Chris Murphy Response

Dear Jay,

Thank you for your interest in attending one of my public forums to talk about health care reform. This is one of the most consequential policy debates of our generation, and I need your individual contributions to the conversation. Without your ideas, concerns and suggestions, I will not be able to bring your voice to Washington.

I hope you can join me for breakfast Tuesday September 1 through Friday September 4, from 8 to 9am, to talk about health care reform. I'll bring the coffee, you bring the conversation.

Tuesday, September 1: 8 AM - 9 AM, Library Park, 267 Grand Street at Meadow Street, Waterbury

Wednesday, September 2: 8 AM - 9 AM, CityCenter, Danbury Green, Danbury

Thursday, September 3: 8 AM - 9 AM, CityCenter, Danbury Green, Danbury

Friday, September 4: 8 AM - 9 AM: Library Park, Waterbury, 267 Grand Street at Meadow Street

I will also be holding a town hall-style forum on Wednesday September 2, in Washington, CT.

Wednesday, September 2: 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM, Shepaug Valley High School, 159 South St., Washington, CT

If you have any questions, please contact my staff in New Britain at (860) 223-8412. I can't do my job without hearing from you, so I look forward to seeing you next week.

Every Best Wish,

Christopher S. Murphy
Member of Congress

An Invitation To Congressman Chris Murphy

Honorable Sir: You said recently, "Any time I’m talking to my constituents in an unfiltered way I consider it productive." I wholeheartedly agree and respect the thought. Too many of our elected officials have lost touch with the people.

It is with your sentiment in mind that I invite you to New Milford to hold a Town Hall Meeting on health care reform. If you are willing to do this, please contact me and I will help make all the necessary arrangements.

Very truly yours etc.

Sewer Vote: "Yes"

It passed.

Sewer: Vote "Yes"

Why?

1) The existing equipment is between 23 and 50 years old and is very expensive to maintain...some parts have to be custom made;

2) The State has ordered the Town to upgrade;

3) DEP rules get stricter every year. When this work is completed, we will have nitrogen credits to sell;

4) The Town has obligated 1.3 million gallons of capacity but the existing facility can only handle 1 million;

5) Fat and grease capacity will be increased;

6) Service to lower Route 7 will be enabled;

7) The upgraded plant will be energy efficient; between $300,000 and $400,000 in energy credits will be paid to the Town;

8) The cost of the money will never be cheaper and the 2% loan doesn't have to be paid back until one year after the job is completed;

9) The State money will likely never be available again;

10) The cost of the upgrade is 8 to 9 million dollars less than originally contemplated;

11) The upgraded system will be better for the environment because it will help minimize storm runoff into the river and into the aquifer;

12) Without the upgrade, new businesses and new construction such as recreational facilities can't be built;

Even if you have a septic system, this vote does mean something to you. Did you know that the company that empties your septic tank takes it to the sewer plant?

Please vote "yes" in tomorrow's referendum.

Cash For Clunkers A Clunker

The newest glitch -- a word that the kids use too often -- is that dealers have been requiring buyers to sign an agreement that requires them to pay back the clunker money if the dealer never gets it from the Government. Now the DOT is advising buyers not to sign these agreements (http://www.cars.gov/faq#category-03-5). But where does that leave the dealers if something goes awry? From the get-go there have been problems. For example, the list of eligible cars on cars.gov has to be updated regularly because DOT forgot to include some vehicles (hence the July 24 update) and a dealer in New Milford told me that he has been waiting 3 weeks for a substantial sum of money for the clunkers that are sitting on his lot. That's a lot of money to be tied up that long.

Has anyone out there successfully done a clunker deal?

By the way, on a personal note, I'm looking for a Jeep Grand Cherokee no older than 2000. I'll give you clunker money if the one you have or if the car you want to buy doesn't qualify...and most don't!

Wouldn't It Be Nice to Have A Trader Joe's In Town?

I like Trader Joe's and I support Pat Carr's petitioning effort to encourage it to open a store in the old CVS location on the Green. Anywhere in Town would be just fine! A brief search discloses that we're not the only Community that wants A TJ. The stores are so popular that TJ has a form that can be used to recommend a new location: http://www.traderjoes.com/location_requests_form.aspx

If you'd rather leave a voice mail for TJ CEO Dan Bane, call (626) 599 3700, extension 7333.

It's my understanding that TJ has a problem opening stores in Connecticut because the State won't allow it to co-locate its wines. Very business-friendly, right?

Watch Town Council Meetings On TV!

Saturday mornings at 9 a.m. on Channel 21.

With November elections on the way, this is helpful.

Hazardous Waste Day

Hazardous Waste Day is September 19 at the Railroad Station. Yes, electronics will be taken because the State has not acted as yet on the Law that went into effect on July 1.

What CAN be dropped off? Here are some examples:

Drain or oven cleaners, rust preventatives, pesticides, herbicides, old chemistry sets, oil based paints - NOT LATEX!

Arts and craft supplies, transmission fluid,insect and rodent sprays, photo chemicals, solvents, degreasers

Floor cleaners and strippers, sealants, pool chemicals, dry cleaning fluids, antifreeze, brake fluid, ATF, muriatic acid, wood preservatives,engine and radiator cleaners, no-pest strips

Wood strippers, items with PCBs, septic system cleaners, dioxin silver or 2,4,5- T, paint thinner, kerosene, chips from lead based paint.

Computers (laptops and desktops), monitors, TVs, printers, fax, DVD, VCR

What CAN'T be dropped off?:

Latex Paint, tires, garbage, infectious or medical wastes, gas cylinders, asbestos, smoke detectors, ammunition, fireworks, propane, freon or unknown gases, explosives and highly reactive materials, radioactive materials, controlled substances.