IMPORTANT INFO TO MILFORD PROPERTY OWNERS

Proposed Zoning Change : On December 21st the Planning & Zoning Board will hold a public hearing to make a text change to the regulation for fences and walls.

If your property abuts the Long Island Sound or rivers, streams, or tidal wetlands you will not be allowed to have any type of fence wall or shrubs within the area located between the mean high water mark (boundary) and the applicable wall of the principle structure. A line extension is projected as being perpendicular from the side property lines to the rear corners of the principal building. The only exception is if a fence is required by the state building code.

It should be noted this regulation, Section 4.1.7.3, was adopted in 2005 to prevent property owners abutting the Long Island Sound  from erecting fences, walls, or shrubs that would obstruct the water views by other property owners.

I do not agree with the proposed wording, of just saying you "cannot," because it does not consider situations and conditions in which some types of barriers for the protection of children, pets, wildlife, buildings, natural land resources and/or personal property would be needed. There should be wording to allow for when such situations and/or conditions are an issue. I am not a big fan of fences or walls, but they do have purpose. Also, as a note FEMA allows fences in floodways when designed to allow water to flow thru them. [i.e.: channel of rivers, streams or tidal wetlands and the adjacent land used to contain flooding]

I also disagree with the wording of the current regulation in that if a fence/wall is required by the building code you have to have it approved by the City Planner and the P&Z Board.

It should be noted the building code specifies the fence construction type and minimum height.
To me this procedure is a waste of time and money to the property owner. The City Planner and P&Z Board do not have the authority to change the building code. So, since the building code specifies the type of construction and height, the regulation wording should be changed to read that the zoning enforcement officer should review it to see if the fence/wall is located to meet the specified need and minimize obstruction to residents views, and get them approved at time of the zoning application.

Last on this subject is that privacy style fencing is prohibited. This wording should also be updated. There are times you just do not want things to be visible.

In all, the text change as proposed, should be voted down. The existing regulation and wording needs to be thought thru and options investigated by the board members themselves to achieve a regulation that can work and not just say ‘no you cannot do this’.

As always the people on the board asked to represent YOU and you voted them in to do so. Contact your representatives on this and other matters to let them know your views on zoning issues. Do not let them guess want you want or do as they or the city wants.

John Grant

Independents Sign 11,000 Voters And Announce 30 Candidates

Independent Party Submits 11,000 Signatures for Statewide Slate, Announces 30 Candidates for Legislative Offices

Gubernatorial candidate Tom Marsh and other leaders of the Independent Party will hold a press conference on Tuesday, July 20 at 3pm on the north steps of the State Capitol Building in Hartford, Connecticut to announce the submission of 11,000 signatures to place a statewide slate of candidates on the ballot in the general election in November 2010. 7,500 validated signatures of Connecticut registered voters are required by state law.

Mike Telesca, State Agent for The Independent Party and Waterbury Town Chairman will introduce Governor candidate Tom Marsh and his running mate, Lt. Governor candidate Cicero Booker Jr., and two candidates seeking the nomination of the Independent Party for U.S. Senate, Dr. John Mertens and Warren Mosler, will also speak along with other candidates in attendance.

Heavy Rain Postpones St. Patrick's Day Parade

With heavy rain expected Saturday, organizers of Milford’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade have decided to set a rain date — just in case it’s needed.

Marty Hardiman, parade co-chairman and grand marshal of this year’s parade, initially said there would be no rain date because all the parade units have been booked.

But as weather forecasts became more daunting, he decided that if rain is too heavy, the parade will be held Sunday, March 21, instead of tomorrow.

CONTINUE READING JILL DION"S STORY BY CLICKING HERE

"Connectucut Bob" AKA Bob Adams Fired By The Richetelli Gang

Most people do not even know "CT Bob" but many are familiar with his work. Bob Adams is a blogger in Milford, and hosts a blog www.ctbob.blogspot.com. Connecticut Bob, was given a post on Milford Government Access television about a year ago. He is also a Democrat, in a "vipers den" of Republicans and Republican dominated city boards.

