Record-Journal from Meriden, Connecticut • A1

MERIDEN a Wallingford considered moving toonehighschoolin1989. A2 THROWBACK THURSDAY Superintendent requests 3.7% increaseinbudgetproposal. C1 CHESHIRE SCHOOLS Charlotte Roval delivered road-courseexcitement. D1 NASCAR High 35 Low 16 Weather: A2 152nd year, No. 10 $2.00 INSIDE Abby, D2 Business, A7 Classified, D4 Comics, D3 History, C2 Lottery, A3 Nascar, D1 A8 Obituaries, C2 Opinion, C4 PublicNotices, D4 Television, C3 FORMER OWNER STAYS ON AT SOUTHINGTON LANDMARK EATERY, HEN HOUSE BBQ C1 Stat leaders are sworn in School officials want to hire retired factory workers to teach By Lauren Takores Record-Journal staff WAL INGFORD Re cently retired machinists, plumbers or welders may have a second career ahead of them.

At an upcoming seminar called Your Next Act in Man- ufactur ing, Wallingford Public chools and AARP are hoping to convince recent retirees to share their skills and experience in the manufacturing industry by mentoring K-12 teachers and college instructors who teach tomor row workforce. The seminar is scheduled for 9 a.m. on Jan. 22 at Walling- for Public Schools administrative offices, 100 S. Turnpike Road.

need to get some authentic mentors for our teachers that have recently retire School Superintendent Salvatore Menzo said. That will allow us to increase the extent to which our programs can expand. Between the town two high schools, students can take classes in manufacturing, robotics, carpentry, drafting and computer-aided New Meriden planner wants to promote beautiful city By Matthew Zabierek Record-Journal staff MERIDEN New City Planner Renata Bertotti says she hopes to improve the city image and attract more commercial development in her new role. Bertotti was hired last month as director of planning, development and enforcement, replacing Bob Seale, who took a job in Idaho to be closer to family. Bertotti worked under Seale as the city assistant planner since May, and was previously senior planner for the town of Manchester for 11 years.

City Manager Tim Coon said he was impressed by Bertot- i energy and ability to lead. A selection committee consisting of town planners from surrounding communities identified three finalists, ranking Bertotti as their top ca i date. enata has had six months of experience learning some of the ins and outs here, Coon said, so she knows where the city is headed and where it een, and she ll be able to hit the ground unning. One of Bertotti fir st tasks will be updating the city Plan of Conservation and Development, a document Connecticut municipalities are required to revisit every 10 years to outline their fut ure development goals. The city recently hired a consulting firm, New York City- based BFJ Planning, for $99,500 to work with the Planning Commission.

Bertotti said she also wants to eliminate some of the procedural redundancies applicants face. An applicant may have to attend as many as four meetings of various land use boards and commissions to get approval. verybody now is trying to get commercial and industrial development to lessen our reliance on residential property taxes, she also sa i Bertotti also believes the city should rehabilitate its image to let the public know that Meriden is a place to come, it a place to live, to work i We have a very beautiful city here that just needs some love, she said. Renata Bertotti is the new head of Meriden planning department. Devin Leith-Yessian, Record-Journal Gov.

Ned Lamont addresses the legislature on opening day of the session on Wednesday. For more photos, visit us online at www.myrecordjournal.com Dave Zajac, Record-Journal Lamont calls inauguration a fresh start By Mike Savino and Mary Ellen Godin Record-Journal staff HARTFORD Newly sworn-in Gov. Ned Lamont called Wednes day inauguration the chance for a fresh start, and ur ged politicians from both parties to work like heck towa rd com promis e. Referencing the song My Shot from the musical Ha i to Lamont said residents should draw upon the theme ea character Alexander Hamilton singing about himself as a scrappy immigrant kid with great opportunities, just like his new nation. Lamont, the Democrat who de- fe ated Republican Bob Stefanowski and three other candidates, was sworn in as governor around 1 p.m., replacing fellow Democrat Dannel P.

Malloy. Later in the afternoon, he made his first State of the State address to the legislature. In his inaugural address, Lamont said his election presents the chance for a new approach for Connecticut. That what I love about America every generation, we get a chance to reinvent ourselves and every election gives us a fresh start, he said about the Hamilton song. This is our chance to reinvent Connecticut, to think big, act boldly.

He also referenced Connecticut past as the most en- tr epreneurial, inventive, and fast-growing state loaded with amazing opportunities. In particular, Lamont pledged to improve the state fiscal situ- at i I will not allow the next four years to be defined by a fiscal cr isis, he said. Together we will craft an honestly balanced budget which does not borrow from the future, but invests in the future. He concluded his speech by calling on Democrats and Republicans to work together, saying there is no room for the critic on the sidelines. et give each other the benefit of the doubt and work like House Speaker Joe Aresimowicz, D- Berlin, addresses the legislature.

Dave Zajac, Record-Journal awmakers encourage by opening sp eeches By Mary Ellen Godin and Mike Savino Record-Journal staff HARTFORD Gov. Ned Lamont calls for innovative solutions and collaboration during two speeches Wednesday drew mostly applause from lawmakers. Lamont, sworn in as Connecticut 89th governor, said during his inaugural and State of the State addresses that now is the time for old ideas to move the state forward. He also urged lawmakers to work together on Connecticut biggest problems, most notably a budget deficit of roughly $1.7 billion in the next fiscal See Reaction, A3 See Lamont, A4 See Planner, A4 See Retired, A5.