Toto we're not in Kansas anymore ... if your town is depended on grants and reimbursements ... hold your breath!

Moody's Releases 'Negative Outlook' For State's Bonding Prospects

By JON LENDER

October 28, 2009

courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-negative-bond-outlook-1028.artoct28,0,7993288.story

Wall Street released a "negative outlook" for Connecticut's bonding prospects Tuesday, unleashing worries that state taxpayers may have to pay millions more to finance future borrowing by the state government. 

Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell said she had sent legislative leaders a copy of a new Moody's Investor Services report, in which the bond rating agency downgraded the outlook for the state's bonds from "stable" to "negative." Rell called it "an alarm signal that we clearly cannot afford to ignore."

The investor service said it was not changing the rating of Connecticut's existing bonds, which remains "Aa3." However, a "negative outlook" can presage a change in the bond rating, which would cost the state much more in interest to finance its debts, officials said.

Moody's said "the negative outlook reflects the choices made to address the state's biennial 2010-11 budget gaps as well as the shortfall for fiscal 2009, including a majority of non-recurring solutions and deficit financing, combined with a credit profile that includes ... long-term liabilities."

"Connecticut used one-time solutions to close slightly over half of the shortfall," the Moody's report said. "These solutions create future structural budget gaps and leave the state with significantly reduced flexibility to address ... fiscal pressures that may arise."

Rell, who refused to sign the new budget, said the report is "clear evidence" that more spending cuts are needed.

"I believe it would be imprudent to override my veto" of one of the recent "budget implementer" bills," Rell wrote in a letter Tuesday to legislative leaders. Democratic legislators had talked of convening this week to try to override Rell's veto, but on Tuesday they were saying that an override looks doubtful.

The president pro tem of the Senate, Donald Williams, D-Brooklyn, said "we all should be concerned about the structural holes in the budget" but "now is not the time for the governor to try to disown parts of the budget that she initially proposed — such as securitization, borrowing, and one-time fixes. Most troubling is [her] failure ... to control spending in her agencies."

House Speaker Christopher Donovan, D-Meriden, said, "We can take some comfort in the fact that our bond rating remains excellent, even as we just begin to emerge from the most difficult recession in decades."

House Republican Leader Lawrence F. Cafero Jr. of Norwalk said the Moody's report "is further evidence that the Democratic budget is full of holes and over-reliant on one-shot revenues and volatile tax streams that sink during bad economic times. ... "The Democratic tax hike, the largest in state history, was ill-conceived because, as Moody's has noted, it relies even more on volatile personal income related to Wall Street."

Copyright © 2009, The Hartford Courant

TOP 10 EHTICS RULES FOR NEW FAIRFIELD EMPLOYEES

AVOID DIVIDED LOYALTIES

10.  Do Not, unless your job requires, contact a State official for someone else.

9.   Do Not engage in political activities while on Government premises or during duty hours.

8.   Do Not engage in outside activities with non-Governmental entities that have matters before your office.

AVOID UNDUE INFLUENCES

7.  Do Not give a gift to a supervisor or accept a gift from a subordinate, unless it is: (1) for a major life event (e.g., marriage, retirement) or (2) $10 or less in value.

6. Do Not accept a gift offered because of your government position or from someone affected by your specific government duties or operations, unless an exception applies, such as for (1) gifts of $20 or less (up to $50 per year) and (2) gifts from friends and relatives.

AVOID APPEARANCES OF FAVORITISM

5.  Do Not work on an project or assignment if you have a close relationship with one of the parties; you have such a relationship with household and close family members, recent former employers, and organizations in which you are active personally.

AVOID SELF-DEALING

4.  Do Not work on a project or assignment in which you have a financial interest, unless authorized by law.

3.  Do Not work on a project or assignment that will affect your financial interests; your financial interests include your investments as well as those of your spouse and minor children and the financial interests of any organization in which you serve as an officer, agent or board member.

 AVOID MISUSING YOUR GOVERNMENT JOB

2. Do Not create the appearance that you are using your public office for the private gain of your friends, relatives, private employers, or anyone else.

