Monthly archives: November 2008

 

 

Excellent Idea

  • By: Cindy

BREAKING NEWS: I DID HEAR that the Republican Town Committee picked a replacement for Steve Carroll who resigned. It is officially to be announced this coming week. I really like Steve Carroll and am sorry he resigned. But this new person M.B. (no–it is not a man) will be GREAT for the RTC. I am not involved with the RTC so I WILL NOT give out the name. It will be up to RTC members.

As far as the Democrats go, I do not know who they picked. I am not privy to that information.

I know a lot of you have told me that you have enjoyed the “Florio vs Ruocco” video.  It was interesting to say the least, because Cheshire is not used to unrehearsed or should I say, emotional speeches.

And you notice, this meeting has not re-aired on Channel 14 Town Government Channel as of yet!!
Hmm!!

Well, this is a first.

Speaking of Town Council, I want to thank my many supporters out there who have contacted me asking if I would put my name in to fill the vacant Democratic spot on the Town Council when Elizabeth Esty leaves the end of this year to assume her new responsibilities as 103rd District State Representative in Hartford.

Well, first of all, I am still a Republican, even though I REALLY AM DEMOCRATIC and always will be. Number two: I don’t reside in the First District, but I guess I could pull a Hillary Clinton and become a Carpetbagger. (I reside in the Third District).

Number three: You know darn well it would be a COLD DAY IN HELL if I ever got nominated by one of the two parties to be selected for a seat on the Council. WHY?? Because they DON’T LIKE ME!! But that is OK. Also, I would not just vote with my party all the time either. I would vote my conscience and what the MAJORITY, emphasis on the word majority, would want me to do!!

I think it is an EXCELLENT IDEA though. Do you think any of those Democrats would have the guts to mention my name as a potential candidate?? NO!! Even if I was put on the Town Council as a fill-in, I would go in as an Independent anyway. This way here I would have all the power!! That is what I want–ALL THE POWER. I would be the pivotal vote. EXCELLENT!!! But if you think about it, that might be the way to go because none of the two parties would be able to say I was playing politics.

Something to think about.

Now speaking of excellent ideas: I really like this “idea” from Great Britain that is being used in some communities there to slow drivers down. It is cute, but I wonder how effective it is after a few days.

This idea reminds me of the mannequin that a lower Fairfield County town used several years ago to try to control speeders. They placed a police officer mannequin in one of their unmarked cars. It was great the first day. The problem was, the mannequin, fell over in its seat and no one from the Police Department came by to prop it back up. So guess what? All it ended up doing was bringing on laughter from the public because it looked totally ridiculous!!

So, with that in mind, click below to see Great Britain’s solution, for what is is worth, to slow down speeders.  Notice where the mannequins are located.

Will we be doing this in Cheshire?? Maybe!!

Click here

Getting back to the original topic-Politics-apparently, this election year saw the most women (102) seeking election to our Connectiut State Legislature.  It also showcased the use of Public Financing, which Cheshire’s own Elizabeth Esty did use.

Click here

I found an article that highlights just this subject: entitled “Clean Elections-Women on the Way Up.”

Click here

Speaking of Public Financing-here is another look at how the public views this topic.

Click here

On an ending note: myself and many of you are wondering what is going on with W/S Developments site plan for this proposed Lifestyle Center to be built at the I691 Interchange zone in North Cheshire near the Southington line.

First the site plans were supposed to be put in front of the Plan and Zoning Commission in September of this year, then October now November, (which is rapidly coming to a close). And as you know from previous posts, the Town of Preston has all but ditched its idea to convert the old Norwich Hospital site into upscale housing and shopping and I believe Renaissance Square in Naugatuck has hit a pothole because of the economy.

Now if you read my newsfeeds from Sunday, the Hartford Courant has a story stating that despite the economic downturn, Blueback Square in West Hartford has been working out financially.

You know, this paper keeps flip-flopping on this story. I just ran a link from them a few months ago where they stated that “depending upon who you asked” Blueback Square was a hit or a miss.

I am providing a link to the Courant story in case it falls off the Newsfeeds and you want to re-read it.

Click here for Blueback Square article

For your entertainment–STUPID VIDEOS

 

Arrogance

  • By: Cindy

I never really have time to watch the Town Council meetings in full because of my schedule.

But, on Tuesday night, I did happen to see the “exchange” between Town Councilman Tom Ruocco and Schools Supt. Greg Florio.

Actually, it was Councilman Ruocco who spoke from his heart. And you know what–it was REFRESHING to hear a member of the Town Council actually show some backbone for once and show some emotion and tell it like it is!! I know everyone is talking about it and I am sure Town Council member Tim White will have the video on his blog but whether you agree with Ruocco or not, you have to give him credit for speaking his mind in a blunt and honest way.

