October 30, 2010

Lewis and Janowski vote allowed Rockville Hospital to end services

Journal Inquirer reported today voted by Vernon Reps allowed services to end.
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October 28, 2010

House District 56: Republican Mark Etre Is Challenging Rep. Claire Janowski - Courant.com

House District 56: Republican Mark Etre Is Challenging Rep. Claire Janowski - Courant.com

October 26, 2010

Connecticut governor candidates to debate - National Politics - fresnobee.com

Connecticut governor candidates to debate - National Politics - fresnobee.com: "Connecticut governor candidates to debate"



WEST HARTFORD, Conn. -- A new Quinnipiac (KWIHN'-uh-pee-ak) University poll of likely voters released Tuesday shows Malloy besting Foley by 5 percentage points, or 48 percent to 43 percent. Republican Tom Foley and Democrat Dan Malloy are scheduled to face off in their final live, televised debate in the Connecticut governor's race before Election Day. Foley, Malloy and independent candidate Tom Marsh are running for the seat being vacated by retiring Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell.


Tuesday's hour-long debate is set for 7 p.m. at the studios of NBC affiliate WVIT-TV in West Hartford.

October 23, 2010

Rell hits airwaves for Her choice for Governor

Journal Inquirer Politics & Government Rell hits airwaves for Republicans

At the end of the day Governor Rell knows better than anyone who is the best choice for Governor. Who is the best choice to replace her? Governor Rell has always sought the advice of Mayors and First Selectman both republican and democrat around the state during the budget crisis. Governor Rell fought for as longs as she felt comfortable, while watching local governments suffer, observing our citizens suffering, watching businesses close down, seeing private sector jobs dry up, all resulting in a diminished tax based and lost revenue- why? It is due to the legislative Jonathan Pelto Style politics in the General Assembly. It has been just politics, not policy that comes out of the legislature, no longer are they part time legislators as they are supposed to be but they act as full time appropriators.

When the Governor decided to retire, I was upset. Not with the Governor, but with my understanding that she retired because there was a lack of concern by the majority of elected officials in the legislature who will act like a bunch of political zealots with the mentality of a kamikaze pilot. The dangerous majority just does not care about the State and our situation.

Today the legislatures agenda, is no longer that of law making on a part time basis, it is 100 percent partisan politics, 100 percent of the time, it is an attitude without concern for the greater good, now contrast that to Governor Rell who has a nurturing style, logical concern for the state first, her concern for the greater good, an obligation to manage the state and by law balance a budget that funds services based upon revenues. Governor Rell's choice not to run again, her choice to wait to support a candidate for Governor, even during the primary, her history in the past of working with Mayors and First Selectman of both parties, must mean that Tom Foley is the candidate we can trust to take over and fix this mess.

I'm sure Governor Rell believes in Tom Foley, otherwise she would have said nothing. Listen to her message in the radio ad, it's an honest assessment and it just makes sense.

CT News Junkie | She Didn’t Try Many Cases and She Lacked Clients

CT News Junkie | She Didn’t Try Many Cases and She Lacked Clients

I'm sure she just wishes it was over. Well the next four years should give her enough time to work for a living.

October 22, 2010

Democrats to Malloy: Raise Taxes on Lowest Incomes | Tom Foley for Governor | More Jobs, Not More Taxes | TomFoley2010.com

Democrats to Malloy: Raise Taxes on Lowest Incomes Tom Foley for Governor More Jobs, Not More Taxes TomFoley2010.com: "Democrats to Malloy: Raise Taxes on Lowest Incomes"

As a candidate for governor Dannel Malloy has refused to rule out new taxes as a way to balance the state budget. He has said “everything is on the table” including higher income taxes, sales taxes and tolls, but he has refused to be specific about which taxes he intends to raise and by how much.

Now, a key Democratic ally, Portland First Selectwoman Susan Bransfield, has made it clear that the Democratic Party has moved beyond targeting millionaires for tax increases and is now focused on low income households as well. Appearing on channel 3’s Face the State, Bransfield said, “I happen to believe that everyone should contribute to the income tax. I know there are people who don’t pay below a certain level, but I believe to have full input… to be part of the state, you have to pay a portion of your income to the state of Connecticut.”

