I would refer you to both responses in 2006 starting at page 32. Both are hands down better proposals than the original Sheldon Oaks proposal with the first looking to pay 200,000 and create market priced senior housing and the second looking to do almost the same thing as the revised Sheldon Oaks/New Samaritan plan.

Would you care to comment on the rest of the paragraph?

They Just Keep Springing Up!

GREENWICH comes onboard!

Greenwich Tax Day Tea Party
April 15, 2009
3:00 pm – 5:00 pm
TOWN HALL, Field Point Road,
Greenwich, CT

Contact:
Matt Lechner
mattlechner@optonline.net

On Facebook at Greenwich Tax Day Tea Party
–
Come to New Haven, Hartford, and Norwich events, too!

Thank you,

Cara

Interviews are recorded, via telephone, Monday through Friday between 10:00am and 4:00pm.

Calvin Carter
host/producer
Vantage Points
Family Stations, Inc
1-800-878-0787

God Bless the U.S.

Lori

Carl Slicer, blog editor, http://www.VernonGop.com, “Who do you trust ? “

I don’t think Dodd cares the least little bit if Kennedy were knighted, and that it’s unconstitutional. If he didn’t care about anybody but himself in the sub-prime mortgage meltdown (while accepting VIP loans from Countrywide and receiving millions of dollars in campaign contributions from banks and mortgage lenders – see http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cid=n00000581 ), why would he care about a little thing like Article 1 of the Constitution? His single biggest contributor? Citigroup. Fourth biggest contributor? AIG. Who are we bailing out now?

Dodd (and Frank) should be removed from Congress for their contribution to getting us into this crisis. He’s ruined banking and housing, and now he’s working on ruining healthcare (you remember his statement in the town hall? something to the effect of “I don’t understand why we can’t just go 200 miles North to get our prescriptions.”) Great idea Dodd – let’s implement the Canadian Healthcare plan. I hope everyone enjoys keeping only 50% of their income, waiting in line for hours to see their physician for 5 minutes, and waiting 6-8 months for surgeries (while they’re in pain or dying). Why do you think Canadians come to the US for healthcare? Because the Canadian healthcare system sucks worse than ours. It’s totally broken, and they have only 30 million people. I know – I lived their for over 15 years.

For Christ’s sake, Dodd sat on the banking commitee. He was one of the hacks that was all over TV pushing for a bailout. Nail him on that instead.

so this part or that part, hard to follow. Some with economic understanding, not congress, should be formulating this stuff. you see the market dumping. That’s message on their take on the plans.

Holy Smoke.

I am not happy that my taxes are used to ‘help’ people who have not been careful and taken repsonisbility has I have to encumber no debt and pay all my bills.

Now my taxes will increase and others will get a deal on their debt.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2196650/posts

Out of the trenches and into the streets.

Party ON Patriots!

DEB — I appreciate you taking the time to talk to me yesterday during my hour-long drive (usually 11 minutes) from my office to Town Hall. I also spoke with Paul Roczynski from Town Hall about the matter, and with Jason as well. Jason did indeed have no recollection of any conversation with you or with me about RTC minutes. I should not have dragged him into this mess, despite my recollection of a specific conversation. You have always been a strong voice in local government and an effective representative of your constituancy, and despite our ultimate disagreement on some issues I did thoroughly enjoy our conversation. I continue to have great respect for you, and for your decisions and opinions, and I also agree that we have more important issues to deal with in Town and beyond. Thank you for helping to resolve this matter and reach a conclusion. Warmest regards. –BILL

HMMMMMM 1. strong or vehement expression of disapproval…. I would think any one can express their disapproval of any of our elected citizens. I would be interested to hear the opposite from State Central.

