When the state Reapportionment Commission redrew legislative districts, they also changed some of the local voting lines.  The New Milford registrars gave a presentation to the Town Council this week about changes coming to New Milford, including that a small portion in the southeast corner is moving into the 69th House District. 

Three state Representatives will now advocate in Hartford for the town. 

The Commission also changed the 108th House District, making New Milford's portion longer and thinner, which prompted Mayor Pete Bass to call the redistricting egregious and wrong.  Gaylordsville residents will have to make a more than 10 mile trek down Route 7, which could take about half an hour, in order to get to their polling place. 

Democratic registrar Marcel Grenier says there is now a new voting district, District 8, which was formed from portions of Districts 7, 2 and 1.  Republican registrar John Gaiser they're considering a polling place at Walnut Hill Community Church on Dorwin Hill Road. 

Grenier noted that no town official was consulted on the change and said state officials should have let the registrars or the towns have input when making the decision as to how to redistrict precincts. The Town Council and Bass plan to write a letter to the legislature, governor and Secretary of State Denise Merrill about their displeasure of the redistricting and how it’s going to affect residents.