“This is the best illustration we could possibly have about why it is important to elect Tom Foley as governor and as many Republicans as possible to the state House and Senate. A Malloy administration paired with a Democrat controlled legislature is a recipe for new taxes on everyone. Including those that are hurting the most. The Democratic Party is unable to even think of reducing government spending as a means of balancing the budget. Their default position is to raise taxes and that’s the worst thing we can do during an economic downturn,” said Justin Clark, campaign manager for Tom Foley.

“Tom Foley’s plan calls for balancing the state budget by reducing wasteful spending – not by increasing taxes,” Clark said.

October 21, 2010

Don't miss Face the State Saturday- McCoy (R) Vernon & Bransfield (D) Portland

http://dennishouse.wordpress.com/2010/10/21/dems-advice-for-malloy-tax-low-income-people/
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Governor Rell Supporting Tom Foley


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H50KLmWcD8Y

Pension Gaps Loom Larger - WSJ.com

Pension Gaps Loom Larger - WSJ.com: "Pension Gaps Loom Larger
Funds Stick to 'Unrealistic' Return Assumptions, Threatening Bigger Shortfalls"

The country's two biggest plans—the California Public Employees Retirement System, or Calpers, and the California State Teachers' Retirement System, or CalSTRS—both are undergoing reviews of projected investment returns that could lead to reductions later this year.

Many plans have held onto an 8% return expectation though thick and thin. Such return assumptions partly reflect the heady years of the 1990s bull market. Public pension plans posted a median, annualized return of 9.3% over the past 25 years, but just 3.9% over the past 10, according to consulting firm Callan Associates.

The Oregon Public Employees Retirement System has had an 8% assumption since 1989. Its actual return averaged 10.7% annually from 1970 through 2009. The Teachers Retirement System of Texas has had a similar expectation since 1986, with an annual return of 9% return since then.

A spokeswoman for the Texas system said it doesn't change assumptions "in response to short-term situations," and currently "sees no reason to change our investment-return assumption." A spokesman for the Oregon system said there are no special plans to review its return expectation.

October 16, 2010

Connecticut Governor's Candidate Debate

Connecticut Governor's Candidate : Watch it!

Journal Inquirer > Politics & Government > Republican Party chief files 2nd complaint against a Democrat

Journal Inquirer > Politics & Government > Republican Party chief files 2nd complaint against a Democrat: "Republican Party chief files 2nd complaint against a Democrat"

Republican Party chief files 2nd complaint against a Democrat

The chairman of the state Republican Party contends the state treasurer used her office to promote a re-election campaign. Christopher Healy on Wednesday filed a complaint with the State Elections Enforcement Commission accusing Democrat Denise Nappier of violating a law that prohibits office-holders from using public funds to aid in campaign efforts less than 60 days before Election Day. The complaint says Nappier allowed her image and quotes to be used on materials announcing a new feature to the state’s student loan program. Nappier’s office oversees the Connecticut Higher Education Trust fund. Messages for Nappier weren’t immediately returned. On Tuesday, Healy complained that the Democrat running for secretary of the state, Denise W. Merrill, had called herself a lawyer despite having an inactive California law license.

EDITORIAL: Tom Foley for governor- The New Haven Register - Serving New Haven, Connecticut

EDITORIAL: Tom Foley for governor- The New Haven Register - Serving New Haven, Connecticut

Tom Foley Endorsed by the New Haven Register | Tom Foley for Governor | More Jobs, Not More Taxes | TomFoley2010.com

Tom Foley Endorsed by the New Haven Register Tom Foley for Governor More Jobs, Not More Taxes TomFoley2010.com


Tom Foley Endorsed by the New Haven Register
October 13th, 2010
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The New Haven Register has endorsed Tom Foley for Governor in the November 2 election.

“I am very pleased to have the endorsement of the New Haven Register,” said Tom Foley. “The New Haven Register cuts through the untruths coming from Dannel’s campaign and focuses on the plans and qualifications of each candidate. Their conclusion that my plans for Connecticut, my business background, and my truthfulness make me the candidate voters should choose on November 2nd is very gratifying.” Here is what the New Haven Register is saying about Tom:

