Madison Chamber of Commerce

TOWN GUIDE

The Town's school system consists of one school for pupils in grades pre-K/K; three schools for pupils in grades 1 through 3; a lower middle school for pupils in grades 4-5; an upper middle school for grades 6-8; and pupils in grades 9-12 attend the high school. The schools are governed by a nine-member Board of Education.

For more information, please visit www.madison.k12.ct.us

The Town is provided with 24-hour police coverage by a force consisting of 27 police officers and 1 executive officer. Hammonasset State Park, located in Madison, is served by the Connecticut State Police Barracks at Westbrook, with occasional assistance by the local police department. There is one full-time animal control officer and one part-time animal control officer.

All areas of the Town are covered by 2 volunteer fire companies, Madison Hose Co. #1, which covers the southern sector of Town south of "The Pines", and the North Madison Volunteer Fire Company, which serves the northern sector of Town. Each company is a private corporation, which is substantially supported by the Town and owns land, buildings and some equipment. Both companies are activated by radio contact with the Town Communications Center located in the Police Station, which operates on a twenty-four hour basis. The companies belong to a mutual aid system with nearby towns. There are currently approximately 30-35 volunteers in each department. In addition, each department has a corps of Junior Fire Fighters.

The Town is served by a local private non-profit association, which is supported by Town subsidy. The North Madison Fire Department also provides emergency medical services. The area hospitals are Middlesex Hospital, 20 miles north in Middletown, Yale New Haven Hospital, and St. Raphael's Hospital, which are located in New Haven, 23 miles to the west. These facilities are aided by The Middlesex Hospital Shoreline Clinic in the town of Westbrook, providing basic and paramedic emergency services. In July 2004, Yale New Haven Hospital will open a Medical Center on Goose Lane in Guilford.

There is no municipal sewage system as all businesses and homes have separate septic systems. As part of the Town's Comprehensive Plan of Development, the Town has had an active Water Pollution Control Authority that is approved and monitored by the State Department of Environmental Protection. The Town operates, jointly with the Town of Guilford, a solid waste transfer station. In 2001, the Town, along with Guilford, entered into a ten-year renewable contract with the Connecticut Resources Recovery Authority ("CRRA") for disposal of municipal solid waste at market rates determined by CRRA. This rate will be essentially the same as that charged to the 70 other participating communities. Private haulers do trash and recycling pick-up, or citizens may transport their trash and recycling to the Guilford Transfer Station. There is a small fee for trash drop off, and recycling drop off is free.

The Connecticut Water Company provides water service to the downtown area and other areas, generally south of the I-95. Other areas are served by private individual wells. The Water Company serves approximately 50% of all housing units.

The Connecticut Light and Power Division (CL&P) of Northeast Utilities provides electrical service. CL&P maintains a regional maintenance facility in Madison.

The Beach & Recreation Director works under the direction of the Beach & Recreation Commission and the Board of Selectmen. The DirectorÕs staff consists of five year-round staff members and approximately 50 summer staff members. The Town operates more than 130 programs throughout the year, including aerobics, backpacking, badminton, dancing, skiing, sailing and swimming.

The Town employs a full-time Social Services Director to oversee the needs of the needy and/or elderly. There are programs for surplus food and fuel assistance, in addition to financial aid.

The Department of Public Works consists of 10 road maintenance workers, one landfill operator, one landfill attendant, a Town Engineer, an Engineering Inspector and a secretary, in addition to the Director of Public Works. The Department of Public Works operates a brush/stump landfill area and is in partnership with the Town of Guilford in the Guilford/Madison Transfer Station. There are approximately 107 miles of Town roads, which are maintained, plowed, patched and swept by the Town crew.

There is one full-time Youth Services Director with a staff of two full-time counselors, two part-time counselors and one full-time clerical worker. Their function is to work and plan for the youth of the community.

The Town of Madison operates under the provisions of its Charter, most recently revised in 2002, and the General Statutes of the State of Connecticut. The Town Meeting form of government prevails. The legislative body is the Town Meeting. The executive body consists of the Town is its Board of Selectmen, a five member board, with the First Selectman acting as the chief executive officer. Election to the Board of Selectmen is for a two-year term. A six-member Board of Finance is responsible for presenting fiscal operating budgets to the Annual Town Meeting. Board of Finance members are elected for four-year terms. A nine-member elected Board of Education is responsible for the operation of the school system.

The Planning and Zoning Commission is responsible for adopting and enforcing regulations governing the growth of the Town. The Commission is authorized by the Town to retain a Planning Consultant to evaluate the present and future growth of the Town and to study the demographics and recommend changes in the current development regulations. The Economic Development Commission is a nine-member board appointed by the Board of Selectmen. The Town's most recent Comprehensive Plan of Development was adopted in November 1, 2000. There is also a seven member appointed Economic Development Commission.