More Negative Income Properties Arriving In Milford

Nothing threatens schools and education more than Negative Income Properties. NIP's unlike financially irresponsible politicians cannot be voted out of office on election day. NIP's consume more taxes and tax dollars than can ever be reasonably recouped by taxation. The following note that arrived to me today has all the hallmarks of a classic tax burden to the people of Milford. The e-mail reads as follows:

"The appeal to prevent the development of apartments on Prospect St. has failed after 4 years in court. The current owners have posted a Notice of Demolition on 25 Prospect St., the little brown house, after 4 years of neglect. It appears the developer will build their first proposal of 3 apartment buildings with minimum setbacks against the cemetery property and the railroad property. 84 apartments. 97 cars. "

This type of development will result in new Milford residents that will potentially have one or more kids in our schools. The cost of educating those kids $12,500.00 each... the taxes they pay perhaps 4, or $5,000.00 per unit creating an additional tax burden on the people of Milford, and the kids we need to educate here. Truly sad and tragic.

Milford's Most Illuminated House

To say that Chris Donnells gets into the Christmas spirit is like saying the Yankees play baseball.

Donnells and his wife Ann expand the glittering display of Christmas lights at their 75 Meadows End Road home annually, and this year have 45,000 bulbs glowing, twinkling and blinking from every surface.

The display goes beyond the typical outlining of the roof in lights: the Donnells' elaborate decor covers the front of the house as well as the garage, three trees, an archway and a line of shrubs.

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Lessons Learned From The Cadley House Debacle

There are many lessons to be learned from the Cadley House debacle. At the very least, I hope we have learned to never again empower one person alone with the authority to determine the fate of a historically significant Milford property.

In their resolution, the board of aldermen handed the Mayor the authority to purchase and then sell the historic Cadley House. That authority granted the Mayor power over the transaction and even over building refurbishment, like selecting the exterior paint color. It seems that the aldermen’s intent was to preserve and protect the house, while entrusting this responsibility to the Mayor. However, the process followed by the Mayor was the opposite of what the aldermen envisioned.

The Mayor used the authority to have the historic house demolished, and then sold the house to a developer who had a new home built on the site.

Though possibly well intentioned, the results of the Mayor’s actions have raised many questions about the process. In the future, I would like the fate of our historic properties-whether to demolish, purchase, sell or renovate-to be resolved in accordance with city ordinances and with greater input from our City Historian, whose responsibility is to preserve Milford history. By doing this, the Mayor will not be alone in making the final decision concerning our historic properties, but rather consult and receive input from those that know more about the processes and the historic item.

As your Mayor, I will ensure that this practice is strictly adhered to so that the Cadley House debacle will never be repeated.

As Milford is the 6th oldest City in the State of Connecticut, we need to be more considerate of the historical property that we have, and we certainly need to be even more considerate in the way that we handle our historical property. Once we lose a historical piece of property, we lose it forever.

Peter Spalthoff

Milford Moves To Abate Blighted Properties

A "clear path'' for handling blight complaints was unveiled Monday by Mayor James L. Richetelli Jr.

The proposed ordinance drafted by City Attorney Win Smith at the mayor's request would put the Health Department at the center of what until now has been a fragmented process.

The city's health director, Dr. A. Dennis McBride, will have the role of anti-blight officer, and residents' complaints would be made to that department.

The Health Department already coordinates several initiatives designed to ensure safe housing conditions, "and it makes sense to keep this there,'' Richetelli said.

The mayor has in the past maintained that the city doesn't need an anti-blight ordinance because existing laws address the problem. "What has changed is the economy,'' he said Monday afternoon.

"We're seeing more dilapidated properties, even more complaints about high grass,'' the mayor said. "We've been handling them from this office and forwarding them to agencies with code-enforcement authority.'' The proposed ordinance includes an appeal process, including the opportunity for property owners to bring the matter to court.

Members of the Economic Development Commission last month agreed to work toward a better-coordinated process for addressing blight, noting the lack of a centralized complaint office.

The commission is chaired by Genevieve Salvatore, a Democratic candidate for mayor. Richetelli said he was unaware of that effort when he advanced his proposal.

"I prefer to get things done," the mayor said. Two run-down and hazardous houses, one on East Broadway and the other on Village Road, were torn down by the city this year, and a Benham Avenue property was repaired, with the city filing a lien for repayment.

The Board of Aldermen will have the proposed ordinance in time for its Aug. 3 meeting, officials said.

Salvatore said that she is "glad that the mayor has finally seen the importance of this issue. The EDC recognized that blight was concerning Milford citizens some time ago."

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