A Message From Steve Borer

My name is Steve Borer and I'm Running for the Milford Board of Alderman (first district) in the upcoming election. I'm doing the best job I can to prepare myself to be the best city Alderman I can be.

Hopefully you will also support my colleagues who have established the Independent Party for the benefit of our town. They are great hard working people and have earned your overwhelming support on election day.

This year certainly there are numerous issues that have invoked strong feelings in us. Under ordinary circumstances it would be important to discuss the details of each and every one of these issues, but today's circumstances are extraordinary, but not so terrible as to diminish our ability to handle our local problems.

Perhaps it is now fair to say that many are in agreement that our economy is in bad shape, the U.S. dollar does not buy as much as it used to, and ordinary middle class citizens are under duress. America as a nation has never seen its sovereignty and reputation this challenged, at least not in my lifetime as an American.

The future will certainly bring these problems to our local community, and it is therefore my commitment to be focused on the importance of working together, and taking care of our community first and foremost. It is also important for us to act now, and get involved with issues in Washington and protest the Federal changes soon to be induced upon our small city. Time is running out, and our Congressmen and Senators need to hear from you.

For today I am driven by my optimism and belief that we as a community can stick together, work as a team and make it through the next few years. I also would like to challenge you this election year and ask that you stand with us in sending our Washington leaders a strong message. This message simply entails you voting out the the two party system and helping us forge the foundation of a new Independent party outside of Washington's control and influence.

Since I believe that all politics are local, and it's fair to say that those in Washington, who will soon be responsible for all our upcoming hardships, will be unable to live up to their repertoire of shattered dreams, and broken promises, I therefore expect you will be there to vote different. Our community once again, and as in years past, will be forced to function by way of our own provisions.

Our people are NOT HAPPY with the present policies or direction taken by our National leaders. Would'nt it be nice, to just know, that the road to our nations rebirth began with your support of one small Independent movement at a time? Milford could very well be that community. All it takes is your vote, your support, and your willingness to speak out to your friends and family.

Never will I underestimate the power of determined people, especially those who work together to care for their most important assets... their families, their friends, our city and our country. Milford, in the past, was one of those cities that made history by electing the late Charles Iovino an Independent WRITE IN candidate.

Perhaps it was your fathers or grandfathers that pledged their support to Independents so many years ago. Today I ask of you to embrace the spirit of those who remember and came before you. On November Third go out and vote Independent, because now is the time to raise a rift and make big headlines once again!

See you at the Polls,

Steve Borer
Independent Candidate Board of Alderman 1St District

Alderman Rosen "Disturbed" over Richetelli's Claim

I have recently seen a mail piece for Mayor Richetelli’s campaign and I am deeply disturbed by some of his alleged accomplishments. The Mayor has stated numerous times that he lowered taxes this year, and that is false.

I worked for months with the other Democratic Aldermen to create a budget that ensured no jobs were cut and that city services would not be compromised. The end result was a budget that lowered taxes for all Milford residents. This budget passed without a single republican vote.

I am outraged that the Mayor would claim this accomplishment as his own, when his budget accounted for an increase in spending and, most of all, an increase in taxes. I feel Milford residents deserve to know the truth about this year’s budget process, not a misleading, election-year tactic on behalf of the Mayor.

As an Alderman seeking re-election I am running on my own record, I ask that the Mayor do the same.

Justin Rosen
Alderman Second District

Democrats On P&Z Question Richetelli Land Deal

The Planning and Zoning Board has given its OK to the city’s acquisition of 7.6 acres for open space on Burnt Plains Road, which Mayor James L. Richetelli Jr. said will link several tracts. Purchase of the $600,000 tract still requires action by the Board of Aldermen.

Among PZB members present for the vote, Cathy Paterson, D-1, was the lone dissenter. However, PZB Vice Chairwoman Kim Rose, D-3, said several members did have questions about the purchase, especially since it would deplete the city’s open space account.

But Richetelli defended the purchase, saying he worked out a “very favorable” financial arrangement with the South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority.

According to the financial terms of the deal, the city would pay $300,000 to the water authority at closing, and the second $300,000 would be paid over a 10-year period, at $30,000 a year. There would be no interest for the first five years and then 5 percent interest the last five years, the mayor said.

Richetelli said he hopes the city can apply for state grants totaling $300,000 for the open space acquisition, so the total cost to the city for the land would be $300,000. Richetelli also stressed that the initial $300,000 would come from open space and various reserve accounts so there would be no bonding for the land.