I sometimes think this entire Town Council meeting is scripted. It is so run of the mill. What happened last night when Ruocco gave Florio a piece of his mind, is not part of the script if you will in this town. But, in other towns IT IS!!

People speak like this all the time. They have REAL heart to heart and emotional discussions. That is what makes the world go round.  Maybe Cheshire is waking up!!

To me, it just boils down to plain old arrogance. This town government is a master at it. When they believe they might be running into some “resistance” or someone who dares questions them, they start belittling and intimidating people in plain English. And no, I am not going to be apologizing for that statement.

There is an old saying: “If you said it, you meant it” DAMN RIGHT!!!

When this town thinks someone is attempting to get in their way–the rhetoric you heard Tuesday night is their modus operandi.

“Oh I am glad I am not working in the public sector.”

What kind of statement is that? P.O’ed because your request for the 4.4 percent raise over the next three years is not going to be rubberstamped? Angry because some of the Town Council members had the audacity to ask some QUESTIONS and take up your valuable time??

Remember, the Board of Education budget is the largest expenditure the town has. People have a RIGHT to question for as long as they deem necessary. They only get one shot at it before it has to be voted on.  Absolutely outrageous!!

Just because some people on the Town Council did not roll over and play dead-does not justify that statement. Trying to relate the corporate bailout to the average person who goes out everyday and busts their ass at work, is just unfair and Councilman Ruocco had a right to be insulted.

Teachers deserve good money and they get it in Connecticut. But remember, it is a 180 day a year job. Now I substitute from time to time in several surrounding towns and believe me, I know it is not easy to be around children all day. It is demanding and grueling. You have to be on top of your game every minute!!

But resorting to insults in an attempt to intimidate is out of line–and thats all it was–CHESHIRE intimidating and insulting when they believe they may not get their way. And it doesn’t stop at the Board of Education either!!

And then you know who, with the comment: “oh how can you say you support teachers if you won’t give them this increase.”

HELLO!! I love my children, but I guess I really don’t because I don’t shower them with everything they ask for.

The big issue was: should the Town Council reject the 4.4 percent increase in teacher salaries over the next three years and let an arbitrator handle the situation. If this happened, (and you all know it is not because the Council with a party line vote, Dems for, Republicans against),  would the town lose out if the arbitrator awarded a higher increase? Or would the town have made out if the arbitrator had awarded a lower increase?

Will this 4.4 percent increase eventually lead to staff reductions? Would a lower increase possibly have prevented this? Only your hairdresser knows for sure!! God Damn It!!

So, with that in mind, let’s take a look at the latest figures for teacher’s salaries across the U.S. FYI: Apparently, the United Kingdom is the place to be if teaching is your game.

Click here to find Teacher Salaries

And I bet you all want to know what state was the “SMARTEST”as of April 2008. Hint: I guess Florio has a point!!

Click here for Smartest State

Click here for a reality check on raises.

Florida teachers offered 2 percent raise

Largest Employers in the World

And lastly:

Click here for Obama’s Journey on Google Map–Really Cool!!


 

Tattletales

  • By: Cindy

If there is one thing I cannot stand, is a person or persons that go behind someones back to make comments with the intention of causing trouble. That is just what I believe is happening with this issue I am writing about.

A few days ago, someone connected with Town Government, contacted me and told me that HE was told by a third party that our Police Chief in Cheshire was attending a Police Chiefs Convention in San Diego, California.

Now I know the Chief went on “vacation” the week of Nov. 9th and it just so happens the Police Chiefs Conference is taking place this same week. A coincidence? Who knows.

When this person contacted me, I asked him why he did not bring up the issue himself, Apparently he does not feel comfortable doing so.

First of all, I am not a gossip rag or an outlet for someone who is upset at their job or does not like their supervisor.  If the person who gave out this information initially,  (and I believe I know who it is),  is giving out the information because something wrong is being done, that is one thing.

But to go around and just gossip about this person, that is another thing.

First of all, if  money was set aside in this fiscal years budget for this trip-that is all well and good and there is nothing to be done about it now.

All department heads or supervisors I am sure, attend conventions. Our Town Manager has gone to them, I am sure our Supt of Schools attends them as does the Fire Chief. And our Public Works Director has probably attended a dump truck convention or two–who knows.

Conventions are a way for Department Heads to network and learn that is true. But, um, like San Diego is stretching it a bit far-IF THIS IS THE CASE!!

Now, I am not contacting the Town Managers office, because IF this IS true,  the Town Manager in his monthly report to the Town Council should have mentioned it. Hopefully, he will speak about this at the next Town Council meeting.  Our town is not CIA Headquarters and the Town Government should be open about these issues. Plus, let’s face it, my spouse couldn’t get a straight answer regarding the speed limit on Academy Road, so why bother with this issue, and I am sure the Tass News Agency will have a “story” in Thursdays paper.

