Lower West Haven Taxes

Good News for a change?

2007-07-01T14:34:00.000-04:00

(From the 6/21/07 West Haven Voice article entitled "Details of Purchase Revealed")

Yale's purchase of the Bayer campus holds promise - in addition to the 70% reimbursement from the PILOT program (Payment in Lieu of Taxes) for taxes not paid by an educational institution, Bayer is pledging to pay $250 per onsite employee per year, or a minimum of $600,000. That's a fair chunk of change.

Did anyone attend the public forum this past June 19 at Bailey Middle School? I'd be interested in hearing what was told.

I wonder what this means for the Science Park properties that Yale owns in New Haven.

Audit delayed...

2007-03-05T19:38:00.000-05:00

The New Haven Register reported today that the audit of the 2005-2006 records has been delayed due at least in part to bad record keeping and the lack of a finance director to assist...

West Haven not to divert Sewage to New Haven

2007-02-26T18:47:00.000-05:00

A 2/22/07 article from the New Haven Register makes it clear that West Haven will not be able to send waste to New Haven as an alternative. In fact, studies show that our best option is to keep our current technology and contracts with neighboring towns. Why not increase the fees to the towns to help cover the necessary renovations?

More on board of Ed "perks"

2007-02-26T08:38:00.000-05:00

The cell phone photo is not the best, but my friend emailed me some images this morning... that's not a public road that snow plow is down... and that worker is in front of a Board of Ed house.

Star Distributors Eyes Expansion

2007-02-14T23:04:00.000-05:00

Accord to a 2/11/07 West Haven Voice article entitled "Star Distributors, Inc. announces multi-million dollar expansion", Star Distributors has bought or has reached an agreement to buy three different properties on Frontage Road totaling 18 acres, and is planning a multi-million dollar expansion (pending P&Z and inland-wetlands approval). Part of the plan would be to bring the 25 employees from its North Haven wine distributorship to West Haven - this means 190 workers total based in West Haven.

This sounds enormously promising, not just for West Haven, but for family-owned Star Distributors as well. They will more than double their property, and will gain access to the railroad, too - well done!

Board of Education perks?

2007-02-14T22:58:00.000-05:00

Got a wake up call today from a friend... who mentioned that certain Board of Ed members are getting their private driveways plowed by city workers in city vehicles. Sigh.

State Income Tax Increase to aid State School Aid; other tax changes as well are likely

2007-02-14T17:49:00.000-05:00

According to the 2/12/07 article in the New Haven Register entitled "Income Tax Increase Certain", Jodi Rell wishes to increase the state income tax over the next two years, increasing in July 2007 and July 2008 by 1/4% each time. This would apparently raise taxes by $1.3 billion.

Some have expressed concern as to why Rell wishes to raise taxes when we have $1 billion in the state's "Rainy Day Fund" and a projected $500+ million budget surplus, particularly when the cost of electricity has so dramatically risen. Some have called for a 'stepped' increase that would more greatly burden the wealthy, and less dramatically affect the poor.

Additionally, Jodi Rell has indicated that she wishes to increase the tax on cigarettes from $1.51 to $2 per pack. (There's less opposition voiced here, apparently given the ill health effects of cigarette smoking).

In the area of reducing taxes, Rell wishes to eliminate the estate tax, which according to the article "would reduce state revenue by about $20 million in the first year".

How much more can West Haven Taxpayers bear? I've seen houses reduce their selling prices by *1/3* in order to try to sell, now... and more are going on the market...

Notre Dame confirms commitment to stay and expand

2007-02-14T17:29:00.000-05:00

According to an article in today's New Haven Register entitled "Notre Dame to expand, upgrade building", Notre Dame High School is expelling rumors of relocation out of town, and has presented a roughly $8.5-10 million plan to expand and renovate by 2010. In doing so, they chose a West Haven firm, Sapienza & Lessig Architects & Planners, to devise the plan. As Notre Dame is a private school, the cost of these renovations aren't going to be born by taxpayers; 1/2 will be raised through private fundraising, and half will come through nonprofit bonding.

A big hurray! to Notre Dame for staying...

Nalini Srinivas denies resigning

2006-11-29T10:42:00.000-05:00

Today would be an interesting day to be a fly on the wall at City Hall. According to today's New Haven Register, Nalini Srinivas is denying having tendered her resignation, and plans to report to work today, saying:

"I have not offered my resignation. As far as the (investigative) report is concerned, I have not assaulted anyone. I have not harassed anyone, and the police report clearly states I have not done such things," she added.

"It was suggested to me by the mayor himself that I was to consider resigning or, alternatively, he would have to let me go. But there was nothing beyond that. I was recipient of his information and that is all," Srinivas said.

WHVoice: Penske truck terminal to occupy Bowl Drive-In

2006-11-28T22:56:00.000-05:00

See "City to get revenue from registrations" (Nov 16, 2006). Planning and Zoning was expected to approve the subdivision of the former Bowl Drive-In site on the Boston Post Road, so that Lawrence Mall of New Haven could put an estimated $4 Million Penske truck terminal. Chick Celentano is a part owner of Lawrence Mall, and is apparently insisting (along with Mayor Borer) that the trucks be registered in West Haven, so that there will be registration income as well as tax income.

WHVoice: Mayor Picard to have 3 step deficit reduction plan

2006-11-28T22:38:00.000-05:00

The November 23 West Haven Voice contains an article entitled "Picard points to 3-step deficit-reduction". This article focuses in on three income components to reduce the indebtedness and to offset the shortfall:

The recent sale of the city tax lien list for $1.05 on the dollar. (I find this surprising - why would a company pay MORE than what the outstanding taxes are worth? I think this must mean that West Haven will not get the interest or other penalties).
Selling a second older tax lien list (will get less on the dollar, and apparently this contract is in the works - but if it is hard to collect money, anything is better than nothing, I suppose).
Audit the city's business personal property list, and collect monies from businesses that are re-evaluated. (This is currently only in the RFP for the auditor. I wonder if this might be of limited use - too many businesses are really small potatoes in this town).

Other items discussed:

Building Oversight Committee has found $4 million to date in reimbursements to be requested from the state for reimburseable school projects.
Project bids are coming in below budget for the first time in years.
Controls have been put into place for the bidding process that eliminate certain potentials for misconduct.

A more positive spin on the Bayer news

2006-11-28T22:25:00.000-05:00

Business New Haven has a slightly more positive spin in the article "Bioscience Czar Sees Silver Lining in Bayer Closing".

Paul Pescatello, president of Connecticut United for Research Excellence (CURE), says he's already gotten a dozen calls from rival companies looking to hire Bayer workers. And the pharma giant's facility, which has been underutilized since Bayer first hit a rough patch in the 1990s, could be subdivided into a research park to attract startups and diversify the local industry.

(read the article for more on the property, and tax incentive deals from CT and NJ).

UI asks for 38-50% increase

2006-11-28T10:08:00.000-05:00

UI is asking for a 38% increase for residential customers, and up to a 50% increase, for business customers, according to this New Haven Register article...

Nepotism in the Board of Ed?

2006-11-28T09:53:00.000-05:00

Today's New Haven Register has an interesting article entitled "Ed board hiring raises question of nepotism". In a nutshell:

City Councilwoman Nancy R. Rossi, A Better Future-7, said Monday despite her request to table the measure, the board voted unanimously last week to hire Rose Palmieri, the mother of board member Mark Palmieri, as a cashier at St. Lawrence School. Though Palmieri has served as a substitute cashier at Seth Haley School, Rossi said she wanted the board to table the vote until it could research whether Rose Palmieri’s hiring was inconsistent with the board’s past practice of hiring the longest-serving individual on the substitution list for a particular position.

More on Bayer...

2006-11-28T09:47:00.000-05:00

Today's New Haven Register article entitled "Bayer profit drops 35% in 3Q, beats forecasts" reveals that the company had turned down a $60 million state incentive package that they would have received if they stayed, and that there are 1000 workers affected (some of whom may transfer to New Jersey).

Statement from the source RE: the West Shore Fire District Blog

2006-11-22T23:03:00.000-05:00

I received an email today from WSFDFF regarding the West Shore Fire District blog. I'm republishing it (with permission) exactly as it was sent to me.

We tried to provide what we thought was an
educational site for the West Shore taxpayers and
others as well. It turned into a pissing contest with
every explanation that we tried to provide being
turned around into a challenge of the facts. We only
wrote true facts. We never tried to mislead anyone. It
was so bad that I started to take it very personnal
and that We felt was a bad thing and defeated the
whole purpose of the site. The site wasn't intended to
provide a spot for people to type false and misleading
statements. It wasn't a site to provide space for
stiring the pot. After seeing the enormous amount of
false and misleading information that was written not
by you but by many others we wanted to try to provide
a place where people could ask us questions. It never
happened. So we decided to take the blog off for a
while and let all cool down. I promise that we will
put it back on at a later date. If there is still
anyone out there that has a question regarding the
WEST SHORE FIRE DISTRICT,  please feel free to contact
us at this e mail address and we will answer.

I did get a chance to view the blog last week before it disappeared; things seemed to get rather ugly before it disappeared. I know the feeling - this blog (Lower West Haven Taxes) gets ugly comments from time to time, too. I cannot edit the comments that people make - but I can choose to not publish them, and there are many that have never seen the public eye. That's my choice - this blog isn't a democracy, and I have no political agenda. My nature isn't one that enjoys strident discourse -- I guess I would say that I prefer intellectual fact-based discussion. It's not that I think people shouldn't disagree or discuss the difficult topics; it's more that I think that they should disagree without being mean or hateful.

I would really like to concentrate on solutions and discussion on the TAX issue on this blog (Lower West Haven Taxes), not simply on the fire consolidation or the fire departments.

Having said that, in fairness, I've received emails from a person who participated on both boards who is concerned that perhaps the firefighters are publishing blogs while on duty. My impression is that the complaint wasn't about improper use of time, but that it is felt that there is too much downtime to warrant the current staffing levels. They felt this was important to disclose, so I've put this forth.

I suppose I should state that my own feeling on this matter is that there will BE a lot of downtime in this sort of profession... but when there is a need, it's far more dangerous to not have enough to answer the call of duty.

At any rate, tomorrow is Thanksgiving, and I don't expect to be online for the extended holiday weekend. If I haven't responded to an email or I haven't published your comment, it's likely just because I'm offline.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone... for tonight, I'm just going to close by saying that I'm thankful that I live in a country where I can state my mind, and I can disagree with others... and I'm thankful that there are those who are willing to stand up and disagree with my opinion, too.

Selective leaf vacuumming practice unfair

2006-11-22T09:46:00.000-05:00

Today's New Haven Register has an article on the unequal leaf collection practices of West Haven. I had no idea that some people get the leaf vacuuming - and the rest of us are forced to bag ours. I'd prefer it if ALL OF US had the vacuuming - it would save countless hours of work, and save money on purchasing those lousy paper bags...

West Haven Asks UI to consider Bayer Site

2006-11-15T07:36:00.000-05:00

In today's New Haven Register, there is an article that explains that West Haven officials have approached UI to look at the Bayer Site.

Ironically, I was just saying this to someone the other day. UI was looking at the West River Crossing site - but this might be an even better place for them to house their head quarters - 125 acres! If they come to town, earlier reports said it would be about $4M to us in taxes...

State and City officials look for Bayer Replacement

2006-11-14T10:27:00.000-05:00

According to a Veteran's Day article in the New Haven Register:

State, regional and city officials will put their heads together to develop a strategy to replace Bayer HealthCare and its 1,000 jobs.

Interesting in the article is that 300-350 of the 1000 employees to be affected will be offered positions in New Jersey - that's a large amount of jobs that will be laid off.

According to all involved, they are hoping to find another biotech company (or two or three) to fill the 125 acre site.

More on Bayer - The Day

2006-11-13T17:39:00.000-05:00

The Day had an interesting angle on the news about Bayer.

More about the Bayer move...

2006-11-13T11:31:00.000-05:00

The Stamford Advocate article on the Bayer move gives a few different details than I've previously read:

Company spokeswoman Susan Yarin said most of the West Haven oncology research operations are expected to cease by the end of March 2007, with any remaining operations slated to end a few months later.

Other functions will end after that, with the entire site expected to close by early 2008.

Bayer is gone

2006-11-09T15:04:00.000-05:00

Bayer will be consolidating operations, and will be out of West Haven by mid 2007, according to the Connecticut Post. Ugh. There goes $2.2 million in tax revenue..

(all, I'm sorry that I've had little time for blogging lately... I know there's a bunch of comments to moderate, etc. I'll try to get caught up soon.)

West Shore Fire District Blog

2006-10-16T06:19:00.000-04:00

Thanks to WSFDFF, a new blog has been created called West Shore Fire District which will be devoted to explaining the workings of the West Shore Fire District.

We've gotten a bit off topic here on Lower West Haven Taxes; while the Fire Consolidation is one potential help to tax relief, it's only one segment of a broad spectrum of possible changes.

In my sleep-deprived state at the end of last week, I let some posts go through that I now regret, as they seem to have 'fanned the flames'. Many will notice that I have not posted their comments from this past weekend. In doing so, it's not because I'm trying to limit perspective - I'd say that there were equal numbers of posts on both sides of the issues that I haven't put through. Instead, I've decided that posts that are either inflamatory, attacks, or overly defensive aren't going to be posted. We should be discussing ideas, not attacking each other.

Additionally, for the Fire Consolidation Good/Bad areas, if the posts were discussing the ideas, I'd like to ask you to hold off on that post until we get to the Discussion post that I promised later this week. We're a few posts short in that area, though, and I'd like to see more in the Good/Bad first.

I have some other news topics that I'll soon be blogging about - while I welcome additional discussion about the fire consolidation under the appropriate topics, I really want to see both sides act with respect. There is no need to be outraged on either side here. While we are discussing topics that are near and dear to our hearts, we can still try to keep an open mind, and assume the best intentions in all posts, as opposed to thinking everything 'is fighting words'. Let's educate each other instead of being 'morally outraged'.

