomuscio

Westport police say they are working with other communities that have experienced similar “smash and grab” burglaries like the ones that occurred at Mitchells of Westport early Tuesday morning and eight days earlier.

The smashed window at Mitchells following Tuesday’s pre-dawn break-in. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

The latest break-in reported at 5 a.m netted an undetermined number of handbags and leather belts from the upscale clothier at 670 Post Road East, police said.

Capt. Sam Arciola said the earlier Feb. 19 robbery had a similar modus operandi, making it highly probable that the same individuals were involved. Now, the department is working with other, undisclosed communities that have experienced similar “smash and grabs,” he said.

“We have two burglaries that we think with high probability are linked, and we’re working with other jurisdictions that have been affected by these crimes,” said Arciola.

The Planning and Zoning Committee of the Representative Town Meeting (RTM) Tuesday night voted 6-0 with 2 abstentions to recommend to the full RTM that Westport approve changing from membership in a regional planning agency to a Council of Governments (COG). Proponents of the shift, including First Selectman Gordon Joseloff, said converting from the South Western Regional Planning Agency (SWRPA) to a COG, as most other regional agencies in the state have already done, would create more efficiencies and potentially give the region a stronger voice in Hartford. Such a move would occur only if legislatures of five of the eight SWRPA member municipalities approve. The RTM will vote on the proposal at its meeting on Tuesday, March 6.  (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Westport resident David Pogue was the guest interviewee tonight for the second live edition in the WestportSTORIES series at the Westport Public Library. Pogue, New York Times personal tech columnist, author, and “CBS Sunday Morning” contributor, was interviewed by Westporter Mark Mathias, who has worked in the field of technology for both large and small companies and is the technology columnist for the Westport News. The interview, which was conducted in the Library’s McManus Room, was streamed live on the Library and town’s websites and will be available on DVD through the Library catalog. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com