Here's the proposed capital budget for P&R:Park improvements:Linear trail:Pool improvements:This is the $50,000 that I mentioned here a few days ago. FWIW, I'm not voting to spend this money on the pool. It's beyond ridiculous. How many times do we have to fix this roof?!
If there was any leadership on the Council, they wouldn't have thwarted my efforts to fast track my calls for an alternative to the bubble in February 2008. And if they had moved on that, the town may have been able to get money in December 2008 for a shovel-ready, green energy project that would have eliminated the bubble for good. Oh well. 73 days to go.
With regard to driving policy through inaction... add Mixville as another glaring example... steering people to the pool to increase revenue there, while neglecting Mixville, was wrong. And that had happened for years. Hopefully that practice had ended.
My overall concern though is judgment. And excluding the members of Cheshire's Political Class, including some residents of The Gated Castle, what Cheshire residents actually believe giving a 6% or 7% payraise after the recession had started shows good judgment?
How some Council members could speak with a straight face last night... after some of the comments they made off camera... is amazing to me. It reminds me of a comment made by the Council Chairman a few years ago. He recalled a comment made to him by Councilman Altieri. Basically, Altieri said to Hall that politicians were actors who couldn't succeed in Hollywood.
Based on last night's performance, I think several people sitting behind the dais could do quite well in Hollywood.
And I'd still love for someone to get Councilman Ecke on the record, responding to my concerns about the work environment at the CPD.
Tim Slocum is running for Town Council (at-large). Tim is currently a member of the Council and previously served four years on the Planning & Zoning Commission. He owns HFM Fabrics... located where Scully Auto Parts had been for years. I wish Tim the best of luck. Frankly though, as I've mentioned before... I'm only convinced of two Republicans who will win this fall - Tim Slocum and Tom Ruocco.
Before the meeting, I introduced Sheldon Dill to Anne Giddings. The introduction was fun. Anne attended the meeting to listen and participate. And she's clearly excited and looking forward to the campaign. I'm sure she'd thoroughly enjoy being on the Council. I hope she gets to join me there in a few months. But getting to the meeting...
Tonight's agenda moved along, but there was some discussion. Perhaps helping the meeting move along was the absence of Councilman Ecke. Missing his presence, I was guessing there may not be a vote to spend an additional $200,000 to $250,000 or more on the pool (keep in mind that one of the two bidders had problems with the bid bond). The bids are here:We then voted (8-0) to adopt the changes to the personnel rules & regs. Included in that were new rules:
1) Prohibiting the accumulation of more than 35 vacation days (transitioning past the existing accumulated days is a separate issue) and
2) Eliminating the defined benefit plan for future non-union hires as an option. Going forward, future non-union hires will be given the option of a defined contribution plan with a 5% auto payment and additional 1% match if an ee contributes 1%. Personally, I think it's a pretty generous plan.
Now I want to focus on the other three parts of this grid:But those would need to be negotiated in a fair and equitable manner. That could take time... though the town's union contracts just expired on June 30... with new ones in negotiations. For my part, I'm comfortable spending a bit more now... so as to avoid sticking the bill to the next generation... as they love to do in Washington with their new found love of "borrow n spend" fiscal policies.
The Town Manager's contract extension passed (7-1). I opposed it. I offered several thoughts - both complimentary and constructive. I may elaborate later this week. But in the meantime, if any reporters are reading this... I suggest you call Councilman Ecke to ask for his views. I think it would be interesting to mention to him that I voiced concerns about employee morale, particularly with the CPD. Then ask him if my concerns are legitimate. I'd find his response fascinating. Oh... and... btw, it wouldn't surprise me at all if that was part of why he wasn't there tonight.
Grant money for the linear trail was discussed.
And the OTT Freedom of Information Act ruling that all constituent emails are subject to FOI. I understand the idea behind it, but I think it's an invasion of the privacy of the public. As I mentioned tonight... We The People are in charge of the government. The government is not in charge of We The People.
And near the end of the meeting, Councilman Altieri asked for Council feedback on the possibility of investigating the use of performance contracting as a financing mechanism for some town projects. Great idea! Thank you Matt... now maybe the Council can make some progress if we can replace the guy who wants little else than to be Honorary Mayor... with Anne Giddings... maybe we can make get some things moving in town!
Here is the capital budget proposal for the sewers / WPCA:Wastewater treatment plant - upgrade design & construction: Cook Hill pump station:Influent plant pump station improvement:Tim White
The NHRs William Kaempffer reports that Cheshire resident Robert Tagliaferi is headed to prison for all those burglaries here in Cheshire and environs between the summer of 2007 and into the following winter.
Finally.
The jig was up Friday. Wearing khaki prison garb, the diminutive man pleaded guilty to 14 break-ins in Greater New Haven in 2007 and 2008. He faces 10 years in prison with his continued cooperation with an ongoing federal investigation; 16 if he doesn’t.
The story is rather odd. It supposedly involves the mob.