FYI this is the definition of hearsay on http://www.dictionary.com
hearsay  Show Spelled Pronunciation [heer-sey]
–noun 1. unverified, unofficial information gained or acquired from another and not part of one’s direct knowledge: I pay no attention to hearsay.
Now I know I am not a lawyer, and being just an everyday citizen obviously used too big a word for my status. However I think since I was not on the Phone call, it was not my direct knowledge…thus it is hearsay. You may be a lawyer bill, but I can read.
OOOOO and I almost forgot…let me quote you so I don’t mess it up
“Please understand that I am making this request personally as a citizen of East Hartford — and not as a lawyer, and not as a member of the EHDTC, and not as the Vice Chairman of the East Hartford Town Council, and not as the Treasurer of Re-Elect Genga 2008.” So I guess you saying that I wrote an angry letter to a lawyer, was indeed a misunderstanding. or maybe you just prefer the best of both worlds? I thought I was writing to a citizen of East Hartford?
O well Have a great day Bill

Despite my repeated and specific requests, it appears that the crux of my inquiry still escapes you — I have been trying to find out how many people made up the quorum at the meeting and who voted on the motion. If there were 3 people there and a quorum is 12 then obviously there was no quorum and the “censure” would be improper. I was informed that the RTC Chairman had indicated that he had no recollection of such a vote having been taken, so I was aware of what his answer would be if I posed the question to him. So, since Joe seconded the motion, and since Jon obviously had no intention of ever replying to my query about his own motion, I called Joe.

Joe told me last evening that a quorum of the RTC is made up of 12 plus 1, and that 25 RTC members were present and voted unanimously for Jon’s motion. As I indicated to Jon early this morning (or late last night) that was all the info I needed and I was satisfied. Having read your reply today, however, I now intend to ask State Central to look into the matter.

Deb Gaudette of the RTC (and your relation) told Jason Rojas, according to Jason, that the RTC does not even keep minutes. You stated on the blog that you do. I don’t think you can both be right.

So I will no longer be “beating a dead horse” and will leave it up to the State Central committee to look into. I was informed by someone at the EEC that the RTC does not have the right to “censure” Genga and/or LeBeau, but I was only looking into wether a proper quorum was present for the vote. Even Joe Kronen last night opined that the RTC may not have had the authority to “censure” an elected official from another party. I guess we can only wait to see what the answer is from committees on the State level.

All I can say, Victoria, is that your angry response may have opened a can of worms that I had already closed. And as for “hearsay” perhaps you should know the meaning of a legal term before you use it in an angry letter to a lawyer. Good day. –BILL HORAN

The facts remain that indeed without opposition, your own vote for yourself will guarantee your seat. After the address Jodi Rell made about laying people off, and raising taxes, these candidates that took state money should be ashamed. I indeed can not fathom why you are sticking up for them, when they themselves are MIA…..

Thanks , I needed that.

Carl Slicer, blog editor, http://www.VernonGop.com, “Who do you trust ?”

In reviewing your last reply to my request for RTC minutes and/or information I was reminded that two months ago you said you would present the issue at the next RTC meeting, and it is my understanding that there have been two such meetings since then — one when John Grottole was unanimously reappointed to the MDC (fine choice!!!) in December, and another meeting more recently. I have learned that Joe Cronen seconded Jon Surrels’ motion to censure Henry Genga, but I still have not been told how many people made up the quorum that evening and who those persons were.

Kindly apprise me of your progress in responding further to my request. Thank you. –BILL HORAN

Before I can be my brother’s keeper, I have to be my keeper.

Good for all of us that many Americans, like yourself, have a brain to call his own.

As of this moment I still have not spoken with Hank and I have still not been retained to represent him. When I do speak with him I will apologize for this mix up, as apparently something was taken out of context and it was assumed I had indeed been retained by him. Hopefully we will speak soon, as I want to express to him my support as his friend, and my encouragement that people are human and everybody makes mistakes, and that this chapter in his life will be behind him someday.