Short Break until next week

2006-10-13T00:01:00.000-04:00

Hi All -

Just wanted to make certain that you all don't think that I've deserted you, but I'll have some limited availabity until next week. That little thing called work is going to take up a good portion of my time, and take me out of town for a bit.

I'll try to check in tomorrow (Friday) for a bit, if I can -- if not, keep the ideas on the Fire Districts coming, both for and against... and I'll roll up more of the thoughts.

Then, later next week we can get down to the work of discussing those ideas.

Why Our Readers Feel Fire District Consolidation is Bad.

2006-10-12T13:15:00.000-04:00

PLEASE READ BEFORE COMMENTING:
We're trying something new. Please post comments to this blog entry as to why you think Consolidation would be a bad thing for West Haven. (I've also added some posts from others - my apologies if I haven't attributed these ideas properly.)

You'll notice that we've set up a separate blog post for "Why Our Readers Feel Fire District Consolidation is Good."

Unless you can show that something is flat-out untrue, please do not argue points in these comments as they will not be posted. In comments to this entry, only post your thoughts on why consolidation is bad. I will pull these entries up into the main post.

Once we have compiled a list of thoughts on why Good and why Bad, we will start a new topic entitled "Weighing the Pros & Cons of Fire District Consolidation" to discuss and debate both sides of the issue, and hopefully to come away with a better understanding of the issues.

Summary of Points in Comments:

BAD: Response times would increase should firehouses be closed.
BAD: Should City Hall be in charge of the fire departments, taxes may be unfairly attributed to fire district consolidation.
BAD: Should fire houses be closed, people would likely lose jobs.
BAD: City has had a hard time managing its own finances; should they mis-manage fire department finances, it could mean people's lives, not just their homes and livlihoods.
BAD: Previous studies have shown no significant cost savings and no improvement in service by consolidation.
BAD: Consolidation will move control directly from taxpayers to City Council.
BAD: Consolidation would create a huge incase in pension costs as longtime firefighters would retire en masse ahead of consolidation.

Why Our Readers Feel Fire District Consolidation is Good.

2006-10-12T13:08:00.000-04:00

PLEASE READ BEFORE COMMENTING:
We're trying something new. Please post comments to this blog entry as to why you think Consolidation would be a good thing for West Haven. (I've also added some posts from others - my apologies if I haven't attributed these ideas properly.)

You'll notice that we've set up a separate blog post for "Why Our Readers Feel Fire District Consolidation is Bad."

Unless you can show that something is flat-out untrue, please do not argue points in these comments as they will not be posted. In comments to this entry, only post your thoughts on why consolidation is good. I will pull these entries up into the main post.

Once we have compiled a list of thoughts on why Good and why Bad, we will start a new topic entitled "Weighing the Pros & Cons of Fire District Consolidation" to discuss and debate both sides of the issue, and hopefully to come away with a better understanding of the issues.

Summary of Points in Comments:

GOOD: Less salaries as some roles (such as fire chiefs, secretaries, fire inspectors) may be able to be consolidated.
GOOD: Less higher end administration may mean a reduction of the high end pensions.
GOOD: Some functions (such as legal advisement) could be covered under City contracts at no additional cost to the fire budget.

And now, for something different

2006-10-12T10:42:00.000-04:00

I came up with an idea this morning. What if I create two blog entries:

Why Our Readers Feel Fire District Consolidation is Good.
Why Our Readers Feel Fire District Consolidation is Bad.

Then, under each of those posts, readers can explain their thoughts on the topic. I'll then pull the 'talking points' up into the main post.

My thought is that in the arguing back and forth, we're losing the points (good or bad) that people are trying to make.

Then, after we've put our points into the two topics, I'll create a new entry:

Weighing the Pros & Cons of Fire District Consolidation

Where we can discuss each side's ideas, and try to come up with points we BOTH can agree on.

What do you think? Worthwhile? Or should I just create the Weighing the Pros & Cons of Fire District Consolidation?

Long Island Sound Stewardship Act awaits President's Signature; Sandy Point in West Haven named as stewardship site

2006-10-11T18:47:00.000-04:00

According to an article in today's Westport New s, Sandy Point in West Haven is named as one of the stewardship sites that would benefit from the $25 million of federal funding. However, the Long Sound Stewardship Act still must be signed by President Bush.

According to the article:

It is a bill authorizing $25 million in federal funding annually to further the goals of an initiative that includes purchasing land and development rights to properties along the Sound.

(...)

Linked to the Senate action, environmental officials from Connecticut, New York and the federal government have agreed to designate 33 areas along the Sound's coastline as ecological or recreational assets needing restoration, protection and research -- with 17 of them in Connecticut. They have established a committee to oversee spending $6 million to restore coastal and river habitats on both sides of the Sound.

The surprising wording above is about the "purchasing land and development rights" - I'm not certain that applies to Sandy Beach, but instead to private properties which the are to be designated as stewardship sites.

Latricrete International ... possibly coming to West Haven?

2006-10-11T16:55:00.000-04:00

... ok, it's a long shot, and depends upon Bethany not keeping the manufacturer of ceramic tile and stone installation systems who has been doing business there for 50 years. Basically, a proposal to offer competitive tax incentives to area businesses has been proposed in a unanimous vote by the Board of Selectman; ultimately this must be approved at a town meeting, and the Board of Finance must approve the incentives on a business by business basis, which I suspect it is likely to do for a business of this longevity.

However, Laticrete is/was looking at West Haven as an alternative. From an Orange Bulletin article:

"Laticrete came to me because it wanted to expand and was looking at other areas specifically the Bayer site in West Haven and Progress Industrial Park in Waterbury because those sites are close to major highways," [First Selectwoman Derrylyn] Gorski said.

"Those towns were offering them tax incentives of a 50 percent abatement for five years. We're offering them 30 percent for five years," Gorski said explaining she was able to offer less because those municipalities have a higher mill rate than Bethany has.

Gorski said Latricrete International, a company that has been doing business in Bethany for 50 years, has proposed a $12 million expansion.

Gorski said the ultimate decision on the tax abatement rests with the Board of Finance but she would like to see the maximum benefit allowed by state statute of 50 percent be offered to allow Bethany to compete with other towns.

There's another interesting point in the article, also made by First Selectwoman Gorski:

Gorski said businesses do not increase the level of services the town must offer.
"Businesses use virtually no services. Residents get curbside pick-up but businesses don't," Gorski said as an example.

Gingsburg West River Crossing presentation not made; Picard to visit Haverstraw; City Council reconsidering West River Cross Project

2006-10-11T08:04:00.000-04:00

Unfortunately, I was unable to attend last evening's City Council meeting, which accord to today's New Haven Register article entitled "Restless W. Haven taxpayers wonder: 'Why so many Obstacles?'" was attended by 133 people, crowded into the little City Hall meeting room. Therefore, the discussion below is second hand, and I invite anyone who was there to add to the comments, and I'll pull them up into the top level of the post, if they help enlighten us about the meeting.

Residents who attended the meeting were very interested in hearing what Ginsburg and West River Crossing LLC (who have a tentative partnership agreement) had to say about his plan for developing a $225 million housing project in West River Crossing. However, the slideshow that Ginsberg had prepared was not seen, as apparently the City Council had previously contacted the presenters, suggesting an appropriate time for a presentation, other than the City Council meeting. It's not clear if that presentation would have been in a public forum.

In fact, it's not clear who said what. The article says that City Council Chairwoman Martha Bell (who apparently ran the public comments portion of the meeting, which Mayor Picard was unable to attend) had "... firmly [warned] Centore that she had notified him beforehand they’d set up an appropriate time for a presentation". According to Centore:

... Centore said he’s tried to secure a presentation with several city officials of whom only Bell responded with a letter inviting the developers to speak at Tuesday’s public session. According to the Sept. 19 letter, Bell didn’t note any limitations.

Mayor Picard is apparently "skeptical of the proposed presentation since neither Ginsburg nor West River Crossing was officially invited to give a formal presentation." However, the article states his intention to visit Haverstraw- and that can't be a bad thing.

According to the article:

Consequently, Mayor John M. Picard’s administration has stepped back to reassess and ensure the city’s future site plans revolve around a "smart-growth" project that includes mixed retail, commercial and housing use. Many taxpayers consider this pre-planning plan lost opportunities while the city’s taxes are more than the average homeowner can bear.

Even before reading this article and the plans of Mayor Picard's administration, I'm a proponent of the type of 'smart growth' mentioned. I believe that building high end housing won't work if there isn't an infrastruture to support it.

However, I'm concerned that we've already spent a lot of time and money on this project - can't we capitalize on any of the research already conducted?

City Planning and Development Commissioner Eileen Buckheit also indicated that Ginsburg was welcome to look to private property owners for other areas to develop in the city, and stated:

"The administration is going down a different road ... of proper planning and acquiring of parcels (while) working with the state of Connecticut to develop a viable development parcel," she said. "If this were happening next October, we’d have something to talk about."

This statement in the article was alarming:

Centore and Pinto, better known as West River Crossing LLC, were previously working with the city to attract United Illuminating Co. to a site along New Haven Harbor when the pre-development agreement expired without tangible progress.

The part that concerns me is whether or not the UI deal is contingent upon West River Crossing, LLC. Previous articles didn't mention the connection of the UI deal to Centore and Pinto - as this is a $4 million deal for us, I truly hope that while West River Crossing, LLC was involved in the discussions, that the UI deal is indendent of West River Crossing's involvement, as it is a fantastic opportunity for West Haven.

A note to the firefighters (and everyone else) who read this blog...

2006-10-11T06:49:00.000-04:00

Given the recent bitter comments, I think it's quite possible that you've mistaken questions about the structure of the fire districts with the author of this blog being negative about our fire departments and/or fire fighters.

That couldn't be further from the truth, as I have a great respect for those who help others. I also understand that there is a great deal of danger involved in the job that you do, and I appreciate that you do it so that I do not have to.

I should remind our readers as well that all opinions expressed on this blog are not my own - some are that of readers of the blog. In those instances, there will be another name other than 'West Haven Taxpayer' associated with the comments, or will be quoted in my posts, which will look like this:

quoted words - these are not my own

or will have quotation marks around the words like "this". When I quote others, I try to be very careful to attribute the words to the person that has said them, and to indicate the source.

I've been very clear when I do not have the full picture, and I've asked for additional information. Remember, this blog started as my journey to better understand our tax situation, try to find solutions, and to learn about the local government system. I want your comments, suggestions, and to be set straight when I don't have all the facts. My intent is not to "spread lies", but instead to find out the reality of situations -- and to help others in this town understand the facts as well.

You'll see that I update articles when I have more facts. You may need to refresh your browser in order to see the updates. To do so, hold down the control key, and press F5. Alternatively, you can hold down the control key and click on the 'refresh' or 'reload' button (the name of the button varies by browser). The control key will (in most cases) force a reload of the page, instead of reading from your local cache.

The incredible lack of online information available to the tax payers of this town about the fire districts is very frustrating - the internet is a very inexpensive way of disseminating information. I will really applaud the West Shore fire department if they revamp their website, and put more information to help the taxpayers understand. I understand that is their intention, and I think it is a good one!

I invite ANYONE who has good sources of information to post them in a comment to me. I particularly invite those involved with the West Haven fire department to post your comments about the structure of the fire districts, and why you feel consolidation would hurt us. If it seems like a good new topic, you'll see your comment (attributed to you, or if you'd prefer, to an 'anonymous reader' - just let me know) as a new topic.

I ask everyone to NOT confuse this blog with the West Haven Taxpayer Initiative, with the Fire District Consolidation group, etc. I've seen a lot of speculation of who I am. Trust me, you probably don't know me - I'm literally one human being, and I have no political agenda or ambitions. Besides the fact that this is not about me, if you'd seen some of the comments that will never make it out to the blog, you'd understand why I have no interest in revealing my identity. I just want to better understand what we can do to make West Haven a better place to live, with reasonable taxes, and continuation of current good services, and better services that need improvement.

Tom Conroy offers a few suggestions on the West Haven Voice

2006-10-10T16:31:00.000-04:00

Tom Conroy, in a letter to the editor of the West Haven Voice, has offered some suggestions to save property taxes.

First, to summarize (I urge you to read the full letter as I have made this very brief):

increase the minimum amount of property required to build to 1.5 acres, or eliminate the ability to build new single family homes, as he feels single family homes crowded into properties are a drain on services.
move the train station to Morgan lane, after leveling the Sikorsky building, and add a convenience store and a Dunkin Donuts.
Buy the property on Prindle Hill (?) and make a 9 hole golf course.
Instead of buying the Masonic Temple, build a new high school by the Nike site next to the new soccer fields, and instead of revamping city hall, move it to the existing high school, and put the art center in the existing city hall.
rebuild the area along the shoreline to be full of little cafes and specialty shops, like Mystic Seaport (?)

I applaud Mr. Conroy for taking the right attitude of looking for solutions ... but I think there is a few problems with some of his statements and his plans.

First - While I do agree that I'd like to see zoning regulations improve the size of building lots (there's one going up on Ocean Avenue that is absolutely sandwiched between two other homes), property taxes on land are much less than property taxes on homes.... which is another way of saying that houses bring in taxes, while vacant property does not. I think that there is a different value to open land, though, and I still think that the zoning should change.

In regard to this statement in his letter:

I have yet to hear one person explain where economic development is coming from a train station. We are taking buildings off the tax rolls (does anyone who owns or is selling these properties?) to build a building that will not pay taxes.

Wow, I think that the train station is absolutely mandatory. Right now, commuters to New York must go into Milford to get to the city - it's a slow and awkward commute, even from those on the Milford border. As I've mentioned previously, New Yorker commuters have been eyeing shore front property as more affordable than properties closer to the city. If you want to be able to create a higher end development, you need the infrastructure to make it happen - I think that the railroad is crutial to that.

Next - in regard to the building properties being taken off the tax rolls - the reason that Stop & Shop wanted that location was because of the proximity to the new train station. I fully expect that the Armstrong building will also have a new life, full of shops should the railroad station be built. It is a great location in proximity to the highway, and to downtown, and to the beaches. I wouldn't be surprised to see a local bus hub be placed there as well!