Starting today, police and water authority staff said construction crews will be installing the main on Route 10 between Schoolhouse Road and West Johnson Avenue.
The construction will continue daily from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. until work is complete.
Here is the capital budget proposal for the sewers / WPCA:Inflow & Infiltration (InI) remediation:Mixville Pump Station:Mixville Pump Station failed at referendum last year. Since then it's been discussed a bit, including in these posts regarding:
Ye that tell us of harmony and reconciliation, can ye restore to us the time that is past? Can ye give to prostitution its former innocence? Neither can ye reconcile Britain and America. The last cord now is broken, the people of England are presenting addresses against us. There are injuries which nature cannot forgive; she would cease to be nature if she did. As well can the lover forgive the ravisher of his mistress, as the continent forgive the murders of Britain. The Almighty hath implanted in us these unextinguishable feelings for good and wise purposes. They are the guardians of his image in our hearts. They distinguish us from the herd of common animals. The social compact would dissolve, and justice be extirpated from the earth, or have only a casual existence were we callous to the touches of affection. The robber, and the murderer, would often escape unpunished, did not the injuries which our tempers sustain, provoke us into justice.
Introducing Sylvia Nichols! She's the former owner of The Window Box florist in the south end of town. She owned it for about 20 or 30 years and sold it about five years ago. Now with The Window Box having closed in March, she's opening a florist at Cheshire Nursery just north of Ives Corner.
I'm excited. I can barely believe it. It's finally happening!
Here are the annual changes to the Personnel Rules & Regulations. You may find it interesting. One thing that Tom Ruocco has been advocating for a while is ending the practice of accumulating vacation days in perpetuity. For instance, it's not uncommon for Town employees to have in excess of 100 vacation days (five months) after many years of service. Tom wants to end that practice and move to "use it or lose it."
See the details here:
And here's my baby... the issue I've been trying to address for years - moving from the use of defined benefit pension plans (DB) to defined contribution pension plans (DC):I'm not sure why the 6% value was chosen, but I get 4%. And I spoke with someone else who gets 4.5%. But since South Windsor gives 12.7% for their DC plan, I'm thinking that getting City Hall to take any action, including the 6%, is worthwhile.
But remember, this only addresses one of four groups of town employees - future non-union employees:I'd like to continue moving from DB plans to DC plans, but that will require both leadership and a belief by all stakeholders that negotiations are being conducted fairly and respectfully. I'm not holding my breath. I mean, how someone in senior management could've gotten a 6% raise after the recession started dumbfounds me. That doesn't exactly set a precedent for building good relations.
Changing topics a bit, but staying with the DC plan... one amendment that I hope is made to this is a requirement that the 6% is established as a match. That is, my hope is to encourage employees to save for the future. As such, I think employees should receive the 6% as a match. One for one matches seem common, but I'd be open to a different ratio.
Last, but not least... I again thank Councilman Sheldon Dill for making this happen. My guess is that it won't be a 5-4 vote on Tuesday. But I assure you, this wouldn't be on the table if it weren't for him. And even if there's significant change in the Council composition in November... City Hall would still dawdle for months and months... then say "we'll do it during the annual changes to rules & regs"... and it'd be another year before this change was implemented. So I thank Sheldon for this.
To talk of friendship with those in whom our reason forbids us to have faith, and our affections wounded through a thousand pores instruct us to detest, is madness and folly. Every day wears out the little remains of kindred between us and them, and can there be any reason to hope, that as the relationship expires, the affection will increase, or that we shall agree better, when we have ten times more and greater concerns to quarrel over than ever?
Here is a 30-second video of Barbara Ruocco and her husband, Tom Ruocco. Tom is the 2nd district representative on the Town Council. He was first elected to the Council in November 2005 and was reelected in November 2007. He's currently nominated by the Cheshire Republican Party to run for a third term representing Cheshire's 2nd District. I'm confident Tom will work hard and the voters of the 2nd district will reelect him on November 3.
I guess Paulson thinks that his decision to let Goldman Sachs' competition fail (Lehman Bros.) or get swallowed (Bear Stearns) was totally appropriate. And it was also appropriate to bailout AIG... enabling AIG to act as a front man for Goldman Sachs pay its debts, including to the single biggest beneficiary of the initial $85 billion AIG bailout - $13 billion to Goldman.
Unbelievable. And Obama just sits back and breaks his own rules on lobbyists by allowing Tim Geithner to hire Goldman's chief lobbyist as his Chief of Staff at Treasury!
We need real leaders in Congress, such as Ron Paul (Populist - TX) and Bernie Sanders (Populist - VT). Washington is controlled by The Political Class... and they need to go.
There's some interesting stuff here: Item 7A includes a possible vote to spend money on the pool. The chances I support that motion are somewhere between slim to none. Seriously, who isn't disgusted with this stuff. If the Council had acted in February 2008 - rather than playing dumb with my suggestions to take action - we may have had a shovel-ready project in December 2008... and this whole discussion could have been avoided. But instead, the Council prefers to drag it's feet:
1) considering performance contracting for the town, 2) modernizing the town's pension system, 3) reducing the use of town-owned take-home vehicles...
the list of inaction on important issues seems endless.
