Milford Condo Associations Speak Out

The new budget year is one that have Condo Associations flustered. This is because they get less city services for the same amount of taxes that everyone else pays for in town. About now you may be wondering how so? Well the best example is perhaps Lexington Green, a place in which several miles of roads storm drains and hundreds of privately owned homes exist. For those not familiar with this area, it is in the North end of Milford and abuts Three other condo associations these are Lexington Green West, Milford Hunt and Baldwin Station.

The property taxes on these free standing houses are not discounted, and some are crying foul. Starting 2011 the Condo Fees in Lexington Green will be jumping from $90.00 per month to $135.00 per month. This jump marks a 60% increase in condo fees since 2007 when each homeowner paid $85.00. The staggering increase in fees has left very few people happy, especially during these challenging economic times.

The increased costs are due to a need to repave all the roads in the development. The cost of this project was outlined in the 2011 budget for Lexington Green and amounts to more money than can reasonably be procured from the occupants of the development at one time. This is why the repaving project will go on for several months or perhaps a year or so until its complete.

Homeowners in these types of developments have long argued for tax breaks from the city of Milford. This is because unlike true city homes Condo Associations pay "out of pocket" to have all their roads paved,  their trash collected, their snow removed, their storm drains repaired and cleaned, they pay for their our own electric and street lighting, and again maintain and pay high property taxes on unused land that private landscapers maintain.  Milford in exchange enjoys regulatory and P&Z authority. Condo associations are told by the the city how association property can be used and increases taxes on any improvements.

The fundamental unfairness arises due to the tax assessment burden placed on condo properties by the Assessors office. They use the same formula for Condo Associations that they do for a home on a city street. Homes who get all the aforementioned city services for free.

Personally I believe that the assessment process is flawed because of this very paradox. The Assessor is not permitted to take into consideration the fact that homes in many Condo Associations relieve the city of millions of dollars in city services. The flawed assessment process only serves to push down the value of condo association homes of which are viewed by buyers as having higher carrying costs and less value due to the myopic policy of the city of Milford. The ongoing need to for Condo management companies to levy fees above and over those imposed by city taxes is unjust. This is because Condo owners must pay additional fees to cover those services every other resident in town gets for FREE. To add "insult to injury" homes in Condo Associations, when compared to similar "in town" homes, are worth less because of this city tax model.

Moving forward in the coming years, an ordinance should be proposed that abates taxes to Condo Associations for privatizing many city services.These Condo Associations if treated fairly can be encouraged and used in a manner that relieves the city coffers from the excessive costs of maintaining its infrastructure. Adopting a P&Z model that encourages, rather than discourages the formation of Condo Associations may be a good cost cutting idea in the coming years. This will be especially true when Milford maxes out its tax base and loses its ability to engage in collective bargaining with city unions.

Hopefully, this practice of taxation with service limitation will cease and decist as city leaders grow wiser in the coming years. Homeowners in condo associations would rather pay higher property tax based on higher home values than the combined double tax of city and association levys void of many city services.

Mischief Night Causes Angry Kids To Go Wild

Each year the night before Halloween is known as "mischief night" or a day of rebellion for the cities youth. Up in my part of the woods I sat perched on my front porch trying to defend my property from the roaming gangs of kids skulking around my development.

This year was especially more destructive than usual. Normally the neighborhood kids just throw eggs, and decorate trees with toilet paper, some even like to steal a pumpkin and smash it in the street, but some "rotten apples" crossed the line when their pranks became outright destruction of personal property.

My personal development suffered a spray painted gazebo, destroyed mailboxes, and the brand new fence at the developments entrance was severely damaged resulting in substantial repair costs.

The front of my house bears the scars of tire treads burned into the asphalt in a circular motion and a black jeep was driving recklessly through stop signs while assaulting anyone they could find on the street with eggs.

The police eventually arrived, and what they were able to accomplish was certainly questionable. Usually when a clearly marked police car enters anywhere, all it does is causes the gangs of wild youths to scamper off into the shadows of parentless houses only to re-emerge after the cops are gone.

When I was in High School, I personally defended my neighborhood. If we saw "hoodlooms" pulling up in a car and damaging our property the car they got out of would have had rocks thrown through its windows. The bigger kids would have kicked dents in the doors and if we are able to catch one of the vandals he would have become a victim instead of a victimizer.