I think that the commuter lines could easily revitalize West Haven... imagine a downtown where people commute TO West Haven!

The number of shuffles in Mr. Conroy's plan are not simple ones - moving city hall would be a major undertaking... just ask the Police Department what it cost for them to move. There are many logistics, and infrastructure changes, not to mention reconfiguration and revamping of the buildings once they left...

Regarding the property on Prindle Hill... I really have a hard time with the idea of taking that land by eminent domain for the name of economic development. I strongly disagree with the ruling in New London - I think that eminent domain should exist only when there are no other solutions for city-based services, not for the case of building commercial enterprises.

Also, in looking at Google Maps, isn't this the land alongside the Latella's farm? The land is a very steep hill. A 9 hole course doesn't attract the real golfers, who want a full 18 holes, along with luxury housing. The Google Map indicates that there is a U.S. Military Reservation in the midst of it, as well.. but perhaps that is outdated.

I think we have to be careful about how we develop our shoreline. The State is giving us money to keep it as open space, from what I gather, and we've already made some serious mistakes in how we've put it together even now.

In speaking with another resident, we were discussing how the end of Campbell Avenue really should have been a gateway into the beachfront, instead of the entryway into Adams... there's no link between Campbell and the beach, and it's part of the problem.

So, I've said my piece - what do the other readers here think?

[note: Thanks to TheTruth who pointed out my mistake in the first name of Mr. Conroy - no offense was meant - it's just been a very long day]

Columbus Day Parade not particularly Italian or Columbus-related

2006-10-10T10:56:00.000-04:00

I attended the Columbus Day parade on Sunday; it was a beautiful day, and a nice parade, well attended, and a nice showing of communities in the Greater New Haven area. It showed the diversity of the area, and as best I know, went off without incident (outside of the fact that the Allingtown fire department had to leave part way through the parade for a call).

I had a few concerns, though:

There was a decided lack of Columbus-related floats. In fact, I counted two.
I felt that the politicians who marched and blared their political messages marred the day - this was supposed to be a celebration, not a political statement.
I wonder how much this cost the West Haven taxpayers?

6 to be promoted in West Shore Fire Department

2006-10-10T08:02:00.000-04:00

The New Haven Register reports "Burns, 5 others to be honored" in West Shore Fire District's largest-ever promotional ceremony to be held on Sunday at 10:30 am outside district headquarters at 860 Ocean Avenue, with a reception at the Italian American club to follow. The following department members are to be honored:

Fire Chief Harold C. Burns
Deputy Chief Clifford T. Burns
Assistant Chief David A. Collins
Administrative Capt. Gary N. Bloomquist
Capt. Daniel P. Potter
Lt. Glen J. Murray

While I expect that with promotions, comes raises - does anyone know if this was part of the citizen approved West Shore budget? I must plead ignorance in terms of knowledge of the budget and whether or not said promotions are deserved; unfortunately, information is less available for the fire departments than even for the city.

On the other hand, the article spoke of Harold C. Burns vision and plans for the department, including a committee to update the district's web site to "better serve the public". I'd settle for better informing the public, but maybe I'm just mincing words.

Parts of the article was fairly abstract but sounded good, such as the statement attributed to Fire Chief Burns: "The team will specifically incorporate enhanced technology, training and communications to make the department cost-effective and extremely efficient."

But there were two statements that made me think: 'huh????':

"Clifford T. Burns, a former assistant chief, will concentrate initial efforts on assisting economic development projects along Sawmill Road toward a timely completion."

Why is the West Shore fire department involved in economic development projects on Saw Mill Road??? [UPDATE: It has been relayed to me what Clifford Burns will be involved in is overseeing building inspections to make certain development projects are up to fire code - this makes INFINITELY more sense to me now - thanks for the clarification from Slappy].
"Collins, a certified fire instructor in Connecticut, is charged with upgrading the department’s volunteer training program."

Volunteer training program? Aren't we paying for permanent fire department positions?? [UPDATE: Reader WSFDFF wrote to me to explain:

All 3 districts have a volunteer department that suplement the career firefighters. This is nothing new and in fact quite common. That is the reason we fall under the classification of a "combination department"!

From your moniker, I assume that you are with the West Haven Fire Department, and I thank you for your explanation. I'd like to learn more about how our fire department is set up - is there a place online where I can get that information?]

Maybe it's just my lack of knowledge about the current fire department system, but those are fairly strange statements to me, at least. [Update - things are making more sense to me now - but I'd really like to learn more... keep the comments coming, please!]

The article is summed up with Fire Chief Burns talking about creating cost-effective and progressive service, as well as stating

"During my tenure as chief, I intend to be open, accessible and willing to listen to the concerns of firefighters and the residents"

I guess we'll see how it goes - it sounds good - but as one of those who are paying for the party on Sunday, I guess I feel like the jury is still out.

[UPDATE: Reader WSFDFF also set me straight here -- the taxpayers aren't paying for Sunday's event -- instead, the firefighters pay for it out of pocket. Thank you for the clarification - it would be nice if that information was put forth by the newspaper! Maybe someone ought to write a letter to the editor to explain...]

Nearly $17,400 sought from Bomb Hoax Participants

2006-10-10T07:49:00.000-04:00

(As an aside, I first heard about this today on the news on WFSB, but I'll be darned if I could find it on their site. I did find a New Haven Register article entitled "Restitution sought for bomb hoaxes". )

Someone is listening and understanding; West Haven taxpayers shouldn't have to pay for the actions of a few. The Board of Education and West Haven Police Department are jointly going to seek $17,398.90 to cover the costs of emergency personnel ($8149.95) and the lost revenues from West Haven Food services, and the extra bus service from Winkle Bus Company ($9248.95) from the 16 students who have been accused of creating the three bomb scare hoaxes late last month. Of these students, 13 student juvenilles and 18 year old WHHS graduate Thomas Griffin have been arrested and charged with felonies; two more student juvenilles are expected to turn themselves in today, and will likely face felony charges.

Our police chief, Ronald Quagliani, is quoted in the article:

"I can’t drive it home enough that the taxpayers of the community should not have to pay for the criminal activities of these individuals. That is why we are seeking restitution."

Thank you, Police Chief Quagliani - clearly you get the big picture.

West River Crossing Meeting on Tuesday

2006-10-07T13:32:00.000-04:00

Accord to the West Haven Voice,

Tuesday (I assume this is October 10)
7 pm
Harriet North meeting room

the City Council will meet with West River Crossing LLC, as well as New York-based Ginsberg Development Corporation (who developed Haverstraw, NY), who reportedly has a join venture agreement with West River Crossing LLC.

Apparently, there is a two page advertisement (which isn't in the online version, which is what I read) that is trying to drum up support for the meeting.

It sounds like there are lots of politics going on; West River Crossing, LLC was originally the devloper pegged for the project, but that was rescinded by the current administration, who apparently wants to put the project out to bid. Carlo Centore, who runs West River Crossing, LLC, has been trying to at least be able to present his ideas to the city council, and this looks like it will be his chance.

The most interesting part of the article (to me) is the last paragraph:

If the council allows the firm to come back in as the preferred developer, it would be able get things in motion almost immediately, according to Centore. The project that they have planned would be very expensive townhouses along the harbor. They could bring and estimated $12 million yearly in new taxes. If the project goes back out to bid, both sides agree it will set the project back another 2-3 years.

$12 million in tax revenue is, of course, very tempting. However, I've voiced my concerns previously- high end housing requires services and ammenities that high end owners will expect. Most concerning, is that the riverfront is currently one of the less favorable waterfront districts of West Haven, with views of the gas depot, and the highway. There is a LOT of work tht would have to be done to clean up the area in order to attract the high end crowd, and crime would have to be reduced.

Easy transportation to NYC for commuters has to be put in place, and the train station project isn't yet fully funding, and won't start construction for several years yet. A ferry service to Long Island might be needed as well. Believe it or not ,but the coastline of West Haven is starting to be considered the most affordable for the NYC set who is looking for a home in the country. I know of real estate agents who place ads in NYC papers for waterfront property -- and who are getting bites.

There has to be sufficient marina resources, too - high end housing on the water requires places for the rich to play. That's a business that might bring some new business revenue to the area -- and should be acccounted for. Thankfully, New Haven has a fashionable theatre district, but I'd like to see our arts council come alive, too. The Milford boutiques would appeal to the high end crowd -- but wouldn't it be nice to have them in West Haven, too?

This isn't going to be a quick fix, and it won't happen overnight -- but if it can all be pulled together, and timed properly, it would be a HUGE asset in the long term. Remember, the delays on the work on Sawmill Road? It's my understanding that a large part of the delay was because the highway work was delayed - why open a hotel, restaurant or store, when the infrastructure needed is still years off - so it waited. The highway project is nearing completion... and so is Walmart, and Texas Roadside Grill, with the hotel work not far behind.

So let's hope that this is considered a LONG term fix (and I think we might be longer than a 5 year plan)... and let's hope that it's one long term vision that will help bring life back to this town.

"Lower West Haven Taxes in the News Again - in the 'Dear Felicia' gossip column!

2006-10-07T13:09:00.000-04:00

Well, this has been the most amusing mention of all - we've been mentioned in the West Haven Voice, under the 'Dear Felicia' column. Known for being the "insider's" column about politics in West Haven, "Cobina" has this one wrong... based on what is being said, "she" clearly doesn't know who I am.

The column seems to make the same mistakes that many new readers had; thinking that everything is written by one poster who they say this about:

.... the guy behind the blog is the same guy who clogged up our emails wantin’ to find things out, but when he didn’t hear whot he wanted, he began with personal attacks. Then when he was given same, complained about how we were being mean. Some people yew can reason with, some people jest have reason to be unreasonable.

Wrong. I've never complained to the Voice about ANYTHING, let alone make personal attacks. In fact, I think Cobina and Bill Riccio would be very surprised to find out who I am. Sorry, Bill, but when Cobina says:

... it’s short on facks and long on innuendo. Actually, it’s like the ol’ sayin, “I’ve got my mind made up, don’t confuse me with the facts.”

"she" should look in the mirror - you've pegged the wrong person.

I can't tell you if the person you have in mind is one of the readers and commenters -- that person MIGHT be one of the posters. I truely have no idea if that is the case, because the posters are anonymous (many fear political retaliation), plus I have no idea of whom you refer to. However, I can assure you that you're pegging the 'blame' for the blog on the wrong person.

It would be FANTASTIC if Cobina, Bill Riccio, Chuck Marino, or WHOEVER from the Voice wouild come up here and present facts, and explain where you have think we have it wrong. I *want* facts for this blog. As it says in my bio:

I am a West Haven, CT resident, who shall remain nameless. While I am registered as a Republican, I'm NOT a partisan voter, and vote with my conscience. I do not represent any political concern, but instead am interested in trying to understand the politics of West Haven from a layman's perspective. Where I can, I'm trying to separate the fact from the fiction - please DO contact me to let me know if I have my facts wrong, and point me to the sources that I can use to correct my mistakes.

I mean it - if there are things that are incorrect, let me know - either by posting a response, or by email to westhaventaxes@yahoo.com . I'm more than happy to discuss ANY of the postings here, either on or off the record, as well as other people's concerns, either about the good or the bad being done here. The only thing that you won't get from me is my identity. It's not about me... it's about the town.

State Governor Candidates have different Tax Relief Strategies

2006-10-06T09:44:00.000-04:00

There's pertinent tax discussion at the state level in today's New Haven Register, in the article entitled "DeStefano promises tax breaks". In the article, there are strategies from both the sitting Governor Rell (R) and John DeStefano (D) (who is currently the mayor of New Haven, but who is running for Governor). I am not going to openly endorse either, but present the strategies here for discussion.

DeStefano:
Phase I ($455 million cost):

property tax freeze to 2006 rates for seniors 65 and older whose annual income is $46,000 or less for a single person or $54,000 or less for a couple living together. Towns to be reimbursed for lost revenue.
$1,000 property tax rebate when middle-class residents file their state income tax.
Immediate elimination of the tax on manufacturing equipment, which is now being phased out.
paid by millionaire's tax, surplus funds, temporary surcharge on real estate conveyance tax.

Phase II:

paid by government reorganization and tightening up bonding
$10,000 property tax credit for small businesses
homestead and car tax exemptions
boost in state education foundation grant
fully funded payments to towns with high amounts of tax-exempt property (I assume that this is to replace the current STARR program, which reimburses 70% of taxes from universities, hospitals, etc., and this would affect us, with UNH and the Veteren's hospital being on site).

Also of interest from the article:

DeStefano, New Haven’s six-term mayor, has advocated for major property tax reform by making the state a fuller partner in support of education funding. Connecticut now is the most dependent state in the country on funding K-12 education through property taxes.

"Our dependence on bad property tax policy is not only costing us jobs and home ownership, but it’s resulting in bad educational and bad land use policy," said DeStefano, who in 2003 was chairman of the bipartisan Blue Ribbon Commission on Property Tax Burdens and Smart Growth Incentives.

Governor Rell
(as relayed through campaign spokesman Rich Harris)

State to reimburse towns and cities for car taxes (effectively eliminating property tax on motor vehicles)
supported by shifting some of Casino income

Some thoughts:

I'm concerned about gubernatorial candidate DeStefano's plan to freeze the rates at the 2006 rates - our seniors won't be helped by that in West Haven. It's too little, too late.
Why rebate property tax at the state income tax level? Why not eliminate up front?
Anything that is reimbursed by the state to the towns means that we're paying for it in some way - either locally (property taxes), or state taxes (income or sales tax).

6 arrests in the Monday Bomb Scare; 4 more are coming shortly.

2006-10-05T16:56:00.000-04:00

NBC 30 news reports that 18 year old Thomas Griffin and 5 "youthful offenders" (aged 16-18) have turned themselves in to the West Haven Police Department. The remaining 4 other male students have apparently made arrangements to turn themselves in as well.

All are being held on $50,000 bond apiece; Mr. Griffin was charged on three charges; the youthful offenders, two.

What an incredible waste of taxpayer $'s for a prank, if you think about it.

Is Help on the way for the West Haven Beaches?