“We have found Foley to be the more forthright of the two candidates.”“Foley’s record as a business executive is commendable. His business skills in increasing productivity while keeping an eye on costs are needed in the governor’s office.”“Foley has proposed having state agencies bid against private contractors for provision of services. The potential savings are enormous.”“Malloy supports and Foley opposes two measures that would add to the perception of Connecticut as a high cost state that is hostile to business.”“If Malloy is elected governor, he will abolish the death penalty. Foley supports the death penalty. Abolition of the death penalty would mean that the perpetrators of truly heinous crimes — like the Cheshire home invasion, rape and triple murder — would escape the only fitting punishment. Indeed, passage of the law, blocked only by Gov. M. Jodi Rell’s veto in 2009, would surely complicate any appeal by either of the accused Cheshire killers if they are sentenced to death.”The New Haven Register believes Tom is better suited to be Governor of Connecticut than the former Mayor of Stamford. Here is what the paper had to say about Dannel Malloy:

“Malloy has said ‘everything is on the table’ to balance the budget, but on a state employee union questionnaire stated he would not support layoffs of any of the state government’s some 55,000 workers.”“Despite denials in public debates that he would raise taxes, Malloy supports increasing tax rates for the wealthy as well as a possible state tax on Internet sales, which could net $150 million in revenue.”“Where Foley would reduce the size of government, Malloy has a more expansive view of government that envisions, for example, $50 million in spending by a new port authority whose duties would overlap those of the already existing state Maritime Commission. This commission is responsible for developing a long-term strategic plan for state ports. The need for the extra layer of bureaucracy is doubtful.”Quotes from the New Haven Register were taken from their endorsement of Tom Foley and can be found at http://www.nhregister.com/articles/2010/10/10/opinion/doc4cb134122f242024349024.txt
.

Gubernatorial Debate at the Garde Arts Center in New London hosted by The Day and News 8

Gubernatorial Debate at the Garde Arts Center in New London hosted by The Day and News 8

Election 2010: Gubernatorial Scorecard

Election 2010: Gubernatorial Scorecard


New polling in Colorado moves that state's gubernatorial race from Leans Dem to Toss-Up in the Rasmussen Reports Election 2010 Gubernatorial Scorecard.

Voters will elect governors in 37 states this November. Nineteen of those governorships are now held by Democrats, while Republicans sit in the governor’s chair in 18 of the states.

The Rasmussen Reports Election 2010 Gubernatorial Scorecard shows Democrats solidly ahead in two states, with five more leaning their way. Republicans are running strongly in 17 states, and four more are leaning GOP.

No states with a Republican governor are considered likely to elect a Democrat in November. But six states now headed by Democrats – Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Wyoming – are seen as likely GOP pickups.

Nine states are currently viewed as Toss-Ups, including Florida and Rhode Island. The Toss-Up states include five currently with Republican governors and four with Democrats as their chief executives.

Adding spice to the political mix is the fact that these governors will all be in place as the states redistrict on the basis of new Census figures, a process that sets the boundaries of congressional districts and generally benefits the party in power.

The state results and overall projections will be updated whenever new polling data justifies a change.

In the table below, the states marked in red currently have a Republican governor. Those in blue currently have a Democratic governor.

Solid Dem
New Hampshire
New York

Solid GOPOklahoma
Pennsylvania
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Wyoming
AL
Alaska
Arizona
Idaho
Iowa
Kansas
Michigan
Nebraska
Nevada


Lean Dem
Arkansas
Connecticut
MA
Maryland
CA



Gubernatorial
Scorecard Tables:
Current Projected Result
Democrats
14

Independents
0

Republicans
27

Toss-Up
9


Election 2010 To Date
Solid Democratic
2

Lean Democratic
5

Solid Independent
0

Lean Independent
0

Lean Republican
4

Solid Republican
17

Toss-Up
9

No Gubernatorial Race In 2010
Democrats
7

Independents
0

Republicans
6

Overall Snapshot:
Held/Solid Democratic
9

Leans Democratic
5

Held/Solid Independent
0

Leans Independent
0

Leans Republican
4

Held/Solid Republican
23

Toss-Up
9
__________________

Connecticut Results as of Thursday, October 07, 2010

The race to be Connecticut’s next governor is a little closer this month.

A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Voters in the state shows Democrat Dan Malloy earning 49% support, while his Republican challenger, Thomas Foley, picks up 44% of the vote. One percent (1%) favors another candidate, and seven percent (7%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

This race remains Leans Dem in the Rasmussen Reports Election 2010 Gubernatorial Scorecard.

Two weeks ago, Malloy held a 10-point lead over Foley, 50% to 40%. In surveys dating back to May, Malloy has consistently run ahead of Foley. In those surveys, Malloy has earned anywhere from 38% to 50% of the vote, while support for Foley has ranged from 33% to 40%.