A lawyer from South Windsor who is a friend of mine represented a Superior Court Judge in Court recently for a DUI, and said something to the effect that a person’s character needs to be determined by their accomplishments throughout their lifetime, and not just by a moment of indiscretion frozen in time. The same should, and hopefully will, be said about Hank. I wish him the very best of luck in dealing with this matter, and I know he has the strength of character to weather this storm. –BILL HORAN

Perhaps to be on a Saturday?

email me

timwhite98 at yahoo dot com

Victoria Brinius
EHRTC Secretary

Please understand that I am making this request personally as a citizen of East Hartford — and not as a lawyer, and not as a member of the EHDTC, and not as the Vice Chairman of the East Hartford Town Council, and not as the Treasurer of Re-Elect Genga 2008. Please call me or e-mail me if you have any concerns with this request, or if for any reason you are reluctant to provide the document.

Thank you in anticipation of your cooperation, and for a prompt response to the above request. –BILL HORAN (connlawyer@comcast.net)

Short of getting a legal opinion to the contrary, which Don has neither obtained nor produced in the more than four years he has been pressing this issue, I don’t know what answers and/or opinions would be more “acceptable” that that of a State’s Attorney and two Corporation Counsel. If you do know what kind of answer would be “acceptable” then I would welcome your input. Please know that I am not picking a fight with you nor with John Searls, but I think I gave this issue ample opportunity in the Investigations & Audits Committee before voting to take no further action on it. I am always willing to discuss TC matters, as Don will attest to, and I have the utmost respect for Don and his opinions, but on this issue we just have to agree to disagree. Thank you for the opportunity to discuss this issue. –BILL HORAN (Town Council Vice Chairman, Investigations & Audits Committee Chair)

Voters do believe in those things, but don’t believe that the entire sate constitution should be opened up at a cost of over $13 million (of taxpayer money) to make changes…escpecially since there is another mechanism in place to make those changes already.

Also, do you realize that most labor unions are able to collect an agency fee for members who choose not to join a union? The reason for this is because these people are given the same wages and benefits as the dues paying members. Working to negotiate a contract is not free. Why should some people be afforded these benefits but not be responsible to help defray the cost of these negotiations? In most, if not all cases, the agency fee is a reduced amount of the dues. This doesn’t cost taxpayers any money.

Please note that the Hartford Courant is endorsing to vote NO on Question 1. The Courant has notoriously been an anti-union paper. Why do you figure they are endorsing a no vote?

“Our State Constitution is the bedrock of our civil rights and liberties. The convention proposal is a risky and costly process. The State Constitution is not a document to be rewritten carelessly,” State Attorney General Richard Blumenthal said.

While there are some things that need tweaking, a convention is a failed method of doing so. What we will get is a bunch corporate lobbyists pushing their own agenda on our dime. If you think that you are going to have a say or even a vote on what gets amended in the constitution, you are far too optimistic.

You apparently feels that state unions are wasting it’s workers money, so you’re going to vote Yes so a bunch of lobbyists can waste ALL OF OUR money with the process?

It’s petty but I do believe it’s true.

I have a real bad gut feeling about this sex club stuff – can’t put my finger on it right now, but I will. I wonder what the Mayor said as a reply.

Southend Guy – yes, Master Clubs and Pitkin Street Ent. will keep on finding “something to file suit on” because we appear to have been trying to scheme out way out of it.

I’d expand them though to begin those discussions with the current process owners. For example, building infrastructure discussion should begin with the facilities’ managers… waste disposal likely begins with CRRA. And community outreach would begin… probably with the media, such as the Courant. And regulators will also be involved to some extent. For instance, if you want to mess with the dump… the DEP will almost certainly be interested. In this case, the DEP may be more concerned in avoiding any impervious surfaces (such as photovoltaics) that could disrupt rainwater… than in avoiding the use of fossil fuels in generating electricity.

Just some ideas.

