Selectmen approve town attorney’s new contract

WINSTED — The Board of Selectmen approved a contract for Town Attorney Kevin Nelligan to continue to provide legal services to the town at their meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 3.At a prior selectmen’s meeting on Nov. 21, the board approved a motion to re-appoint Nelligan as the town attorney.However, during the meeting in November, they did not have a chance to approve a formal contract with Nelligan.The contract sets Nelligan’s rate at $100 an hour for legal services, which is the same rate he charged the previous year.It specifies that any additional costs will be tacked on to the rate, including expenses such as court costs, expert fees, investigative fees and mileage.The contract also specifies that any fees for tax foreclosures would be collected against the person foreclosed on, but the town would foot the bill if the fees are uncollectable.The only issue of discussion concerning Nelligan’s contract at the meeting was revising a paragraph that said Nelligan would attend any Board of Selectmen meetings upon the request of any one of the selectmen or Town Manager Dale Martin.Selectman George Closson requested that the paragraph be changed so only the Town Manager can request Nelligan to attend a meeting.Selectman Candy Perez supported Closson’s request.“Basically we need to do this because the tightness of the budget,” Perez said. “The town manager should be the gatekeeper of all expenses. While [Nelligan] is reasonable in his rates, it’s still expensive to the town.”The contract was altered, which means all requests for Nelligan to attend meetings would be made solely by Town Manager Martin.The selectmen unanimously approved the contract.Selectman Ken Fracasso was not present at the meeting.Nelligan has two offices, one located at 40 Park Place East and one on Ashley Falls Road in North Canaan.

Latest News

Tuning up two passions under one roof

The Webb Family in the workshop. From left: Phyllis, Dale, Ben and Josh Webb, and project manager Hannah Schiffer.

Natalia Zukerman

Magic Fluke Ukulele Shop and True Wheels Bicycle Shop are not only under the same roof in a beautiful solar powered building on Route 7 in Sheffield, but they are also both run by the Webb family, telling a tale of familial passion, innovation and a steadfast commitment to sustainability.

In the late ‘90s, Dale Webb was working in engineering and product design at a corporate job. “I took up instrument manufacturing as a fun challenge,” said Dale. After an exhibit at The National Association of Music Merchants in Anaheim, California, in 1999, The Magic Fluke company was born. “We were casting finger boards and gluing these things together in our basement in New Hartford and it just took off,” Dale explained. “It was really a wild ride, it kind of had a life of its own.”

Keep ReadingShow less
Robert Cray’s soulful blues coming to Infinity Hall

Robert Cray

Photo provided

Blues legend Robert Cray will be bringing his stinging, funky guitar and soulful singing to Infinity Hall Norfolk on Friday, March 29.

A five-time Grammy winner, Cray has been inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame and earned The Americana Music Awards Lifetime Achievement for Performance. He has played with blues and rock icons including Albert Collins, Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, The Rolling Stones, Tina Turner, Eric Clapton and many more.

Keep ReadingShow less