A government of our own is our natural right: And when a man seriously reflects on the precariousness of human affairs, he will become convinced, that it is infinitely wiser and safer, to form a constitution of our own in a cool deliberate manner, while we have it in our power, than to trust such an interesting event to time and chance. If we omit it now, some, Massanello may hereafter arise, who laying hold of popular disquietudes, may collect together the desperate and discontented, and by assuming to themselves the powers of government, may sweep away the liberties of the continent like a deluge. Should the government of America return again into the hands of Britain, the tottering situation of things, will be a temptation for some desperate adventurer to try his fortune; and in such a case, what relief can Britain give? Ere she could hear the news, the fatal business might be done; and ourselves suffering like the wretched Britons under the oppression of the Conqueror. Ye that oppose independence now, ye know not what ye do; ye are opening a door to eternal tyranny, by keeping vacant the seat of government. There are thousands, and tens of thousands, who would think it glorious to expel from the continent, that barbarous and hellish power, which hath stirred up the Indians and Negroes to destroy us, the cruelty hath a double guilt, it is dealing brutally by us, and treacherously by them.
Here's a brief introduction to Marilyn Bartoli and her husband, Joe Bartoli. Joe is currently a member of the Zoning Board of Appeals. He has served for six years on the ZBA. He's now running for Council (at-large). Marilyn is the Chair of the Republican Town Committee.
The video got cut short and is a bit shaky. Blame me for that. I'm brand new at this stuff. I'll try to improve.
I know the pool structures all came back in the $5,000,000 range (or more). But I still want to hear more from those who proposed. I mean... theoretically... if any of them said they could reduce the annual energy bill from $400,000 to zero... and the ROI would be 13 years... then I might see it being viable at referendum.
Sure, I don't see that being the case. But we've come this far. And despite my best efforts, it's unrealistic to send anything to referendum this fall. So we may as well hear from the companies about their anticipated energy-savings. Though I don't know why they would've excluded any significantly positive energy-savings numbers from their proposals. (Only one of six companies included projected energy-savings. And those numbers were explicitly requested.)
The Public Library wants to move to an automated checkout that would enable you to walk out with your books and not need to get checked out by a librarian. It done with a system called Radio Frequency Identification (RFID). The Library wants to combine the RFID with the removal of the checkout desk... allowing for additional space for books, etc.Tim White
But where says some is the King of America? I'll tell you Friend, he reigns above, and doth not make havoc of mankind like the Royal Brute of Britain. Yet that we may not appear to be defective even in earthly honors, let a day be solemnly set apart for proclaiming the charter; let it be brought forth placed on the divine law, the word of God; let a crown be placed thereon, by which the world may know, that so far as we approve as monarchy, that in America THE LAW IS KING. For as in absolute governments the King is law, so in free countries the law ought to be King; and there ought to be no other. But lest any ill use should afterwards arise, let the crown at the conclusion of the ceremony be demolished, and scattered among the people whose right it is.
Wow. It took me a second to understand this, but wow. This is amazingly powerful. I can see how Thomas Paine inspired a nation.
Supporters of Peter Schiff (many are my fellow Paulistas!) have scheduled a money bomb for today:
I'm curious to see how it goes. Peter Schiff or Sam Caligiuri - I'd be delighted to call either of them my Senator. Frankly though, while I think Dodd could lose to either of them... I just don't see how Schiff gets the GOP nomination.
Money certainly is helpful though. And while the creators of this particular money bomb hoped to raised $1,000,000 today... they... ummm... are up to... $480,000 as of 1am! Ha! I love it!
A few days ago I posted an email from Councilman Matt Altieri that provided an update on his view on performance contracting. At the time, I promised a brief history on just some of the times that performance contracting was discussed by the Council. Here's that history:
August 30, 2007 - During the capital budget vote, I requested that the following year's $1,900,000 CHS electric retrofit be considered for performance contracting. Councilman Mike Ecke responded by saying he would consider PC, but he needed specific projects. So I repeated my request that PC be used for the $1,900,000 CHS electric retrofit:
December 17, 2007 - The Budget Committee discussed PC and concluded the meeting by asking the Energy Commission (EC) to provide additional information.
December 18, 2007 - The EC Chair, Rich Ogurick, asked me for Ecke's email address... then forwarded add'l PC information to Ecke.
January 2008 - Chairman Ogurick asked me if Ecke had done anything. I recall following up with Ecke and getting no response. I didn't mention this on the blog at that time because I incorrectly believed that elected officials would do the right thing and follow through on their promises.
March 11, 2008 - Jimmy Sima asked about using performance contracting as a financing mechanism for the construction of the then-estimated $1,900,000 CHS electric retrofit. DPW Director Joe Michelangelo explained that the Council would need to consider that.