And for another idea… here’s a forum I organized this past week…

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6089976384846224973&q=alternative+energy+onsite+stationary+power&ei=lNeTSM6LEoSkrQKMk5WwCQ&hl=en

Give some credit to growth. Harping on problems of not up to ___, whatever bar and no kudos for improvement will not see continued the herculean improvement efforts by individual staff members. I suspect they will move on to where they hard work and incremental growth with lowering demographics is appreciated.
The task is akin to pushing that boulder up the proverbial hill. When you have families out to work and the attitude, this is your problem, fix it; this is a lonely place ot be. Some appreciation and support is needed by the community to keep the momentum.
Th success seen in higher earning populations comes through expectations and exposure to those who talk and model study daily.

Say, “Good job” when it is earned. You will get more results with sugar than vinegar. How about some kudos to hard working students? some pride in EH students would go far as well.

If you increased proficiency, did they come down from GOAL or up from BASIC?
If you increased at all did they come near the state average? or the DRG average? (District Reference Group composed of towns of like economic and social characteristic.)
Has the population in high school changed appreciably in demographics over the last 5 years?
There is more about educational results to do with the parent’s education and the support given students for study and goals/results while at home than any educator can do in his hour a day.

Schools lead and provide opportunity and students have to do the learning.

Last, consider looking at the released items on the pages at our CSDE.
http://www.csde.state.ct.us/public/cedar/assessment/capt/released_items.htm
These tests are tough. The subjects are at a high level for 14 and 15 year olds and some are interdisciplinary.

“Ya gotta wanna” succeed to do them. That commitment is form the person and is not grown solely in school. The will and the need to do well comes from expectations of the home and community more than from staff in schools. So even when the huge push is there in the town’s institution, the individual student needs direction and expectations for best effort from his family.

The stories about tax protests down there are unbelievable. A few months ago the county wanted to raise taxes to what would have amounted to an extra $20 per person. The people protested at a local meeting and not only demanded no tax increase, but a 5% cut. The people won. The county manager said he would cut his portion of the budget by 5% immediately. He looked out in the audience at his assistant and said “you’re fired.”

It’s against the law in Virginia to use a property assessment to raise tax revenue. If the average value of the property in a county increases, the mill rate has to drop by an offsetting amount. During the last revaluation, property values went up considerably. Even though that meant no tax increase for half the people, without exception every single property owner in the county filed an appeal. The county just threw out the last revaluation because it would have taken a decade to review every appeal and the revaluation couldn’t take effect until all of the appeals were comlplete.

Last week they fired the chief of police in one of the local towns because no one wanted to pay his salary.

There are bridges that are half built and then just abandoned for decades because they went over budget and the people refused to allocate any more money towards it.

After the state passed a tax hike a few years back, big “Wanted” posters were hung in post offices with the faces of all the politicians that voted in favor of the tax hike. As each one was voted out, a big red X was put over the faces.

If they weren’t all so high on interventionism, it would be perfect Revolution territory. It still might be, before all is said and done. I saw on the history channel that the last armed rebellion against the US was in the 1930’s in West Virginia. 10,000 Scots-Irish rednecks lost a 3 day battle, but later won in court. It was the same group of people that first rebelled against Washington in the Whiskey Rebellion, and they declared independence from Britain 4 years before the rest of the colonies. To this day many are fanatically anti-authoritarian.

Unfortunately the underground economy is huge, so they don’t pay federal taxes and they just flat out ignore most federal laws, so they don’t bother voting in federal elections.

I also cancelled my cable TV a few months ago… and I’m proud to say that contrary to my feelings at the time… I was not actually addicted to cable television… and I’ve been living comfortably since I went cold turkey… and the real benefit of cancelling my cable… since I don’t have tv (I barely get the one ABC broadcast channel)… I’ve read before falling asleep. First up… The Revolution: A Manifesto. Great stuff!

I knew of a few of the properties you mentioned, however did not have the details that you shared.

In addition to Hartford, I found that Norwalk has a sale on the 21st..

Thanks again.

