Monthly archives: May 2009

 

 

What Is An Easement?

  • By: Cindy

I do not watch that much television-maybe two or three hours a week at the most-but I did tune in this past Tuesday to the Town Council meeting to see ONCE AGAIN-the PARTISAN vote to allow the granting of an easement to Brodach Builders on the end of the cul de sac on Buckland Drive.

This easement for $10, would allow Brodach to enter a few feet of town owned property to hook into the sewer ear if and when the builder decides to construct this Richmond Glen aka Serenity Ranch age restricted housing off of Wiese Road.

The Buckland Drive easement would allow for an emergency vehicles ONLY gate to be constructed, and a small access road, similar to what is situated at Quarry Village off of Peck Lane to be constructed.

As is the case with Quarry Village-this “emergency vehicles only” access road WOULD NOT BE A THROUGH ROAD.

The access road at Quarry Village is NOT ACCESSIBLE TO ANY TRAFFIC-although when the development was first opened in the mid to late eighties-YOU COULD ACCESS QUARRY VILLAGE FROM THAT ROAD OFF OF PECK LANE.

A few years later-it was gated and shut off from through traffic-hopefully this will not happen at the end of Buckland Drive-the road SHOULD BE GATED RIGHT FROM THE GET GO SO ONLY EMERGENCY VEHICLES CAN ENTER!!

I think Richmond Glen will be an asset to the town-BUT I hope the concerns of the residents of Buckland Drive WILL NOT BE COMPROMISED AND I WILL SEE TO IT THAT THEIR RIGHTS AND PRIVACY  WILL BE PROTECTED!!

So, for those of you who are not sure what an easement is:

CLICK HERE

I don’t see anything in any description of an easement about charging an inordinate amount of money in the granting of the easement-it is not a money making deal-it is to allow someone to access your property-otherwise it would be trespassing.

In fact-it is STILL legal to charge $1 for an easement!!! That is called “consideration” in contract law-that is what makes the agreement legal.

BUT THE UNITED STATES DID PAY THE COUNTRY OF PANAMA HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR THE RIGHT TO USE THE CANAL THAT THEY (THE U.S. ENDED UP BUILDING AFTER THE FRENCH GAVE UP THE PROJECT.

So, in all fairness to the Republicans-the town COULD have asked Brodach for fair market value of the little strip of land-I am sure it was worth more than $10!!

IN OTHER NEWS:

I guess that man that wrote the letter  to the local paper about the gouging out of Cheshire Park and the dumping of the creosote telephone polls had an effect on the Town Government.

Well, of course, I know MY PHOTOS on the blog also helped bring attention to the matter-Now apparently, the town will be getting rid of the stinky ILLEGAL creosote telephone poles and planting pachysandra in its place.

I guess the town will use low risk inmates from Cheshire Correctional Institute to complete the project.

GOOD  OUTCOME AND OF COURSE -another good story IGNORED by the local paper!!

I mean, DAMN, the letter appears in their paper and they do not even BOTHER to follow up with photos and a story??? COME ON!!

I did turn off the television after the Richmond Glen vote-and about an hour later-I received a call from a friend who told me she thought the Town Council violated FOI regulations when they added an “emergency” item to the agenda.

Then she claimed the T.C. was going into executive session to discuss the legal situation with Dalton Enterprises.

Here is the Connecticut Freedom of Information regulations on this issue:

Section 1-225(c), G.S., provides in relevant:

the agenda of the regular meetings of every public agency . . . shall be available to the public and shall be filed, not less than twenty-four hours before the meetings to which they refer, in such agency’s regular office or place of business . . . Upon the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members of a public agency present and voting, any subsequent business not included in such filed agendas may be considered and acted upon at such meetings.

 

Another Opinion

  • By: Cindy

I have a question, in fact I have two questions for you-how would you like the town of Cheshire to get $400,000 a year in tax revenue AND what is with One Stop Convenience and Jinny Hill Road- a certain town department??

Answer to question #1-how can the town get $400,000 a year in tax revenue?

Richmond Glen-aka Serenity Ranch–THAT IS HOW!!

Look, I am NOT in favor of this age restricted housing AT THIS TIME because of the economy-but my significant other is- and this is his argument.

That this development will bring in a load of taxes to this town WITHOUT burdening the school system since all of the residents will be 55 and older.

P.S. the reason my spouse likes this age restricted housing is that he is NOW OLD ENOUGH to live in it!! Time for a new spouse!!