1. Do Not use your official title or Government resources (duty time, computer, e-mail access, information, fax, copier, vehicle) for personal activities.

---------

Parks and Recreation Department  http://www.newfairfield.org/content/209/253/default.aspx

Steve Merullo - Director        Barb Coelho - Assistant Director Kelly Ferris - Program Director        Brian Stroh - Summer Day Camp Director CITIZEN NEWS, SECTION 2, OCTOBER 21, 2009 LEGAL NOTICES ... YOUR RIGHT TO KNOW Legal Notice Town of New Fairfield Zoning Commission ~ Record of Vote Item #6.  Special Permit Application 21-09 - Multi-purpose Recreational Building and Outside Field and Sports Complex.  52A RT 39 LLC, Applicant, Steve Merullo, agent/member.  Public Hearing Scheduled for November 3, 2009. For further information please click on the following link: C.O.N.C.O.R.D   Check for 52A RT 39 LLC

WHERE DOES CIVILITY BEGIN?

-----Original Message-----
From: John Hodge <JHodge@newfairfield.org>
To: Jay Waterman <jwaterman@newfairfield.org>
Sent: Tue, Oct 20, 2009 10:37 pm
Subject: RE: BOF meetings

Jay,
  Your email clearly shows the unfortunate state of affairs that exists between the BOF and virtually all other Town Boards,Commissions and Employees. I know that this is coming at a very difficult time for your department as you are in the process of working with the auditors on closing out the 08-09 budget year. I would like you to keep the
audit as your priority and not be distracted by the repeated requests for information that has already been provided.

   As you know, attending BOF Meetings is part of your job description, but having to be subjected to their incivility is not. Therefore, I am willing to agree, as your direct supervisor, that you do not have to attend tomorrow nights meeting with the clear understanding that once the new BOF is seated we must sit down and discuss this situation with them. Clearly, requiring that requests for information come from the Chairman, as has been past practice, will alleviate some of problems that exist.

  I have reviewed the documents that you have provided for their meeting and I believe that they are more then adequate to allow them to discuss the items that they have on their agenda.

   I also want to take this opportunity to congratulate you and your staff on the outstanding job that they have been doing. Please let them know that the current situation is not a reflection on how we feel as a Town. I am proud of all of you and it has not escaped my notice that you have been able to accomplish such great things at a time when you have reduced your staffing by 2 people. Independently the auditors and Standard and Poor's have also recognized your departments achievements.  If you have any further questions or comments please don't hesitate
to call.

 John


-----Original Message-----
From: Jay Waterman
Sent: Tue 10/20/2009 4:56 PM
To: John Hodge
Subject: BOF meetings

John

As a result of the BOF rescheduling its September meeting, I was unable to attend due to a prior personnel commitment. 

In all honesty, I was relieved that I was unable to attend. At the August meeting, I felt there was a lack of respect, unprofessionalism, and disregard for the work that myself and my staff provides the Town and the BOE from the BOF. It is clear that the dialogue has moved away from discussion of current financial issues to the discussion of
various disagreements existing between the BOF and BOS. I view my role in attending BOF meetings as providing financial information relative to current ongoing issues. Instead, I find myself being subjected to leading and sometimes heated questions from certain BOF members in an attempt to have me agree or disagree on an issue outside the realm of my responsibility.

I have rarely if ever received a call or request for information prior to a BOF meeting. Instead, questions are thrown at me to invoke an off the cuff response that could be pitted against something previously stated by your board.

That being said, I am asking you as my immediate supervisor, to excuse me from attending any further BOF meetings. After the election, I would be willing to sit down with the new Chairperson to reinstate the process of having all BOF questions go through the BOF chair.

Please advise. Thanks.

NOT SURE WHAT THIS MEANS? ASK!

Citizen News, Section 2, October 21, 2009.  Posted in LEGAL NOTICES ... Your Right To Know

Item 6: Special Permit Application 21-09 - Multi-Purpose Recreational Building and Outside Field and Sports Complex.  52A RT 39 LLC, Applicant, Steve Merullo, agent/member. Public Hearing Scheduled for November 3, 2009.