May 30, 2008 - Ecke made a statement in the MRJ that my blog was like the "bathroom wall" and he didn't read such things.
June 2, 2008 - Ecke emailed me saying that he'd been "busy" and requested that I send him the PC information again. Again, no followup from Ecke.
August 24, 2008 - During the capital budget, I said the Council failed to act on the (Ecke & Esty) promise to seriously consider PC. Altieri and Esty blamed me for failing to explain PC to them. During this same meeting, Ecke sat there silently, never disclosing the fact that he was repeatedly given information by both me and Ogurick. I viewed this as a lie of omission by Ecke.... but what's new about Councilman Truth?
May 26, 2009 - The building assessment consultant discussions happened. I suggested the Council consider using PC as an alternative to a cash outlay of $150,000. Altieri said the Council had discussed and dismissed PC as a financing option. Then I recapped the above history for him (on TV)... basically showing Ecke to be untruthful. And since neither Ecke nor Altieri responded to me, I concluded that my reminder on the recent Council history had Altieri feeling as though Ecke had thrown him under the bus. (Sorry - no video handy for this, but I'll try to get it up as some point.)
July 29, 2009 - Damage control! Based on reading Altieri's email, I infer that Matt has reached the same conclusion that I have. Councilman Mike Ecke adds little value to the Council and one cannot count on him to fulfill his promises.
After Ecke effectively threw Altieri under the bus, how could Matt ever trust him again? Nope. Altieri has decided to go it alone on this. And as I said before, my guess is that Matt is sincerely open to the idea. And if he feels there's real merit (not only in terms of damage control, but also in terms of saving money and energy), then he may actually have a sitdown with The Boss and tell The Boss that all these credit rating upgrades on The Boss' resume are not as important as saving money and conserving energy. Of course, The Boss will immediately respond with straw man after straw man... making it crystal clear that such disobedience will not be tolerated among Council members!
As for the conclusion of that conversation?... I'm guessing it will end after November 3rd.
I implore you... find five people who are willing to direct The Boss. He needs some direction bigtime... and among the 19 candidates running... Councilman Truth is the most averse to directing The Boss.
I understand Mixville's playground is in a formerly swampy area. That's why the drainage in the playground area would always be difficult. You can see some of the problems here in this photo I took last Saturday.There's talk of moving the playground to the slightly higher ground near the base of the ski slope.
Should any body of men be hereafter delegated for this or some similar purpose, I offer them the following extracts from that wise observer on governments Dragonetti. "The science" says he "of the politician consists in fixing the true point of happiness and freedom. Those men would deserve the gratitude of ages, who should discover a mode of government that contained the greatest sum of individual happiness, with the least national expense."
He was the conservative standard-bearer in the US Senate in the 1990s. And after a number of disappointing nominations by President-elect George W. Bush, our possible special guest finally gave both social conservatives and strict constructionists reason to cheer with his nomination to be the next U.S. Attorney General. (I fall in the strict constructionist category... I'm not particularly concerned about civil unions or gay marriage.)
And while he got derided by liberals during his tenure for reasons as simple as him being a Bush appointee... I stood firm all along that he supported the Constitution. And just this month there was further evidence documented by the liberal left that Ashcroft defended the Constitution - not President Bush.
If you read the link, you'll see that President Bush personally sent Alberto Gonzales and Andy Card to the hospital bed of the sitting U.S. Attorney General... to ask for his signoff on warrantless wiretapping.
Here's the overall Public Works capital budget (sans sewers):Weeks Pond:East Johnson bridge:Road repavement:I'm curious to see which roads would be getting repaved with this money - should it pass at referendum.
Yesterday I noted that the press were showing Tim Geithner's true colors. He's typical of many Chief Executives. In his case, he's the CEO of the Treasury Department in effect.
Here's a video of him explaining how he'll win support for his financial regulatory reform:
Earth to Obama - fire him along with the rest of Bush's failed economic team! They're doing neither you nor the country any public service. They're serving Wall Street!
The conferring members being met, let their business be to frame a CONTINENTAL CHARTER, or Charter of the United Colonies; (answering to what is called the Magna Charta of England) fixing the number and manner of choosing members of Congress, members of Assembly, with their date of sitting, and drawing the line of business and jurisdiction between them: (Always remembering, that our strength is continental, not provincial:) Securing freedom and property to all men, and above all things, the free exercise of religion, according to the dictates of conscience; with such other matter as is necessary for a charter to contain. Immediately after which, the said Conference to dissolve, and the bodies which shall be chosen comformable to the said charter, to be the legislators and governors of this continent for the time being: Whose peace and happiness, may God preserve, Amen.
Capital budgets are funded with bonds, and Councilor Tim White said the projects were being described as alleviating pressure on the operating budget, which is funded by money on hand. "That's code word for moving from tax and spend to borrow and spend," he said. "That's what's gotten this country into so much trouble."