Derf also argues that Brodach Builders will not speculate-they are a seasoned developer with a good track record of success and will probably build a model home and based on advanced orders-build to suit.

My spouse said he is fairly sure that Brodach will be able to build and sell most of the 44 lots in this development.

He also points out that the road (which will more than likely be private) will not have to be maintained by the town. Trash collection would probably also be private.

My spouse has a point-and it is this: if this land is not developed for age restricted housing-than it is HIGHLY LIKELY regular single family homes (with children in tow) will be built and adding more numbers to our school system.

Derf told me that age restricted housing usually requires less public service: i.e. police-because let’s face it-older people ARE BORING and usually don’t attract the police-there is an exception to this–ME!!

Now as far as the sightline of the nearby farms being compromised, I did drive by the proposed site on Wiese Road and honestly one will probably be able to see the homes from behind the apple trees but in reality, one cannot expect a property owner to just sit on their land and not develop it-NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

If push does come to shove, even I would rather see age restricted then single family homes.

And, as far as the argument goes that 55 and over will leave their homes in Cheshire to move into this development thus attracting more families with children-that remains to be seen.

The argument is: if a person 55 or older is ready to move-if they are tired of keeping up their property and looking for an alternative-having or not having this development will not make much a difference in their decision.

If they can move into a place in town-they will. If not, they will seek out a place to live in another community and either way-their house will be on the market.

So be it.

Also, my spouse did make a point that this Serenity Ranch development will attract high end residents-who will more than likely shop in our specialty stores in town.

Let’s face it-at over $500,000 a pop-this is NOT the Wal-Mart crowd!!

And as far as this easement-WHO CARES!! WHAT IS THE POINT??

If some people are upset about the town granting an easement for 10 dollars or even one dollar-you know how that could have been avoided? The Planning and Zoning Commission of days gone by SHOULD NOT HAVE ALLOWED DEVELOPMENTS TO BE BUILT ON A CUL DE SAC OR DEAD END AS IS THE CASE NOW!!

Also, if people are concerned about farmland in Cheshire being swallowed up by developers which is a legitimate concern-then they should press the town government to purchase as much open space as possible-as the Town of Orange has been doing for years.

And, as far as this easement “setting a bad precedence” To quote comedian Wanda Sykes–WHY??

These are probably the same people who said: “Gee, if we allow one state to pass voting rights for women-we will be setting a bad precedence now won’t we”??

Or this one: OMG-if we allow desegregation in one school system in our country-will we be setting a bad precedence?” HMM!!

Yep-hit the nail right on the head-GROW UP-YOU DON’T WANT THIS DEVELOPMENT BECAUSE YOU ARE A NIMBY!!!

As I stated previously, I did not see ANYONE besides my spouse, myself and the local environmentalist, voice any concern about the high density Dundee Drive development nearly 15 years ago.

If this environmentalist had not stood their ground and put up with ridicule from this town for doing just that-natural sand deposits and owls that were thought to have died off in this part of the Northeast-would have been destroyed by even MORE housing that was originally proposed for this area.

Because of this person-people come to this area to enjoy the vernal pools and the beautiful wildlife-WHERE WERE ALL OF YOU THEN??

I would think that building on nesting grounds and vernal pools-SOUND FAMILIAR-would be SETTING A BAD PRECEDENCE-but because it WASN’T IN YOUR BACKYARD-YOU DID NOT CARE!!

Now-onto the second part of the quiz-Look-I don’t go around spying on people -but my eyes are really good and so is my memory.

I can put an image into my mind-keep it there-and immediately my eyes will go to anything that resembles that image if and when I spot something that resembles  it.

If I spot a car and decide to fixate on it-I will remember what every inch of it looks like-if I spot a person-I will remember the details EVEN IN THE DARK.

I always remember that saying from the Godfather-”Keep your friends close-but your enemies CLOSER”!!

 

 

Concessions

  • By: Cindy

Now as many of you know, my spouse is a state employee and has been for over 30 years.

This past week, he went to Gateway College to cast his vote on whether or not to take a decrease in pay-several furlough days and an increase in health care premiums.

I am not a union member and have never been in a union-but I support all unions-HOWEVER-I really hate to say it-but we have got to get REAL in this state and in this nation.

There are literally NO jobs-if you don’t believe me-CHECK EVERY DAY-on CTJOBS or CAREER BUILDER-you will see SOME JOBS-but if you check every day-you will notice something-THE SAME JOBS OVER AND OVER AGAIN-HARDLY ANY NEW POSTINGS.

