Marian Gail Brown, Calls On Voters To Do "The Right Thing"

Picture yourself as the chief executive officer of a corporation with several hundred employees. Imagine you've put the finishing touches on its megamillion-dollar budget. The very next day you pack your bags, jump in a friend's car and drive four hours away and check into a drug rehab place for a monthlong stay.

Naturally, you have a second in command. But you fail to inform him you'll be gone a while, and you don't even tell him he's in charge. In the meantime, you allow your closest aide to mislead everyone. First the aide claims you are simply "unavailable," then that you are "on a much-needed vacation." The next announcement is you are being treated for an "adverse reaction" to a prescription drug, and that you are in upstate New York. In reality, you are in a Maryland drug rehab center. When you return a month later, you disclose you sought treatment for an addiction to, and misuse of, a prescription anti-anxiety drug, but you won't say what that medication is. Why not?

The question is, should you keep your job? In this case, no way. In the corporate world, CEOs get bonuses for lots of amazing things. Pulling an Elvis -- slang for a sudden, unexplained departure and failing to communicate where you are, when you might return or how your work will proceed in your absence -- is not one of them.

Nevertheless, if you're Milford Mayor James L. Richetelli Jr., a Republican seeking a fifth, two-year term, your answer to whether you deserve more time at the helm running this city is yes.

"I love the challenge of public service. I know my 25 years of experience in government are an invaluable asset...," he states in a Connecticut Post op-ed piece that ran Tuesday. "And I have demonstrated the skills, the maturity and inclusiveness that are the benchmarks of effective, experienced leadership."

Where were these skills and powers of maturity when Richetelli disappeared last winter for about a month with no advance notice to the city's second in command, Board of Aldermen President Ben Blake, D-5? Richetelli's departure thrust Blake into running Milford and not knowing where he was or when he might return. On top of that, some Richetelli staffers closed ranks behind their absent boss, by initially refusing Blake's request to see the mayor's proposed budget and other documents because they didn't know if it was allowable.

Crises happen. Addictions to prescription drugs are nothing new. Lots of folks have them, and seek treatment all the time. Assuming that dependency doesn't impair you on the job or endanger the safety of others, it shouldn't be held against you.

"He's a good guy and really well-liked around Milford, and I might vote for him," says Matthew Kealy, a mover, as he waited near a bus stop for a ride to work. "It's so easy to get hooked on prescription pills. Elvis did it, lots of other celebrities, too," he said. "So he was hooked on anti-depressants or anti-anxiety drugs. It's not like crack cocaine, crystal meth or any of that."

Kealy thinks voters should give Richetelli a break, have some compassion. And, well, they should. But the mayor missed a teachable moment. It's an instance where Richetelli, as a public persona, might have displayed some candor to those he works with in government, to voters and especially Milford's youth about confronting one's demons.

"He should have been a little more honest, say where he was going ahead of time," Bill Carey, a retired school teacher, said of Richetelli. "He's done a disservice because he didn't level with his constituents."

With a field of four vying for mayor, Carey thinks Independent Party candidate Peter Spalthoff, a former Republican chairman in Milford, is a better choice than fellow Republican Richetelli. The mayor's other challengers are Democrat Genevieve Salvatore, who promises improved customer service, and Timothy Chaucer, a petitioning candidate, who thinks Richetelli's office puts "special interests ahead of the public good."

Those we place in elective office are supposed to be clear communicators, not obfuscators. They set the top-down tone for open and accessible government. Mayor Richetelli, your lack of candor is a signal. Kudos for wanting to lead Milford. But you've pulled an Elvis once. The question before voters is whether it's time for you to leave the building.

