May 6, 2012
Link to online Terry house petition
'Cold Day in hell' before Mudry will apologize to Betts
Open Letter to Mr. Betts’ Demand for an Apology:
I must have touched a raw nerve in Mr. Betts when I asked if
it was possible that he might be receiving a kickback or funding for a future
campaign for his efforts in opposing the Busway. I followed that question up with the
statement that it was a harsh question; however, in this day and age when
politicians are getting caught taking kickbacks and making a living by screwing
the taxpayers, I thought it was an honest question. That’s all it was, a question!! There were no serious accusations or
scandalous remarks or any character-assassinations as Mr. Betts somehow
perceived or interpreted from reading my letter. There were honest and credible questions
about why a Representative elected from the city of Bristol, and town of Plymouth,
would spend so much time traveling to Washington to oppose something that’s
happening in another city? Why isn’t Mr.
Betts spending his time trying to get things fixed right here in his own
district? What about the problems with
the Pequabeck River which is prone to flooding even more so now that the flow
of the river has been changed due to the big storms last year. Has he done
anything regarding that instead of trying to make headlines for himself by
opposing a project that’s due to have a shovel in the ground for much needed
jobs later this month? Has Mr. Betts
done anything about the flooding of the Mine Brook along Mix St. and Farmington
Ave.?
As I stated in my letter, I am not advocating for the Busway
because I personally would like to see light rail; however, I’m not that naïve
to realize that the Busway has received all the permits, funding, and passed
all the hurdles and obstructions put in its way, that although it is a very
expensive project at, according to Mr. Betts figures, $1000.00 per inch, it is
a project that will provide much needed jobs RIGHT NOW!!!!!
Mr. Betts has stated that the alternative to the Busway would
be using the state funds to repair our roads and bridges. That’s where I have a problem with Mr. Betts
not being forthright with the taxpayers.
Mr. Betts is fully aware that if the Busway was stopped tomorrow and the
funds were made available to use for road and bridge repair, it would take
years for studies and applications for permits to be completed before one
shovel goes into the ground to fix any road or bridge. I ask Mr. Betts to be so kind as to tell me
which road, what bridge in what city or town would be the first to be
repaired? Can Mr. Betts tell me when the
first shovel would be put into the ground to start those repairs? The answer to those questions would be NO, I
can’t tell you!!! Reason is because Mr.
Betts, and the rest of the naysayers who oppose the Busway, are fully aware and
cognizant of the facts I stated above are true and they are using the argument
of fixing roads and bridges to play on the voters emotions because it sound so
much better than wasting that money on the Busway. Another fact that Mr. Betts won’t tell the
taxpayers is that the cost to fix all the roads and bridges in this state would
cost in excess of three TRILLION dollars and the three hundred thousand or so
dollars the state is using for the Busway wouldn’t put a dent in that
amount. Just be honest and truthful
instead of telling half-truths!!
Finally, Mr. Betts is upset about character-assassination;
however, he has no objection to putting a label on me by stating that I am a
member of a labor union and a member of the Bristol Democratic Town Committee
and alleging that my personal beliefs are somehow the beliefs of those
organizations. The Press put the label
of me being a member of the Bristol Democratic Town Committee, not I.
As far as my credibility goes, Mr. Betts, it is just fine
and it doesn’t need restoration like you stated. I stand by my facts, hold my head up high,
and look you straight in the eye when I talk to you or anybody else. As for an apology which you unrightiously
demand, it will be a cold day in hell before I apologize for what I believe
in!!
Joseph Mudry, Jr.
Copyright 2012. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
May 1, 2012
Wright backs manufacturing caucus creation
Press release from state Rep. Chris Wright, a Bristol Democrat:
REP. WRIGHT WELCOMES THE FORMATION OF A GENERAL ASSEMBLY CAUCUS TO PROMOTE MANUFACTURING
State Representative Christopher Wright (D-Bristol) is welcoming the formation of a Connecticut General Assembly “Manufacturing/Advanced Manufacturing Caucus” to emphasize and promote the importance and manufacturing in Connecticut.
“This is a very positive step and comes at a critical time following last year’s special session on job creation in Connecticut,” Rep. Wright said. “Bristol has a great history of manufacturing and whatever we can do to stimulate manufacturing jobs and help our companies that are here to compete and grow is worth the effort.”
The new group will host briefings and roundtable discussions with industry experts, disseminating information and providing resources so that members and their staff can learn about opportunities and challenges facing Connecticut’s manufacturing sectors.
“I look forward to meeting with our local manufacturers to get their input and share their concerns with the caucus members,” Rep. Wright said. “The health of our economy has always depended on good paying manufacturing jobs and we will not have a healthy economy until we rejuvenate our manufacturing sector.”
The legislators have scheduled a press conference to announce the details about the new caucus on Wednesday, May 2nd at 10:00 a.m. in Room 1B, Legislative Office Building.
