Richetelli Budget Cuts Nix Milford Bike Patrol

There are three fewer police officers patroling the city since the fiscal year began July 1, and Police Chief Keith Mello says it’s beginning to have a tangible effect.

The Board of Aldermen voted to eliminate an officer position from the budget, saving $52,000, and the police union was the only municipal bargaining unit to not accept a wage freeze as part of a new contract, resulting in two positions not being filled this year.

“Being down three positions, there has to be a reduction in some areas,” Mello said.

One popular program being “temporarily discontinued” is the downtown bike patrol, he said.

On weekdays, an officer on a bicycle was downtown to help with pedestrian safety, traffic enforcement and to provide high visibility for businesses.

Mello said the officer also helped provide enhanced safety for the thousands of residents using the train station.

Mello stressed there is still coverage downtown being provided by regular police patrols.

The bike patrol was instituted several years ago at the request of downtown business leaders, who wanted more police presence.

This past year, the downtown officer has written 10,000 tickets, the chief said.

Mello also said this year there may be a marginal increase in the response time for “low-priority calls,” but “high-priority calls will still receive immediate and appropriate response.”

Mayor James L. Richetelli Jr. said there are three vacancies in the Police Department, but two of those positions could be filled at any time if the police union agrees to a new two-year contract, which would include a no-wage increase this year, and a 2 percent increase in the second year.

Seven other municipal unions agreed to a similar deal, saving the city about $700,000.

Richetelli said talks between the police union and the city are in the “beginning stages.”

The mayor said he has been in talks with Mello to ensure the three vacant positions will not hurt on public safety.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE Brian McCready

Plans Underway For A Milford Computer Recycling Day

Plans are currently underway to investigate an ideal site and location for a Milford Computer Recycling day. The program will most likely be held at an Eco-friendly location here in Milford and will focus on cleaning up old computers and E-Waste from the community. Old computers contain heavy metals including lead, beryllium, phosphorus and like contaminants making their recycling greatly important in reducing the impact on the environment.

The program also combats identity theft by destroying hard drives, and any access to personal files on your computer. Destroying these drives makes it impossible for thieves to use data mining to steal credit card numbers, Social Security Information or like accounts that can lead to years of credit correction issues.

We have not yet set an official date but expect we will announce one soon. For anyone interested in volunteering or offering ideas the ComputerFox located on New Haven Ave. in Milford will be entertaining questions and suggestions. Please feel free to contact Rocco J. Frank at (203) 247-4357 and leave a message.

This program has already been successfully implemented at nature centers in New Canaan and Westport.

Maintaining Your Privacy Online

Many people are completely unaware that their online privacy may be compromised. Many devices such as cable modems, DSL Modems, and routers record and assign every computer with an IP (Internet Protocol)address that is as unique and as traceable as your home phone number.

Our Ip addresses have the the likenesses of a phone number except it be a caller ID on who is entering your computer. If you could install the the equivalent of a "Caller Id" on your computer you might just be amazed at how many unauthorized intrusions are out there.

The novice person often has no clue who these intruders are, but in most cases they end up being Ad Servers, Data Mining Programs, or possibly even more destructive nuisances like Computer Viruses, Malware, Spyware, and Adware.

In either case we do not want them in our computers. The way I personally maintain privacy is by first using a virus utility, my favorite is AVG Free, next I install Windows Defender, I then make sure all my windows updates are up to par. The most important being the Microsoft Malware Remover and Anti-Phishing program update. To cap the entire security gamut I add an IP privacy program called "Proxyway."

Anyone wishing to test their security can find a host of websites designed to try and figure out who you are. If they cannot ID who you are then its safe to do true anonymous surfing and blogging with more confidence and less fear of "big brother." One last point to those of you who have a camera and microphone hooked up to your computer, BAD IDEA!!!

Youtube and many video upload sites have the ability to take control of your webcam and microphone. Aside from the Orwellian creepiness of this, who knows what they can do once it is accessed. Best advice on this front is turn your computer off, and unplug the studio. This is the best way to know that your computer is not listening or staring back at you.

Mac users should have little concern over viruses, as the OS is much more protected than that of a PC but as a precaution I would include an IP Privacy tool on Safary or your favorite browser. Mostly follow the same guidelines as PC users.

If anyone has any other questions regarding software and computer security feel free to leave your comments below and I will answer them next time I log on.