2006-10-05T07:24:00.000-04:00

WNTH is reporting a story entitled "Act earmarks millions for Long Island Sound preservation". The Long Island Sound Stewardship Act, which is a bill awaiting President Bush's signature, won Senate approval this past weekend.

If signed into law, it will approve up to $25 million per year for 5 years starting in 2007 for various projects, and identifies 33 specific areas to be targetted, including 18 in Connecticut. Is one of these areas the West Haven beaches???

I found the Bill Status here, as well as the text version of the bill here (converted from PDF). Unfortunately, the bill doesn't mention which areas have been identified.

Chris Dodd's website has a press release celebrating the passage of the Long Island Sound Stewardship Act (LISSA) in the house and the senate. From the release:

LISSA will help protect the Long Island Sound (LIS) by providing financial incentives for owners of land parcels within the LIS area to preserve the environmental quality of and public access to this endangered habitat, which is home to 8,000,000 people.

According to the Northender News:

LISSA focuses on the Sound’s rim, and should not be confused with the effort to reduce pollution in the Sound itself. Israel [Representative Steve Israel (D-Huntington)] says he will continue to fight for $40 million annually for this objective.

Tax Cut Solutions -- Reader's ideas (October)

2006-10-04T19:33:00.000-04:00

I'm going to try a new idea, which is to set up a blog posting each month for readers to post their ideas for how the city can cut taxes. Post and discuss your ideas in the comments - I'll summarize them and put them in the blog post, along with credit to those who think 'em up.

The Truth: Use citizens instead of police officers to direct traffic around construction. (see post).

(thanks to our reader "the truth" for this idea.)

[UPDATE: The problem with this suggestion is that the information scrolls down and off the page - unfortunately Blogger doesn't offer a way to make a topic 'stick' to the top of the page.]

Mayor Picard and consistancy

2006-10-04T11:31:00.000-04:00

Mayor Picard is consistant with the messages that he presented back in May 2003. According to the New Haven Regsiter article entitled "Mayoral candidate warns of financial crisis":

Picard, the only candidate so far to announce a run for mayor, warned that unexpected expenses and the city’s decision to use some of its fund balance, or rainy day fund, to keep from raising taxes created the crisis. He said the city is "in jeopardy of lowering its bond rating to junk status."

Whether or not you agree with his handling of the issue, it does appear that he is delivering a consistant message.

Mayor Picard's plan for West Haven back in 2003

2006-10-04T10:25:00.000-04:00

While researching older New Haven Register articles about John Picard to try to verify comments having been made in the Haverstraw blog post, I came across an interesting article from 9/6/2003 entitled "Picard releases plan for West Haven".

The statement that sticks out is the first one:

The key to a successful economic-development plan is to reduce the city’s high taxes and burgeoning debt.

High taxes just got higher here... reducing the mill rate isn't reducing taxes when you revalue property.

Mayor Picard also claims in the article that we had a $200M deficit (compared to Mayor Borer's assertion that we had a $150M deficit). With that, I can't see how he could claim surprise at the current situation.

(edited later to add the following)

Taking this back a little further, to July 1, 2003, and "Picard slams leaders on highter tax bills", claiming "Not only did the mayor’s proposed budget call for a tax increase, the Morrissey-controlled City Council added an even greater increase." He goes on to slam Morrissey for doing nothing to cut back spending by saying:

"Chairman Morrissey did absolutely nothing to cut back the mayor’s proposed spending plan," Picard said, charging that Morrissey "was more interested in who would get new jobs vacated by retiring city workers than he was in lessening the burden on city taxpayers."

Is the pot calling the kettle black?

Tax Cut ideas from our Readers: Don't use Police to Direct Traffic

2006-10-04T07:39:00.000-04:00

In the incredibly popular September 27th post entitled "Chuck Marino on Haverstraw and West River Crossing" (we're up to 47 Comments at last look, and that's just the ones that made it to being published), a reader who goes by the moniker of 'TheTruth' discussed the following tax-saving thought:

We can take this thread down another road and figure out while Milford, Orange, and most other towns in the area don't use cops to direct traffic. The cops are getting overtime at about $45 hour while the person hired by UI or SBC (AT+T) gets about $12. Some projects may require cops but I watched them sit around up at Saw Mill Road for weeks while construction was stopped. I have seen roads closed off of Ocean Ave with cops behind the barracades. Some will say the contractor pays the cops (they do) but they also inflate the price to cover the expense. West Haven has in it's union contract that WH Police must be used for traffic duty. Who negotiates this stuff ? The sad part is the traffic personel from the utilities do a better job at directing traffic than the cops do !

It all adds up people. West Haven is a modest town and the average Cop and fireman is making 80K a year with great benefits and an incredible pension on the backs of West Haven taxpayers. At some point it has to stop !

I don't know the source of the salaries, but if they are accurate, $12/hr is about one quarter of the cost of $45/hour - this sounds like a viable cost cutting measure to me. Time to research the budget to see if the budget is broken down in a way that we can see how much this would save.

What do others think of this idea?

Bridgeport Principal (who lives in West Walk) dies of Legionaires' Disease; second resident contracts it.

2006-10-04T07:20:00.000-04:00

The New Haven Register today reported that Bridgeport elementary school Principal Howard Reed died Monday night at Yale New Haven Hospital of Legionaires' Disease, and that a second resident has contracted the disease. The CDC has been asked in to help Public Health Commissioner J. Robert Galvin and West Haven Health Director Eric Triffin investigate.

Legionaires' Disease is caused by a common bacteria, which grows in warm water, such as plumbing systems or hot tubs, and isn't spread person to person. The state on average sees 15-35 cases per year, and there are probably more cases that go unreported, as symptoms are similar to the flu, and often go away on their own.

Apparently, because of this, the state wouldn't test West Walk or the Bridgeport Elementary school water systems unless a second case had appeared. However, now they feel two cases in West Haven diagnosed in one week is unusual.

Howard Reed lived in West Walk; the latest case, an unemployed middle-aged man who has been hospitalized, lives on First Avenue.

My thought -- have they both been fishing down recently? Perhaps on the sandy shoal by our Sewage plant?

April City Mission and Vision Statements do not reflect Campaign Promise of reducing taxes

2006-10-03T11:40:00.000-04:00

Thanks to Colonial West Haven Taxpayer, who pointed me to the City of West Haven April 21, 2006 Monthly Department Meeting powerpoint presentation.

In it, is Mayor Picard's Vision statement, and Mission Statement.

Vision Statement:

To be a diverse community which embraces the changing needs and expectations of our citizens through respect for people, preserving the shoreline, and creating a prosperous and safe community.

("... and promote world peace" - pardon the joke, but outside of 'preserving the shoreline', how is this customized to West Haven?)

Mission Statement:

To be a fiscally stable municipal government which includes a system of checks and balances and provide compassionate leadership in meeting the needs and vision of the government that serves with honesty and integrity. Encourage participation by all in the development and improvement of services and strive for excellence and satisfaction in delivering of public services. This will be accomplished by maintaining respect for each other and the public and continually improve channels of communications both internally and externally. Fostering a progressive environment that will enhance the quality of life, fulfilling employment, recreational, educational opportunities for all and recognize our strengths and weaknesses and how we can learn from them as we prepare for the future of the City of West Haven.

That's a mouthful... and it's clear that Mayor Picard was already investigating the financial situation. Reading between the lines, though, it sounds more like "Spend More of your Money" than "Reduce Taxes". Granted, in his 2005 campaign interview he cleverly stated that he saw us as having 4-5 mills less of taxes in 5 years time.

It's particularly very clever, because if you increase your tax basis, the mill rate will immediately go down if you keep the same budget (remember my primer on Property Taxes, Mill Rates and (re-)Valuations?) . He also compares mill rates in a chart in his "campaign interview" (which really reads more like a 'FAQ' - not many interviews come with charts) - mill rates on their own are meaningless. It's the budget in conjunction with the mill rate that give you your taxes. You can have a low mill rate, but if your property is over-assessed, you'll pay high taxes.

To get the full April 21, 2006 document, go to the City of West Haven downloads areas, select 'Official City documents', and click select. The file that you are looking for is this one:

Department Head Meeting 4-21-06
Last Saved: 4/24/2006 5:01:08 PM
Summary: This is a PowerPoint presentation as prepared by Mayor John M. Picard and Executive Assistant James Burns.
City of West Haven Monthly Department Meeting April 21, 2006 One Team - One Dream YOU can make the DIFFERENCE Agenda Mission Statement Policy/Procedures Parking Relocation Web Page Update Freedom of Information (FOI) Budget Update Roundtable City of West Haven Vision To be a diverse community which James Burns.

City Council Meeting Minutes

2006-10-03T10:34:00.000-04:00

A recent West Shore Follies Blog post entitled Call it as I see it.......... brought up a point that I was considering for a blog entry. Lately, City Council meeting minutes have not been posted on the City of West Haven website. In the past, they've been in the downloads area of the site, but haven't been there for some months now.

According to Colonial Park Taxpayer (who writes the West Shore Follies):

All meeting minutes from the city council are "supposed" to be posted within 7 days after the meeting.

Anyone have a reference for this "rule"?

UPDATE: the reference was the Monthly Department Meeting Minutes (see comments section for details of how to access). However, while this document says that there must be meeting minutes within 7 days, it doesn't say that it must be publicly posted at all.

West Shore Follies: City Council Meeting Schedule

2006-10-03T10:29:00.000-04:00

West Shore Follies: City Council Meeting Schedule

Colonial Park Taxpayer reminds us on his blog that the following City Council meetings are coming up:

October 10 & 23
November 13 & 27
December 11 & 26

City Council meetings are usually at 7:00 pm on the 3rd floor of city hall. I urge anyone who cares about what happens in this town to attend as many meetings as possible.

Greater New Haven area Economy - Mixed news

2006-10-02T09:07:00.000-04:00

Well, according to today's New Haven Register article entitled "Area Economy hits rough spot", there's some mixed economical news:

First, the good news:

Unemployment fell from 5.1 percent down to 4.7 percent (including self-employed people)
Total job force rose from 306,100 to 308,400 (0.8%).
Median sales price of homes for this quarter is up 5% from the same time period of last year, from $278,700 to $292,600

Here's the bad news, though:

Home prices are dropping on a month to month basis.
Inflation is increasing.
Consumer confidence is dropping.
Consumers have less disposable income
There are less new housing permits being issued.

Since this information is regarding the August scorecard (which is the latest information they have), I wonder how much of the negative affects are directly related to the West Haven tax situation?

Events: Breast Cancer Candlelight Vigil

2006-10-02T08:07:00.000-04:00

Thanks also to the 9-29-06 City Notes for the notice of this event:

Vigil to remember those affected by breast cancer

A candlelight vigil Oct. 13 in honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month will remember loved ones and recognize survivors of the disease.
The vigil, presented by the Breast Cancer Awareness Committee, is part of the city’s campaign to raise consciousness of one of America’s leading causes of cancer death among women and men.

Participants will gather on the Green at 6:30 p.m. for the public ceremony, which starts at 7.

Anyone wishing to remember a loved one or survivor can call organizers. The committee will recite the names and inscribe them on a luminary.
Call Beth A. Sabo at 937-3588, Jennifer Cavallaro at 937-3619, Susan See at 937-3914 or Charlene Morgal at 937-3586.

The committee also has announced that it will donate the year’s $35,000 in fundraising proceeds to three area organizations.

Branford-based Y-ME of Connecticut, which offers counseling services for women and men with breast cancer, and the Yale-New Haven Breast Center will each receive $10,000, said Sabo, the city’s commissioner of public works.

Sabo said the Hospital of St. Raphael’s Father Michael J. McGivney Center for Cancer Care and its Looking Forward program will receive the lion’s share of the proceeds with $15,000.

New West Haven Blog - westhaventowncrier

2006-10-02T07:35:00.000-04:00

There's a new blog that has popped up - westhaventowncrier - I look forward to having a new read! (thanks to reader Westie for letting me know about this one).

Flu Shots Offered

2006-10-02T07:25:00.000-04:00

The City of West Haven will be offering an expanded Flu Shot clinic, as well as Pneumonia immunizations for the elderly. I'm not certain of the funding source, but as this is being conducted through the Danbury Visiting Nurse Association, and that medical co-pays are being accepted, I suspect that this is not costing West Haven anything except for having a place for the event to take place - kudos to the town for holding this.

Here's the announcement as it appeared in the City Notes:

Flu Shot Information
FYI

Health Department expands flu vaccination program

This year, there should be no problems with the national supply of influenza vaccine, according to city Health Director Eric Triffin.

The national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that 20 million more doses of the flu vaccine will be available this year than last, bringing the national stockpile to 100 million doses.

“We therefore have an opportunity to immunize people who were not in previously targeted risk groups, including the elderly and high-risk patients,” Triffin said.

With the help of the Danbury Visiting Nurse Association, the city Department of Health will make flu vaccine available to anyone at its regular senior clinics and its new Family Flu Clinic – Flu is no Fun Day. The family clinic offers vaccine to the newly expanded target group of children 6 to 59 months old and any interested family members.

“This will give everyone a way to reduce their risk, especially since children are the likeliest ones to spread the flu to others, and the vaccine is most effective the younger you are,” Triffin said.

Since up to 20 percent of Americans come down with the flu every year, with 200,000 hospitalized and 36,000 deaths, it is a serious illness, but one that is preventable.

Triffin said that everyone, especially employers, should see the value in protecting themselves and their employees from the flu to reduce absenteeism.

For those 65 and older, the department will also make pneumonia vaccine available.

“This vaccine will help prevent or reduce the difficulties from almost a dozen of the two dozen types of pneumonia out there,” Triffin said. “However, this is not a yearly shot; it is usually only required once after the age of 65.”

As the winter season comes along, making flu, pneumonia and colds more likely, Triffin encourages people to practice good hygiene, including frequent hand-washing when out in public.

“There are many steps we can take to put a barrier between germs and ourselves,” said Triffin, “and keeping our hands clean and away from our faces where the nose, eyes and ears can become doorways into our bodies makes a huge difference.”

