HARTFORD — (AP)
A dispute over a ban on public speaking at selectmen meetings in Canterbury has landed in federal court.The state chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union Wednesday asked a federal judge to reinstate public participation at meetings while its lawsuit against the eastern Connecticut town goes forward.

U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Smith heard testimony, but did not issue any ruling on the request and directed lawyers from both sides to return to court Aug. 23.

The ACLU is suing the town because First Selectman Neil Dupont Sr. banned public speaking at Board of Selectmen meetings after an incident involving resident Jeanette Kildea.

The lawsuit claims Dupont and the board are violating state and federal freedom of speech laws by prohibiting public participation at meetings.

The suit asks for an acknowledgment of wrongdoing from the board, reinstatement of public participation at selectmen meetings and other damages, including legal fees.
“The only reason I stopped it (public participation) was because it was getting out of hand,” Dupont testified Wednesday.

Attorneys representing Dupont presented evidence depicting a hostile atmosphere at selectmen’s meetings.

Witnesses for the ACLU spoke of the importance of public participation at town boards and commissions.

“I’ve never failed to learn something from public participation and I firmly believe there’s no downside,” Walter Moriarity, an alternate member of the Planning and Zoning commission testified.

No public participation has been allowed at Board of Selectmen meetings since March. Dupont confirmed in court Wednesday 10 meetings have been canceled since January.
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Information from: Norwich Bulletin

IN OTHER NEWS:

People everywhere are still reeling over this tragedy in town. I did attend an informal discussion over the weekend where many people were still questioning some of the details released by law enforcement. This event is so horrible I really do not want to speak about it out in public anymore. One of my children who lives out of state says he does not want to come to Cheshire anymore. I know he is overreacting, but this has had an effect on everyone. I am glad to see the Town is offering the counseling. You know if you need to speak to someone–and if you do, please take advantage of the counseling the town is offering.

I will tell you this much–some of the discussions I heard over the weekend left more questions than answers. Many people are in denial–this is why the counseling is needed. I know many of you have contacted me through the “underground” channels and are still shaken. To you all I can say is that you have to give it time. You have to talk about it, talk about this as much as possible until you feel relieved. I think a lot of people in Cheshire felt shielded from events such as this. Now their beliefs are rattled.

NO ONE ANYWHERE IS IMMUNE FROM CRIMINAL ACTIVITY. There is no “perfectville.” If you actually live here or in any suburban town and did not lock doors or close windows at night–you were either beyond naive-in a dreamworld or just plain not with it. I used to have to yell at my husband at night to close the windows and lock the doors. “Oh we don’t have to do that here, this is Cheshire not Bridgeport.

You don’t know how I am holding back now–I am from Bridgeport and that really hurts. I told my husband that what he would say was mean and arrogant. Oh yes, it also says in the Bible that “Pride Goeth Before A Fall.”

You can just imagine what I want to say now and how I feel now (Like this time line doesn’t make sense or its some sort of miracle of physics that one person could be in two places at the same time for starters).

Now we are hearing of another Cheshire resident killed–this time it was a car accident on Rt. 68 this weekend.

One last look at this home invasion story from the Waterbury Republican American.

Police will say no more Law enforcement officials will release no more information in Cheshire slayings as they attempt to build an airtight case

BY EMILY BEAVER REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN

CHESHIRE — State and local law enforcement officials are withholding all further disclosures of the timing and details of their response to the home invasion that claimed the lives of three residents Monday.

Lt. J. Paul Vance Sr., spokesman for the Connecticut State Police, said all the information in the incident, including when Cheshire police received a 911 call from a Bank of America teller and when they arrived at the scene has been sealed as part of the investigation.

Vance said the release of the information might jeopardize the effort to build an airtight case against Steven Hayes, 44, of Winsted and Joshua Komisarjevsky, 26, of Cheshire in connection with the killings.

Jennifer Hawke-Petit and her daughters Hayely, 17, and Michaela, 11, were killed and their Sorghum Mill Drive home badly burned in the course of the attack that lasted for six hours.

Dr. William Petit Jr., survived the attack, but was badly beaten. He was released from Saint Mary’s Hospital in Waterbury on Friday.

The teller called police when Jennifer Hawke-Petit was driven to the bank by one of the suspects and forced to withdraw $15,000. In the process of making the withdrawal, Hawke-Petit alerted the teller that she needed help.

A Cheshire woman who was in the bank at the time told the New Haven Register that she could sense something was wrong with Hawke-Petit. “She looked taut, tense and very pale,” Deb Biggns said.

Although law enforcement officials have provided a general timeline that places the first call to police at about 9:30 a.m. and the arrest of the suspects near 10 a.m., what transpired during the intervening time has lead to rampant speculation and rumors.

Hayes and Komisarjevsky were spotted running from the home on the arrival of the first Cheshire police officer and the suspects rammed three police cars in a car they stole from the Petit home before they were apprehended.

Somewhere in the approximately half-hour period between the first call and their attempted escape, Hayes and Komisarjevsky are alleged to have strangled Hawke-Petit and set the home on fire.

Hayley Petit and Michaela Petit died from smoke inhalation, according to the State Medical Examiner’s Office.

Lt. Jay Markella, Cheshire police spokesman, referred all inquiries to the state police.

New Haven State’s Attorney Michael Dearington plans to seek capital felony murder charges against the two career criminals who each are being held on $15 million bonds.