I hope we don't have to hear anymore of these comments about "alleviating pressure on the operating budget." I know our debt levels have been dropping for the past few years. But I'm not expecting the economy to turnaround anytime soon. In which case, the chickens will come home to roost.
I'm of the belief that we need to cut spending... not just shift it from the operating budget to the capital budget... as happens with the pensions when you see early retirements being bandied about as a "savings." In fact, while there's a spending reduction in the operating budget... there's also a spending increase in the pension fund. But that's one of those things you don't discuss in polite company.
Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner wants to railroad through President Obama's financial regulatory reform. Unfortunately for America, the President's proposed "reform" will only doom America to repeating history.
But back to the WSJ...
Geithner (and Bernanke) are at loggerheads with the other regulators, including the heads of the SEC, OTS, OCC and FDIC. (And those regulators are theoretically independent of the Administration. So Geithner has absolutely no right to use expletives and berate these people. Yet he did.) Taxman Tim wants the Federal Reserve to be a "systemic regulator" over firms that are "too big to fail."
Ugh.
The Federal Reserve enabled this whole mess and now President Transparency, Taxman Tim and Helicopter Ben want the American People to trust them to fix it?!
I say no way. It's bad enough that the Federal Reserve runs monetary policy. We don't need their failed regulatory function to be given more power. Chairman Bernanke, Vice Chairman Kohn and their Krohnies are guaranteed to screw up again.
And btw, as the President of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (one of twelve regional banks under Bernanke's umbrella called the FOMC) Geithner cut a deal with Goldman Sachs last fall. And yes, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York has its own Board of Governors. And on that Board of Governors sat a man who was also on the Board of Directors of Goldman Sachs.
So Geithner was simultaneously negotiating a deal with Goldman Sachs, he was also reporting to Goldman Sachs.
Conflict of interest?
Apparently, President Transparency doesn't think so.
When will Obama wake up and smell the coffee? He ran against Bush's "failed economic policies." Yet Obama has exactly the same team - Bernanke and Geithner.
Why should anyone expect things to improve while the same con artists are running the show?
A committee of twenty-six members of Congress, viz. two for each colony. Two members for each House of Assembly, or Provincial Convention; and five representatives of the people at large, to be chosen in the capital city or town of each province, for, and in behalf of the whole province, by as many qualified voters as shall think proper to attend from all parts of the province for that purpose; or, if more convenient, the representatives may be chosen in two or three of the most populous parts thereof. In this conference, thus assembled, will be united, the two grand principles of business, knowledge and power. The members of Congress, Assemblies, or Conventions, by having had experience in national concerns, will be able and useful counsellors, and the whole, being impowered by the people, will have a truly legal authority.
This is really amazing - laying out the framework for a legitimate government to empower a revolution.
Here's the overall Public Works capital budget:Here are the sidewalks. It's precisely this lack of information that annoys me. I don't have a problem with deviating from a plan, but do we even have any plan? I know there's a list of sidewalks to be constructed. But IMO, that information would be distributed with this capital budget request. And it would include cost estimates that would be within 10% of the $200,000 budget. And yes, I know this is for the 2nd year of the CB. But I'm sure there will be new sidewalks this year. Who is going to get them? What are the criteria used in prioritizing the work? I raised these issues a year ago. The response? The usual. See here.And here are the dump trucks. Last year I started learning more about the town fleet.
For commercial use, these vehicles have meters on them... not just odometers, but (if memory serves me) there's also a meter for total hours of use. I tried to get my hands around this and show that if we followed our replacement plan (i.e. every 100,000 miles and 10,000 hours)... then we didn't need a particular vehicle to be replaced for two years.
Unsurprisingly, the response was something to the effect of "But what if we have budgetary constraints next year? Then we won't be able to afford it. So we must buy it now." Absolutely absurd. Could you imagine someone saying "Let's buy a new car now because we may be broke next year!" But this is government. And the mindset in town hall is fundamentally the same as in Washington. Spend, spend, spend! Tim White
A few days ago, the Council received the following email (unedited) from Councilman Matt Altieri:
Hello Fellow Council Members
I wanted to let all of you know that I have been doing some extensive research on how we can bring a possible ESCO to our town to do an energy review and possible performance based contract. I have spoken to municipal officials and someone who consults in the business as well as watched a Webinar that focused on how to use stimulus funds to leverage energy savings. Full disclosure here I did speak with Christopher F. Halpin, P.E., C.E.P who is President of Celtic energy. I watched his Webinar last week and then called him and spoke with him for about 30 minutes. I was able to obtain information about the process-not an easy one to put together but doable over a few months period of time. There are many issues that need to be resolved in terms of process and especially in the area of how the financing will be addressed in regard to our town charter. I did discuss this with the Town Manager and we did begin to list out the issues that may need to be resolved.