LEGAL NOTICE TOWN OF NEW FAIRFIELD ZONING COMMISSION, Tuesday, November 3, 2009.  Regular Meeting of Zoning Commission consisting of the following Public Hearings and Business Items, On Tuesday, November 3, 2009 commencing at 7:30PM to be held in the New Fairfield Library Community Room on the following:

1.  Special Permit Application 22-09 - Multi-purpose Recreational Building and Outside Field and Sports Complex.  John Kawulicz, owner, 52A RT 39 LLC, applicant, Steve Merullo, Agent/member.
     A complete of the proposed application can be reviewed in the Zoning Office.  At the time of the public hearing, interested persons will be heard and written communications will be accepted.
        

                  Faline Schniderman-Fox, Zoning Commission

BUSINESS DETAILS:

Business Name:	Business ID:	Business Address:
52A ROUTE 39, LLC	0979499	52A ROUTE 9, NEW FAIRFIELD, CT, 06812
Mailing Address:	Citizenship/State Inc:	Last Report Year:
NONE	Domestic/CT
Business Type:	Business Status:	Date Inc./Register:
Domestic Limited Liability Company	Active	Aug 05, 2009

PRINCIPALS:

Name/Title:	Business Address:	Residence Address:
STEVE MERULLO MEMBER/MANAGER	52A ROUTE 39, NEW FAIRFIELD, CT, 06812	311 ROUTE 39, NEW FAIRFIELD, CT, 06812
ANN PECZENIUK MEMBER/MANAGER	52A ROUTE 39, NEW FAIRFIELD, CT, 06812	27 SHORTWOODS RD., NEW FAIRFIELD, CT, 06812

BUSINESS SUMMARY:

Agent Name:	Agent Business Address:	Agent Residence Address:
RAYMOND C. LUBUS, ESQ.	22 BRUSH HILL RD., NEW FAIRFIELD, CT, 06812	22 BRUSH HILL RD., NEW FAIRFIELD, CT, 06812

» View Name History	» View Filing History	» View Shares

TONGUE FU AND OTHER HODGE WORD GAMES ...

Douglas Thielen

9 Pheasant Drive

New Fairfield, CT 06812

[203] 746-4039

e-Mail: Doug1016@aol.com

For Letters and Opinions - October 20^th

HOLLYWOOD HODGE’S OBSCENE LIGHT SHOW

It is perfectly acceptable to put up political signs, all the candidates do it. But having them lit all night is a terrible “leading by example” by someone who purports to be “Going green”. John Hodge has just turned New Fairfield into New Vegas with this glittering waste of electricity when we are all supposed to be conserving energy.

In addition, some of Hollywood Hodge’s light displays are left on all day. Great job, John. You have displayed your two-faced nature once again and I hope the voters remember this self-serving waste of energy when they go to the polls in two weeks.

 WHAT ME WORRY?

WANT'A BUY A VAN?

LEST WE FORGET ~ HODGE’S FOLLIES #6

“THE BOARD OF FINANCE IS IRRELEVANT”

We have already seen 5 examples Hodge’s Follies that he has failed to acknowledge as accomplishments when patting himself on the back; [1] His Weevil Fiasco, where John Hodge bypassed the Board of Finance’s refusal to make us taxpayers fund his very own little weevil experiment when a professional study had been in the works for over a year and did it anyway; [2] His Museum District Fiasco, where John Hodge diverted grant moneys and spent $500,000 to move two old houses to a site that is now inaccessible; [3] His Unilaterally Changing Town Hall Hours, where John Hodge by himself decided to change Town Hall hours so residents who work for a living now have to take time off from work, a vacation day or use comp time in order to see the Town Clerk, Assessor, Tax Collector, Land Use Department or Town Sanitarian; [4] His Numerous Violations of The Freedom Of Information Act, where John Hodge was found guilty of multiple violations by the Freedom of Information Commission at a Formal Hearing ~ not once but twice. [5] His Overrunning the $2,198,000 Approved for the Senior Center, where John Hodge has spent more than the $2.198.000 approved at referendum by us taxpayers.

Last, but certainly not least, was John Hodge’s unparalleled display of ego at a joint meeting of the Board of Finance [BOF] and Board of Selectmen, where John Hodge told the members of the BOF “You are irrelevant”.

