Contrary to what appears in this week's Spectrum, former Lanesville voters (District 7) vote Tuesday at Sarah Noble, NOT at the Firehouse on Lanesville!
Friday, October 30, 2009
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
A Reader: 'Clueless Bob'
"I listened with amusement to Bob Coppola [at the Northville Residents Association event] as he touted that all he’s heard on the street is people need jobs, jobs, jobs and that if he was elected mayor he would lower property taxes. When asked how he would lower taxes Bob went back to Jobs, jobs, jobs and he, as mayor, would create jobs, rambling on and on. When he was asked again Bob said 'I answered your question' but the questioner said no, you didn’t tell me HOW you would lower taxes. Bob rambled on some more but in the end even Bob admitted, 'I probably didn’t answer your question.'
Clueless Bob, just who we need as mayor."
Clueless Bob, just who we need as mayor."
Friday, October 16, 2009
Watch Mayoral Debate
9:00 p.m. on October 22
9:00 p.m. on October 29
One other time TBA
Charter Channel 21
9:00 p.m. on October 29
One other time TBA
Charter Channel 21
Monday, October 12, 2009
Pilla: Kane 'Unqualified For Public Office'
Not unexpectedly, the John Kane piece in last week’s Spectrum was filled with mistruths and distortions. I wish that the Spectrum staff had done some fact-checking. In addition, readers can’t tell if this was a press release from New Milford First or a news story. Either way, readers lose because the facts are nowhere to be found.
Readers may recall that many years ago, the Town had an opportunity to buy a reservoir property from the Water Company. That opportunity expired in 2002 after the Town Council decided that the purchase at a cost in excess of $2,000,000 wasn’t a good idea while the Town was in the throes of revaluation and many taxpayers were facing a potential tax increase in excess of 30%. As exhibited by his very weak attempt to buy the property and his absence from the State DPUC Hearings, even former mayor Gambino got a dose of reality that the Town could not afford the purchase.
By the time that the idea reached the Board of Finance, it was too late. Inaction by the Town Council made meaningless any action by the Board of Finance and any of its Members, including John Spatola. Mr. Kane has lost sleep ever since.
The misguided Ethics Complaint that Kane and his cohorts filed against Spatola was like a witch-hunt. The Complaint was written by Kane and cost New Milford taxpayers tens of thousands if not hundreds of thousands of dollars because after Spatola was totally exonerated, taxpayers had to reimburse Spatola the costs of his defense, the costs of the proceeding and the costs of the Town’s own attorneys that included a Special, independent Attorney.
Kane’s claim that Mayor Murphy delayed the Ethics Hearing is bogus. It languished for two reasons. Several Members of the Ethics Commission had recused themselves because of conflicts and Mr. Kane and his cohorts turned the Ethics Hearings into a circus that would make the “Judge Judy” TV Show look like the US Supreme Court.
Mayor Murphy and the Town Council diligently moved the process forward by properly appointing new members to the Commission and by appointing the Special, independent Attorney to oversee the process.
Mr. Kane’s shenanigans will continue to cost the taxpayers dearly and because of his past actions and in front of a Superior Court Judge, he had to personally apologize in writing to me because of his vicious allegations in the Spatola Complaint.
After many years, he is still at it, misleading the public using this dismissed Ethics Complaint to catapult him into public office when, in reality, the opposite should happen.
It is my opinion that his distorted and radical views, his misguided actions and his public performance make him grossly unqualified for any public office.
Town government, more so now than ever given the serious problems of our economy, needs well-intentioned, dedicated and knowledgeable people. Mr. Kane is not one of them.
Mr. Kane likes to throw stones. Here’s a stone he doesn’t throw: why was he summarily dismissed as a teacher at Wesconn University where records remain sealed? Here’s another: why does he continue to receive special tax breaks on his personal residence on Crossman Road under the guise of a voodoo farming operation while all other taxpayers are paying for his folly?
Readers may recall that many years ago, the Town had an opportunity to buy a reservoir property from the Water Company. That opportunity expired in 2002 after the Town Council decided that the purchase at a cost in excess of $2,000,000 wasn’t a good idea while the Town was in the throes of revaluation and many taxpayers were facing a potential tax increase in excess of 30%. As exhibited by his very weak attempt to buy the property and his absence from the State DPUC Hearings, even former mayor Gambino got a dose of reality that the Town could not afford the purchase.
By the time that the idea reached the Board of Finance, it was too late. Inaction by the Town Council made meaningless any action by the Board of Finance and any of its Members, including John Spatola. Mr. Kane has lost sleep ever since.
The misguided Ethics Complaint that Kane and his cohorts filed against Spatola was like a witch-hunt. The Complaint was written by Kane and cost New Milford taxpayers tens of thousands if not hundreds of thousands of dollars because after Spatola was totally exonerated, taxpayers had to reimburse Spatola the costs of his defense, the costs of the proceeding and the costs of the Town’s own attorneys that included a Special, independent Attorney.