Even in the health care field, which of course everyone CAN’T, WON’T or DON’T want to be in-is experiencing a slowdown.

So very quietly, without any fanfare-our state employees voted to allow concessions-they stepped up to the plate and hit a home run-their union representatives did not stand in their way or act arrogant-LIKE SOMEONE WE KNOW!!

Look, maybe we have a year or two-but what happens after that? I am running the History Channel series: “Life After Humans”

Well, what about this sequel-LIFE AFTER THE STIMULUS PACKAGE (runs out) or LIFE AFTER EXTENDED UNEMPLOYMENT (runs out)

Sure to be a nailbiter!!

Our family of six has Healthnet-and it used to be really good-it still is to an extent but we have seen our copay rise and rise over the past several years.

And now, my spouse will have to take a pay cut?? Well, all well and good-if that is what has to happen so be it-but thank God we don’t have three kids in college at the same time anymore past this year. (One graduated).

The sad fact is-our state and our nation CANNOT continue on the path we are on-WHO IS GOING TO PAY FOR IT??

IF YOU HAVE A BIG TIME PAYING JOB-YOU WILL!! NOT THE WORKER AT THE FAST FOOD RESTAURANT OR AT THE MOVIE THEATER OR THE PART TIMER WHO WORKS 10 HOURS A WEEK-YOU WILL END UP BEARING THE BRUNT!!

That is why YOU need to start speaking up and start demanding that a certain union in CHESHIRE GET TO WHATS REAL AND FACE REALITY!!

This WE DESERVE HIGHER AND HIGHER PAY AND HIGHER WAGES BECAUSE WE HAVE A UNION MIGHT BE OVER!!!

Remember Reagan and Patco!!

The Eighties Club

We are turning into-or should I say-we are ALREADY a service economy-there is only so much of the pie to go around-and that piece is getting smaller and smaller.

That is why it is so insulting to have to read about more and more money being thrown into this community pool in Cheshire-WHY??

All these consultants-FOR WHAT??

Some of you posters better STOP DOING THE TALKING AND LET YOUR FINGERS START DOING THE WALKING IN NOVEMBER!!!

I am really worried-things don’t seem to be getting any better out there-people are getting more cautious and I guess our government will have to come up with some other  “Wag the Dog” excuse because the Swine Flu did not work!!

I have also noticed-maybe you have too-the more companies I have to deal with involving customer service-it seems the more foreign voices you hear!!

Our government allowed these corporations to do as they please-they sold our jobs away for a bottom line profit-they have taken so much pride away from the American worker.

Do you remember the commercial in the 70′s “Look for the Union Label”

Yeah, try finding a union label NOW in a piece of clothing-worse than looking for a needle in a haystack-then again-you actually might have more luck!!

Here are a few stories on the Union Concessions:

Unions Agree to $700 million in Concessions

Rell: Union Concessions will save Taxpayers in Long Run

State Employee Concessions Debated

In This Together Connecticut

Like A Rolling Stone

Once upon a time you dressed so fine
You threw the bums a dime in your prime, didn’t you?
People’d call, say, “Beware doll, you’re bound to fall”
You thought they were all kiddin’ you
You used to laugh about
Everybody that was hangin’ out
Now you don’t talk so loud
Now you don’t seem so proud
About having to be scrounging for your next meal.

How does it feel
How does it feel
To be without a home
Like a complete unknown
Like a rolling stone?

You’ve gone to the finest school all right, Miss Lonely
But you know you only used to get juiced in it
And nobody has ever taught you how to live on the street
And now you find out you’re gonna have to get used to it
You said you’d never compromise
With the mystery tramp, but now you realize
He’s not selling any alibis
As you stare into the vacuum of his eyes
And ask him do you want to make a deal?

How does it feel
How does it feel
To be on your own
With no direction home
Like a complete unknown
Like a rolling stone?

You never turned around to see the frowns on the jugglers and the clowns
When they all come down and did tricks for you
You never understood that it ain’t no good
You shouldn’t let other people get your kicks for you
You used to ride on the chrome horse with your diplomat
Who carried on his shoulder a Siamese cat
Ain’t it hard when you discover that
He really wasn’t where it’s at
After he took from you everything he could steal.

How does it feel
How does it feel
To be on your own
With no direction home
Like a complete unknown
Like a rolling stone?