MariAn Gail Brown, a Connecticut Post columnist, can be reached at 203-330-6288 or mgbrown@ctpost.com

This Weeks Property Transfers

26 Seaview Ave, Elizabeth K. Stevens to Anthony and Amy Somentilli, $900,000.

38 Fairview St, Louis M. Stesizia to Carissa M. Hussey, $225,000.

31 Pearl St, Mark E. Bishop to Tara L. Mustakos, $283,000.

24 Plymouth Ct, Melissa L. Parise to Timothy W. and Amanda L. Beers, $265,000.

11 Russell Rd, Gibbons John J Jr Est and Jessica L. Rosado to Josus and Maylen Ortiz, $265,000.

17 Sand St, Maureen Mcenerney to David and Debra Ivanovich, $223,000.

FOR ASSESSORS DATABASE CLICK HERE

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)

November 3rd. Voting Instructions

First and foremost find your voting center by going to the bottom of this page or click THIS LINK. Know where to go.

Next bring your ID. Acceptable forms of ID are valid non expired drivers licences, military, or passport id's, or certified state ID's. If you have none of these go to the Parson's complex voter registrar and obtain a voter ID card.

Once this is sorted out, on Tuesday November 3rd. go to your designated voting location between the hours of 6:00am till 7:30pm . If you are unfamiliar with the Diabold system watch the video above explaining its use.

As a final note, and to make sure your vote counted look at the numerical counter on the Diebold machine. (The counter will be located on the front panel and look like the odometer on your car.) Notice the number before you put your card in, then look again to be certain the number counted up.

Any problems please report them to the poll watchers and contact me on my cell. (203) 247-4357. or call the Voter Regisrar Office by clicking HERE.

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POLL FINDER
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Developers Project May "Rake Taxpayers Over The Coals."

The name is a gentle and yet wonderful name "Rolling Meadows" sounds like the kind of place to retire to or the place where Grandma and Grandpa may retire to. However, there is more to this construction boondoggle than meets the eye. (besides the fact that its in an industrial waste area on top of I95.)

Whenever a developer uses the word "Affordable" its time to start organizing Taxpayer protests. The very word "Affordable" is code for we are going to "Rake The Milford Taxpayers Over The Coals."

How so one may be wondering? Well lets start by saying that Milford has more affordable property than any city I personally ever lived in in the past. All one has to do is look at the real estate transfers over the last few years and you will see how many properties sold for around $200,000.00. Take this figure, add the $8,000.00 home owner credit, a super low interest rate, and amortize it over 30 years, and that home payment is around $1,000.00-$1,500.00. This is very affordable, especially since the manager of a Dunkin Donuts makes about twice that in a month.

So what is with the shady construction project called "Rolling Meadows?" To begin, unless this is a HUD subsidized housing project or under the scrutiny of the city of Milford (Like Jagoe Court, or DeMaio Court) the term "Affordable" is really nothing more than a "con man's pitch."

Hopefully the people in Zoning and planning, and the Zoning board of appeals will know the truth about this development and its inherent characteristics of a 28 unit negative income property. For those of you who do not know what that is, simply put its a two fold attack on Milford's residents or a tax increase combined with cluster housing and congestive living.

David Sulkis, our Milford City Planner, pointed out that "State law says that you can't utilize industrial land for affordable housing, so in effect, they want to change the use of the industrial land,"

Lois D'Amato has been fighting with the city to get this burdensome clustered development approved, but thus far has lost his case before the Zoning Board of Appeals who denied him an easement through the neighboring industrial park.

Sadly, this project is very close to being worked out, and if it is approved it could bring upward of 20-40 new kids into the already struggling school district. These kids will cost the city an additional $500,000.00 in educational costs. This number does not include the garbage pick up to this location, or the "wear and tear" costs that are aggregate to the tax base, like sewer maintenance, emergency services, and road repair.

Even in the best case scenario, 30 units with an estimated $4,000.00 in tax each will net the city $120,000.00 leaving a projected $400,000.00 "gaping tax hole in the city budget." For this reason alone, this should be considered the wrong kind of development for our city. Anyone at Zoning and Planning who even considers approving this project may just as well vote for a Tax increase on the majority of citizens here in Milford who oppose this kind of costly development.

The city of Milford has no shortage of affordable housing, if anything we need larger lots and more sustainable properties. The Environmental Concerns Coalition, and Smart Growth initiatives have already made several presentations to the municipalities on how best to create a sustainable community. I would highly recommend that this project be "nixed" or at the very least downsized to 500-700SF one bedroom and Studio Apartments if it is to exist in its current form and honestly be "affordable" to those who need it most... 18-30 year olds or seniors.