Foley, a businessman and former U.S. ambassador to Ireland, is favored by 82% of Republicans in the state, while Malloy, the former mayor of Stamford, earns support from 79% of Democrats. The GOP candidate has a slight edge among voters not affiliated with either party.

The survey of 750 Likely Voters in Connecticut was conducted on October 5, 2010 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

In a survey conducted the night after their first head-to-head debate, Democrat Richard Blumenthal has moved further ahead of Republican Linda McMahon in Connecticut’s U.S. Senate race.

Eighty-two percent (82%) of Malloy’s supporters say they’ve already made up their minds how they will vote this November. Seventy-five percent (75%) of Foley voters say the same.

A plurality (47%) of Connecticut voters say states should not be allowed to opt out of the new national health care plan. Forty-two percent (42%) disagree.

Only 54% believe the policies of the federal government encourage illegal immigration, lower than the finding nationally. Voters in the state are narrowly divided over whether enforcement of laws against illegal immigration should be handled by states or left to the federal government. This, too, is lower than findings nationwide.

Only 15% of Connecticut voters consider themselves members of the Tea Party movement, roughly in line with the national average. Seventy-one percent (71%) say they are not part of the grassroots movement. Fourteen percent (14%) are undecided.

Among Tea Partiers in the state, 88% support the Republican, while 63% of non-Tea Party members favor the Democrat.

Fifty-four percent (54%) of all voters in Connecticut hold a favorable opinion of Malloy, with 19% who view him Very Favorably. Thirty-nine percent (39%) regard the Democrat unfavorably, including 15% who share a Very Unfavorable opinion of him.

Ratings for Foley are 53% favorable and 40% unfavorable, including 14% Very Favorable and 14% Very Unfavorable.

Republican Governor Jodi Rell decided not to seek reelection this November. Fifty-nine percent (59%) of the state’s voters approve of the job she is doing, while 41% disapprove.

Additional questions from this survey and a full demographic breakdown are available to Platinum Members only.

Rasmussen Reports also has released recent polls on the 2010 governor's races in Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho,Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska,Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

Election 2010: Connecticut Senate

Election 2010: Connecticut Senate

Democrat Richard Blumenthal now leads Republican Linda McMahon by just five points in Connecticut’s race for the U.S. Senate in a survey conducted two nights after their third and final head-to-head debate.

The latest Rasmussen Reports statewide telephone survey of Likely Voters shows Blumenthal, Connecticut’s longtime attorney general, picking up 51% of the vote. McMahon, the former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment, earns the vote from 46%. One percent (1%) prefer some other candidate, while three percent (3%) are undecided. (To see survey question wording, click here.)

The latest numbers move the race from Solid Democrat to Leans Democrat in the Rasmussen Reports Election 2010 Senate Balance of Power rankings.

Just over a week ago, Blumenthal opened a 54% to 43% lead over McMahon the night after their first debate. While the race was closer in several surveys since January, Blumenthal has always held the lead. In 13 surveys this year, the Democrat has drawn 47% to 60% of the vote. McMahon has picked up 31% to 46% support during that same period.

(Want a free daily e-mail update? If it's in the news, it's in our polls). Rasmussen Reports updates are also available on Twitter or Facebook.

This statewide telephone survey of 750 Likely Voters in Connecticut was conducted on October 14, 2010 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/-4 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology.

Rasmussen Reports will release new numbers on Connecticut’s gubernatorial race this weekend.

Homeowner: Road Is In Disrepair - Connecticut News Story - WFSB Hartford

Homeowner: Road Is In Disrepair ? - Connecticut News Story - WFSB Hartford: "The Sewer residents sewer pipe is ten feet down.  The earth did not shift.  If he needs help with payment, McCoy said there are ways to work out payment plans for Duppery, but the expense is his."

Watch the video. 

_ Tom Foley Ambassador, former Mayor Malloy to debate in Conn. governor race - Video

Video: Malloy, Foley to debate in Conn. governor race




October 11, 2010

Grand opening Antonio's Pizza Sept. 25 2010, Vernon CT

Grand Opening, Mayor McCoy cuts ribbon with owner Gino Izzo, Ms. Connecticut, Ms. Teen Connecticut, Council Member Mark Etre, 33 W Main St Vernon CT

Mayor McCoy supports Job Growth in Vernon Connecticut


 VERNON Connecticut — On 10/7/10 Mayor Jason L. McCoy spoke to the Planning and Zoning Commission regarding his administration’s proposed to promote economic growth in the area, to promote private job growth and expand Vernon’s tax base by correcting restrictions on a parcel off Interstate 84 at exit 67 and Reservoir Road. The property is a 40.5-acre parcel. The McCoy Administration has been working to lower the local unemployment rate for area residents and keep the Town off Connecticut's Distressed Municipality list. This effort is one more step to encourage investment in the Town. This year Vernon was taken off Connecticut's Distressed Municipality list.