Kane’s claim that Mayor Murphy delayed the Ethics Hearing is bogus. It languished for two reasons. Several Members of the Ethics Commission had recused themselves because of conflicts and Mr. Kane and his cohorts turned the Ethics Hearings into a circus that would make the “Judge Judy” TV Show look like the US Supreme Court.
Mayor Murphy and the Town Council diligently moved the process forward by properly appointing new members to the Commission and by appointing the Special, independent Attorney to oversee the process.
Mr. Kane’s shenanigans will continue to cost the taxpayers dearly and because of his past actions and in front of a Superior Court Judge, he had to personally apologize in writing to me because of his vicious allegations in the Spatola Complaint.
After many years, he is still at it, misleading the public using this dismissed Ethics Complaint to catapult him into public office when, in reality, the opposite should happen.
It is my opinion that his distorted and radical views, his misguided actions and his public performance make him grossly unqualified for any public office.
Town government, more so now than ever given the serious problems of our economy, needs well-intentioned, dedicated and knowledgeable people. Mr. Kane is not one of them.
Mr. Kane likes to throw stones. Here’s a stone he doesn’t throw: why was he summarily dismissed as a teacher at Wesconn University where records remain sealed? Here’s another: why does he continue to receive special tax breaks on his personal residence on Crossman Road under the guise of a voodoo farming operation while all other taxpayers are paying for his folly?
Monday, October 5, 2009
NMF Allegations In Spectrum 'Deceptive'
I am compelled to set the record straight with regard to some of the statements made by New Milford First in last week's Spectrum.
First, Member Monaghan claimed that the Mayor and Town Council eliminated “just about all capital projects.” Indeed, the Mayor did have capital projects in the Budget that she presented to the Town Council but they were taken out of the Budget by the Council because its Members chose instead to create a capital reserve account, funding for which came from the so-called undesignated fund. By leaving out the salient facts, Mr. Monagahn has told an egregious mis-truth.
Second, Mr. Monaghan ascribes to NMF candidate Sandy Peterson an allegation that this led to a “threatened cut” in the Town’s credit rating. False. In fact, having the new Capital Reserve Account enhances the Town’s borrowing ability because it shows to the bonding companies that the Town has financial stability and is dedicated to the maintenance of its infrastructure.
Third, with regard to Mr. Monaghan’s allegation that the Town’s Plan of Conservation and Development is “more than two years” overdue, the State Office of Policy and Management has written that the revised Plan is due on July 1, 2010. It is by no means overdue. With the assistance of a consultant, the Planning Commission is effecting a thorough review of the POCD and amassing volumes of input from many sources.
Finally, with regard to Mr. Kane’s complaint that the Town’s Ethics Code doesn’t work, voters might need to be reminded that this statement – from his point of view – is entirely true. But what he’s really saying is that it didn’t work for him i.e. he lost his ridiculous Ethics Complaint against John Spatola that cost the Town hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal bills.
Being honest with readers is obviously not one of New Milford First’s priorities. Deception is.
First, Member Monaghan claimed that the Mayor and Town Council eliminated “just about all capital projects.” Indeed, the Mayor did have capital projects in the Budget that she presented to the Town Council but they were taken out of the Budget by the Council because its Members chose instead to create a capital reserve account, funding for which came from the so-called undesignated fund. By leaving out the salient facts, Mr. Monagahn has told an egregious mis-truth.
Second, Mr. Monaghan ascribes to NMF candidate Sandy Peterson an allegation that this led to a “threatened cut” in the Town’s credit rating. False. In fact, having the new Capital Reserve Account enhances the Town’s borrowing ability because it shows to the bonding companies that the Town has financial stability and is dedicated to the maintenance of its infrastructure.
Third, with regard to Mr. Monaghan’s allegation that the Town’s Plan of Conservation and Development is “more than two years” overdue, the State Office of Policy and Management has written that the revised Plan is due on July 1, 2010. It is by no means overdue. With the assistance of a consultant, the Planning Commission is effecting a thorough review of the POCD and amassing volumes of input from many sources.
Finally, with regard to Mr. Kane’s complaint that the Town’s Ethics Code doesn’t work, voters might need to be reminded that this statement – from his point of view – is entirely true. But what he’s really saying is that it didn’t work for him i.e. he lost his ridiculous Ethics Complaint against John Spatola that cost the Town hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal bills.
Being honest with readers is obviously not one of New Milford First’s priorities. Deception is.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Sports Complex Reopens
Without fanfare, the Sports Complex was reopened last week. Nelson Mingachos, Immaculate's very successful Boys' Varsity Basketball Coach and Girls' Varsity Soccer Coach plans to host and provide a variety of athletic activities and programs, everything from personal training to season games. Installing basketball courts soon, he and his partners are already booking space. This looks like a great win for New Milford...more details to follow!
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