And a Happy Mother’s Day to the family- sounds like a productive one.
Knowiing when to piivot is the magic touch.

if there were no fees – how many would want packets and dump them after hr mtg- of course we do not know- but i am sure the costs of copying ad the considerable time in assembling packets would go up- so not only machine, paper and time- but more employees- ?? lots fo cost-
yes put up the video and the packets on the web-
but yo may need to pay another person there a swell- worth it?
to me yes. maybe not to others.

1. “It was clear that this was a divided and uncooperative council” This is inaccurate. Disagreements about spending decisions at one meeting are a far cry from constituting a divided council. You were standing outside with us when we were shaking each others hand. We are all friends and we operate within a system, whether you like it or not, that does not always result in unanimity.

2. With regards to exclusion. It was already stated. The GOP is responsible for developing their proposal for a budget. The one they drew had some similar cuts to ours and we did not agree with their Capital Improve cuts. We did not exclude them. We caucus to hash out differences in policy preferences so that the back and forth is not what takes place at public meetings. Per state law we cannot caucus with GOP so they caucus on their own and they have the right to put forth motions and as you stated they did not. What they did proceed to do was provide inaccurate information that need to be corrected so as to not allow misinformation to be our there.

3. Raises for Registrars
There is a concrete distinction between the Mayor and any other elected officials in East Hartford. The Mayor is a full-time position and the rest of us are paid with what amounts to a stipend and are there for part-time or less. All elected officials who receive a stipend were to recieve no raise. That what we adopted. This includes the registrars of voters. This is not about the people who serve but more about what is expected of those who serve. The Mayor’s salary was approved by resolution prior to the recent election as is required. I believe that vote was 9-0. I will have to confirm. Hopefully someone else can before I get to it.

4. my comments about taxes and foreclosure
I will not speak for Barbara or Bill. My point was in resposne to GOP assertions that foreclosures were being driven by taxes. I simply said a majority of the foreclosures we are seeing are because of sub-prime mortgages and not taxes. I also stated that I don’t dimiss the possibility that in some instances taxes may contribute to foreclosures but that the vast majority are caused by factors other from taxes.

5. My “absurd” comment.
That was solely in response to the request for the mayor to give back 5% of her salary. I stated why I think the Mayor deserved it and do not need to again. This had nothing to do with the councilors stipend. In any case I think the idea is more symbol than substance and reflects the lack of real policy counter proposals. As you stated they could have easily made a motion to do so and did not. And by the way I made a donation of $200 to the Mayor’s Ball whose proceeds went to non-profits in town. That’s 5%.

Regrading some CI. I do not agree with all of the requests but when and if you get involved you will see that being a productive elected official requires tha ability to compromise. You will not get everything you want.

Per capita?
Why would you expect each person in the family to make that kind of money?

Also, does East Hartford restrict public employees to those persons who live in the borders? How would that help the town?

I understand that you are concerned that people make more money than seems fair to you. If you need to find the best employees, how would taking the lowest paid people help? Would taking the employees who can not get hired in higher paying places be a plus for East Hartford?

The positions that are not under union control are paid under something the Mayor called the Personnel Rules, which she said was created under the Charter.

I sat through the whole budget hearing yesterday and the Mayor presented a report from the Connecticut Conference of Muncipalities comparing her directors to other public officials doing the same job in muncipalities of the same size (Middletown, Norwalk, West Hartford, Manchester, Meriden, etc…) and East Hartford’s director’s are paid about 80% of the going rate of the municipal market for comparable positions.

It should also be remembered that few professional managers come to East Hartford because of the way they are appointed – every two years after an election. The pay and the method of appointment are no incentive to attract and retain talent.

The Council spent about 30 minutes on the single large raise for the Building Official. Seems she’s about $40,000 per year less then her peers in some of those towns and she hinted she’s gone without some form of increase.

The lady said, “the cost of my milk, gas, and insurance is going up just like yours”. Pretty interesting analogy.