Chairman of the Vernon's PZC Lester Finkle opened the application to Public Comment on Oct. 21, at 7 pm at Town Hall.

In 2005 the PZC adopted the regulation that reduced the size of any building that could be placed on the property to a 40,000 square foot footprint. The 2005 adopted regulation was contrary to the recommendation of the PZC's consultant Planimetrics. The 2010 proposal is the same proposal as the consultant in 2005 but it does not go back to the pre-2005 regulation.

The request by the Town Administration was done in response to the Metro Hartford Alliance bringing forward a distribution company to Vernon. The Company has placed Vernon on its top three choices in Connecticut. The Economic Development Coordinator Marina Rodriguez said there was “interested” in the parcel from a company that wanted to build an 180,000-square-foot distribution facility and create 140 jobs in Connecticut.

Mayor McCoy said "this change is brought to you by this Administration because we did not feel it was fair to anyone to lead interested parties on, to waste money, waste time and cause citizens to do the same if no correction acceptable."

In 2005 the Town Administration supported the restrictions, the Town now recognizes that the 2005 change created a significant fiscal impact to the area, impacted area job growth moreover due to the Town's limited land area there is an impact on the tax based.

At the PZC’s meeting on Aug. 19, Mayor McCoy asked the commission to correct the amendment and slightly ease the restrictions for the good of the town’s tax base, for job growth; to keep the town off the Connecticut distressed municipality list, as well as for the local economy. McCoy explained that there had been interest in the parcel from a company, and taxes are the only way to pay for essential services like a police, fire service, education, roads and sanitarians. We need to be careful not to over burden the local taxpayers, this is an opportunity to help.

Len Tundermann the Vernon Town Planner addressed concerns about water run off, explaining that the Commission can utilizing “low-impact development” in the Town zoning regulations to minimize the flow of water runoff from buildings and pavement through permeable pavement, and grass drainage swales. The Town has LID regulations, that have been used already, and no other regulations are needed.

Robert Kelley, Longtime Vernon Fire Chief, Dies At 75 - Courant.com

Robert Kelley, Longtime Vernon Fire Chief, Dies At 75 - Courant.com

Courant.com
Robert Kelley, Longtime Vernon Fire Chief, Dies At 75
By JESSE LEAVENWORTH, leavenworth@courant.com

October 6, 2010

VERNON —


Robert E. Kelley Jr., a longtime fire chief and a dedicated volunteer and leader, died Monday, October 4th. He was 75.

"He was just a down to earth, community-oriented guy who excelled in the fire service; he loved it to death," said Chris Hammick, the fire department's health and safety officer.

Kelley served as chief from 1986 to 2007. He joined the Rockville Fire Department in 1967, rose through the ranks and was one of the key members who consolidated the Rockville and Vernon volunteer fire departments in 1979.

Kelley worked for years as a manager at the Metropolitan District Commission, retiring in 1989. At the time of his death, he was still working as finance director for Tolland County Mutual Aid Fire Service. Fellow firefighters said Kelley was adept at budgeting and financial issues and always kept the fire department's books in order.

"He was very business oriented — a financial wizard," Fire Chief William Call said.

"I don't think there was a year he was chief that he didn't turn money back in," said Hammick, who was deputy chief under Kelley.

Kelley also was knowledgeable about all aspects of firefighting and what he did not know, he was willing to learn, firefighters said.

"He was a mentor to a lot of people," said Jean Gauthier, the department's director of emergency medical services. "I learned a lot from him."

Local firefighters described Kelley as a natural leader.

"He knew where to put people and what to do — and that's important," said firefighter Carl Schaefer. "Under that pressure, you have to know what you're doing."

Kelley, who is survived by his wife and three children, passed on his enthusiasm for public service — his daughter, Diane Carpenter, is secretary for the fire department, and John Kelley, one of his two sons, is head of Vernon police detectives.

