A regular meeting of the Democratic Town Committee was held on August 10,2009 at Democratic Headquarters.  The meeting was called to order at 7:30 P.M.

Present:  DaSilva L, Merante, Anders, Gallo, Coladarci, Cooke, Earle, Schlemmer R, Tomaino, Conciatore, DaSilva J, Eriquez, Council, Schlemmer W, Armstrong.

Absent:  Morgan, McNamara, Abrantes, Galloway, Raap, Kelly, Saadi, Lewis, Lees, White, and Kushner.

Linda DaSilva made a motion to accept the call of the meeting, Tina Merante seconded.  The motion passed unanimously.

Linda DaSilva made a motion to accept the minutes of the previous meeting.  Bobbi Anders seconded.  The motion passed unanimously.

Guest Speaker:  There was no guest speaker planned for this meeting.

Public Participation:  Al Robinson questioned why Jean Natale was allowed to perform weddings at City Hall at a price of $100.00 when the City Clerk in Massachusetts was in trouble for doing the same thing.

Correspondence: the Town Committee received three thank you notes this month.  The Danbury Downtown Council thanked us for our membership, the Connecticut Democratic State Central Committee was grateful for our support of their JJB dinner and Gladys Cooper, Bob Taborsak, Joan Hodge and Kathleen Molinaro thanked the committee for its willingness to listen to their concerns.

New Business:  Third ward committee member James Kelly has resigned his seat effective immediately.  Billy Taylor would like to be considered for the opening in the Third ward.  John Gogliettino expressed an interest in filling the vacancy in the sixth ward.

Ellen Cooke made a motion that we fill the Third and sixth ward vacancy this evening. Bobbi Anders seconded the motion.

Gene Eriquez made a motion to appoint John Gogliettino and Billy Taylor to fill the Town Committee vacancies and send each a letter advising them of their appointment.

Old Business:  The clambake will be held on August 30, 2009 from 12 noon until 5p.m. Please support this fundraiser as the profits will help fund the Fall campaigns.

Election 2009:  The phones will be installed at headquarters by September 1^st. and a list of Ward nights will be e-mailed to the Town Committee members.  Please make an effort to come on your assigned night. 

Frank Anders and Barry Rickert have already walked about 34% of their ward.  We need the candidates to report back to headquarters with information on the areas completed so we can track the progress and be sure we have the right people covering all areas.  Candidates should carry the Town Committee piece and Gary’s info as well as their own info.  Gary will also have a fact sheet that should cover many questions that you may be asked. 

Eileen Coladarci is manning the phone banks for Gary at his headquarters from 2 to 4 p.m., Monday thru Thursday.  She is looking for anyone able to spend some time on the phones.  Please give her a hand. 

Reports:

     Chair:  The Town Committee will have a table at the Taste of Danbury again this year.  We will need volunteers to cover the table on both Saturday and Sunday, September 12th and 13th from 11 to 7 p.m.  Please contact Rose Schlemmer to sign up for a time slot.

     Treasurer:  Bernie Gallo made a motion to amend the Treasurers report to fix three miss numbered checks on the original report.  Gene Eriquez seconded. The motion passed unanimously.  We currently have $6404.54 in the bank.  The JJB dinner netted $6314.67.

     State Central:  No members present at this meeting.

     State Officials:  Bob Godfrey told the committee that he is working on new map for the probate districts.  Bob is very upset with Jodi Rell, as there is still no budget for Connecticut.  He said that she thinks the middle class and poor should pay more taxes and continues to protect the rich.   The State of the State is “sad”

Glenda Armstrong asked Bob how long this could go on. 

     Local officials:  Warren Levy said that there were 27 items on the Councils agenda, including the creating of a smoking area at the Hospital and the Library, which would be a corporate policy, not a legal one.  That item was sent back to committee.

Gene Eriquez asked Warren if the lack of a budget would have any impact on the revenue stream of the City.  Warren said the Finance director says the City is “okay” even though about 25% of our budget is funded by State dollars.

Marge Gallo reported that September 9^th is the last day for a candidate to change the way their name will appear on the November ballot.  She also asked that when candidates are walking their wards and find that a voter has moved to please let her know.  Marge also reported that the ballot lottery would be held after August 12, 2009.

     Committees:  Eileen Coladarci still needs some bio information for candidates.  Please get the information to her so it can be added to the web site.

     Wards:  No report the evening.

Bernie Gallo made a motion to adjourn the meeting.  Bobbi Anders seconded.  The meeting was adjourned at 8:45 P.M.

Respectfully submitted,