Hartford Courant from Hartford, Connecticut • Page 125

he Jiarlfort glourttnt INSIDE CONNECTICUT PAGE C3 FRIDAY APRIL 3, 1987 South CentralShore Edition Hospital might evict resident workers today said the employee, a nurse who asked not to be named. "The mood here is one of anxiety. It's not easy wondering if you're going to get a knock on your door." An official of the state Department of Mental Health said the issue has been referred to the state attorney general's office for action. "We've sent it to them to make sure the employees comply with our request to vacate the premises," said David Almeida, the department's personnel director. The union, which represents about 800 hospital employees 25 of By MARK CHEATER Courant Staff Writer MIDDLETOWN Approximately 40 resident employees of the Connecticut Valley Hospital may not have a home Saturday.

The state mental hospital workers, who live in a 77-room dormitory off Silver Street called the Eddy Home, are scheduled to be evicted today as part of a plan to turn the building into a minimum-security prison for drunken drivers. In February, the state Department of Correction announced plans. whom live in the home filed the grievance because, the union said, housing was included in a contract between the state and the union signed last July. Union officials could not be reached Thursday. Residents pay about $15 every two weeks for a room in the building, hospital officials said.

Most of the residents rent two adjoining 12-foor-by-12-foot rooms, which are connected by a bathroom. Residents' share two kitchens and a laundry room in the building. "When the contract was discussed in June, this issue was not brought Cromwell seniors oppose move to cut bus driver's hours TOWN BRIEFS MIDDLEFIELD Bids are sought for school project Middlefield is seeking bids for the Center School renovation project. In November 1985, the town approved spending $700,000 to convert the former elementary school to town offices and a community center. Currently, the building is occupied by the resident state trooper and town constables.

First Selectman James R. Blois said this week that the project may cost more than $700,000. More money may be needed to cover increased building costs, the installation of energy-efficient windows, and the addition of a. 50-foot covered canopy on the Jackson Hill Road side of the building. Those features were not included in the original recommendation of the architect, Norman Baier of Simsbury, Blois said.

If the bids for project exceed the amount approved for the project, townspeople can decide if they want to spend more money, he said. Bids will be opened April 23 at 4 p.m. at town hall. MIDDLETOWN Elderly are offered health-care program A program on health care for the elderly will be offered at Middlesex Memorial Hospital April 27 from 7 to 9 p.m. The program, called "Sharing the Caring," will feature discussions of community healthcare resources that are available for the elderly in Middlesex County.

It is open to elderly people, health-care providers and the general public. The program costs $2. Interested people may register or get more information by calling the hospital at 344-6660. Hospital to present lecture, discussion Connecticut Valley Hospital will present a lecture and panel discussion on "psychopharmacology for the non-medical health care professional" April 9. The presentation will be made by Ramon Pino, senior psychiatrist at the hospital, and clinical instructor at the Yale University School of Medicine.

The series of discussions is organized by the hospital's, community-liaison team and outpatient department. The program is scheduled from 3 to 4 p.m. in the hospital's Merritt Hall Finklestein conference room. More information is available by calling 344-7407. EAST HAMPTON Bridge repairs necessitate detour Beginning Monday, traffic will be detoured around the intersection of Old Middletown Road and Chestnut Hill because the Chestnut Hill bridge will be under reconstruction.

The road will be closed from Old Middletown Road north to Route 16 for about three weeks. Motorists can use the Old Middletown Road to Route 16 or Old Chestnut Hill Road to Route 196, also called Young Street. Residents with questions can call the public works department from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at By RICK GREEN Courant Staff Writer CROMWELL Senior citizens voiced warm support for the driver of the service bus for.

the elderly Thursday night, telling the board of finance that they don't agree with the board of selectmen's decision to reduce the driver's hours in next year's budget. "The transportation is the most important part of the programs at the senior center," said Ann Wil-chynsky, chairwoman of the elderly services committee. She urged the board of finance to add money to the budget for services for the elderly so that Ruth Goodale, the bus driver, could increase her work hours. The comments from Wilchynsky and others came at a hearing on the board of selectmen's proposed $4.2 million operating budget for 1987-88. The hearing was conducted by the board of finance, which will make additions or deletions to the budget before Cromwell residents vote on it April 28.