April 29, 2012
Carlson keeps the trains running on time
From Facebook:
On friday afternoon I went to shop, Henry said a tree had fallen across tracks. I took picture, and went back to see if we could call train company to tell them. while looking for phone number, the train came and had to stop. The noise of the engine brought out all the folks at the American Legion barroom. The train engineer was on the radio with dispatch,who said it would be a few hours before they could send someone out to remove the tree.
I walked up there with a chain saw running, cut up the tree and folks from the bar removed the pieces. the train was on its way in less than fifteen minutes.
Proof that Republicans will do whatever necessary to keep businesses and the economy moving.
April 27, 2012
Cockayne: Some on Board of Ed not truthful
As a resident of Bristol in your district, a voting taxpayer and a former school board member, I want you to vote in favor of the budget request presented by the BOE. That is, I want your approval for the fully funded budget to the level of the $105 million request made by the Board of Education.
And Cockayne's response the next day, which he shared with the other Republican council members:
Thank you for your email. Unfortunately I will not be supporting the full budget. I believe the BOE must do a much better job managing the money. I believe the BOE is very top heavy with Administration and the money does not make it to the teachers and students. I also have a problem with the Minimum Balance Requirement. Any increase we give the BOE will now be the new minimum for the following year.
I also don't believe some on the BOE are being truthful with the parents. For example....I was at the Feb 14th meeting for a bit before I had to go to City hall for a meeting of my own. During that meeting, the BOE when through a presentation explaining why they were cutting band and choirs...( my son who is in 6th grade is in both). The presentation when on to explain that it was not about the money but that the curriculum was changing, doing away with flex and making each period a bit longer. However, a few weeks later after pressure from the parents, the BOE now said if the city gave them the money they would put back the music and choirs. When I asked point blank to a BOE member why they would tell the parent this since I was at the Feb 14th meeting, they could not answer the question. So I ask......are they changing the curriculum or is it about money?
Yet another example....The BOE has told the lacrosse parents if the city gives them the money... I believe its about 50k... they will put in Lacrosse. So again, I asked a BOE member (veteran member) if I make a motion to increase whatever the number is for BOE by the amount lacrosse needs will they put in Lacrosse as was stated at the BOE meeting to the parents. I was told in no uncertain terms NO! Again, when I asked why then are they telling parents one thing at the BOE meeting and have intention of following through. The answer I received was this is not the place to talk about it!
The BOE has also said publicly they cannot take another flat budget....how quickly they forgot about the extra 2.5 million dollars the city was forced to give them last year.
Hopefully you can see why I will not fund the BOE in full. In my opinion some on the BOE can not be trusted to do as they has said they would do. The BOE needs to do as many households have had to do and thats tighten the belt and start managing the buget. The city can no longer be a open checkbook.
This is nothing I take lightly. I have a son who is currently in 6th grade at Chippens. I'm also engaged to a teacher..not Bristol...so I see first hand what the teachers are dealing with.
Please feel free to call with any questions.
Ward challenges GOP to take the lead
Fed up by
Republican complaints that he is moving too slowly to consolidate government
departments, Mayor Art Ward recently offered to let the GOP-controlled City
Council spearhead the process.
| Bristol Mayor Art Ward |
“It is quite
evident, based upon the City Council’s level of frustration and suggestions of
the consolidation efforts not being done readily enough, that the members of
the City Council seem to possess more expertise on this project than I, or
anyone else involved up to this point,” Ward recently wrote in an email to the
council.
Ward said he
would “graciously entertain nominations for the names of any City Council
members who wish to volunteer their experience, time and wisdom to become the
chairperson of this effort,” Ward wrote.
The mayor
said that nobody has yet expressed interest in taking up the position.
The move
followed complaints by two GOP councilors – David Mills and Derek Czenczelewski
– about the slow pace of consolidation efforts.
Ward said
the initial push has been to try to consolidate the computer divisions of City
Hall and the Board of Education. He said it probably wouldn’t save money but it
would improve efficiency.
Mills asked
the personnel director in an April 11 email obtained through a Freedom of
Information request how come nothing has been mentioned about other potential
areas for consolidation, including “vehicle maintenance, putting all buildings
under one department and all public grounds under another.”
“Has this
even been discussed yet? It has been five months since it was proposed to the
mayor,” Mills said.
Ward wrote
back to Mills, “Patience is a virtue.”
Mills fired
back: “In other words, it hasn’t started yet.” Link to full story
April 26, 2012
City budget hikes property taxes nearly 6 percent
 |
| Board of Finance member Robert Vojtek, left, speaks with the panel’s chairman, Rich Miecznikowski, before Wednesday night’s Board of Finance meeting. |
Finance Chairman Rich Miecznikowski said the focus during budget preparations was to maintain municipal services “while maintaining the city’s strong financial condition.”
The budget maintains education spending at last year’s level — a level that hasn’t changed much in four years — but officials said that educators can pay $1 million less for health care, freeing up cash for other uses, and tap some of the excess bond money from construction projects to buy books and other equipment for the new schools.