How many more of these kinds of things are residents going to tolerate? Hopefully NONE!

One member of the Board of Finance has constantly fought for us taxpayers during the Hodge Administration and that man is Art Azzarito. Please join me and vote for Art Azzarito for Selectman in Box 2C of your ballot on November 3^rd. Our Board of Selectmen is badly in need of a complete overhaul.

To see a change, VOTE 2C. Thank you.

Doug Thielen 

PLEASE GET OUT AND VOTE THIS ELECTION DAY

OLD BUTCH AND THE HEN HOUSE

Old Butch

John was in the fertilized egg business. He had several hundred young layers (hens), called 'pullets,' and ten roosters to fertilize the eggs.

He kept records, and any rooster not performing went into the soup pot and was replaced.

This took a lot of time,  so he bought some tiny bells and attached them to his roosters.

Each bell had a different tone,  so he could tell from a distance, which rooster was performing.

Now, he could sit on the porch And fill out an efficiency report by just listening to the bells.

John's favourite rooster, old Butch,  was a very fine specimen, but this morning he noticed old Butch's bell hadn't rung at all!

When he went to investigate, he saw the other roosters were busy chasing
pullets, bells-a-ringing, but the pullets, hearing the roosters coming, could run for cover.

To John's amazement, old Butch had his bell in his beak, so it couldn't
ring.

He'd sneak up on a pullet, do his job and walk on to the next one.  John was so proud of old Butch,  he entered him in the Renfrew County Fair and he became an overnight sensation among the judges.

The result was the judges not only awarded old Butch the No Bell Piece Prize
but they also awarded him the Pulletsurprise as well.  Clearly old Butch was a politician in the making. Who else but a politician could figure out how to win two of the most highly coveted awards on our planet by being the best at sneaking up on the populace and screwing them when they weren't paying attention.

Vote carefully next year,
the bells are not always audible.

HODGE'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT FAILED TO MAKE THE CUT!

'Accomplishments' Hodge did not mention

Updated: 10/19/2009 06:24:53 PM EDT

I have no problem with first selectman (Mr. Hodge) listing the accomplishments he deserves credit for in New Fairfield. However, on at least two accomplishments, the triple "A" rating and the low tax increases credit belongs to the Board of Finance, that's what they are responsible for, not the first selectman, as Hodge would like us to believe.
Here are a few "accomplishments" he forgot to list.

1) Changing the Town Hall hours. When asked why, he stated more people come to Town Hall on Monday than on Saturday. Who did the head count? You be the judge.

2) Ordering a three-minute limit put on how long anyone can speak at a Board of Selectman meeting. Was this edict made to quiet the residents who wanted straight answers to their questions? You be the judge.

3) Restoration of historic houses/Museum District. This is one "accomplishment" I don't blame him for not mentioning. A good quiz for all the busloads of tourists that Hodge told us would be visiting the Museum District might be: Since the old houses weren't built on this site and since there is no bridge or road leading to the site, exactly how did they get there? You be the judge.

As it stands now, the only way to visit the site is to be a Navy-Seal or belong to the 82nd Airborne. You be the judge.

Greg Moore
NEW FAIRFIELD

THE QUESTIONS THAT HODGE DID WANT TO ANSWER TO THE BOF

HOW IS A POLITICAN AND A SURGEON SIMILAR ... WELL SOME ARE!

New Fairfield man receives hero's welcome after serving as a gravedigger during WWII

New Fairfield man receives hero's welcome after serving as a gravedigger in WWII

Updated: 10/17/2009 01:32:48 AM EDT

Jeff Wiggins, one of the most articulate and thoughtful men you will ever meet, struggled to put his heart on paper.

Sixty-five years after the New Fairfield man plunged a shovel into the Dutch countryside during World War II, the sadness was suffocating, if not crippling.

Time had not lightened the memory of burying 250 or more U.S. soldiers -- every day -- for 2 1/2 months in 1944. The fallen soldiers, barely old enough to vote in many cases, came by the truckload to Margraten, a small farming town near the German border.