Princess on the steeple and all the pretty people
They’re drinkin’, thinkin’ that they got it made
Exchanging all kinds of precious gifts and things
But you’d better lift your diamond ring, you’d better pawn it babe
You used to be so amused
At Napoleon in rags and the language that he used
Go to him now, he calls you, you can’t refuse
When you got nothing, you got nothing to lose
You’re invisible now, you got no secrets to conceal.

How does it feel
How does it feel
To be on your own
With no direction home
Like a complete unknown
Like a rolling stone?

Copyright ©1965; renewed 1993 Special Rider Music

 

Here We Go Again

  • By: Cindy

My spouse went to the Cheshire Board of Education meeting Thursday night-I stayed home and put hot compresses on my stomach and head-but I am not getting into my medical problems here so let it be.

My spouse is NOT a reporter-and Thursday night he found out how hard it is to try to relay information in a way the ordinary person can understand.

This information is coming from him: SO DON’T BLAME ME IF IT IS WRONG!!

Dr. Greg Florio at Thursday night’s Board of Education meeting in Cheshire-made an announcement on the bus contract-there were two bids-one from Dattco, Cheshire’s current school bus transportation company, and New Britain Transportation.

Dattco was the lowest bidder-the bid amounted to a 12 percent increase in the first year which is $200,000 more than what the Board of Education originally budgeted for.

The remaining four years of the bus contract-amount to a four percent increase for each year. Sounds like the teachers union-we need to start playing four on the lotto.

Dr. Florio reminded the Board of Ed and the public that if there had been a bid waiver as was recommended by the Board of Ed to the Town Council-we would not be in this situation now.

But the Town Council rejected the request for the school bus bid waiver-resulting in the contract going out to bid.

So now, guess what? The Cheshire Town Council will have to come up with the extra $200,000 or the Board of Education MIGHT have to cut even FURTHER!!

Oh well-it looks like the SHERIFF shot himself in the foot with this one!!

And also-WHY WERE THERE ONLY TWO BIDDERS ON THIS SCHOOL BUS TRANSPORATION CONTRACT??

Dr. Florio indicated their could be further discussions with Dattco about leasing the buses resulting in the extra expense being put into the capital budget instead of the operating budget-because the capital budget is the responsibility of the town not the Board of Ed.

But look at it this way-the Town of Cheshire more than made up for this “supposed” added expense by saving money when they switched to Geico for their car insurance.

SERIOUSLY–when the town went out to bid for the trash hauler-they more than made out-so they can use the extra money to fund this School Transportation SITUATION!!

Speaking of the trash hauler situation:

The lowest bidder was this Coastal Sanitation from Stratford-their one year bid was approximately $700,000.

The Town of Cheshire’s current trash hauler whom I like-A.J. Carting-had a one year bid of approximately $1 million.

I KNOW and I HAVE CONSTANTLY SPOKEN ABOUT BIDDING-WE MUST GO OUT TO BID-but I did say this ONE TIME-that Cheshire should have waived the trash hauling bid and stayed with AJ Carting-they are local and have provided good service.

According to my ex-friend who reads TWL-apparently there was some sort of memo from the City of Bridgeport a few years ago-recommending the City use this Coastal Sanitation so like that makes the grade for Cheshire?? I don’t know.

I don’t know ANYTHING about this Coastal Sanitation-they are probably a great trash hauler-but let’s face it-using the City of Bridgeport as a reference is like going to David Duke for advice on race relations.

For you not in the know out there-David Duke was the former head of the KKK!!

NO!!!

Please-do your own research Cheshire!!

I did want to comment on the bridge on Country Club Road that will remain “one lane” indefinitely.

And get this-the bridge is approximately 70 years old  and is only safe right now if you DRIVE IN THE MIDDLE!! The EDGES ARE NOT SAFE!! THAT IS WHY THERE ARE BARRELS PREVENTING YOU FROM DRIVING ON THE EDGES!!

IS THIS LEGAL?? COME ON!! TOWN MANAGER-GO UP TO HARTFORD IMMEDIATELY AND DEMAND THE STIMULUS MONEY FOR THIS PROJECT!!

We can’t wait for the referendum!! What if I accidentally drive my car on the EDGE!! WILL I FALL INTO THE LITTLE STREAM UNDERNEATH AND DROWN??

And please, don’t send me comments telling me to drive on the edge and fall into the water!!

They have to go to referendum-what happens if it is REJECTED like the Mixville Pump Station!!!

To switch gears:

Here is something for all of you art lovers out there–

“A woman from the inside out”