It would take too long to explain the process in one email but suffice it to say it has taken me many months of research and phone calls but I think I have a process in mind that I would like to discuss at the next council meeting and get some feedback from all of you as to how to proceed. It is a fairly complex process that will involve town hall staff, our town attorney as well as our Energy Commission. I have put a call in to Rich Orgurick to discuss at the next Energy Commission meeting but he has not yet returned my call. I am sure I will hear from him soon on this issue. When he does I think that commission may be a good starting point. I will let you know the rest of the details next week at the council meeting.
Best Matt Altieri
I think this is great, if he is serious. Some may call me cynical, but this does give me pause... wondering if it's just election year gimmickry? After all, such attention was promised two years ago.
Regardless, I'm glad to have someone at least discussing PC as a possibility. And in defense of my Council colleague, as I've said before... he does work. I just hope that the voters see our Honorary Mayor wannabee, Councilman Truth, for the effort - or lack thereof - he puts into the job. Not that I want to be on the losing side of a vote, but I'm ok with it. What really troubles me is indifference.
Three months and counting....
Tim White
p.s. I'll probably do a timeline of the inaction on performance contracting later this week.
The UKs Financial Times exposes a dirty little secret that is a direct result of the failed economic policies of Bush / Obama.
Wall Street banks are reaping outsized profits by trading with the Federal Reserve...
“You can make big money trading with the government,” said an executive at one leading investment management firm. “The government is a huge buyer and seller and Wall Street has all the pricing power.”
Wall Street is bilking America for all our worth - on their trading activity and on their bonuses. But they're not doing it illegally. They're doing it legally! Because it's the fools in Washington who drank the kool-aid served them by Hank Paulson (R-Goldman), Robert Rubin (D-Goldman) and Tim Geithner (Chief of Staff - Goldman).
Are there any members of the leadership in Washington who are willing to fight the fleecing of America?
But as there is a peculiar delicacy, from whom, or in what manner, this business must first arise, and as it seems most agreeable and consistent that it should come from some intermediate body between the governed and the governors, that is, between the Congress and the people, let a CONTINENTAL CONFERENCE be held, in the following manner, and for the following purpose.
Councilman Tom Ruocco has kicked off his campaign with the creation of a newsletter. It's pretty snazzy, IMO. But I'm not going to print it. Instead, I offer the content:
I am very excited to officially begin my re-election campaign. I’ve worked hard to assist residents with issues that affected their neighborhoods, proposed and obtained unanimous support for the formation of a Senior Tax Relief Study Group, and advocated for low taxes.
I have proposed reduced operating and capital budgets, advanced the idea of salary freezes, supported changes to our pension programs and suggested changes to our vacation accrual policy; all in an effort to reduce operating costs and alleviate long term taxpayer liability. I will continue to advocate for local taxpayer relief in the form of lower budgets and placing taxpayers first in the line of priority. Elected officials have the obligation to represent the citizens of Cheshire, and I intend to maintain a sense of representation that reflects the sentiment of the average Cheshire citizen.
We continue to face difficult economic times. Going forward, elected officials must demonstrate leadership and the courage of our convictions to do what is best for the public. During these challenging times, I believe it is best to treat the local budget and town operations much like the average taxpayer treats their own budget. We must live within our means, reject unnecessary spending on projects that are nice to have, and focus on doing basic things with excellent results. We must reduce our debt service and avoid future debt by using cash to fund smaller capital projects. During this past year’s budget cycle, the cash account we use to avoid debt service, known as capital non-recurring (CNR) was reduced by $247,000. The funds were moved into another account to cover this year’s expenses. This was a mistake. It simply means we have fewer resources to reduce debt, and more recurring costs for next year.
We must become less reliant on state funding and cash surpluses to cover operating costs. Instead we must reduce spending to mitigate the mill rate. Using surpluses to cover recurring costs has simply deferred a tax increase into next year. Better cost management and cost reduction decisions will reduce our demand for excessive surpluses and over-taxation.
The next Council will be confronted by critical issues as well as opportunities. For example, the town will benefit from the collection of over 5 million dollars in reserve funds stemming from our expired contract with the Connecticut Resource Recovery Authority. How will that money be allocated? My position is simple – return it to the taxpayer in the form of reduced long term liability and mill rate reduction. Some possibilities include reducing debt, strengthening and modernizing our pension program, and re-building our taxpayer relief fund. There are ways to help the taxpayer, and opportunities will arise to make it possible. What we need now, more than ever, is leadership with the courage to make it happen.
I wish Tom the best of luck in his reelection bid. I'm confident that he'll both work hard and be reelected on November 3.
The economy has emerged as the leading campaign issue for both parties.
I agree, but begin to diverge here:
"Every other issue is a minor and secondary issue," said Democratic Town Councilman Michael Ecke, who was nominated to a fifth term.
I can think of a number of issues that I certainly would not call "minor." Good to know though that he feels the turf is a minor issue. Though I'm not quite sure why he feels the pool is a minor issue. Perhaps it's the expectations game? If he keeps saying the pool is a minor issue, maybe he can wish it away? That would be interesting.
