The terrible 2s!
Cheshire bloggers, happy birthday! It's our second anniversary. Thanks for making this possible. I'm thoroughly convinced that even right here in Cheshire... the tubes are changing the town... offering more transparency and opening up government like never before (h/t to Cindy Kleist and Craig Houghton, in particular!).
I recognize that I've made mistakes with this blog... but for the most part, I think our ongoing dialogue has been a net benefit. And I'm sure that I'll make more mistakes, but will certainly try to avoid them. Please bear with me.
Don't forget... guest posts are always welcome. Frankly, I'd love to have another regular front page poster or two. I think it'd make the blog more interesting. Alternatively, you can always head over to Cheshire Town Post and publish whatever you want... probably anonymously. But make sure to come back here! Your comments are what make this blog so useful... they generally help push forward the dialogue in a positive manner that allows everyone to speak freely without fear of consequence.
A final thought... blogs tend to be relatively small communities and will likely stay that way for a while. So in the meantime, if you really wanna have your voice heard... send letters to the editors of the local papers... and you can find those email addresses right here... at the top of the column on the left side of this page.
Tim White
p.s. A special thank you to Sheldon Dill and Charley Polizzano. Charley was the person who first got me onto the idea of blogging back in May '05 with this feeble attempt. Unfortunately, I really wasn't prepared to begin blogging. But in January '06, Sheldon Dill convinced me a blog would be worthwhile and motivated me to make it happen with this post on Elderly Tax Relief. So again... a special thanks to both Sheldon and Charley. Cheshire's blogging community would probably be a whole lot less lively, if it weren't for the two of you.
26 comments:
Cheers!
also
I think this certainly speaks to the power of local blogs:
Visit Cindy's Underground Town Hall and read all about the leaked draft.
"It is the opinion of the Commission that this proposal meets the requirements of this standard."
Forget about the incoming studies. It looks like it was all for show. You don't bother to write something this detailed 'just in case'...
CSH
Cheshire Town Post
In less than a year we were able to approve a project of this size but we couldn't address the pool problem. I guess when we want something we can get it done.
So, how does a guest article get printed on this blog?
Did you all read the new Haven paper today. The State in its' wisdom is offering Cheshire $500,000 for turf field. Let me see, we have yet to fix the pool, the Supt of Schools said last night nobody from this pushed this through. Any additional money will come from private fund raising. All well and good for the first turf field, what about when it has to be replaced in 12 years, the taxpayers will be asked to pay for that...wrong. There is something seriously wrong with the morals, ethics and expectations of the majority or those in control of the Town, they could even be a minority. The BOE Chairman said he welcomes the State funding of the turf field, why not, look at his background and current ties.
And from the second post to this blog on Jan 25, 2006...
Artificial turf was the topic of conversation at a recent Council meeting. Councilman Matt Altieri got the artificial turf onto the agenda.
To the best of my memory, Matt was the first elected official to push for the turf... as far as I know, Steve M hasn't really spoken for or against it.
btw, I saw that article and was going to post something on the front page tonight or this weekend about it.
As for doing a guest post... just email it to me. As for remaining anonymous, if you request anonymity on the front page... that could work... as long as it's not something particularly inflammatory. If I feel it's questionable, I'll probably require you to make your name public.
Happy Anniversary Tim! Thanks for your blog. I read it all the time and try to figure out who is saying what (and who is the poet?). I admire your efforts to get all info out in the open and I use your links to save me a subscription to the Courant and the WRA. I'm working on a guest blog (but don't hold your breath..retirement suits me) Diane V
If we don't fix the pool that costs us over $400,000/year to run but spend the $500,000 on the field we are crazy. Everybody needs to go to a doctor and get checked out. Is there something in our drinking water?
Thanks Diane. Your front page guest post will be welcome anytime.
8:02 I agree something is seriously wrong with the priorities if we accept money for a turf field. I didn't catch the BOE meeting even though it was on tonight the audio (not surprisingly) was out! Imagine, we already give the BOE $55 million and they can't even broadcast their meetings properly! I recall a couple years ago that the Superintendent also wrote a letter requesting funds for the turf field. If this goes through with private funds making up the rest of the cost, I think the Town Council should seriously consider limiting any additional increase in the BOE's budget. If the priorities of the "private donaters" is a to have a turf field, let them fund the education budget first. You know the people donating are all the sports fanatics in town.
The Superintendent and his principals are crying that their schools are in need of repair and they want the taxpayers to pay to fix it all yet they'll take State and private funds for a turf field.
WTF
Tim, Maybe you can explain the process of how the State hands out these $500,000 lollipops for turf fields. I thought it was done through their "School Construction" fund (not sure of the exact name). If that's true, then why, if we accept the money, can't it be used to repair/replace windows and heating system issues in the schools. No one with half a brain could say that a turf field is more important than fixing old, single pain windows or heating/ac systems that are supposedly held together with chewing gum and bailing wire as the super said when he presented his budget.
My recollection of the process (going back two years).
Matt Altieri asked Mary Fritz for the money. Mary Fritz tried, but couldn't do it. Then Tom Gaffey offered to do it as Education Committee Chair, using the "school construction" funding. Both attempts failed.
At this point, I don't know what's happening. And remember... the town received $225,000 for improvements to Bartlem Park... several years ago. And what improvements have been made to the ballfields? I walked all over those ballfields while the Vietnam Memorial was here... and those ballfields are, IMO, not in particularly good shape.
So just because the state "gives" the town money... it doesn't mean anything will ever happen.
Can anyone advise if you must actually reside in Cheshire to sit on the Town Council, or must you merely own a vacant unoccupied residence and reside in a neighboring community to sit on the Council?
So what did the town do with the $225,000??
11:24 There are some new "awnings" or "shade covers" at the pool. Those cost about $15,000. But I'm not sure about the balance right now... it's something that I've been following up on.
11:23 I'm not sure but who might you be talking about? Is it our fake CPA? Come on Tim, I'm sure you know the answer to 11:23's question.
Matt Hall- I voted for you. You need to clear up the Ecke/CPA issue. Is he a CPA or not?
I am the father of a CHS athlete who uses the field...using 500K to put in a turf field is wrong...the funds should be used to help with building maintenance
1123 - it is a CPA, but hes not fake
11:23 From a technical perspective, I presume the rules are in the Charter. From a practical perspective, you may want to speak with Sam Gejdensen.
10:38 huh?
9:19 Hooray for you for having the sense to realize the school buildings need some improving and that spending it on a turf field is ridiculous! Tell that to the TC and BOE.
Is Mike Ecke really a CPA?
I’ve done some research…
Here is the list of the CPA licensing boards:
http://www.aicpa.org/yellow/ypsboa.htm
Of the 54 boards (50 + DC & territories), I couldn’t use LA, MD, NH, RI, Puerto Rico, DC or Virgin Islands.
But of the remaining boards, there are “Timothy White(s)” listed in CT, MA, NY, OH, TX and WV as CPA's. Only ME lists anyone named Michael Ecke, and his license expired in 2001.
The Conn. listing shows that Timothy White (of Cheshire, CT) is a currently-licensed CPA. The Maine listing shows that Michael Ecke (of Cheshire, CT) has not been a licensed CPA for seven years.
5:14 nice work. your analysis looks accurate.
So he is a fake...and a liar too.
Tim don't you have better things to do with your time?
Hopefully nobody has anything better to do with their time than tell the truth, a quality lacking in at least one TC member who willfully misrepresented himself to the voters. In most states it’s illegal to falsely claim you have professional credentials. Someone should inquire to the Maine Board of Accountancy.
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