Are you comparing apples and oranges? Does the average East Hartford person have the skills necessary for the jobs you are focusing on?

The costs come from the budget book starting on page 111 of the book sequence or 120 in pdf sequence.

The cost without admin is the school budget by location divided by the estimated student population of the location. This number includes building operation costs, staff costs and other location specific costs such as textbooks.

The admin portion is the sum of all the district wide (non location specific) costs divided by the total district student population. This includes the budget items for Administration, Maintenance and Instructional Services which includes transportation with limited exception and substitutes.

St. Rose and St. Chris transportation costs were not included in the calculations at all.

Best wishes for your wife and soon to be born baby.

You have, in your brief time as a political participant, brought a keen mind and rational insight into local problems. That will serve the town well, provided you remain thoughtful, instead of just sounding like another noisy gong.

You have implored all to use arguements and fact to support judgements, yet when it comes to local education, you simply rely on test scores when our system is so much more complicated.

I trust you have read the Cambridge Report. We have an achievemet gap in minority groups. We have poverty. We have transingency. We have kids coming to our system without any substantive base of eduction to build upon. We have absentee parents.

I don’t believe any of this applies to you and your family. That means I whole heartedly believe your children will succeed and thrive in our school system.

How do I know this? I am you and my children are thriving in the East Hartford School System. It’s hard work checking their homework every evening after I come home from a long day at work, but being involved as a parent is the magic elixor.

Jon, visit Goodwin School. Set up an appointment with Principal Daniel Broudeur. Ask to speak with teacher Ben Upson. Let them tell you what your children will see and experience during their years at Goodwin School. Ask for a copy of the PTA roster and telephone some parents who have children at the school. They particpate, so ask them what they think.

Speak to Principal Pauline Fusco at Sunset Ridge and see the passion she has for teaching our children. See what she says.

I believe once you experience the school system, you will come away with a better understnding of why the system spends as it does (very high special education needs among other things).

Jon, continue to ask questions since the answers will surprise you.

As an older parent (having a child of 18 in an out of state college), and being an officer in a Connecticut RTC, also a fiscal and social conservative— I taught in Willimantic for 36 recent years. I must tell you that I admire your research and your quest for knowledge and information. That need to know will serve your children and your model will help them develop an intrinsic life long learning attitude.

And what can you do to help each of them daily in his growing and learning, beyond the read and spend time together, watch our for strange television idea infusion and show that your family culture is more important than that we see portrayed on signboards and in malls.

Be careful in your zest for righting the wrongs of educational bureaucracy, that you do not give your own kids the idea that daily school in EH is poorly planned and that the rules do not apply to them, and that you know better than staff they interact with.

Students who know the parent is interested and does stand by their teacher perform so much better than those who say- my father says this school sucks and I don’t need to listen to you.
You can believe that the attitude comes through so easily, and then the student is not dedicated to learning- he is dedicated to feeling superior to the petty rules that regulate when you have hundreds in a public area.

So while you seek the improvement – and I know there is always lots of room for that- just be careful that your young students feel dedicated to the job of learning in whatever class they are taking.

Yes- EH demographics have changed and heaped many new trials on the schools. Right or wrong, the challenges arrive daily. And right or wrong, money is spent to make up for homes/parents who are not engaged in parenting and school readiness.

Yes, work diligently on changing ed. mandates for social purposes that belong in the home. Work for society accepting that parents have a responsibility to send a child to school set to learn.

Just be careful with all the love that shows in thoughtful fathering – you do not undermine your children’s love to learn attitude with rants about what’s wrong with EH education. They are too young to separate your quest for improvement from not valuing their daily work in their office.

Please take the comments in the spirit they are given- from one who loves learners and knows there is much to be improved.

Below is link to my coverage of the Straw Poll evening. I’ll be looking for your coverage. Regards,
John

http://middletown.ctlocalpolitics.net/?p=156
http://steadyhabits.blogspot.com/