About 75 people attended the hearing, most of them to express support for Goodale. First Selectwoman Mary B. Amenta, at the meeting to answer questions about the budget, told the audience that Goodale's hours were not increased so that other part-time drivers could be hired. If they don't have enough hours to make their jobs financially worthwhile, she explained, it will be nearly impossible to hire other bus drivers. "The consideration is the position, not the person holding the position." Amenta said.

"The main consideration is how to give the best service." In the selectmen's budget, the seniors' center will not have its bus service cut. Bus service for the elderly will be available about 60 to convert the building into a prison for men convicted of driving while intoxicated. Officials said the space was needed because a crackdown on drunken drivers had increased the number of people incarcerated for short sentences. But the New England Health Care Employees Union, District 1199, which represents many of the resident workers, filed a grievance on the evictions with the state office of labor relations. The union has told the residents not to leave, according to one employee.

"We're trying to stick First Selectwoman Mary B. Amenta said Goodale's hours were not increased so that other part-time drivers could be hired. hours a week. However, seniors at the meeting said Goodale has an exceptionally good rapport with bus riders and said her hours should be increased for that reason. "We're just asking to change this one position," Wilchynsky said.

She added that a 30-hour week for Goodale would provide the best uninterrupted service possible. Amenta said the selectmen's budget, which is recommending a 13.7 percent increase in spending for the town, was as low as it could be and still continue town services at their present level. Among other items, the budget calls for six new town employees and a 6 percent pay raise for all town employees. Elected town officials would get a 5 percent raise under the budget. Amenta said significant budget increases are proposed in a variety of town departments, including the town clerk's office, police, employee benefits and insurance expenses.

Overall, the proposed town budget of $13.4 million includes a town operating budget of $4.1 million; $2.2 million to continue payments on town bonds; and $7 million for the school budget. Thursday's hearing covered only the town's operating budget of $4.2 million. The board of finance will hold another hearing April 9 to consider the the board of education's request for 1987-88. State police said Alger's car swerved off Jail Hill Road near Route 154 about 8:30 p.m. Wednesday.

The car hit a utility pole. The pole broke in two, and the top of it landed on the front of the car, police said. The Life Star helicopter was used to take Davis and Alger to Hartford Hospital. The accident is under investigation. It could not be determined Thursday whether the occupants of the car were wearing seat belts at the time of the accident.

The police commission will have a special meeting Tuesday to discuss the report. "I'm not surprised by the report," Susan Marland said. "That's why we have asked for a public hearing," she said. "There is a significant amount of misinformation and outright lies in the report." Mosca said that he only had time Thursday to scan through O'Brien's findings, but said the report supported his position that "my officers conducted themselves in a professional manner." O'Brien's report said Dinino and Stevenson responded to the Marland home at 1:30 a.m. Nov.

2, 1986, after a passer-by reported seeing a woman lying on the side of Main Street near the home. The officers said they heard yelling from the Marlands' driveway. There they found the Mar-lands and Susan Marland's parents, Stanley and Jeanette Glowac of Deep River. up," said the nurse. "There are certain steps they have to take.

They can't just pluck people out because they decided this the minimum-security prison would be a good thing." Almeida said the department had not breached the contract. "It's the employer's prerogative to determine how the buildings and facilities will be used," Almeida said. "It is not a negotiable item." The Eddy Home residents received eviction notices in January telling them they would have to leave the residence by April 3. Paula Bronstem The Hartford Courant mixed-use zone. A Hartford-based developer, the Tricor Group, has expressed interest in the property, provided that the planning and zoning commission changes the property's zoning from industrial to a mixed residential and commercial zone.

