I wanted to expound a bit on the Town Manager’s approximate 3.7 percent raise that was given to him by the Town Council on Tuesday night.

Now, as many of you know from previous press reports, the vote to award the Town Manager the 3.4 percent raise was not unanimous.The four Republicans voted against that increase. They wanted a slightly less increase of a little over 2 percent, citring tough economic times. Yes, that is probably a reason, but it might have had, (and this is my opinion only) something to do with past occurrences in town, i.e. the Norton boiler issue for one. Yep, I know what happened and so do you!! We don’t get elected to front for our friends–get it!! LEARN and move on!!

Some people I have spoken with go even further. They blame the current administration for not a quick enough response to the home invasion. I don’t know about that. The police DID  respond for God’s sake what more do you want, to blame it on the Town Manager??  Come on. I mean, I think Mr. Milone is very cautious, but believe me, he would  NOT put anyone or this town into jeopardy.  We can armchair all we want, but unless you are in the situation, don’t make a judgement.

But, I will tell you all something right now, I know if that incident had occurred in some of the towns I covered as a reporter, at least a roundtable discussion would have taken place between the elected officials and the police department. But you see, Cheshire is VERY apathetic on most issues. People really don’t care and don’t respond as they should. They really don’t get involved unless it is something that personally affects them or benefits them. Sad to say.

And some Town Council person commented that the Town Manager deserves the 3.7 percent raise because he works 70 hours a week and has taken a lot of flack from the press over the home invasion issue. Michael Milone should thank his lucky stars this incident didn’t happen when I was a reporter way back when. I was TOUGH and so were my colleagues. Not like the wimp outs today, afraid that if they say or write the wrong thing, their advertisers will dry up and go away. TOO BAD!!

Remember the recent murder in Cromwell where I believe three people were killed at a nightclub? Those were the first murders in Cromwell Police Departments 25 year history? Remember what happened to the Police Chief? He got suspended by the First Selectman because he apparently didn’t like the way things were handled!!

According to The Middletown Press, the homicides were the first in the history of the Cromwell Police Department, and the first homicide within the town in at least 25 years (the Cromwell Police Department celebrated its 25th anniversary this year). Despite the Department’s success in promptly arresting a suspect, not everyone congratulated the police department for their work. The day after the murders, First Selectman Shingleton asked 16-year police chief and 32-year Cromwell police officer Anthony Salvatore to demand the resignation of Captain Roy Nelson, a Cromwell police officer of 25 years, when Salvatore refused to do so, Shingleton promptly sent him an e-mail suspending him.

Imagine this happening in Cheshire? NO NO NO!!!

Forget the fascination with the IMAGE!! We can’t pick and CHOOSE what topics we are going to discuss on the Town Council and what we will avoid. Namely the police. You hardly hear anything discussed, good or bad, routine or not routine when it comes to them. It is like anything involving this police department as far as the governing body is concerned–is just not discussed. At least not anything controversial-it is NEVER talked about!! That can be changed too.

We have a good Town Manager. He can be directed to change. He can be more open with public issues. He can be re-directed by our Council at any time. This town has not always had good Town Managers. I think we are spoiled with Michael Milone. He is very good, but needs to relax when people question him or a “controversial” issue arises. That is how life is. Get out there, address it and move on!!

Hopefully I will see the Town Manager writing a column in the Herald soon. That is a start and a step forward in the right direction towards more open government.

I will be asking the Police about this $15,000 underage drinking grant the Council has allowed the department to apply for. The grant is given by the Department of Transportation (Connecticut). I wish the press had elaborated on this. What are we studying? Isn’t most underage drinking the responsibility of the parent or parents? I mean, I am sure we have some “problem” with underage drinking in this town and most cities and towns in our state and our nation, but what prompted this request by the Police Department for additional money? I don’t see hordes of underage kids roaming the streets or lying drunk in the gutter.

I am going to run the photos I took of a “safety” issue I presented to the Public Safety Commission this past Wednesday night; It involves the corner of Lancaster Way and Jarvis Street. If any of you have ever tried to come out of Lancaster Way and turn left onto Jarvis Street, you know what a nightmare it is as far as trying to see traffic coming up Jarvis Street hill from Peck Lane. To make matters worse, there is a slight dip in the hill, so a driver cannot see a vehicle coming up the hill from Lancaster, until that vehicle is literally right on top of the driver.  Then one has to look for traffic coming DOWN Jarvis hill from the right on top of it all.

It is a miracle there have not been more accidents. I wonder how this siteline got approved in the first place? I know how. What’s in a name?

So, I suggested a sign that might state: “Caution-traffic entering from right” or something to that effect to alert drivers coming up Jarvis Street to like sort of slow down. This is a double whammy because not only can a driver not see someone trying to pull out of Lancaster, a driver cannot see another driver coming up Jarvis Street. And with that hill, it is downright dangerous, because people speed up to get up the hill. If you don’t time it right–bam!!

If you look at the slideshow below, the first photo shows the view from the driver’s seat going up Jarvis St towards Lancaster Way. As you can see, it is very hard to see the car pulling out.

The second photo shows what it looks like from the driver seat as one tries to pull out of Lancaster Way, looking to the right (up Jarvis Street hill).

The third photo is the view from Lancaster looking to the left down Jarvis Street hill. Can you see the car coming up the hill?.

[slideshow=36]

As we were leaving the Public Safety Commission meeting, another resident was walking in. I am glad people are using this commission to discuss safety or police issues. I still pray this town eventually gets a Police Commission. I hope to see this happen before I leave town or die, whatever comes first.