The walk-in flu clinics, for residents 55 and older, are scheduled from 10 a.m. to noon Oct. 12 for residents whose last names begin with the letters A to K and from 10 a.m. to noon Oct. 18 for those whose last names start with the letters L to Z. Both clinics will take place at the Savin Rock Conference Center, 6 Rock St.

The Family Flu Clinic – Flu is no Fun Day is slated from 4 to 7 p.m. Oct. 24 in the basement of City Hall, 355 Main St.

The shots at all clinics are free, or require a co-payment fee, for residents with Medicare Part B, Anthem Blue Cross, HealthNet, Oxford and ConnectiCare health care plans.

The cost is $33 for anyone else. Residents must show proof of insurance or pay by cash or check.

Said Triffin: “We look forward to this greatly expanded program this year and to protecting the people of West Haven from influenza through these efforts. We will also keep some vaccines available if none of these dates are good for you and make arrangements about that if need be after these dates.”

For more details, call the Health Department at 937-3660.

Columbus Day Parade

2006-10-02T07:20:00.000-04:00

The following is from the City Notes email of 9/29/06:

City Notes 9-29-06
FYI

West Haven announces Italian-American of the Year, parade grand marshal

The city has announced the recipient of its Italian-American of the Year honor and the grand marshal of its first Columbus Day parade.

Sabino Anthony Panza, 90, a founder of the Panza Construction & Woodworking Co. on Forest Road, will receive a plaque in recognition of his years of service to the city’s Italian-American community as part of the eighth annual Columbus Day celebration at 11:30 a.m. Oct. 6 on the front steps of City Hall, 355 Main St.

On Oct. 8, Bruno DelSanto, 62, owner of Bruno’s Hairstyling Salon on Campbell Avenue, will lead at least 90 marching units and 24 bands as part of the Columbus Day Committee of Greater New Haven’s annual parade. The two-hour procession will step off at 1:30 p.m. along Campbell Avenue.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

W. Haven club to host post-parade reception

The West Haven Italian-American Civic Association will hold a reception at its Chase Lane club after the city’s Columbus Day parade.

The 2.5-hour parade is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Oct. 8 along Campbell Avenue. The $5 donation includes hamburgers, hot dogs, coffee and soda.

For tickets, visit the I-A Club, 85 Chase Lane, or call Frank Consorte at 676-6379.

One does wonder where we are getting the money for this events; I do know that private business owners and the public at large were solicited. However, it seems rather hypocritical to drasticly cut the Savin Rock Festival because of monetary problems, and then agree to host a multi-town event.

Our Readers: Apple Festival and the Italian Festival were nice events

2006-10-02T07:13:00.000-04:00

Our readers made the following recent observations:
At 10/01/2006 3:21 PM, Strutrue said...: Not sure how to leave just a general comment unrelated to any news story that's been posted but:
On a lighter brighter note I think the Apple Festival and the Italian Festival were very nicely done.
At 10/01/2006 11:26 PM, Westie said...: I agree, they were very nice events. Just a point of interest though, neither of the events were "city" events and organized by private citizens working together. The Apple Festival was a Church event organized by the Congregational Church on the Green, and the Italian Festival was organized by a committee chaired by none other than our former first lady Dorinda Borer. No political leanings here but really a nice job by all involved. You gotta call them as you see them.

I didn't attend the Apple Festival, but I agree that the Italian Festival was a nice event. However, there was little or no publicity for either event, and very little support by city hall, including no mention in the "City Notes", which goes out to their mailing list (you can sign up at: http://cityofwesthaven.com/registerforannouncements.asp - I believe only your email address and maybe your name is required).

Ironically, according to the City Notes of 9/29 , apparently the City of West Haven is going to hold a Homecoming event:

West Haven plans first Homecoming Festival

The city will hold its first Homecoming Festival from 5 to 9 p.m. Oct. 17 on the Green.

The festival, featuring West Haven High School clubs, activities, athletics and organizations, will include performances by the high school’s band, cheerleaders, choir and theater group.

The public event, which will also include food, beverages, contests and games, will serve as a pep rally for West Haven’s Oct. 20 football game vs. Xavier-Middletown at 7 p.m. at Ken Strong Stadium. The festival’s rain date is Oct. 18.

Anyone who wants to volunteer for the homecoming can call festival Chairman Frank Biancur Jr. at 937-3594.

Posting general comments on the blog

2006-10-01T15:51:00.000-04:00

Recently, a reader asked how they could make a general comment on the blog - i.e. one that doesn't necessarily come under any other topic.

To do this, I request that you email me at westhaventaxes@yahoo.com - you can create a yahoo.com or hotmail.com account for this purpose, if you don't want to reveal your identity, although I will publish your email address so that others can reach you.

ALTERNATIVELY! You can make a comment on ANY post, and start it with PLEASE POST AS NEW POST and I'll consider posting it under a new topic.

I will not promise to publish every comment, but if it is relevent and constructive, I'll likely do so. There have been very few comments that I haven't published; the only ones that I haven't clearly sought to do nothing more than spread negativity. Please remember -- while I can edit my own posts, I cannot edit comments other than to approve, reject, or delete them.

I also urge people who don't have information that they wish to have published on the blog under their moniker, or who wish to discuss items like the purpose of this blog to email me directly - that's why I have a public email address. If you would like something to be confidential and not posted on the blog, I will happily respect that - just make certain to let me know when you email.

Bomb Scare at Carrigan Middle School yesterday

2006-09-29T07:14:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, there was yet another bomb scare, this time at Carrigan Middle School. According to the WTNH piece entitled "More school threats, one arrested":

For the third time in four days West Haven students were evacuated. This time, at Carrington Middle school, a threatening note was found in the main office.

State police Master Sgt. J. Paul Vance has a good point when he says "These things maybe in the past were thought of as hoaxes, as jokes, as funny behavior punishable by a slap on the wrist, that is not the case anymore." Kids still think this is a joke; but with the likes of 9/11 and Columbine, no one is laughing.

Vance goes on to say:

"You can be charged with terrorism, depending on the circumstances. They're punishable by incarceration in jail, monetary fines. It certainly requires many appearances in court, legal representation."

I feel especially bad for the parents of these kids - expulsion from school, legal fees, and notority all face them. I'd urge anyone with kids to sit down and explain exactly how serious this is immediately... this has got to stop.

No Child Left Behind and West Haven

2006-09-29T06:56:00.000-04:00

There have been a number of articles on 'No child left behind' (NCLB) recently in the news. In today's New Haven Register article "'No Child' results improve in state", it is mentioned that 40 of the states 179 high schools failed to meet the standards set forth in NCLB, and that 38 of them did so for the second year in a row. West Haven High School is one of them, and has now been labeled as "in need of improvement".

To meet the standards:

69 % must be proficient in math
72 % must be proficient in reading
70 % of the 2002 freshman were required to graduate
95 % of sophomores had to participate in the CAPT test

According to the article "That designation gives parents the right to seek special tutoring for their children or request transfers to better-performing schools."

I believe I've mentioned before that I have a problem with an unfunded mandate... and given the fiscal crisis here in West Haven, that's even more of a problem.

Yesterday's New Haven Register article "State says 'No Child' suit still on" discussed Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal's attempt to challenge NCLB. Connecticut, the first state in the US to challenge the law, claims " the law was unconstitutional, an unfunded federal mandate costing more than the state received in federal reimbursement."

While the judge in the case dismissed 3 of 4 claims in the case citing that "State officials can’t challenge the constitutionality of the law until they have exhausted the U.S. Department of Education’s administrative appeals", he didn't shut down the lawsuit entirely.

However this part of the article is worrisome, to me:

"In effect the court has said we must disobey and violate the statute in order to challenge the interpretation of the secretary," Blumenthal said.

To me, this sounds like the children will be the losers in this battle... and as West Haven High School has failed twice, that we're going to be one of the examples...

Students to pay stiff price for bomb threat

2006-09-28T09:24:00.000-04:00

Today's New Haven Register article "5 Students arrested in West Haven bomb threa t" indicate that the West Haven Police Department and the Board of Education are going to send a clear message to students in West Haven: "Bomb threats and other threats of violence will not be tolerated".

5 male freshmen students were arrested yesterday for the Tuesday "copy cat" bomb threat that was phoned in:

One of the teenagers, who police identified as the caller, was charged with threatening, falsely reporting an incident and conspiracy to commit threatening, all in the first degree.

The other four teenagers were each charged with first-degree conspiracy to commit threatening. All were referred to juvenile court authorities.

Each of the charges are Class D felonies that carry a prison term of one to five years and up to a $5,000 fine.

Police also are drafting arrest warrants for nine students and one former student, ranging from age 16 to 18, for allegedly conspiring to affix a bomb threat on one of the school’s outside doors [on Monday]. Addressed to Stancil, it consisted of a schematic drawing of the school’s ground level that had been ripped from the parent-teacher handbook and indicated where the bombs allegedly would go off via handwritten X’s in certain school areas.

Ron Stancil, principal of the West Haven High School, is in the process of drawing up paperwork to most likely expel the 14 students. Assistant Superintendent of Schools Neil C. Cavallaro indicated that the school district would likely act quickly to expel the students, but would take into consideration their records, and whether or not some students are "more guilty than others" (what does THAT mean?). Hopefully they are taking into mind that students are innocent until proven guilty.

I've gone back and forth in my mind about how I feel about this - previous reports have indicated that some (if not most) of these students were not trouble makers, and were relatively good students. Unfortunately, though, in this day and age, threats of violence cannot be ignored. When maps of the school with bomb locations are distributed, and then others copy the actions of the first bomb scare threateners, action must be swift and clear, even if the intention was only for a prank. Whether the end result will be a scare tactic, or if these students will actually be expelled, it certainly has people talking to their children about the senselessness of bomb scares.

Attempted Abduction in Milford of 11 year old

2006-09-28T09:10:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, there was an attempt at luring an 11 year old boy to a late model red 4-door SUV by a woman who asked him to help her find her dog. Hopefully our schools will notify our parents of this matter...

(source: New Haven Register: Kidnap try worries Milford parents).

Chuck Marino on Haverstraw and West River Crossing

2006-09-27T08:13:00.000-04:00

Chuck Marino of the West Haven Voice has an interesting piece entitled "I traveled to Haverstraw" dated September 24, 2006 on the site. In it, he talks about his frustration with the City Council and Economic Development Commission for not entertaining the idea of an upscale community built in the West River Crossing area. He says (in part):

In our limited Blue State Mentality we think of housing in terms of AFFORDABLE HOUSING. I want us to think in terms of UNAFFORDABLE HOUSING.
Housing that is so expensive that no one living in West Haven could even think about buying it. I want housing that is so plush and so fancy and flashy that only 3 or 4 percent of the population on the East Coast could qualify to purchase it. I want that housing here in our city over looking New Haven Harbor and the vast Expanse of Long Island Sound and selling for $1 million or more per unit.

I want these people moving into my city and paying taxes in my city so that I can continue to live in my city too. I want these very affluent people who are at this moment moving into million-dollar town houses in Haverstraw, NY to be moving into million-dollar town houses in West Haven and spending their tax dollars here.

I expect that this sort of idea would scare many in West Haven, and we'd hear more cries about the 'haves" and "have nots"... but Chuck has a pretty good point.

I think there is more to this, though, than just upscale housing. Housing isn't enough, if there isn't an upscale infrastructure in place - upscale shopping, and upscale entertainment. The greater New Haven area doesn't even have a collesium or civic center any more. It seems to me for a plan like this to succeed, we'd need the proposed Arts Center to flourish, for higher end entertainment to come back. We need the train station to be more than a glimmer in our eyes, so that New Yorkers can easily take the commute by train. We need a downtown that attracts people, a beach front that doesn't contain hyperdermic needles and used condoms. You need an educational system that doesn't have low scores in standardized testing. In all, we need an overall makeover.

New Reader "2nd District Woes" talked about this in his (or her) comment under the "Acorn Project and more lawsuits" post:

There is a misconception by some that business will solve our tax problems. We need an entire community upgrade to change our situation. In order for any business, either retail or light industrial to survive it needs people. We have to attract the people who can spend money in West Haven. If the housing proposed for the Acorn project is upscale and the supporting retail is the same, we will be on the right track. We don't need another short term business that will close its doors in 10 years and leave us with another empty building. One only needs to look at Morgan Lane to see the blight of closed businesses. All of the houses built in West Haven do produce a continual tax base. You cannot say the same for business.

It is unfortunate the present administration in their haste to solve our money issues has over exposed West Haven in a negative manner. This is an anti business and anti development tactic. Some day we will get an administration that can both run a city and have VISION. We had an administration with vision and questionable business practice. Now we have an administration with questionable vision and an unproven business practice.

While I agree that business isn't the only solution, it's part of it. To attract upscale buyers, you need an upscale infrastructure.

Bomb Threats not only a Felony, but cost the city money...

2006-09-27T07:19:00.000-04:00

With the police well into their investigation of the individuals who pulled the bomb threats at West Haven High School on Monday and Tuesday, I started thinking about the costs.

Not only are 2+ days of education interrupted for the students, but there are 13 (or more!) students who potentially are going to be charged with a felony. According to Principal Ron Stancil, some of these students aren't the typical trouble makers.... this has the potential to affect their entire lives.

For each bomb threat, the police and (I believe) the fire departments were deployed. When such false claims are made, there's a cost, not only in terms of reduced availabilty for other emergencies, but often in terms of others who are called in to backfill the positions of those who are called out to deal with the emergency.

I'm sorry that these kids will face some pretty steap consequences, but they *must* serve as an example in this case.

Lower Bond Rating = Self Fulfilling prophacy?

2006-09-26T22:11:00.000-04:00

The West Haven Voice had an interesting Editorial by Bill Riccio (dated 9/20 on the web site), in which Bill mused about a post made the prior week, where someone had wondered if the bond rating was a self-fulfilling prophacy. He (correctly, in my opinion) went on to state:

Mayor John Picard had expected the downgrade, based on the three reports listed above. He believed it was inevitable. Bond houses that have been duped into believing a municipality has a fund balance don’t suffer fools well when they find out differently. To insinuate the reports and the expectation coalesced into a given result is to ignore the facts.