Tricor has agreed to buy the land by July 31 if the zoning changes are made. Also being considered is a proposal for cluster subdivisions, which would permit homes to be grouped in a development if open space were reserved. Martin said that the "good land that is easy to develop is quickly vanishing in town" and that clustering would allow areas that must be protected, such as wetlands and steep slopes, to co-exist with homes. Another proposal calls for creation of a new residential zone with a minimum lot size of 40,000 square feet that would be east of Field Road and west of 1-91. Martin said the zone would protect that area's rural character and ensure the lots are large enough for septic fields.

The town is unlikely to extend sewers that far, he said. Police investigate crash that injured 3 women HADDAM State police are investigating a one-car accident on Jail Hill Road that injured three women Wednesday night. Marcia Davis, 29, of 306 Wads-worth Middletown, and Susan Alger, 19, of Saybrook Road, Haddam, the driver of the car, were listed in stable condition Thursday at Hartford Hospital, a hospital spokeswoman said. Susan Quinion, 35, of 182 East High East Hampton, was treated Wednesday at Middlesex Memorial Hospital and released, a hospital spokeswoman said. WARMING TO THE TASK Members of the noon in Clinton from left, freshman Matt Caf-Morgan High School junior-varsity baseball team ferty, 14, sophomore Scott Bracci, 16, and stretch during warmup exercises Thursday after- freshman Chris Schwartz, 15, all of Clinton.

Cromwell panel weighs changes in zoning to cope with growth Internal investigation by Old Saybrook police supports two officers in their arrest of woman Three clerks win special certification Town clerks in Middlefield and Durham and an assistant town clerk in Durham have been designated as certified Connecticut town clerks. Town Clerk Marjorie C. Hatch and Assistant Town Clerk Mary G. DiMella, both in Durham, recently were awarded the designation, as was Middlefield Town Clerk Evelyn Konefal. Hatch has been Durham's town clerk for 24 years.

DiMella has worked in the town clerk's office in Durham for 30 years. Konefal has been town clerk in Middlefield for 30 years. Correction The board of education vote on the kindergarten program in Middletown was 6-1 in favor of creating an all-day session and a half-day session. The vote count in Thursday's Courant was incorrect. By RICK GREEN Courant Staff Writer CROMWELL The planning and zoning commission is considering a variety of changes in zoning regulations to deal with residential and commercial growth in town.

The proposals include creating cluster zoning, a river development zone and a larger residential zone, and adopting regulations on apartments for in-laws, aquifer protection, tag sales, day care centers and sidewalks in residential subdivisions. Town Planner David Martin presented the proposals at a special planning and zoning commission meeting Tuesday night. One of the more controversial proposals would create a river development zone along the south end of Main Street on the Mazzotta property, part of which borders the Connecticut River. Arthur G. Johnson chairman of the planning and zoning commission, said the area is the only one in town being considered for such a By CAROLYN FARRAR Courant Staff Writer OLD SAYBROOK An internal police investigation into a controversial arrest in November supports officers' contentions that the woman arrested had been drinking and was abusive while in custody.

The 26-page report on the November 1986 arrest of Susan Mar-land on a charge of breach of peace was released by the police department Thursday afternoon. Marland and her husband, Charles, have accused Officer Kenneth Dinino, Sgt. Thomas Stevenson and Police Chief Edmund H. Mosca with violating Susan Marland's rights. Charles and Susan Marland have requested a public hearing to discuss their accusations before the police commission.

Police Capt. Thomas S. O'Brien took testimony from 17 police officers and witnesses for the report. The report said Susan Marland was verbally abusive to Dinino when he approached her. It said she began "swinging wildly in an attempt to punch him and at the same time attempted to knee him in the groin." The Marlands say that Susan Marland was taken by surprise by Dinino and that she was ill and about to vomit when he grabbed her.

Marland said his wife had an inner-ear infection. Dinino and Stevenson subdued her, Stevenson handcuffed her, and she was placed in the police car, the report said. Marland was released about 9:30 a.m. Nov. 2.

The state later decided not to prosecute. A complaint filed with state Attorney General Joseph I. Lieber-man was referred to the FBI office in New Haven. An FBI spokesman said the agency's investigation was referred to the U.S. Justice Department in March.

1.