Part of what I am wondering is wether or not the kids in the neighborhood are doing this damage to their own community or defending it? I would also like to know if there is any high school kid upset enough to do their own investigation and find out who hit Lexington Green?

This night certainly must have been riddled with complaints. Petty crime statistics are high and it is my guess that the police on this night could not have possibly made it to every call in a timely fashion.

While personally I encourage healthy fun, and kids being out and off their Xboxes, and Playstations, this sort of behavior is not what comes to mind. Hopefully parents, next year, will know better than to let their problematic kids even leave their homes on the eve of Halloween.

Next year I also plan to help the local Police by organizing a neighborhood watch to make sure that these rowdy youth are deterred from doing more damage to our peaceful community. Anyone with information, or is interested in becoming part of the solution in my neighborhood please feel free to e-mail me at: frank@mycomputerfox.com

(Above Photo shows total destruction of an $8,000.00 Fence)

Milford Kids Prepare For Halloween

Each year one of the most interesting and spectacular times in my neighborhood is Halloween. Where I live in Lexington Green, locals find it attractive this time of year. The community is a closed in community with about 450 houses spread across three very distinct developments.

The people in Lexington Green have actually grown accustomed to the very large swath of kids that arrive each year with their parents. The "Trick or Treaters" go house to house in their usual array of costumes scaring the neighbors in exchange for candy.

Last year I personally greeted about 500 hundred of the masked masqueraders right at my front door. The kids who arrived were not only limited to my neighborhood, I soon discovered that cars parked all along the entrance had kids getting out from as far as Bridgeport, but mostly they were locals right here in the immediate area.

With the large swath of open land, I discovered that many people in Milford, with kids, prefer housing developments because of the perception of safety and security that they have. Lexington Green is one such place, as it has lots of street lighting many responsible adults walking around with their kids and a large open green that is used to host an annual neighborhood costume party.

The association does not forbid outsiders from entering our community to "Trick or Treat" nor does it liberally advertise it. Hopefully this year will be a fun filled celebration that will bring lots of fun and joy to our neighborhood community once again. Certainly you are all are welcome to bring your kids to my house for a treat.

Petty Thieves Hit Lexington Green

The wonderful development here in the North end of Milford, Lexington Green seems to always have its share of nuisances when it comes to petty criminals. This latest incident involved the theft of of two video game consoles and a purse from Oak Ridge Lane.

According to the victim the game console can be identified as belonging to her kids because she initialed everything. The game console bore the initials "J" and or "B" and can be clearly seen in large letters.

Her neighbor was also the victim of a stolen purse, a purse that was taken from the inside of her car parked in front of her house. These thefts at Lexington Green and its associated two developments are not uncommon. Just last year vandals damaged the gazebo, spray painted profanities on the rocks by the gazebo, and followed up with a purple "W' painted on the main entrance.

Those responsible for these juvenile delinquent acts almost always trace back to local kids who either live in the development, or have parties where outside kids come into the development sometimes under the influence of alcohol and do damage to association property.

In the last year accidents have also been up as two light posts and a fence was taken down by distracted, or drunk drivers who failed to adequately pay attention to the road. Should anyone know of any information that can assist in reporting the names of individuals involved in these criminal acts, they are urged to contact the local Milford Police department, or me the neighborhood watch dog at (203) 247-4357.

Happy Halloween From The Frank Campaign.

Wishing everyone the best time ever this Halloween. I will be at my home greeting all the "Trick or Treater's" in their costumes. If this this year is anything like last year I would recommend that parents bring their kids to the Lexington Green Development. This is a safe private development with nearly one thousand homes, spread across three large sections.

Last year, not anticipating the rush of children and families that arrived at my home I ran out of candy and had to call it quits early. This year I am way more prepared. I expect about 500-1000 knocks at my door from every type of Monster, Super Hero, and Goblin imaginable.

One of the things that I enjoyed most last Halloween was dressing up in costume myself, and giving the kids a good and unexpected scare. My step daughter really thought it was funny, and I wish I had taken a few pictures to post here.

For any parents who may be interested in attending there will be a formal reception on the development green between 4:30-6:00P.M. There you will be able to meet the adults who live in the Lexington Green Development, enjoy free coffee and donuts, and have a chance to show off any costumes you or your children are wearing. Hope to see you there.