The site in question is 183 Quarry Rd. (90 Heenan Drive)

First Time Homeowner Credit Stirs Milford Real Estate Market

The Obama administration introduced many capital injections into our economy. From "Cash For Clunkers, Unemployment Extensions, Banker Bailouts, and the First Time Home Buyer Credits."

The "Home Buyer Credit" gives $8,000.00 to first time home buyers who have decided to purchase a modest home. Realtors have been pushing otherwise unwilling buyers to get into that first house and quit renting. The $8,000.00 credit has been a great selling tool and we have seen "ups and downs" in the property transfers here in town.

The property transfers seem to have either less than ten properties sold or in some cases 20-30. Their seems to be very little consistency in the numbers from week to week.

This is especially true on the lower priced homes that have become more affordable thanks to the homeowner credit. This program, although a great program for a new buyer has had a significant effect. This effect has resulted in artificially skewing real estate numbers in Milford and putting our Real Estate marked into an uncertain future.

If anyone looked at the stats they will see that smaller energy efficient homes have retained their value much better than larger three and four bedroom homes that have actually declined significantly in value.

A local realtor I spoke with said that the "First time home buyer credit" has been a stellar program and has helped sell many homes that otherwise may have not been sold. She fears that when the program ends and without additional incentives or improvement in the overall economy home sales may return to being sluggish.

This is an assertion that is, some what contradicted by a Yale New Haven professor who said this months increase was good news, and that the uptick in markets is better news. However, we should not go and celebrate a rebirth in the Real estate market just yet because the economy is still on shaky ground. He believes that we may be entering a new bubble and confidence may be the answer not the First time Home Owner tax credit.

Robert Schiller was formerly a quantitative forecaster of the real estate market indexes and he said that the monumental shift in the index to the upside has caused him to put his expertise aside. Shiller states the numbers are beyond what he was taught as a forecaster and until we see solid momentum we may be looking at the beginning of another bubble.

While we all instinctively know things in the Real Estate market are different, those out there looking to develop property for profit, or relocate to a new house should consider their actions much more carefully. The Real Estate Market will continue to be volatile, and since for many buying a house is likely to be the largest financial transaction in a persons life, the extra due diligence could not hurt.

(Photo of quantitative forecaster Robert Shiller of Yale University)

Link on this page goes to video

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Schiff Adds His Thoughts On Real Estate
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A Post Endorsement Letter From Peter

Dear Milford neighbors,

With Election Day just around the corner on Tuesday November 3rd, I want to remind you of just 2 things.

1. I ask for your vote
My objective in contesting this Mayoral election is to give you the choice to vote for someone who will represent your interests instead of representing the bias of a political party.

As an Independent, I can and will make decisions based on what’s best for Milford and for you.
I have a proven background in leadership and management, meaning I can effect the necessary changes and make decisions based on what is best for our city and its residents.
As your Mayor my aims are:

• Fiscal responsibility
• Educating our children
• Citizen safety
• Business development
• Historical preservation
• Environmental advancement
• Infrastructure improvement

In summary, my principal goal is the betterment of our wonderful city.

I pledge to you that during my term as Mayor, I will always put PEOPLE BEFORE POLITICS. I respectfully ask for your vote on November 3rd to enable me to serve you and serve Milford.


2. Vote!
Why is it so important to vote?

1. VOTING AFFECTS YOU. This election is solely about Milford. The candidate who wins will directly impact YOUR life and YOUR community.
2. VOTING IS YOUR VOICE. Many people complain about the current Mayor and Board of Aldermen, with their irresponsible behaviour and decisions. Well, this is your ONLY chance to do something about it.
3. VOTING IS A RIGHT. Vote because you can. Voting is a ‘right’ which is actually a ‘privilege’ when compared to many places around our globe.

In closing, I request that you consider voting for me, Peter SPALTHOFF, so I can work at making Milford the best city in Connecticut to live, work and raise a family.


Faithfully,
Peter SPALTHOFF