That’s still considerably less than the $3.1 million in additional funding sought by educators, perhaps opening the door to more layoffs and making it less likely that music and lacrosse programs that many are seeking to preserve will wind up with the money they are seeking.
Falling short in funding is going to have “a dramatic impact” on the ability of Bristol schools to ensure all children achieve to their capacity, said Chris Wilson, chairman of the Board of Education. LINK TO FULL STORY
Mill rates for Bristol since the last revaluation year:
For 2008-2009 budget - 25.99
For 2009-2010 budget - 25.99
For 2010-2011 budget - 27.24
For 2011-2012 budget - 27.24
For 2012-2013 budget - 28.75
Astute observers will note that taxes have gone up every other year by about the same margin. It is almost certainly not a coincidence that they rise in non-election years while mill rates stay frozen whenever there's a municipal election that fall.
So perhaps next year there will, once again, be a freeze.
April 25, 2012
Romney grabs majority of Bristol GOP votes
 |
| Mitt Romney |
BRISTOL – Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney garnered 54 percent of
the 735 votes cast by Bristol Republicans in Tuesday’s presidential
primary.
Romney, who is virtually certain to gain the GOP’s nomination to challenge President Obama in November, collected 400 votes from the 12 percent of GOP loyalists in Bristol who bothered to turn out at the polls.
Finishing second was U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, who racked up 140 votes. He was followed by former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who tallied 120.
Also collecting votes was former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, who got 64 despite suspending his campaign earlier this month.
Ten GOP voters opted for uncommitted.
There are 5,661 registered Republicans in the city.
Turnout was light because of the widespread belief that Romney, who swept a series of primaries Tuesday, had the nomination locked up after Santorum stopped campaigning actively.
Romney, who is virtually certain to gain the GOP’s nomination to challenge President Obama in November, collected 400 votes from the 12 percent of GOP loyalists in Bristol who bothered to turn out at the polls.
Finishing second was U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, who racked up 140 votes. He was followed by former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who tallied 120.
Also collecting votes was former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, who got 64 despite suspending his campaign earlier this month.
Ten GOP voters opted for uncommitted.
There are 5,661 registered Republicans in the city.
Turnout was light because of the widespread belief that Romney, who swept a series of primaries Tuesday, had the nomination locked up after Santorum stopped campaigning actively.
April 24, 2012
Consultant: Move City Hall to Memorial Boulevard
A study on
how the city should reuse aging school buildings recommends moving City Hall to
Memorial Boulevard School, erecting a new police complex to replace Bingham School
and renovating the central firehouse.
Copyright 2012. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
| Memorial Boulevard School |
The $57
million plan calls for selling the existing City Hall building, creating a
neighborhood park at the O’Connell School site on Park Street and leaving the
existing Beals Senior-Community Center where it is.
George
Wallace, deputy public works director, said the city’s Building Committee
recently received the draft study and plans to hear soon from the consultants.
It has made no decisions and its members may or may not support the
recommendations.
The $70,000 space
needs study, which officials agreed to carry out last spring, is the product of
an in-depth examination by experts from Drummey Rosane Anderson, Inc. of South
Windsor who were asked to figure out how the city should best use its
buildings, including schools that will be empty starting next fall.
City
Councilor Henri Martin, who serves on the buildings panel, said the report is “sort
of a general heads-up” about what’s possible.
He said
officials are going to have to figure out how the proposals fit into the
overall downtown revitalization effort. There are many options, Martin said,
none of them certain. LINK TO FULL STORY.
Video: Roche slams Welch's record in Senate
Here is the speech that Democratic state Senate candidate Dave Roche delivered to the city's Democratic Town Committee on Monday night at City Hall:
Roche is hoping to unseat state Sen. Jason Welch, a Bristol Republican who captured the 31st Senate District seat two years ago.
Copyright 2012. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Few Republicans bother to vote today
April 23, 2012
Blazejowski retirement renews dispute over handling of troubled police officer
For city Councilor Kevin Fuller, his
vote last week to offer a disability retirement to troubled police Officer Marc
Blazejowski was one of the most disturbing choices he’s had to make.
Copyright 2012. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Fuller said the disability section’s
wording fit Blazejowski’s situation and both the city and an independent
physician argued that he should be granted disability, which pays officers 70
percent of their regular as well as benefits.
Fuller said he had little choice
given that firing the 34-year-old officer would have meant the city would “end
up in the same place” after spending time and money in a court case it could
not win.
The problem, Fuller said, is that
Blazejowski should have been axed years ago. The ball was dropped back then, he
said, not now.
There’s something to that argument.
According to a 2011 report byconsultant Lori Coppinger, Blazejowski should have been fired after a series of
incidents culminating in a 2006 meltdown when the officer expressed the idea
that he would “like to kill someone” to see how it feels. Link to the full story.
Tuesday's paper will have an updated version of this story.
Tuesday's paper will have an updated version of this story.
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