There is nothing wrong with attending conventions and I am not going to get on anyone’s case about it now.

BUT, as all of you know, this country is in the throes of a severe economic challenge. DHL just cut 9,500 jobs, closing their service centers in the United States. Unemployment is at 6.5 percent–but you all must remember that this doesn’t count people who have exhausted their benefits; or people who are underemployed: i.e. you worked 40 hours per week and now you work part-time for less pay.

I just saw former U.S. Labor Dept Secretary Robert Reich on C-Span a few days ago and he stated that if the underemployed and people who exhausted their benefits were counted, the U.S. unemployment rate would be 11 or 12 percent!!!

If the US Government does not bail out the big three automakers, this country will add over 2 million more people to the unemployment rolls and that in itelf, without counting underemployed or people who have exhausted their benefits, would jump the unemployment figures to over 11 percent!!

So, all towns, not just Cheshire, have to cut back on trips, take home vehicle and gas usage. Because, prices are low now, but experts agree that oil will be back t0 $100 a barrel by the end of the year.

We need to establish a sizable rainy day fund. Cut expenses to the bare bones. The more people who are unemployed, the worse the problem gets. No one, unless you are a mortician, is exempt from this economic fallout–no one.

This issue is exactly why I wanted Cheshire to belong to the State Association of Police Commissions, We would have been able to recieve training and informational seminars for free. But what can I tell you–I tried!!

When I have to see Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch holding back tears in talking about his city’s economic plight and having to face daunting layoffs, struggling to keep his city intact, it stresses the point even more–all towns and cities in Connecticut and throughout our nation have GOT TO CUT OUT THE EXCESS SPENDING!!

If you want to go to a convention or seminar–FINE!! Pay for it yourself.

Look at the fallout from AIG. The government bails them out and they CONTINUE to go on lavish trips funded by you and me!! All of this has to be eliminated.  Let AIG go under–they deserve it. Put this bailout money to good use by helping our homeless veterans, homeless and jobless people and people who will not be able to heat their homes this winter. THERE ARE PLENTY OF THEM OUT THERE!!

And no, it is not liberal do gooding. It is what is RIGHT!!

If you are disgruntled or upset with your supervisor at work, you need to face it head on. That is what I do. When I work for a client, I set my parameters right then and there. If I believe something to be wrong, or my supervisor does something I don’t like, I TELL THEM TO THEIR FACE!!

If you don’t like what is going on just because you do not like a person or your supervisor, not because something is being done that is WRONG, that is a different pony, that is a persons obligation to bring to light misconduct or wrongs, but if it is just a personal feeling:

THEN MOVE ON. GET ANOTHER JOB OR SHUT UP!!

Click here for San Diego Police Chiefs Conference


 

Best Places in U.S. To Raise Your Kids

  • By: Cindy

I just happened upon this article entitled “Best Places in the U.S. to Raise Your Kids.” The article covers all fifty states. You might be surprised or maybe you won’t be-I wasn’t. I know this town very well and it is great!! I went to school here. And I know a few people from Cheshire that have made fun of this town–WELL GUESS WHAT CHESHIRE–WE WERE NOT PICKED!! So THERE!!

Plus, there isn’t really anything to do here–so here goes.

Click here for Best Places story

I am also featuring under “Featured Video” a project made by Kansas State University Students about how students today view the world.  The camera work is a little rough for my liking, but I think it is a great project. Of course, I am biased towards K-State but can you blame me? I don’t know if you will catch it-but one of the signs a student holds up says “Over 1 billion people-make less than $1 a day”  AMAZING. And you think YOU have it rough!! Where is their bailout???

Goodbye for now.

 

New Signs

  • By: Cindy

These are two new signs that are now on opposite ends of Jarvis Street nearing Lancaster Way in order to help motorists see outgoing traffic from Lancaster Way.

The sign on the top is on Jarvis Street coming up the hill from Peck Lane approaching Lancaster Way. It shows the straight line, (which is Jarvis, and the smaller line jutting out from the center of the big line, which is Lancaster Way).

Hopefully, motorists will now be more aware that traffic does enter from the right (as you can barely see in the photo on the right. If you look closely, you can see the street sign for Lancaster Way).

Having a hard time seeing it? Well that is exactly why this new traffic sign is in place.

Now the second sign below,  which alerts motorists to an approaching curve is also on Jarvis Street, right past Devonwood Drive. The sign is going TOWARDS Peck Lane before you approach Lancaster Way.

I have the photos of what it looked like in August before these signs, especially the one going UP Jarvis towards Lancaster, were put up. The new sign was put where the old 25 mph speed limit sign used to be. That speed limit sign was put further down the hill closer to the Peck Lane, Jarvis Street intersection.

I want to thank the Cheshire Police Department, The Public Safety Commission and Chief Cruess for their attention to this matter. I feel a little better about this intersection now-it is THE definition of a blind spot.

