Daily Five: Seaside Debate Continues Tonight

1. Thunderstorms and showers are possible this afternoon and this evening, according to the National Weather Service. The high will be 78, with a low of 67, according to the service.

2. Negotiations have begun between the board of education’s administrators (Superintendent Jerome Belair, Assistant Superintendent Craig Powers) and five of the six unions in town. The biggest contract to work out, with the most employees and the largest fiscal impact, is the teachers union.

Last year, teachers were in the final year of a four-year contract that gave raises of at least 4 percent every year. For 2011-12, a 4 percent raise was much higher than most other communities in the state.

Recent contracts in the area for teachers have been settled with raises at or very close to 0 percent for the first year, such as a recent contract signed by Montville’s teachers at 0 percent the first year. But recent contracts in Waterford for other unions, such as the police, fire department and administrators (all settled within the last year) had raises each year of more than 2 percent.

Also, whatever contract the board of education and unions come up with has to be approved by the Representative Town Meeting. The RTM approved the police, fire and administrator contracts, although they voiced their displeasure of each one. But the group agreed with First Selectman Dan Steward (the lead negotiator in those three contracts) that this was the best the town could do.

Unlike other negotiations, the teachers union's contract must be completed by June 30, 2012, per state statute.

3. Tonight, the planning and zoning commission continues its deliberations on zoning changes to the Seaside district proposed by developer Mark Steiner. At its last meeting, the commission appeared to be OK with the changes, but didn’t feel comfortable agreeing to them ahead of time. Instead, its members said they would rather wait until they see a plan for Seaside buildings, and then later approve possible zone changes.

4. Tonight, at Ocean Beach Park, there will be music and classic cars at Ocean Beach after 6, with free admission for all. And for the time being, for better or worse, they’ll be no cellphone tower next to the gate either.

5. On this date in 1974, President Richard Nixon announced his resignation, effective the next day, amid investigations of the Watergate scandal. And on this date in 1988, Wrigley Field tried to host its first-ever night game, the Cubs vs. the Philadelphia Phillies. The game was rained out after 3½ innings, a clear sign God wanted day games at Wrigley.

Quote of the Day

“It’s easier to put on slippers than to carpet the whole world.”

-Al Franken

Trivia of the Day

What two former governors starred in “Predator”?

Yesterday’s Answer: Reggie Jackson hit three home runs in the sixth and final game of the 1977 World Series. Billy Martin managed the team.

Correction: The teachers union's contract must be completed by June 30, 2012.