"It took months for Jeff to write that speech," his wife, Janice, said. "He used to sit down every day to write. Sometimes, the words came out. Sometimes, they didn't."

Finally, after flying to the Netherlands last month to take part in memorial observances at the Netherlands American Cemetery, Jeff Wiggins delivered the speech of his life with dignity, grace and courage, the same qualities he used as a 19-year-old gravedigger from Alabama.

Just like the war around him, there was nothing fair about this detail. The white soldiers identified the dead, usually with dog tags. The black soldiers, men like Wiggins, dug the graves and buried their innocence with the casualties.

"I had only seen but one death in my life before the war," Wiggins said, pausing a moment to inhale his composure. "My sister passed away when she was 11 years old. Nine years later, we was burying 100s of war dead every day."

Wiggins, 84, is believed to be the last surviving gravedigger at Margraten. He was given a hero's welcome by the Dutch people last month and treated like a visiting dignitary by local officials.

Some strangers hugged Wiggins and held on. Others shook his hand and thanked him, well aware of the sacrifices Wiggins made, but much too young to remember the war.

"I really wasn't sure if I was going to get through that speech," said Wiggins, who also took his 8-year-old great-grandson, Malcolm, on the trip. "But once I started talking, I tried to imagine I was one of the family members who had a loved one buried at Margraten.

"I was in two worlds at the same time: the world of Margraten where I was a gravedigger and the world of Margraten where I was being honored. It really wasn't one or the other. It was both."

Overall, Wiggins said, 260 black U.S. servicemen dug the graves at Margraten, a town smaller than New Fairfield. It was a cold and muddy job, but there was honor every time a soldier was laid to rest.

In 40 years of marriage, Janice Wiggins never heard her husband speak of burying soldiers in the same uniform they had died in. He kept the nightmares to himself, tucked away in a dark part of his heart.

These soldiers -- some limbless, all lifeless -- didn't get a 21-gun salute at Margraten. They didn't get a polished coffin with an American flag draped over the top.

Instead, they got a short prayer and men who cared enough to cry.

"I almost passed out the first time I saw it again after all these years," Jeff said. "It was overwhelming. To be honest with you, Janice and I wanted to have this moment for ourselves, but there were like four or five camera crews there.

"At first, I was quite upset. But then, I realized this moment was important to the people of Margraten and the people of the Netherlands, too. They wanted to share it with me."

Wiggins made three official trips to Margraten, the cemetery that he helped dig as a first sergeant. The last time he visited, cemetery officials lowered the American flag and presented it to him.

The gruesome scene that Wiggins remembers is gone now. The mud and the misery have been replaced by a gorgeous cathedral and beautifully manicured grounds.

The cemetery is similar to the one at Normandy, Wiggins explained, with row after row of white crosses marking the eternal resting place of too many U.S. soldiers.

Unfortunately, after Wiggins came home, he wasn't greeted with another hero's welcome in New Fairfield.

Instead, he discovered racist e-mails had been forwarded around town by Ralph Langham, the man who had filled his vacated seat on the school board.

"I felt like I had been punched in the stomach or slapped in the face," Wiggins said. "I couldn't believe it. But at the same time, I could believe it. I'd like to think we've gotten past this -- past the ignorance and the intolerance and the hatred -- but we still have a long way to go, I'm afraid."

The admission isn't easy for Wiggins, the proud son of a sharecropper.

If nothing else, Jeff Wiggins has learned, racism and ignorance are just as hard to bury as a soldier's remains.

Maybe even harder.

Contact Brian Koonz at bkoonz@newstimes.com or 203-731-3411.

Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial n More than 8,000 of America's military dead from World War II are buried there n Graves were dug by black U.S. soldiers, including New Fairfield's Jeff Wiggins n Cemetery covers 65 acres of former farmland in a small town called Margraten n More than 100,000 people visit the cemetery each year to pay their respects

THERE'S PLANNING AND THEN THERE'S THERE PLANNING!

THE PROJECT AND BUDGET PLANNING IN NEW FAIRFIELD

The Senior Center Renovation & Additions report details all expenditures by vendor which includes the architects.