Calling hours are Thursday from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Burke-Fortin Funeral Home, 76 Prospect St., Rockville. The funeral will be Friday at 10 a.m. at St. Bernard Church, 25 St. Bernard Terrace, Rockville, with burial to follow at Valley Falls Cemetery, Vernon.

Grant Will Help Vernon Upgrade Police Radio System - Courant.com

Grant Will Help Vernon Upgrade Police Radio System - Courant.com

Town To Upgrade Police Radio System
1:42 PM EDT, October 6, 2010

VERNON –


The U.S. Department of Justice has awarded the town $300,000 to begin converting the police radio system to digital signaling.

The grant, available through the justice department's Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, was obtained through the efforts of U.S. Rep. Joseph Courtney, Town Administrator John D. Ward has told the town council.

The grant helps communities pay for equipment and programs that advance community policing efforts locally.

With the aid of computers, digital signals can be scrambled making them harder for criminals and scanner heads to listen in on. Digital signals can also carry non verbal messages, like typed dispatch addresses and maps, freeing voice channels for emergency use.

—Joseph A. O'Brien Jr.

Mayor McCoy supports Job Growth In Vernon around exit 67-- Journal Inquirer Towns Vernon- Must have Misssed the meeting?

Journal Inquirer Towns Vernon Mayor McCoy supports Job Growth In Vernon around exit 67

VERNON — Mayor Jason L. McCoy spoke to the Planning and Zoning Commission regarding his administration’s proposed to promote economic growth in the area, to promote private job growth and expand Vernon’s tax base by correcting restrictions on a parcel off Interstate 84 at exit 67. The Town has been working to lower the local unemployment rate for area residents and keep the Town off Connecticut's Distressed Municipality list. This effort is one more step to encourage investment in the Town.

The property is a 40.5-acre parcel owned by Lee and Lamont real estate with frontage along Reservoir Road. The present regulation only permits a 40,000 square foot building footprint on the 40.5 acre piece or property.

In 2005 the PZC adopted the regulation that reduced the size of any building that could be placed on the property to a 40,000 square foot footprint. At the time the PZC restricted the size of any building it was done over the recommendation of the PZC's consultant Planimetrics. The proposal that Mayor McCoy and the Town's Economic Development Director spoke to the PZC about is the same proposal as was proposed by the consultant in 2005. However the proposal did not go back to the pre-2005 regulation.

The request by the Town Administration was done in response to the Metro Hartford Alliance bringing a distribution company to the Town. The distribution company has placed Vernon on its top three choices in Connecticut. Mayor McCoy said "this change is brought to you by the Town Administration because we did not feel it was fair to anyone to lead interested parties on, cause interested parties to waste money, waste time and cause citizens to do the same if there is no interest in the change."

Even though the in 2005 the Town Administration supported the restrictions, it is now recognized that the 2005 change created a significant fiscal impact to the area, impacted area job growth moreover due to the Town's limited land area there is a impact on the tax based. According to the Journal Inquirer Mayor McCoy leads the charge.

McCoy first explored the correction to the 2005 zoning amendment in May of this year, but asked that the proposal be withdrawn to “look at the issues … look at it and bring it back.”

At the PZC’s meeting on Aug. 19, Mayor McCoy urged the commission to correct the amendment and undo the restrictions for the good of the town’s tax base, for job growth; to keep the town off the Connecticut distressed municipality list, as well as the local economy.

The Economic Development Coordinator Marina Rodriguez and Mayor McCoy said there was “significant interest” in the parcel from a refrigeration company that wanted to build an 180,000-square-foot facility and create 140 jobs. “This project may not go at this particular site (Vernon- its competitive) , but this site without the change in this buffer zone makes it really no good for anything but skyscrapers, and a 40,000-square-foot footprint doesn’t work,” McCoy told the commission. The distributor was not proposing a sky scraper.

Council person Democrat Marie Herbst began yelling and screaming, and protesting as McCoy began speaking, saying that town officials should speak to commissions as private residents only, during public participation. McCoy corrected Herbst, as she was confused by the factual situation. Herbst apparently misunderstood a ruling by Town attorney Hal Cummings. The ruling by the Town Attorney related to a private application by a private land owner. Herbst and other council members were allowed to speak at a later meeting, only after they emphasized that they were commenting as private residents.