CT Bob, may soon be recording a board of Alderman meeting who will be voting him out. They will be replacing him with Republican Michael Cavallaro a Richetelli patsy expected to rehire Dennis Guaglianone the previous camera man who was fired for dereliction of duty. This deriliction, according to the CT Post included "not covering some governmental programs, including the mayoral candidate debates last fall, in favor of parades and other community events."

When Bob Adams was hired, his blog certainly raised Republican Eyebrows, there was fear and uncertainty that Bob Adams would add his Democratic spin to the MGAT content he produced. This has not been the case, Adams said he would conduct his work professionally and he did. Any person who watched MGAT on cable T.V. would certainly agree that the content presented was professional and non-partisan.

Who controls the camera man has now become an issue of politics as "Lord Richetelli" once again is granting favors, and rewarding bad behavior by rehiring FIRED employees. The original fear of a partisan MGAT may soon be realised as another "local power grab" of the MGAT station is executed.

Future content can be expected to filmed by authority and direction of Michael Cavallarro, who is in essence the newest Media Czar who will answer directly to Mayor Richetelli. While coverage of community events will certainly spark outrage, these issues will soon become the problem of Milford's Citizens, especially Independents, Democrats or those whose content is not cogent in the opinion of the Mayor and his new Media Czar.

This latest power grab, adds credibility to Democratic Party Boss Michael Brown's allegation that the Republicans "are replacing every Democrat from every board."

Connecticut Bobs impartiality was revealed some time ago, when he challenged his own party in favor of the public objections with Amann's support of Lieberman's policies on war. Connecticut Bob's most notable video was that of Now Democratic Gubernatorial Candidate Jim Amann. The video heard all over the web was aptly dubbed the "Crush" video when Amann was video taped saying he would "Crush any Idiot in this town who ran against him." Ironically this is the only Democrat Richetelli is supporting, as he is a frequent guest and good friend to Amann's and his political events.

Hours Changing At Milford Transfer Station

This Saturday will be the last Saturday trash can be dropped at the Milford Transfer station. Town officials have approved a measure that will suspend the plants extended hours effective December 19th, 2009.

Anyone who has to work during the week should consider taking advantage of this Saturday as your last opportunity to "clean house" of all your bulk waste and unwanted items.

The new schedule is 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays (closed noon to 12:30 p.m. for lunch) and 7 a.m. to noon, Saturdays.

The transfer station is open to Milford residents and commercial haulers. All guests are asked to present their vehicle registration at the gate. Milford residents are permitted to use the facility for free, commercial vehicles with either commercial or combination plates must pay to dispose of their trash. Hazardous waste is prohibited, and a call should be made to the MTS in the event you are uncertain.

The transfer station is located on Oronoque Rd. in Milford, CT. They can be reached by clicking HERE.

Milford Now Dials (203) DPUC Makes Using The Telephone More Annoying

No your phone is not broken, the Department of Public Utility Control has just launched its new communications platform in preparation for two new Connecticut area codes.

When you go to use your phone and you dial your friends telephone number as you used to, expect to get a real annoying message asking you to dial their area code. This change is anticipation of the new system launching on December 12, 2009.

Connecticut's two new area codes will be 475 and 959. Anyone living in Fairfield and New Haven County will most likely get the 475 area code as their new regional designation.

Phil Dukes of the DPUC said "the additional codes were required because the number of phone numbers in the state is increasing exponentially. As recently as 15 years ago, the typical family might have had only one or two phone lines. Now, he said, with the proliferation of cell phones, fax machines and other technology, the one-line home is practically non existent."

Anyone with existing telephone numbers will not have their area code changed as was done under previous changes. "The new measure is deemed necessary to stop the tide of misdialed numbers" Duke said.

Anyone who has a home alarm system should call their provider and make sure that the new dialing rules are built in to their autodialers. Most companies may have already compensated for the change or may have a pre-programmed number, but for the safety of your family in the event of an emergency you should make sure your system is properly tested and working properly.

Anyone with questions regarding these changes should contact their local telephone company operator.