While the Voice's reader had construed that perhaps because Mayor Picard was publicizing the issues that Moody’s and Standard and Poors lowered the bond rating, let's face it -- you can only rob Peter to pay Paul for so long - eventually, Peter starts shouting. The bond issues would have shown up eventually.

Dialogue is good, but let's make certain it's factual.

2006-09-26T20:38:00.000-04:00

Hey folks -

I'm GLAD we're all up here talking about our town. I'm delighted that many people want to participate, and give their opinions. Opinions are good - but let's keep stay respectful, stay focused on (non-partisan) solutions and reporting about actual events and articles.

Unless you have a source to quote, I really have to ask you to be careful of what you say. There have been several comments that I've rejected outright (and some that perhaps I should have to begin with), because they contain statements about individuals and illegal activity that I have not heard any solid proof of, and that seem particularly mean-spirited.... and without proof, they possibly could be considered libel. If those of you who have alleged illegal activity actually have proof, I would urge you to bring that information to the West Haven Police Department... they're the ones that should handle that sort of statement, not this blog.

I never intended this blog to be a rumor mill, or a place where we cut down other people, whether or not they are in the public eye. Let's keep things civil, please.

Reader "My Forte" responds to Amber...

2006-09-26T13:57:00.000-04:00

While I don't make all comments on the blog into new blog entries, I thought that the following quoted comment was a particularly well-written post by reader "My Forte".

I have been merely a reader of this blog nearly since its inception, but now I find myself compelled to add my comments. I have noticed over the past number of years the continued dichotomy of the citizens of this city and that has increased dramatically over the past year. I will note just the first of my potentially many submitted observations:

Amber, a new poster, begins her diatribe with “This is to all West Haven Borer supporters who do not know what goes on in this town.” This pretentious sentiment has been echoed many times by the current administration’s sycophants recently and further alienates the intelligent populace than can well distinguish between what is partisan rhetoric and fact.

She further states “How dear someone tonight at the meeting saying he (Mr. Wrightington) should be behind bars!” and “Freedom of speech is really not free sense certain people don't let it made free!” (I have not corrected the grammar, as it may be a highly indicative attribute of the author). I believe many have heard Mr. Wrightington, as well as some of his confidantes, profess that the former mayor should befall the same fate. It appears the author’s view of our 1st Amendment shall only apply to those, which she is in agreement with.

It has become abundantly clear to many that the animosity between certain factions of the city have curtailed the possibility of any immediate, or long term, unified progress for this municipality. Further draw the battles lines, profess blame and enmity, for lack of any strategic plan for the betterment of the community, and you may leave us all gasping for air.

I share some of the very same concerns. We shouldn't be worrying about pointing fingers right now - we should be looking into tax solutions.

While I do quote various reader's comments when I try to bring up new opinions and facts, I really don't want this blog to end up becoming nothing more than a slugfest. While I can choose wholesale to publish or not publish a reader's comment on a posting, I can't edit them. Let's try to work together to find solutions and uncover facts - not simply draw battle lines - or else I may have to decide not to publish a particular comment.

Acorn Project and more lawsuits

2006-09-26T11:52:00.000-04:00

On 9/21/06, the New Haven Register article entitled "Zoning Change brings lawsuit" discusses Acorn Technology Campus LLC’s bringing of a lawsuit against the Planning and Zoning Commission. Acorn was originally going to build a biotechnology campus; and had changed their plans into building a "Planned Villiage Development" (whatever that is).

According to the article, Acorn claims the PZC:

... underhandedly removed a zoning amendment from its recently approved regulations that would have enabled the development.

My thoughts are that we don't need any more residential housing in West Haven!!! We need businesses!

Parents request reinstatement of middle school sports

2006-09-26T11:46:00.000-04:00

In the 9/22/06 New Haven Register article entitled "Residents go to bat for sports in school", parents of the 13 percent of middle school students (222 out of 1691) who participate in Bailey and Carrigan school sports, ask for a solution other than the elimination of sports for their kids. Solutions pitched include splitting the roughly $65,000 cost between the city and the school. That's roughly $300/student athlete - which seems high....

Response to Comments from Our New Reader, Amber

2006-09-26T09:03:00.000-04:00

Well, it's interesting that most of the new posters have taken the position that (a) this blog is anti-Picard (it isn't), and (b) that I must be a Borer supporter. Here's a new poster named Amber, who was convinced that I wouldn't let (her?) comments come through:

This is to all West Haven Borer supporters who do not know what goes on in this town... This Tax payer site is made by the people on the borer ticket who didn't win...and Mr.wrightington the person someone previously commenting on looking dirty and just waking up..is a man who stands up for this town and his rights..because for 14 yrs you let someone you thought you could trust steal your money and lie to your face and now were paying for it becuase we are in a rut. You just let people brainwash you thinking Picard has to do with all this its all his fault, but in the end Mr.Wrightington is right and when checkers came in he prooved you all wrong who doubted Mr.Wrightington..Mr.Wrightington comes to those meetings dressed in his uniform because he is just as a hard worker as the next. How dear someone tonight at the meeting saying he should be behind bars! For what! While he passes out certain rude people who have not grown up make faces and and smile. How old are you? I know this blog won't be posted becuase I wrote good things about Mr.Wrightington and Picard...I least I know one person read it which is the person in charge of this site. Freedom of speech is really not free sense certain people don't let it made free!

First off, I think it's important to note that I do not personnally write all comments on this blog. Other people from the outside world come in and express their opinions, and often I'll discuss them through followups.

Secondly, I'm not a politician, and I'm not 'a person on the Borer ticket'. I've said it before, and I'll say it again:

I'm not a Borer sympathizer, or a Picard basher, or a Republican stalwart; I'm a truth seeker, and a believer that politicians are there to serve us, the taxpayers.

While I don't always agree with Mr. Wrightington's statements, and wish that he'd act from a position of progress and not emotional finger pointing (as he sometimes does), I do admire him. He's the everyday man who actually takes the time to try to understand his surroundings... to make certain that the people we've appointed are actually working for him. I worry that sometimes his statements are based on emotion instead of pure fact, though. Given the problem with the format of the town council meetings in that anyone can stand up and say anything, and if they are convincing enough, people will believe them, but have no way of knowing if the statement is fact or emotion, I think that fact checking is important.

I did not attend last evenings meeting, unfortunately, so I'm not certain about the series of event being discussed regarding Mr. Wrightington. My thoughts go out to him if he has collapsed at the meeting - I certainly wish him well.

DOT Work on Sawmill Road exit almost done

2006-09-26T08:55:00.000-04:00

The New Haven Register today reports that the DOT work on the Sawmill Road exit is almost done (despite a recent incident where they ruptured a gas line) in an article entitled "DOT close to end of Sawmill work"... Thank you, O&G Industries!

City Council Meeting Tonight

2006-09-25T17:00:00.000-04:00

According to the City Calendar, there is a City Council Meeting tonight at 7:00 pm, 3rd floor, City Hall.

Response to new reader "Slappy": This blog is not Anti-Picard.

2006-09-25T14:12:00.000-04:00

With publicity comes new readers and new opinions -- both of which are very welcome!

A new reader who goes by the name of "Slappy" posted the concern that Lower West Haven Taxes is 'Anti-Picard':

Wow! You should rename this blog Citizens Against Mayor Picard. Lets see....I become Mayor, which is a 2 year commitment. Then I quit my old job, drop state licenses' pertaining to my old job. Then decide not to run again in two years. Perfect.....no job to go back to.

That was the problem with the previous administration.....the Mayor was making it a career. Being a Mayor is NOT a career! I don't care if Picard is being realistic about politics.

Why don't you write about the old homeland security director. He held this job and was a full time firefighter in the Center district and sold Medical Equipment, defibulators, to the city.

I can understand your point of view, given the slant of the recent article, and given that some readers here definitely ARE anti-Picard. This blog, however, is more about separating the facts from the fiction in West Haven. Too much is said in West Haven that is more a gut reaction, or what a friend of a friend told me. I'm trying to take all of the sources (at face value), and figure out what the truth is.

Myself? I have no problem with the Mayor maintaining his licenses; I feel he has every right! I also am not anti-Mayor Picard. I AM, however, entirely against 50% increases in taxes.

Additionally, I worry that Mayor Picard is not being consistent. He said that he'd make this a full time job -- but he didn't disclose that he kept his business alive on the backburner. He says that it only takes an hour of his time a month -- but if he's signing contracts, I sure hope he takes time to read and understand what he is signing. Maybe that can be done in an hour's time -- somehow, though, I think it might take a little longer than that.

In regards to being Mayor not being a career - I agree. It's not a career - it's a commitment (and btw, I think 2 years is too short -- it takes a year to get comfortable with the job, from what I have seen and have been told). It's a commitment to devoting your entire energies into the best interests of the citizens you serve. Well, ok - I don't know any mayor who has done that --but that's what it is supposed to be about. I'm not saying you can't have a life, or you can't make mistakes- but I think you have to own up when you fall short.

I'm not a Borer sympathizer, or a Picard basher, or a Republican stalwart; I'm a truth seeker, and a believer that politicians are there to serve us, the taxpayers.

State Recommends Creating Review Board

2006-09-25T12:30:00.001-04:00

According to the West Haven Voice article entitled "OPM officials sugfest[sic] board", The State's Office of Policy and Management has made a series of recommendations to Mayor Picard in a September 12th letter from OPM secretary Robert L. Genuario.

These suggestions include creating an 8 member review board O to oversee city finances. These members would all appointed by the governor and:

Four are members of other municipalities, while three would have municipal finance backgrounds, and one from OPM.

Apparently Mayor Picard is looking at this as a last resort. However, the state has indicated that they would lend money to the city at a low interest rate to cover the deficit if we allow the creation of the board. I think Mayor Picard should consider the fact that he is bleeding this city dry right now - taxpayers of West Haven need SOME form of relief!

It's intriguing that the Mayor appears to be backtracking on his predictions of doom and gloom, and is quoted as saying:

“Until the audit is complete, we don’t know where we actually stand,” Picard said. “We’re hoping we can continue our efforts to cut expenses and locate funds so the deficit won’t be as bad as we first thought.”

Also of interest:

The OPM official notes that which ever firm gets the [auditing] contract the city should make sure “the auditor meets the obligation to fully audit and analyze the internal controls and financial management practices of the city” and offer corrective action. Secondly, officials should tailor expanded audit services to clearly identify “issues and weaknesses that the city needs to correct in order to get its financial house in order.”

City Debt Rating downgraded

2006-09-25T12:14:00.000-04:00

My recent lack of time to devote to this blog shows... there's a number of older articles that I need to catch up on.

On September 16th, WTNH reported that Standard & Poor's downgraded West Haven debt rating from A to Triple B in an article entitled West Haven debt rating downgraded ; Mayor Picard, however, says that was a mistake, and our rating only dropped one level. In either case, this means it will likely cost us more to borrow money. Great.

According to the article:

Picard says West Haven has until October to show Standard and Poor's its plan to address the deficit, which both parties agreed may include a supplemental assessment, deficit borrowing, additional state aid and a tax increase.

I hope Mayor Picard is formulating a plan - and that we all get to hear about it soon. Shouldn't WE as taxpayers get to vote on it? It's our money, not Mayor Picard's!

(note added 9/26: more information can be also found in the New Haven Register article entitled "Fiscal woes deepen in West Haven".)

Timothy Wrightington on the Checks and Balances that Failed West Haven Taxpayers

2006-09-25T11:18:00.000-04:00

Timothy Wrightington, long known for political activism in West Haven, has written an editorial letter in the West Haven Voice entitled "Checks and balances all failed taxpayers". Despite the adversarial tone of the piece (which lays blame with many sources- and those who read this blog know that I'm about solutions, not finger pointing), and the fact that he seems to implicate people without given examples and by making assumptions, there are some good questions that the piece raises. Some of these, I'd like to highlight, as I think they deserve special notice.

If the bond counsel (noted in the article as bond council, but I believe he means their legal counsel) is compensated on a percentage of the bonds issued, there is a conflict of financial interest for the counselor to not recommend going forward with a bond. However, Mr. Wrightington fails to note that attorneys take an oath of office to uphold the law - there still is incentive (aka licensing) to act ethically. Although the role of the bond counsel isn't one that I'm very familiar with, I suspect that their role is more in oking the initial paperwork that is set forth, and issuing opinions on issues that the city specifically asks them about.

He mentions that he feels a part of the blame for the tax situation lies with the city's auditors, Levitsky & Berney - I feel very strongly about this. We hired auditors to audit our books - it's inconcievable to me that they wouldn't have found problems with our books, given the sad state of our previous accounting practices. My (non-legal) opinion is that we hired them to do a job - and they didn't do it.

Finally, he points out that the most important Check and Balance that failed was the West Haven Taxpayer -- and he has a point. City Council meetings (while intensely boring) are open to the public. Apparently, the 75 or so people that have been showing up lately is a record... that's ridiculous in a town that is 54,000+.

Lower West Haven Taxes in the News...

2006-09-25T10:30:00.000-04:00

Our last conversations regarding Mayor Picard and American Express have made the news. The New Haven Register article entitled "Blog blashs Picard for keeping advisor job" discusses the comments under the post, Westbrook Petitioners to Request 5 year phase in of Revaluation.

In the commentary, Struture and Colonial Park Taxpayer explained their concerns with Mayor Picard's continued association with American Express:

At 9/09/2006 9:48 PM, Strutrue said... I agree it's okay to have another job or an association as I did say that in my comments. But I do recall mayor Picard saying we need a full time hands on mayor. I took that to mean dedicated to one job. (...)

At 9/11/2006 11:57 AM, Colonial Park Taxpayer said...
If in fact Mayor Picard is working another job during his term as amyor it should be an issue is seriously investigated. The residents of West haven elected him into office with the understaning that he would be "full-time" and dedicated to his "job' as mayor.....

Personally, I didn't have as strong a feeling as these two did regarding Mayor Picard and American Express. The New Haven Register article explains Mayor Picard's side of things, which is as I expected -- that he has kept his broker's license, but has turned his accounts over to others to maintain while he is mayor.