Concerning the $74,500, the Connecticut Department of Public Health and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have jointly determined that $325,000 in costs already expended by the Town of New Fairfield are eligible for reimbursement for the installation of a water line to the Senior Center at 33 Route 37. As a consequence, the entire reimbursement from the EPA, $151,800 (or 46.71% of $325,000), can be refunded at this time and applied towards the Senior Center. You will see the $151,800 amount reflected on page one of the Senior Center Renovation & Additions report provided in your meeting packet. This reflects an increase in Funding of $85,019.

Also, for additional information, please reference the 10/8/2009 BOS minutes.

BUT NOT A DIME OF TAXPAYER FUNDS!  

HERE'S YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOME CASTING ...

INFLATION CALCULATOR ... WHAT IS THE NET IMPACT ON TAXES?

Inflation Calculator: Bureau of Labor Statistics

INFLATION CALCULATOR

About the CPI Inflation Calculator

The CPI inflation calculator uses the average Consumer Price Index for a given calendar year. This data represents changes in prices of all goods and services purchased for consumption by urban households. This index value has been calculated every year since 1913. For the current year, the latest monthly index value is used.

WHAT IS THE IMPACT ON TAXES FROM 2004 TO 2009? USE THE CPI INFLATION CALCULATOR TO DETERMINE THE CPI INFLATION BETWEEN GIVEN YEARS!

HOW HAVE YOUR INVESTMENTS DONE BETWEEN THE YEARS YOU SELECT?

HAS YOUR HOME INCREASED IN VALUE GREATER THAN THE CPI INFLATION?

HOW HAS YOUR 401K DONE BETWEEN THOSE SAME YEARS?

NEWSTIMES EDITORIAL ... HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS ...

Let's talk

FIRST SELECTMAN DEBATE AT NEWSTIMES

It is time for an open discussion about race in New Fairfield

Updated: 10/13/2009 05:11:37 PM EDT

The New Fairfield Republican Town Committee did what it could last week to purge a connection to some controversial e-mails forwarded by two public officials. We believe it is important not to let the matter end at that.

Every thinking person in the area found the messages received and forwarded by Board of Education member Ralph Langham and Zoning Board of Appeals member Robert Jano -- both Republicans -- to be overtly and unacceptably racist. The e-mail showed the image of a black Labrador retriever, speculated on whether the dog would be eligible for welfare, and attributed to it a list of racist stereotypes.

Many felt Langham added sexism to racism in his addition to the message, which included an image of his own dog. In a revised e-mail forwarded to others, Langham said he considered having ACORN (the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, cited by conservatives as emblematic of Obama administration shortcomings) register the pet so it could run against Democratic incumbent Lucy DiRocco for a spot on the Board of Finance.

Some people have gone so far as to suggest the e-mail constituted a hate crime. Still others say it's all overblown, and that the worst Langham and Jano are guilty of are momentary lapses in judgment and of not fully reading what landed in their inboxes.

We share neither of those views. But their disparity in itself says there's much that could -- and should -- be talked about in New Fairfield.

Town officials have said they are planning to meet with representatives of the NAACP. A wider community discussion would help, as well.

We hope that whatever conversation takes place is honest, empathetic and genuine, and that it leads to greater understanding. Talking openly about racial issues can be awkward, but going through the motions and spouting platitudes just to avoid disagreement accomplishes nothing.

Langham resigned under pressure from the school board over the e-mail incident, after saying when the story broke that he would not. According to the town clerk, Jano was still on the Zoning Board of Appeals as of Tuesday afternoon, although his term ends on Nov. 17, and he had chosen not to run for re-election before the e-mail incident happened.

Both men have resigned from the Republican Town Committee, which said in a prepared statement that forwarding the racist e-mail "did not meet the standards of decency the party of Abraham Lincoln set for its members."

Langham and Jano will presumably be more careful with e-mails in the future, but that is no solution in itself. This isn't just a matter of knowing who can be trusted to keep a secret. There remains the disturbing question of why this e-mail was perceived as funny in the first place.

If anyone doesn't understand how such humor could be hurtful, they should talk -- or at least listen -- to someone on the other side of the joke.