Unfortunately, with my heavy work schedule over the next few weeks, I won’t be able to post everyday but I will try.

 Now I told you all in the last post that I would elaborate a bit on the Town Council meeting I attended Tuesday night to make sure the Senior Tax Freeze went to a public hearing which it will. I did not hear the date of this public hearing but I will find out.

While I was at the meeting, the Police and Fire Chiefs were going over their monthly reports which they should be doing because we do not have a Police or Fire Commission. I am  still pushing for an expansion of powers of our Public Safety Commissioners whom are quite up to the job I believe. Even if we had one or two members of that Commission sit in on the making up of the police and fire budgets that would be a good step forward.

While I was at the meeting, I received the packet that the Town Council members are privy to. At that meeting the Town Council talked about the easement aquisition by the town of .50 acres of property abutting Marion Road and Currier Woods Association  Inc. “for the purpose of relocating and improving Marion Road. ” It was determined by the Planning and Zoning Commission on Nov. 14th that this acquistion was not in conflict with the Plan of Conservation and Development.

The purpose of this aquisition is for the Town of Cheshire to be able to “relocate improve and maintain the public highway known as Marion Road.”

The purchase price for the sale and transfer of this property is $10,000. The town of Cheshire is also paying Currier Woods’ costs and a reasonable attorney fee for negotiating the agreement and for conveyance of the easment.

Now my husband attended the Public Safety Commission meeting Wednesday night and brought this issue up. He told the Commissioners that if the town is going to slightly straighten out the curvy part of Marion Road they need to put in sidewalks because let’s face it, you cannot walk or bike ride over there without taking your life in your hands. Besides, the curve is meant to slow down vehicle traffic, but it also creates a vision barrier of sorts if you do walk over there.

The Public Safety Commission voted unanimously to refer this idea to the Town Council.

I did note that the Town of Cheshire was being represented by Murtha Collins LLP in Hartford. That is the dopist law firm in Connecticut outside of Jacobs Grudberg Belt and Dow in New Haven. What I mean is for all you squares out there, this law firm is TOP NOTCH. Nothing but the best for our Cheshire!!

I did want to touch on what the Police Chief spoke about at the Town Council meeting regarding the Gift Account money provided Elim Park.

 As you know from reading the last post, the gift to the Police Department was $165,000 and the same amount was given to the Fire Department. The Fire Department is very open, breaks down all their expenditures, lists all their calls, so I have no problem with them.

Now, the Police Chief  stated “I believe that we at the Cheshire Police Department have shown over the years  that we use the gift account in a very prudent and effective manner to supplement the operating budget. That in using the gift account as we do, we have substantially reduced the taxpayer burden of financing operational requirements.”

I do have to agree with that statement to an extent, because at least last year when the Cops bought the 12 flat screen TV’s for the Police Station, they did go to WalMart instead of Best Buy. WAY TO GO!!

I am only kidding!!

Anyway, the Chief did break down some of the ways the monies would be used although I sort of wished he would have been a little more specific in certain areas i.e.

Personnel Expenses:

“$20,000 to subsidize the departmental quartermaster system for the purchase and upgrade of uniforms, personnel gear, bullet proof vests and Special Response Team ATV Squad, Bicycle Squad and Traffic Safety clothing and a specially designed muzzle to put over Ms. Kleists’ mouth.” 

Ok, good, but how many bullet proof vests will they purchase? How much Personnel Gear and what is Personnel Gear?

 I wished the Town Councilors would have asked more specific questions. I would have  asked more questions that night, but I did not get a copy of this until I was ready to leave.

Under Training Expenses:

“$25,00 for various training expenses to inlcude schools, training materials and costs assoicated with the continuation and expansion of the departments in-house and outside training program. The cost of out of area schools an SRT training has increased significantly. With all of the promotions over the past few years and re-assignments, additional training will be required and necessary to keep the department up to date and moving forward. Outside of our statutory required training to maintain our certification additional training, especially at the management level, is extremely advantageous to the department and citizens of Cheshire.”

Ok, fine but what type of additional training are we talking about here?

Special Response Team Equipment:

$10,000 for the purchase and upgrade of SRT equipment which has become outdated or has deteriorated because of age.”

Fine, how old is this deteriorating equipment and what exactly do we need to purchase for the SRT?

Program Materials:

“$25,000 to be utilized in support of the daily operation of the police department such as expenditures on ammunition, SRT supplies, cruiser equipment, bicycle patrol, ATV patrol and motorcycle patrol. Additionally, upgrades of current equipment, expenses for special events such as the Fall Festival, Relay for Life, college fairs and other public safety events. Replacement and new purchases of office equipment and storage. There is also the unexpected replacement of damaged or worn equipment.”

Equipment:

“15,000 to assist in the upgrade of the fleet assisting with the purchase of vehicles and associated equipment.”

$35,000 for new equipment and or the replacement of existing equipment resulting from mandatory upgrades, equipment which has deteriorated because of age, the continuation of department upgrades and the implementation of new programs. “

Ok, finally we get specific!!

“Some examples would be the upgrade of the office furniture, file cabinets, old chairs, cruiser light bars, fintess center reapir and maintenance, the towns’ share of co-payments towards grants, traffic signs, speed monitors, AED’s office supplies and software upgrades.”

Building Maintenance:

$15,000 to continue the upgrades to the physical plant and surrounding grounds. This will increase officer morale (no Chief, officer morale will increase when I move out of town and you know it)!!

“In some areas, purchases will increase the efficiency of the department.”

SRT (Special Response Team) Vehicle:

$20,000 this would be used to repair, replace and upgrade equipment within our SRT/Communication Vehicle. Items considered would be radios, computers, storage space and power upgrades.”

So there you have it in a nutshell. I tired of typing because I have been doing it all day so Iam calling it quits for now.

Oh, and “Breaking Bad” besides being the title of that new movie I have got to see, means someone who “defies authority” “a hell-raiser.” Hmm!!