However, he does admit that he spends up to one hour a month on the financial business, including signing any contracts that need his direct attention. Now this is something that does catch my attention. If you are signing contracts, then you must be spending time reading them, and understanding what went into them... if you aren't, you're a bigger fool than keeping a potential conflict of interest.

Additionally, the article mentions that he didn't disclose the information on the city ethic's disclosure form... why not? It seems to me that it would be better to mention ANY potential conflict of interest, whether or not affiliated entity does business with the city. Certainly, if he has nothing to hide, and this isn't a conflict of interest, why not disclose it???

Westbrook Petitioners to Request 5 year phase in of Revaluation

2006-09-09T08:58:00.000-04:00

In today's New Haven Register is the article "Petitioners want revalutation to be gradual in Westbrook". Similar to West Haven, houses closest to the shoreline took a significant jump in value, compared to those inland.

Unlike West Haven, however, their Board of Selectmen (which, more or less, corresponds to our City Council) are willing to listen, and want to help:

"We’re going to work on this," First Selectman John Raffa told Dyer, adding of a phase-in, "I’m in favor of it."

Granted, perhaps Westbrook doesn't suffer from the same fiscal woes of West Haven - but the huge jump in taxes in our town hurts just as much.

West Nile Virus mosquito termination - another approach

2006-09-08T22:35:00.000-04:00

WestportNOW.com has an interesting post on the Westport/Weston approach to mosquito eradication. Basically, they are giving out up to 4 larvicide "briquettes" for dropping into stagnant water pools on resident's property. These briquettes contain Bti, which is a bacterial larvicide which give up to 30 days of protection... sounds like an interesting approach.

The article also offers the following practical advice:

The district offered these suggestions on preventing West Nile virus:

Limit outdoor activities from dusk to dawn.
Wear clothing that minimizes bare skin.
Use mosquito repellents on clothing.
Follow the directions on labels for insecticides or repellents.
Cover arms and legs of children playing near standing water.
Cover playpens or carriages with mosquito netting.
After any significant rainfall, remember to remove any standing water from your property.
Remove objects that can hold standing water.
Fill in holes, ditches, or tree trunks with sand or cement.
Clean house gutters on a regular basis.
Empty wadding pools and bird baths every four to seven days.
Chlorinate swimming pools regularly.
Eliminate collected water on boat and pool covers.
Avoid over-watering of lawns.
Fix holes in screens and attach properly to windows.

2007 Connecticut Firefighter's Convention... in West Haven?

2006-09-08T22:28:00.000-04:00

An article about the 2006 Firefighters Convention in yesterday's Valley Gazette makes mention that next year's convention will be held in West Haven... I wonder who PAYS for that? This year's hosts are Ansonia, Derby AND Shelton... I guess because we have 3 separate departments, they won't need to team up with anyone... sigh. I guess I should look forward to the parade...

Words from our Readers regarding the Cronyism post...

2006-09-08T22:15:00.000-04:00

We had some interesting notes from our reader, Structure, regarding the recent post entitled "Politics, Cronyism, and Conflicts of Interest...":

This has to be one of the more ludicrous stories. A woman claims the Finance Director grabs her and she tells her union, the mayor and the Acting Personnel Director. Nothing is done. A week later she reports it to the police because supposedly she wants it documented, then the mayor reacts and says we'll investigate and puts three people in charge. None of which are the independent Personnel Director. This is very odd. But not so odd if you consider what's going on behind the scenes.

Let's start with the Acting Personnel Director. His name is Rob Sandella, he has 0 personnel experience. this is against city charter our city law which says you must have at least 5 years personnel experience. When mayor picard was first elected he terminated the employment of Marilyn FLores, she was a female, latino, labor lawyer with 10 years personnel experience and had a lot of respect from the people in city hall. He removed her and replaced her with Rob Sandella, a Democratic Town Committee member with 0 experience which is against city law. They call him Acting in order to circumvent the charter. But after 9 months in office they have never recruited for a new director. the Acting Personnel Director makes almost $59,000 per year. $59,000 for a no work job. Now that's patronage, croynism job if I've ever heard of one. so I think that's why a lot of this stuff is getting botched at city hall they don't have professional leaders, so now the mayor puts in Carol silverstien to investigate her own boss???? And then they also bring in Margaritee Showers the Homeland Security Director to investigate a personnel issue? Which while Im' on the subject of patronage, let me explain the Homeland Security story.

Also in his first week of office, Mayor Picard removed our Homeland Secruity Director Richard Fontana. Richard, I understand has a bachelors in firefighting, a masters in public health and has been teaching emergency preparedness for years. They remove him and put in ANOTHER democratic town committee member who has no fire, no police and no public health experience, all aspects of Homeland Security. hhhmmmmm I'm on a roll with this story because it is just so ridiculous that mayor Picard said in public he wuold hire the best and the brightest which sounds great in public, but is diong just the opposite.

Again, I'm a bit subjective, but all of this is available for confirmation through documetns. Our wonderful Freedom of Informatoin law gives you the opportunity to request any document that is public information. The resumes, the charter, the police complaint. All public documents.

Spraying underway for W. Nile on West River

2006-09-08T09:31:00.000-04:00

According to a New Haven Register article, barrier spraying of Talstar began on Thursday after 3 recent cases were reported in the area, including a death of an elderly New Haven woman.

Roger Wolfe, mosquito management coordinator in the state Department of Environmental Protection, said the goal was to kill adult mosquitoes and create a barrier to prevent the insects from traveling beyond breeding pools and wetlands along the West River.

Mosquito Spraying for the West Nile Virus Delayed...

2006-09-05T13:23:00.000-04:00

The AP reported today at noontime that West Haven and New Haven have decided to delay the spraying of mosquitos for the West Nile Virus due to predicted rain...

Images of Beach erosion

2006-09-05T10:20:00.000-04:00

Beach Erosion Damage from the remainder of
Tropical Storm Ernesto
Photographed on 9/2/06

Politics, Crony-ism, and Conflicts of Interest....

2006-09-05T05:51:00.000-04:00

There are many disappointing potential conclusions that seem to be indicated by today's New Haven Register article entitled "W. Haven staffer cites conflict in probe". This article discusses the "investigation" that the city is launching into Yvette Cintron's complaint of an alleged assault by Finance Director Nalini Srinivas.

The New Haven Register article explains that an August 28 memo to city employees indicates that he planned to appoint a team of three people to investigate the allegation:

Carol Silverstein (City Risk Manager)
James T Burns Jr. (Chief of Staff)
Maguerite B. Showers (Homeland Security coordinator)

However, there are several potential points of conflicting interest in this team, particularly involving Carol Silverstein, who (rightly!) declined the post (Mayor Picard has incicated that the investigation will go on without a replacement for her). Carol Silverstein's husband is Richard Silverstein, the attorney who is representing Srinivas in the lawsuit brought forward by Cintron.

In a bizarre twist that Silverstein denies has any role in her decision to not participate:

... city records show her union steward, Thomas Reilly, filed a letter with the Personnel Department on May 2, stating Silverstein, who is based in the Pinance Department, was experiencing problems with Srinivas, allegedly belittling her work ethic.

"Carol has been having a hard and upsetting time with her supervisor," the letter states, noting that Srinivas allegedly criticized Silverstein’s dedication to her work.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't Thomas Reilly the father in law of Mayor Picard??? That seems like a HUGE conflict of interest! How do you 'negotiate' union contracts if you are on the same side of the fence?

Cintron seems to indicate that she is happy that an investigation is taking place, but I don't understand why there isn't an indication that there is a police investigation in place:

No criminal charges have been filed against Srinivas, who has remained publicly silent since the issue surfaced last month.

This is all just plain weird, and raises a TON of questions:

Why would Richard Silverstein represent someone who his wife has a complain lodged against?
Why would union members allow there to be a union steward who has direct ties to the people they are negotiating with to be the union steward?
Why would Thomas Reilly WANT to be put into the tough position of defending workers against his son in law?
Why would Mayor Picard appoint someone who has a clear conflict of interest with the investigation?

Cool Tool: Zillow.com

2006-09-04T16:44:00.000-04:00

Colonial Park Taxpayer brought a cool tool to my attention through a link on the West Shore Follies blog called 'Zillow.com'. Plug in a street name or a neighborhood name, and it will show the values of all the neighboring houses... very useful. Click on a particularly home's icon, and you can get a list of comparable homes that have recently sold.

It clearly demonstrates, for instance, that simply by crossing Ocean Avenue, comparable homes are devalued by as much as $100,000 - just by crossing a road, even when there are numerous homes between the house on the Long Island Sound side of Ocean Avenue and the home that is $100,000 more in value.

More than $42K grant from Homeland Security to go to Allingtown Fire Department

2006-09-04T16:19:00.000-04:00

According to Christopher Dodd's web site in a posting dated August 18, 2006, Dodd and Lieberman annouce that the Allingtown Fire Department will receive a grant of $42,123 for new equipment and safety and training programs. The grant is awarded from the Department of Homeland Security as part of the Assistance for Fire Fighters Grant Program, administered by the U.S. Fire Administration.

For some reason, this hasn't made any headway in the news; but it is on Dodd's website as part of a release dated August 18, 2006. One wonders if attaching Joe Lieberman's name to it has caused a backlash due to currently politically rallying of the Democrats against Lieberman.

Allingtown has benefited through the past years:

In 2005, Dodd and Lieberman secured more than $500,000 for Connecticut Firefighters, including:

West Haven Fire Department: $168.102
Allingtown Volunteer Fire Association (West Haven): $76,788

In 2004, Rosa DeLauro announced a grant of $450,000 for the Allingtown Fire Department.

West Haven signs deal to purchase Masonic Temple to create an art's center

2006-09-04T08:13:00.000-04:00

An article in today's New Haven Register states " W. Haven, Masons sign deal for building".

The City of West Haven and the Masonic Annawon Lodge 115 signed a contract to create West Haven's first cultural arts center. The ammended deal includes verbiage that places absestos abatement responsiblities to the Masons, who are looking to build a new building, which is more friendly to older members of their group.

The purchase price is $650,000, of which $550,000 is covered by a state grant. The remaining $100,000 will be paid by the city. Originally, the deal would have been $550,000, and the city was going to give part of the parking lot for land for a new lodge, but the city would have been responsible for abestos abatement. In the current $650,000 deal, the Masons will locate their own new home, and will be responsible for removing abestos.

I take issue with the following statements from Mayor Picard:

Picard said the city can pay the extra $100,000 because it saved $250,000 this year by requiring taxpayers paying their tax bills via credit cards to absorb the processing fees.

The mayor said the city will actually save money on the deal because the Masons were required to obtain a renegotiated asbestos contract. Further, the city would save $2.5 million should it move on plans now on hiatus to rehabilitate City Hall and use the lodge as a temporary City Hall in the meantime.

If we saved $250,000 this year by placing credit card fees on the taxpayers, how come that wasn't already figured into the budget, and reduce our tax burden by $250,000?

How are we going to save $2.5 million dollars if we are going to rehabilitate City Hall? We're going to end up spending a lot of money.

Additionally, the building is going to take $1.5 million to renovate:

As for how the city will find $1.5 million, numerous art groups such as the West Haven Cultural Arts Association and West Haven Arts Council that operate shows out of various locations have vowed to raise funds to make it a reality.

While I truly welcome the idea of arts in the city, and more reasons to come downtown, my one concern with this statement is that NEITHER of these groups have held a visible presence in our city. Art shows, sales, etc. have all been next to non-existant.

In my opinion, our city should take some lessons from Milford, which has a large art presence, and holds high quality juried arts and crafts shows on their green repeatedly throughout the summer... I'd love to see more of that downtown. Milford also is in the process of creating an arts center at Stowe Arts Colony ,and recently received a $50,000 grant to aide in that effort, after purchasing the $825,000 property in 2002.

I'd love to see a more visible arts community in West Haven... I'd love to see fine arts and photography studio rental and educational communities, like the New Haven Artspace. I'd love to see gallery space and art on display. And I'd like to see the community involved.

I'd like to see Paul Scanlan's vision of a downtime revitalized by people coming to art-related events, and staying to eat at local cafes.

... let's see if it can happen.

sphere: Who Is Killing Long Island Sound?

2006-09-03T21:41:00.000-04:00

In the article entitled "Who Is Killing Long Island Sound?" another blogger talks about the NY Times article of the same name.

In both articles, it mentions the failing of the Connecticut State Legislature to continue to support the Clean Water Fund since 2003, and also states that:

Yet just when efforts to save the Sound should be increasing, the Connecticut Legislature is doing the opposite. It is backing off its cleanup commitment by slashing money for sewage plant improvements.

Ugh. We're one of those towns that really requires those sewage plant improvements.

Curfews and West Haven

2006-09-03T20:21:00.000-04:00

Here's an interesting article from the New Haven Register about proposed curfews for children in the city of New Haven. One statement is:

The aldermen [of New Haven] considered a youth curfew in mid-1990s when one was adopted in West Haven that requires children 15 and younger to be off the street by 10 p.m.

This is definitely a statement which is in direct opposition to an anecdote relayed by a West Haven citizen at the last City Council meeting, where 13 and 14 year old teenagers were observed out and about at 3:00 a.m., and a policemen indicated that there was little that could be done...

Annual Long Island Sound Cleanup: West Haven dataes slated

2006-09-03T09:22:00.000-04:00

Thanks to today's Hartford Courant Article entitled "Teams want clean beaches: Project targets shoreline trash", I learned about the annual Long Island Sound cleanup month (September), which has NOT been well publicized in our area. West Haven is home to 25% of Connecticut's publicly accessible beaches.

This event is sponsored by Save the Sound, which, from their website:

Save the Sound, a program of Connecticut Fund for the Environment, has been working to protect and preserve Long Island Sound since the early 1970’s. Save the Sound coordinates beach cleanups along the Long Island Sound shore in Connecticut and is the Connecticut State Coordinator for the International Coastal Cleanup.