But, even though the town has “technically” met its legal obligation warning motorists of a side street approaching, I really hope in the near future that a worded sign something to the effect of “CAUTION-CARS ENTERING FROM RIGHT” or “CAUTION-BLIND SPOT-CARS ENTERING AHEAD” will be put into place. Even this sign with a yellow flashing light will be sufficient. Motorists tend to ignore signs such as the one above-we need something to get their attention.

It is a downright miracle no one has been seriously injured in a car accident yet in this area. Boy, I would LOVE to see the CPD give a motorist a ticket for going through THAT stop sign on Lancaster and Jarvis-I DON”T THINK SO!!!

These two blind spots are exactly why some people who live in my area are concerned about a few new homes that are planning to be built on Jarvis Street going towards Marion Road on the big hill down from the old Greenshire School, across from Guinevere Ridge. THIS IS A MASSIVE BLIND SPOT. There had better be some serious signage alerting drivers that people may be pulling out of their driveways on a massive slope of a hill!!

I will try to get a photo of where these homes may be constructed sometime this week. I know the Planning and Zoning Commission has discussed this with the developer and they are planning a field trip–which is a public meeting. Hopefully, I will be able to find out when P&Z plan on visiting this site and hopefully, they will take public input.

Now onto a different topic:

I hope you all enjoyed how to make lasagna in your dishwasher. I still want to know where all that water goes. The lasagna looks waterlogged in the photo-give me a break!!!

As you know our economy is really getting bad. This is why I am questioning the 4.4 percent raise given to the teachers in Cheshire. I am all for education, as you well know, but, it has to be reasonable when it comes to raises.

This town is really going to start struggling to come up with money to operate our town government. Housing prices are going down and the state is going to start cutting back on cities and towns. Cheshire will suffer.

I cannot emphasize enough the importance of getting the state of Connecticut to start paying their fair share of sewage use at that prison. If they will not reimburse the town 100 percent, as I stated in earlier posts, CUT THEM OFF!!  PERIOD!! Stop mealy mouthing around with these people. They are taking advantage and the Town Government is letting them at taxpayer expense.

I know Al Adinolfi had addressed concerns regarding this issue. I am hopeful Ms. Esty will do the same up there in Hartford. P.S. WAIT until she sees the traffic jams up there, especially the first day of the new Legislative sessions. I remember I had been doing a consulting job for a major Insurance Company there and I literally had to drive a few feet on the sidewalk on Farmington Avenue to get out of the traffic gridlock!!

If this town is going to award teachers a 4.4 percent raise, then my question is: what about the town employees? Shouldn’t they get the same raise??  Something to think about.

The three major auto makers are facing financial ruin. My solution–major concessions from the unions. I am sorry, I don’t want to sound anti-union because I am not, but it is time to tighten the belt and do with less. I know most of you would do just about anything to keep from being laid off. Well, make serious concessions, union representatives. Do not cut off your nose to spite your face PLEASE!!!

We cannot keep bailing and bailing and bailing out these arrogant auto makers!! Build AFFORDABLE QUALITY small cars as Toyota and Honda have for years using the same assembly line!! Not several different ones for several different cars and trucks. This cuts down or eliminates retooling.

Also, Toyota does not have a union. It may come to this if GM and the other big two car makers will not make concessions.

Speaking of concessions, this town may seriously have to re think this Community Pool. If you are not going to run it as a business, Town of Cheshire, LIKE PUTTING UP A SIGN ON RT 10 for STARTERS and charging everyone the same fee and actively seek memberships from ALL OVER not just Cheshire, then you will have to consider making it a two season pool, or closing the pool and putting it over at the HIGH SCHOOL WHERE IT BELONGED IN THE FIRST PLACE!!!

The time for show offing is OVER!! EVERYWHERE!! I urge as many people as possible to attend the upcoming BUDGET WORKSHOPS!! NOT JUST THE PUBLIC HEARINGS AT TOWN HALL. By then it is too late. You need to go to these workshops and voice your concerns BEFORE the budget is set.

Now, I know he gets a lot of flack from the Republicans, but Councilman Ecke is very astute when it comes to the budget process. He does a good job. He is fairly conservative and looks out for the best interest of the town.

I DON’T LIKE THIS ASTRO TURF ITEM however. It may have to be shelved and the money used for more inportant priorities like a rainy day fund!!

So all of you-stop arm chairing and get out to these budget hearings. I know I will be there, especially to support my favorite department–THE POLICE!!

Anyway, I WILL be contacting the Police Chief NEXT WEEK so we can discuss some items. This meeting as was the case with the last meeting several months ago, will be private.

So to end, I am now going to link you to an article explaining “WHY YOU ARE NOT RICH” (10 MoreReasons)

Town of Cheshire–TAKE NOTE!!

Click here