The water authority performed two appraisals on the land; one came in at $800,000, the other at $600,000. The authority’s board decided to sell the land for the lowest appraisal, and offered it first to the city.

If the city passes, then the land will be offered next to the state Department of Environmental Protection. If the DEP also declines purchasing it, the land would then be sold on the open market where a developer would end up with it, the mayor said.

“It’s a very valuable piece of property,” Richetelli said. “It links up with other considerable city owned pieces of open space. It will prevent development in the middle of some really beautiful open space.”

The property is adjacent to the former YMCA property on Orange Avenue the city purchased last year. The land also is close to fields on Red Bush Lane. A private development there could lead to the construction of at least six or more single-family homes, the mayor said. Richetelli said the city’s plan for the land is that it remain open space forever.

Rose said she didn’t vote on Richetelli’s request because she was serving as acting chairman during the vote. But she said, like Patterson, she had several concerns about the land acquisition. One is about depleting the city’s open space account, because other, more valuable properties may become available, and the city would have no money, Rose said.

She said PZB members voted to approve the acquisition because “it absolutely made sense to own it” and because it will link other parcels, but it puts “the onus of $300,000 on the taxpayers.”

Aldermen are expected to vote at the board’s August meeting.

ORIGINAL STORY BY BRIAN MCREADY

Jonathan Law Improvements In The Hands of Milford's Alderman

The Board of Alderman will be voting on the bonding for the Jonathan Law high school addition at its meeting next Monday, July 6th. The meeting will be at city hall and begins at 7:30.

It has been suggested to me that without considerable vocal support for this project it may be doomed. The mayor, who originally committed to carrying out the renovations in phases, has now stated he does not support bonding for the cost of this phase at this time. The Alderman need to hear your voice on this topic, personally at this meeting. Residents can address their comments to the alderman for 3 minutes each. Even if all you say is "please support the bonding for the high school addition" it will help them see there is support among residents for this work to move forward.

We need to get this done. WE NEED PEOPLE TO BE THERE. Get your neighbors to go, bring a friend. Encourage students who have experienced the cramped quarters to attend. Forward this blog to others. Get the ear of West Shore and Harborside middle school parents you know and explain to them the need for this addition. Their children will reap the benefits. This addition is essential if plans for a freshman academy are to move forward - see talking points below.

I understand it is disappointing to Foran parents that the Foran project is not ready to be included in this bonding. I would hope you would still support this need and I expect that "the Law side of town" will be as supportive of the Foran project when it is ready to move forward.

Below are some talking points regarding the Law addition:

JLHS is an old school with limited space and growing needs.
21st Century programming is more hands on/student centered and requires more room.
Every inch of JLHS is being utilized, and then some. Several Special Education teachers are working in small make-shift classrooms that are, in reality, storage spaces. 6 or 7 teachers are teaching "on a cart" and it is anticipated that next year more will be doing so.

The plan calls for much needed storage space in a basement area under the new addition. Right now the main storage area is behind the stage - problematic when events such as plays, the West Shore band concert and Moving Up Celebration are held.

The addition will allow the "Freshman Academy" concept to move forward. This concept allows the 9th grade students to remain together in a central area as a transition into high school, where team teachers have greater flexibility with the flow of time and instruction. The addition also includes the final two science labs which will be used for freshman physical science. This will bring Law's total # of science labs to 10 - needed and equal with Foran (note while our enrollments are relatively equal, Law has been making do with two less science rooms. Two of my children had freshman science on a cart!)

The current concept of "study halls" being held in large spaces (i.e. auditoriums without tables or the cafeteria when available) does not service students well and space is needed for a smaller resource center to accommodate groups of students needing extra help. Addition will allow for this.

Current bid 25% less than expected - a million dollar savings
Bond rates are low, reimbursement rate from the state high now, will be lower next year.

Expected revisions to code regulations will bring need for plans to be redrawn and additional code upgrades will have to be added.

Again, please attend this meeting on Monday, July 6th, 7:30 pm at city hall. Feel free to forward on this blog link by e-mail. Contact me if you have questions. Let me know if you can attend and apologies in advance if you receive any e-mail more than once!

Thank you!
Sue Glennon
President
One Voice-Milford High Schools PTSA

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Peter Spalthoff Independent Candidate For Mayor Supports This Project.

Click Here for Peters Statement.