Ecke said the town's budget is headed in the right direction. The town has received two bond rating increases in as many years.
Now that is almost laughable, except that it's so troubling. This continued nonsense about these ratings upgrades being put forward as evidence that the town is on a sound financial footing is a load of BS. Maybe Mike should read this Bloomberg article(by David Watts Barton and Karen Gullo):
S&P, Fitch and Moody’s face investor lawsuits and criticism by lawmakers for grading mortgage bonds too high and maintaining the ratings months after home-loan defaults surged in 2007. The California Public Employees’ Retirement System, or Calpers, the largest U.S. public pension fund, sued July 9 over $1 billion in losses it blamed on “wildly inaccurate” risk assessments.
Ronald Grassi, a retired California attorney, and Sally Grassi, a retired teacher, sued the New York-based companies in January for negligence, claiming they gave high ratings to the Lehman bonds to curry favor with the investment bank, which filed the biggest bankruptcy in U.S. history in September.
That's right. The ratings agencies are run by a bunch of lying cheats, IMO. They were given a blank check when Congress enshrined them in law... then they abused their power for their own personal gain. Which frankly, is not surprising. The dimwitted Gang of 535 should have expected this to happen. So it's really Congress and the public policy they created that enabled this to happen. The ratings agencies simply took advantage of it. Nonetheless...
The notion that the town is in good financial stead because The Vaunted Ratings Agencies say-so is little more than a perpetuation of the fantasy world that was created by America's Political Class. Personally, I think the town is in OK financial shape. We certainly could and should be doing much better though. For instance, we could have been addressing our defined benefits pension plans years ago. But instead, "we" stuck our head in the sand knowing the real problems would come to a head after "we" are given the title Honorary Mayor!
Let each colony be divided into six, eight, or ten, convenient districts, each district to send a proper number of delegates to Congress, so that each colony send at least thirty. The whole number in Congress will be least 390. Each Congress to sit and to choose a president by the following method. When the delegates are met, let a colony be taken from the whole thirteen colonies by lot, after which, let the whole Congress choose (by ballot) a president from out of the delegates of that province. In the next Congress, let a colony be taken by lot from twelve only, omitting that colony from which the president was taken in the former Congress, and so proceeding on till the whole thirteen shall have had their proper rotation. And in order that nothing may pass into a law but what is satisfactorily just, not less than three fifths of the Congress to be called a majority. — He that will promote discord, under a government so equally formed as this, would have joined Lucifer in his revolt.
Invoking Lucifer?! Wow. And calling for the creation of The Continental Congress?! I don't subscribe to the theory that The Founders actually wanted government - and the individuals who comprised the government - to be entirely devoid of religion.
I've included not only items in the first year of the budget, but also a few from the second year.Firemen's gear:Breathing apparatus:Water mains improve public safety... which is obviously important. But water mains (along with sewer lines) can reduce the size of a developable lot. That is, without sewers and/or water a 20 acre piece of land may allow for ten 2-acre lots. Yet with sewers and/or water a 20 acre piece of land may allow for 40 1/2-acre lots.
Clearly that would have other impacts on the town that are worth considering as part of the bigger picture.Aerial / snorkel truck:Tim White
Let the assemblies be annual, with a President only. The representation more equal. Their business wholly domestic, and subject to the authority of a Continental Congress.
Here's a snapshot of Councilmen Ruocco and Slocum informally discussing the Capital Budget after tonight's meeting:Alright, I admit it. I'm just trying to learn how to use my digital camera... it's kinda fun. Tom's looking very tanned and rested after a few days vacation.
I got to the public works capital budget meeting late, but did raise some concerns that had been on my mind:
Are these sewer projects energy-intensive? And if we move forward with these improvements that could easily cost eight figures, will we find energy-efficiencies?
Of course, I knew the answer was "yes." But there was another point to my questions.
I then asked who created this capital budget?
I was told that staff created the budget and it was revised and approved by the WPCA.
Again, I knew the answer.
But then I asked about some previous email exchanges between me and staff... those exchanges related to me advocating the use of performance contracting as a financing mechanism for these large ticket items. And the basic result of those emails was me being told that if the sewers were to be financed using performance contracting, staff couldn't drive that initiative. It would have to be driven by the WPCA.
Of course, that's a load of BS. And that's why I asked who created the budget - staff, not the WPCA. But then I've known for years that staff (and their Rubber Stampers) are opposed to the very concept of performance contracting, despite their repeated lip service. So I wasn't breaking any new ground here... just putting this nonsense on the record.
And as for staff's years of asserting that no one has yet to prove that performance contracting would save the town money...
I also recall staff telling me for years that videostreaming on the town website had too many technical difficulties and cost too much to make happen.
Then the Council composition changed and Sheldon Dill returned.
"Suddenly" videostreaming was possible.
