Smith Calls Truce To Milford Sign War

From Labor Day through Election Day, “politics” and “yard signs” go together like turkey and Thanksgiving.


That could have all changed, as Democrats proposed creating a political yard sign pact with Republicans Tuesday. Both parties would have banned political signs for the 2011 municipal election.

However, the city’s top Republican Tuesday said anybody already thinking of the next election, which is a long way off, “needs to get a life.”

Democratic Town Chairman Richard Smith, in a press release Tuesday, said numerous voters expressed their “frustration and fatigue” with political signs “cluttering and littering their streets and neighborhoods.”

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Cheaper Electric And Market Choice Hinges On State Politics

Last year, the Connecticut Legislature made it a very difficult year for consumers in the energy market. The Democrat super majority in the legislature tried to end deregulation in the energy business, which would have been a game changer for your choices, and would affect everyones ability to save money on their electric bills. Fortunately, we had a Republican Governor that stood up for consumers and vetoed the bill, which ended a direct threat to saving us customers money on our electric bills this legislative year.

Elections have consequences. It is up to us to vote for officials that will protect our consumer rights and our ability to save them money. It is imperative that we elect proponents, also the Governor is key. Please get out and vote, and encourage your friends, family and friends to vote for legislators who protect our savings and our energy choices.

Please call your State representatives to see where they stand on energy deregulation prior to your casting your vote, or see how they voted on the energy bill in the links below. If you have any questions on where your Senator and State Representative stands, please feel free to give me a call at 203-846-9900.

If Malloy, or a like opponent, is elected governor, he will NOT veto attempts to re-regulate the energy business, because he would not provide the backstop to the next super majority in our state legislature that may be intent on re-passing this re-regulation bill.

Results of the House and Senate voting this year on the Energy Bill that was vetoed by Republican governor Jodi Rell:

("NO" is for consumers, "YES" is against against consumers.)

http://www.cga.ct.gov/2010/VOTE/S/2010SV-00324-R00SB00493-SV.htm (Senate Vote)

http://www.cga.ct.gov/2010/VOTE/H/2010HV-00214-R00SB00493-HV.htm (House Vote)


Please forward this blog on to your friends, family, customers, and any other energy brokers in CT.

Submitted by Rick Giordano, Edited by Rocco Frank

TO LOWER YOUR ELECTRIC RATE CLICK THIS LINK

Divorcing Unemployed Dads Face Contempt Of Court

The loss of a job, or a serious decline in personal income can put a great deal of stress on a family. When a family breaks up or divorces the most common reasons are are Infidelity, claims of abuse, or financial circumstances.

With the economy tanking courts must address how divorcing parents will care for their kids. This is a challenging task, especially for Dads who are now trying to build their lives anew again, and moms who once relied on a husband to pay for the needs of children and the household.

The law gets sticky when unemployment comes into play, courts often require Dads to show proof that they are looking for work, and if those Dads are self employed than things get even more complex.

A divorced Dad with a business can have an "earning capacity order" that earning capacity is based on the testimony of witnesses and business records produced to the court as evidence of income potential. Once an order is established, and a weekly payment is set failure to pay can result in incarceration by way of contempt of court.

While there officially is no such thing as Debtors prison in America, "Contempt of court" is the equivalent of imprisonment at the will and discretion of any judge. Recently a man was sentenced to jail for six months under this rule, for yawning in court.

Once a court puts an order in place it expects that order to be obeyed. Even though an order based on an "Earning Capacity" is theoretical and not indicative of any present day facts, the court does not take the position of hearing excuses after the fact. The rule is simple, your business is expected to earn "X$" a month and if "X$" is not paid than a deadline is usually issued on Dad who must find the money or face being jailed.

With the time it takes to get things corrected, often having to hire an attorney and file hardship motions months can go by without any meaningful results. When hard times hit a family, and the economy and job opportunities dry up in tandem kids, dads, and broken families pay the price harder than anyone.

Milford's courts are no exception, at any given time there are scores of people in family court arguing this very issue. Attorney's at the courthouse indicated that the "threat of incarceration" is a "good rule" because this is an effective way to produce money for the custodial parents and the kids who need it.

There are no guarantees that the legal system can always help a distressed parent. There are many non-custodial parents who served their time in jail, and had their earning capacity reset.

However, all is not lost for kids because CT offers help for single moms. This help comes in the form of a Support Enforcement Office, a Victims Advocate and some social programs to financially assist the children of the custodial parent with health care, food stamps, and counseling. Unfortunately little help exists for dad especially in cases where parental alienation exists due to the animosity of a relationship.

Photo of Essex Family Court Judge James B. Convery

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."

ORIGINAL ARTICLE BY FRANK JULIANO CLICK HERE