Durfield? Middleham? Nothing like that emerges from joint meeting of boards

As the economy takes a downswing and state pressures mount to join a health district, both Durham and Middlefield met to discuss just how they might best combine their resources. In attendance at the meeting were members from the Boards of Selectmen and Boards of Finance from both towns, as well as individuals, including State Representative-elect Matt Lesser and Durham's Public Safety Commission member Frank DeFelice. No formal decisions between the towns were approved, merely the free exchange of ideas on where the two towns could save by merging certain departments.

Despite Durham voting 18 months ago against joining a health district, the topic remains a point of concern for the towns. According to Middlefield Selectman Dave Lowry, the towns will "eventually get forced" into joining one. Durham First Selectwoman Laura Francis' response was that Durham residents are concerned about losing their sanitarian due to the difficulty of managing the town's public water system. One idea presented to the boards was creating a health district between Durham, Middlefield and Killingworth due to their similarities, but Francis spoke against this, citing that it wouldn't be cost-effective. She proposed hiring a full-time health director for both towns, but was unsure whether this would meet the state qualifications for a health district.

While creating a health district between the towns was deemed financially not viable, one area that could benefit from consolidation is insurance. Durham Finance Board member Jay Berardino felt the towns could save by self-insuring together. True or not, the Middlefield boards were informed that going out to bid saved Durham $20,000 on their insurance, as CIRMA was concerned that they might lose the town as a client.

Sharing a police department between the towns was suggested, but deemed a sensitive issue by Marianne Corona due to the greater coverage Durham would require in comparison to Middlefield, as well as Durham's greater potential for growth. Still, Francis wanted to at least look into it and Lesser volunteered to see if there's a precedent for multi-town police departments in the state.

Due to Middlefield's recent push to store its records in space currently used by Youth and Family Services, First Selectman Jon Brayshaw stated that the group will eventually need to find room elsewhere. Middlefield Finance chairwoman Ellen Waff suggested that folding the organization in with the school may be necessary, as both towns otherwise lack any extra space. However, using the records vault Durham used during the reconstruction of their Town Hall was also mentioned as an alternative to creating a storage area in the community center.

The boards also covered DMIAAB, the transfer station management board. While it is one area where the towns have already merged, the boards felt it could offer more. Adding $40 to the price of DMIAAB stickers was proposed, but this caused concern that more people might dump their trash on the side of the road. While charging more for stickers met with resistance, there were still questions about whether DMIAAB went out to bid on services such as recycling. The boards felt that they should form a task force specifically to look into DMIAAB, with Waff and Durham Selectman John Szewcyk volunteering to join.

Another area that the boards felt could use more looking into was Public Works. The idea of sharing equipment between the towns was deemed problematic as both towns will usually need it at the same time. All the same, Brayshaw felt the departments from both towns should meet and discuss where they can share their resources.

Though another meeting date between the boards wasn't set, Brayshaw stated, "We can't talk enough," and added, "We can't go on living the way we've been used to living."