In a new initiative to further protect Long Island Sound, Save the Sound designed the Clean Up Your Act program to address the on-going need to clean up floatable debris – better known as litter.

From the Save the Sound's list of Cleanup Events there are only two days and teams currently registered to clean up the Sound:

West Haven Beach (near Capt. Galley's Restaurant)	9-16-06 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.	Vincent Breslin (co-coord w/ Robert Marra)	Vincent Breslin, (203) 392-6602, or e-mail breslinv1@southernct.edu
Sandy Point	9-24-06 9 a.m.	Michelle LeMere	(203) 787-0646 Ext. 104 (day), or (203) 937-8034 (eve.), mlemere@cfenv.org

If you wish to volunteer to head up a cleanup, or if you have a group who is willing to volunteer their time:

For more information on volunteering for an upcoming cleanup day, or if your local community group is interested in coordinating a cleanup event, please contact Save the Sound at 1-888-728-3547 (888-SAVE-LIS)

or you can visit the signup page on their web site.

Municipalities impose restrictions to save fuel

2006-09-03T08:59:00.000-04:00

The New Haven Register article, "Municipalities impose restrictions to save fuel", details how local communities have imposed creative rules to offset the raise in the price of gasoline.

In West Haven:

James Burns Jr., the mayor’s chief of staff, said the city is in “serious financial condition with a budget deficit,” so the cost of gasoline and energy has been a paramount concern.

“We have restricted the use of vehicles so it is strictly for business,” Burns said. “Personal use, like going to the bank while you are out on an inspection, is strictly prohibited.”

West Haven has been encouraging carpooling too, Burns said.

Why would a city vehicle be allowed to be used to ANYTHING but business?

The beaches after the storm...

2006-09-03T08:41:00.000-04:00

Colonial Taxpayer and I think alike... the latest post on the West Shore Follies blog muses about
Taking bets on how much sand will be left after high tide this evening......

That was some storm, and I'll expect that there will be more emergency work , and maybe appeals to FEMA....

Just wondering... where does the sand GO in the Sound after these storms? Does it end up plugging up shipping channels? Does it just create sandbars out a little ways from the shore? Is there a way to pump that sand back onto the beach??

(After this post, I went down to the beach - the erosion is significant. I took a photo - hopefully will have it online soon.)

West Shore Follies: Bailey Middle School Sign

2006-09-03T08:35:00.000-04:00

Colonial Tax Payer, who talks about the Bailey Middle School Sign in the West Shore Follies blog, tells us that the graffiti on the sign has been there for a year. The appropriate person to call would be Public Works Department; according to the Public Works Department page on the City of West Haven website:

Phone: 203-937-3585
Fax: 203-937-3581

Location:

City of West Haven
355 Main Street, 3rd Floor
West Haven, CT 06516

Email: Public_Works@cityofwesthaven.com

Office Hours:
Monday - Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

HTH!

West Haven shows deficiencies in latest "No Child Left Behind" list

2006-09-02T09:45:00.000-04:00

I haven't yet commented on the latest results of the standardized testing, and West Haven's standing... partly because I have problems with unfunded federal mandates. "No Child Left Behind" dictates that every child be taught the same information, but doesn't give funding sources... and that means that cash strapped cities and towns like West Haven must often cut other services to acommodate the needs of a federal mandate - I do have problems with that in principle.

Additionally, while I recognize that standardized testing is the mechanism used to check for results, I don't feel that every child learns the same way.... 'bubble' tests, that do not allow for questions about the questions, and reading tests where teachers can't explain what they are looking for seem to be of limited use.

Growing up, I was an A/B student who had a very hard time with tests in general - I could apply information without trouble, but rote memorization was very hard for me. In real life, I can look up information... it's being able to apply it that has served me well.

but I digress...

The Hartford Courant published a list of "The Latest No Child Left Behind List", which gave the deficiencies of schools, town by town. Here's where West Haven was listed as deficient:

Whole deficiencies in math and reading:
None.
Whole deficiencies in math:
Carrigan Middle School
Whole deficiencies in reading:
Clarence E. Thompson (elementary)
Subgroup deficiencies in math and reading:
Forest (elementary), Harry M. Bailey Middle
Subgroup deficiencies in math:
none.
Subgroup deficiencies in reading:
Alma E. Pagels (elementary)

According to an expanded article on the Courant's site:

Whole school deficiencies cover the entire student population. Subgroup identifies minorities, special education or low-income students.

WFSB Reports person for depositing checks was on vacation

2006-09-02T08:46:00.000-04:00

Today's WFSB report entitled "City Finds $10 Million in Un-Cashed Checks" provided a new detail about the $10 Million in uncashed checks -- apparently the person who was responsible for depositing them was on vacation. Does this mean that there is only *one person* capable of depositing checks? That seems rather ridiculous, considering that the amount we lose in interest is significant:

A little over $10 million at 5 percent a year is $500,000. So break it out monthly -- it's about $40,000 we could use here in West Haven," Picard said.

$40,000 is just about the median family income here in West Haven - that's a year's worth of work.

Notes from Our Readers: The Beach Sand

2006-09-01T13:09:00.000-04:00

Colonial Park Taxpayer posted the following today on another post; I figured I'd best post it here so that it doesn't get lost in the commentary. Congrats, by the way, on the new West Shore Follies blog.

Hello, I love this blog. There is great insight to all the exciting things happening in the City of West Haven. It would be great if there was a way to get the page some more visibilty among residents.

I'd just like to comment on the recent sand replenishment done by the DPW. Has anyone taken a walk down to Prospect Beach recently? Well apparently the majority of the sand that was placed on the beach was completely eroded away by all the rain we recieved the last few days. How will the city address this? Or will it be ignored until next summer since the beach season is close to an end? I'd be interested in knowing how much time and money was invested with replacing this sand that got washed away in a matter of 2 days.

I can't answer for the exact amount 0r time, but this previous blog post was about a WFSB news report that stated we spent $500,000 and it took 11,000 truckloads (I believe that the trucks came from the New Haven depot, and that it came by barge from Capecode to New Haven harbor).

More information was given in this blog post which tells us that our 5 year capital budget allots $600,000/year for beach replenishment, and that we seldom use it all. Additionally the State DEP and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers requires that we maintain our 3.5 mile public shoreline, with is 1/4 of all the public beach area available in Connecticut. Mayor Picard was seeking $200,000 from FEMA on this replenishment, and State Rep Steve Dargon is looking for $1M from the state for future replenishments.

Thanks also for the very kind words about this blog - the best way for the blog to be found is word of mouth... keep telling your neighbors!

West Haven Nile Info

2006-09-01T12:01:00.000-04:00

The City Of West Haven issued the following alert today with encouragement to forward:

Picard joins Rell to announce state efforts to combat West Nile virus

Mayor John M. Picard joined Gov. M. Jodi Rell and State Public Health Commissioner Dr. Robert Galvin and State Environmental Protection Commissioner Gina McCarthy Thursday (8-31-06) to announce additional state efforts to combat the virus as the sixth case of the mosquito-borne illness has been confirmed in Connecticut.

Rell said tests have confirmed that a 79-year-old city man has contracted the virus and is expected to recover. The case follows five others, including an elderly New Haven woman who died of complications last week, that have already been confirmed in the state.

“West Nile virus is a greater cause for concern this year than it has been in the recent past,” said Rell, speaking to reporters from a microphone-laden lectern in front of the Savin Rock gazebo. “We are finding that higher numbers of mosquitoes are carrying this virus, and now six people in our state have already contracted this illness. All evidence points to the fact that sections of West Haven and New Haven are among the hot spots for West Nile virus.

“I have asked Mayor Picard and other municipal officials for their assessment of the situation and to discuss steps the state can take to support their efforts.”

Rell has authorized the state Department of Environmental Protection to buy additional larvicide supplies to help municipalities, especially along the shoreline, control mosquito populations.

Larvicide is contained in a type of nonspray tablet that’s used to kill larva in mosquito-breeding areas, including storm drains and areas of standing water.

McCarthy said the DEP will make supplies available to cities and towns that request it.

To date, West Nile-positive mosquitoes have been identified in 17 municipalities statewide, including East Haven and Milford.

On Tuesday, the DEP in conjunction with the city Health Department will start applying a “barrier treatment” insecticide to vegetation along a 2.5-mile stretch of West Haven’s side of the West River from Derby to Kimberly avenues. Throughout the summer, the city has been applying larvicide in catch basins and other areas.

Warning signs of West Nile include a fever, headache, skin rash, body aches, nausea or vomiting.

Rell noted that August and September represent the peak time for transmission of the virus to people and urged everyone to take all precautions to avoid mosquito bites.

People older than 50 are more vulnerable to the virus than younger men and women, Galvin said.

Precautions include minimizing time outdoors at dusk and dawn, wearing long pants and long-sleeved shirts and using mosquito repellent containing DEET.

WH West Nile Virus Info - PUBLIC HEALTH ALERT

Due to the occurrence of mosquito-borne illness in West Haven the public
is advised to take these personal precautions:

* Minimize time spent outdoors when mosquitoes are most active, especially at dawn and dusk.

* Be sure door and window screens are tight-fitting and in good repair.

* Wear shoes, socks, long pants and long-sleeved shirts when outdoors when mosquitoes are active. Clothing should be light colored and made of tightly woven materials that keep mosquitoes away from the skin.

* Use mosquito netting when sleeping outdoors or in an unscreened structure and to protect small babies when outdoors.

* Consider the use of mosquito repellent, according to directions, when it is necessary to be outdoors.

* After returning indoors, wash any treated skin with soap and water.

* Don’t let stagnant water collect around your home. Dump out old tires, wheelbarrows, and wading pools. Remind or help neighbors to eliminate breeding sites on their properties.

For further information on mosquito-borne illnesses, including West Nile Virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis, contact the state’s 24-hour Mosquito Information Line at 1-866-WNV-LINE or the Department of Environmental Protection’s website at http://dep.state.ct.us.

STATE OF CONNECTICUT
Mosquito Management Program

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The City of West Haven is encouraging members of this list to forward this e-mail as part of our public information campaign.

The following part of the alert answers my questions about what the City is doing to combat West Nile Virus:

On Tuesday, the DEP in conjunction with the city Health Department will start applying a “barrier treatment” insecticide to vegetation along a 2.5-mile stretch of West Haven’s side of the West River from Derby to Kimberly avenues. Throughout the summer, the city has been applying larvicide in catch basins and other areas.

Thank you!

1 Month's interest on $10M.... lost.

2006-09-01T08:47:00.000-04:00

Today's New Haven Register reports: $10M in checks found in W. Haven ... apparently, escrow checks that don't match up with the data provided by the bank aren't deposited. I have a better idea - why not take a photocopy of the check, and deposit it??? Ugh.

I can only hope that this was discovered thanks to the public comments section where a similar anecdote was shared...

New Haven Register call to 'Fix Deathtrap on Morgan Lane'

2006-08-31T14:42:00.000-04:00

Today's New Haven Register had two articles on last Sunday's storm with torrential downpours, and the horrifying and tragic death of Gladys Padula, who died when her van was submerged in flash flooding under Morgan Lane:

My heart goes out to Michael Padula and the couple's two children.

Apparently there has been some finger pointing towards Public Works, Police Department, dispatching, Metro North Railroad, etc. Some have even accused the town of trying to save money by not forming an emergency crew -- but I really do find that hard to believe.

I think P0lice Chief Ron Quagliani states it well in the second article when he says :

"This was not a predictable event. This is not like a hurricane we could prepare for. This was a flash flood that I haven’t seen the likes of in years," he said, adding that flooding hasn’t occurred in that area since a retention pond was installed in that area in the 1980s.

Given the tight time line provided between the police first being notified of flooding at 10:37, and the call of Gladys' van going under at 11:05, I dont' think that anyone wasn't responsive to the problem. According to the article, the police were called, reponded to the initial problem and brought the initial car driver to nearby Bailey to meet up with a called ride, called dispatch who called Public Works, who assembled an emergency crew for the problem within 45 minutes of the initial call.

While it could be argued that the police officer should have stayed there to flag down drivers, they would have been on the wrong side of the problem, as best I can tell. I suppose had someone been on the scene, they might have jumped in after Gladys - but they might not have been able to help even then.

The southbound sign was obscured by brush (no good), and there was no northbound sign, which was the direction that Gladys was travelling. Given the visibility, that might not have mattered.

The bottom line is that we received nearly 7 inches of rain in a very short amount of time, flash flooding occurred, visibility was poor, and one would expect that Gladys didn't know that the water was there or that deep. While I agree that steps should be taken so this will never happen again, I don't think it could have been predicted, particularly given the work to prevent flooding from the area.

Breaking News from our Readers (Structure31)

2006-08-30T23:31:00.000-04:00

This just in from one of our readers in response to the West Haven Taypayer Initiative ignored by Council post:

New news on the taxpayer initiative. The leaders of this group have said they will filing an election enforcement complaint tomorrow and possible criminal complaint. Appearently,AFTER Charles Marino got up at the podium on Monday and said he thought some petition circulators might have not been voters, he had Kaplowe and Grengas removed from the voter list on Tuesday. therefore, he was untruthful at the podium when he said they weren't voters (they were at the time of circulation)and then played with their constitutioal right to vote. The Taxpayer initiative leaders are calling it political retribution for circulating petitions and trying to take away the will of the people. stay tuned on that one.

The plot just keeps thickening.

HOWEVER... My memory recalls the scenario a little bit differently - I remember Charles Marino stating that some petition circulators were registered in two states at the same time at the time that the petitions were being handed in. The oath that the petition circulators had to give at that time, he said, indicated that they were still valid voters in their locale.

I may have it wrong, but it's my understanding that if you register in a new jurisdiction, the new jurisdiction notifies the old one the date as of which you registered in a new area, and as of that date, you are no longer considered part of the voter list for the old jurisdiction.

Can anyone point me to statutes that backup or refute this?

High Bacteria in Beach Water in Milford - does West Haven Test???

2006-08-30T19:00:00.000-04:00

According to this New Haven Register article, high levels of bacteria closed 6 state beaches, including nearby Milford's Silver Sands Beach... does West Haven even test their beaches?