Whether staff's assertion is correct that performance contracting may not save the town money is largely irrelevant. The problem is that staff has already been shown to be intellectually dishonest at times - the credibility is gone.
This lack of credibility extends to other members of the Town's senior management. Look no further than hotWatergate. While some claim there was no one to blame, anyone with half a brain can see who screwed up that project.
And continuing with other problems in town that continue to get swept under the carpet... there's the police department... some of you may remember this grievance (there's a reason I've been asking about the extent of grievances for the past two years - there's a "there" there - despite the nonsense claims by the Town's top hypocrite). Or maybe you'll remember this slap in the face to staff members who are not card-carrying members of The Inner Circle.
Come November, I seriously hope the voters identify five Council members who are willing to challenge Cheshire's Political Class. I've concluded that their sense of entitlement and belief that they will never be held accountable can only be challenged in the voting booth.
Here's the emergency operations center. Notice there's nothing in the capital budget for this year.This emergency operations center is proposed as a retrofit to the old firehouse (between the new firehouse and the Waverly). If this center is not created, then this same location is proposed as a storage facility for a newly-created food pantry.
If there is any true cause of fear respecting independence, it is because no plan is yet laid down. Men do not see their way out — Wherefore, as an opening into that business, I offer the following hints; at the same time modestly affirming, that I have no other opinion of them myself, than that they may be the means of giving rise to something better. Could the straggling thoughts of individuals be collected, they would frequently form materials for wise and able men to improve into useful matter.
Truly inspiring to me. Thomas Paine believed in John Q. Public, as do I. I simply don't accept that the government is smarter than the individual.
In March 2007, Ron Paul announced his candidacy for President of the United States. He was roundly dismissed by the pundits... though I loved him and had been donating to him for years.
In December 2007, I drove to New Hampshire to help Ron Paul on his quest to win the January 2008 NH GOP primary. While there I heard people chanting "End the Fed." I had no reason to agree or disagree. I had never really understood what it did.
By the spring of 2008, I learned the difference between fiscal policy and monetary policy. Fiscal policy relates to taxing and spending. Monetary policy relates to the existence of money. For instance, monetary policy enables money to grow on trees! Now, I consider myself a fairly well-informed voter. And I'm guessing that at that moment in time, most people had never heard the phrase monetary policy. And frankly, most of the Gang of 535 had probably never heard the phrase either.
So much for the ongoing secrecy of the nation’s independent central banking system. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 75% of Americans favor auditing the Federal Reserve and making the results available to the public.
Yee-ha! Ben Bernanke can do all the pressers he wants. The American people know there's a problem and we're not going to let these crooks continue stealing our money without question.
Justin Adinolfi is the top Dem vote-getter for Council at-large.
Tim Slocum has put in the most time in Cheshire for any GOPer and he gets the most votes for an R. And while any of the other Council at-large candidates can do well, their effort in the campaign will mean a lot.
I'm expecting Jimmy Sima to do well. He's the most conservative Council member with whom I've served and he's very consistent. I can't see any reason why the voters would fire him.
I don't care for his politics, but he'll put in his time campaigning. You don't win state championships - unless you're tireless in pursuit of your goal. For that reason, I'm guessing Councilman Turf will be back for a third term.
For any reporters looking for a human interest story during the dog days of summer, Anne Giddings is related to this guy. He's married to her twin sister. And since it must take some political know-how to be elected both a Governor anda US Senator, I'm guessing she may get some useful advice for her campaign. I wouldn't be surprised in the least bit to see her get elected.
Sylvia Nichols owned the Window Box for a few decades. I'm guessing there's at least a few people in town who will remember the designer of their wedding floral arrangements fondly.
Joe Bartoli has been a member of the ZBA for a couple terms now. He's also been involved with advocating the 3-strikes bill. He hasn't been in Cheshire as long as Tim Slocum, but I think Joe's also spent about 100% of his life here. So I'm sure he's got lots of friends who will support him.
Kerrie Dunne is a member of the Inland Wetlands Committee. Mike Evans is a Republican appointment Democratic member of the Retirement Board.
As for Councilman Truth and his long-held desire to hold the wholly unnecessary title of Honorary Mayor... I firmly hope that his wish does not come true. I don't see any need for the Town to have a chief elected official who routinely throws temper tantrums on TV. Don't get me wrong, he's a nice guy. But we've all seen the behavior for the past few years. And doesn't anyone else remember a year ago when he effectively said he didn't know why he was on the Council? (Hint: It was during the turf discussion.)
I truly believe that it's possible for any of these candidates to win. But at this point, I'd only put money on Adinolfi, Altieri and Slocum. I love serving with Jimmy Sima, but like the other six candidates... the hardest-working and smartest-working ones will win. I'm guessing Jimmy will be among the top five vote recipients.
Park improvements:
Linear trail:
Pool improvements:
This is the $50,000 that I mentioned here a few days ago. FWIW, I'm not voting to spend this money on the pool. It's beyond ridiculous. How many times do we have to fix this roof?!