But PZC Chairman Lester Finkle would not acknowledge Herbst, and McCoy shouted over his shoulder to her that as mayor he was exempt from that rule in this situation because it was a Town Application, “and I’m speaking on behalf of the town, how else would the information get to the commission if not from the Mayor as the Chief Executive officer or one on the department heads.”

McCoy reiterated that there had been interest in the parcel from a company, and taxes are the only way to pay for essential services like a police, fire department, schools, roads and sanitarians.

“The legislature only gave us so many ways to raise revenue, largely based upon property taxation, that is the only way to pay for those essential services,” McCoy said. “Responsible development is something the community has to embrace or you’re just going to be forced to raise taxes or reduce services, especially considering the financial bind the State is in.”

Tundermann the Town Planner explained that the Town can utilizing “low-impact development” techniques on the parcel to minimize the flow of water runoff from buildings and pavement into the Tankerhoosen. Such development uses engineering strategies that mitigate storm water runoff, including permeable pavement, rain gardens, and grass drainage swales.

These regulations already exist in the Town regulations. McCoy supports the low impact development regulations that already exist in Vernon's PZC regulations, but Mayor McCoy has opposed turning over low-impact development in the zoning regulations to some group outside the Town, creating duplicate regulations, a position he reaffirmed Thursday, saying they “take local control away” from the Vernon residents.

Chairman Lester Finkle opened the application up to public comment, but only two individuals had a chance to speak before the hearing was continued to the next meeting on Oct. 21.

Vernon Police, feds foil attempt to extort Vernon monk- Connecticut

Journal Inquirer Towns Vernon Cops, feds foil attempt to extort Vernon monk

An attempt to extort $30,000 from a Vietnamese Buddhist monk associated with a Vernon temple was foiled by a sting operation in which Trumbull police joined with the U.S. Secret Service, FBI, and other police authorities, according to Trumbull’s deputy police chief.

“Another Vietnamese person got him to make compromising statements on a video and threatened to use them to destroy his temple,” said Deputy Chief Michael Harry.

Harry didn’t have the name of the Vernon temple. But the only Vietnamese Buddhist temple in Vernon is the Phap Hoa Buddhist Temple at 85 Prospect St.

Harry said the initial threats occurred Sept. 28 at a Trumbull home where the monk had gone to visit after bringing his mother to Bridgeport to visit a friend. The monk formerly had a temple in Bridgeport, and a woman involved in the incident — Thuy Nguyen, 33, of Bridgeport — was a former follower of his, according to the deputy chief.

Harry said the compromising statements were “suggestive comments” about a woman, explaining that Buddhist monks are supposed to remain pure verbally as well as physically.

Charged in the incident were Tuan Nguyen, 32, a man who lives in the Trumbull home where the initial threats were made, and Thuy Nguyen, the deputy chief said.

But he added that Tuan Nguyen confessed after his arrest and made a statement that “negates the girl’s involvement.” As a result, he said, police will ask prosecutors to revisit the charges against Thuy Nguyen.

Harry added that the two are unrelated, although they have the same last name.

The deputy chief said the Secret Service was generous enough to lend police the $30,000 used in the sting operation, which occurred Friday in the parking lot of the Westfield Trumbull shopping mall. He added that the federal agency also sent two agents to make sure the money was recovered.

The FBI also participated in the operation, contributing a Vietnamese-speaking agent, Harry said. He said that the Bridgeport Narcotics Task Force contributed surveillance equipment, although the case didn’t involve narcotics.

Thuy Nguyen accepted the money and was arrested, Harry said. He said authorities subsequently executed a search warrant at Tuan Nguyen’s home and obtained the confession.

He said Thuy Nguyen initially told police that she took the monk to the Trumbull home because she was moving into it and wanted him to bless the house. But he said the initial statements weren’t entirely truthful, and police now “tend to doubt that.”

Tuan Nguyen was charged with conspiracy to commit first-degree larceny, unlawful restraint, and threatening and was released on $30,000 bond, the deputy chief said.

Thuy Nguyen was charged with first-degree larceny, unlawful restraint, and threatening and was released on $10,000 bond, the deputy chief said.

Both are due in Bridgeport Superior Court on Oct. 18.

Campaigning with Tom Foley, Mark Etre, Tim Ackert and Brian Motola


Tom Foley, Mayor McCoy, Mark Etre,
Tim Ackert and Deputy Mayor Brian Motola


REALLY? Question Conduct. Congressman John Larson, Mayor Perez of Hartford and State Treasurer, Denise Nappier


Congressman Larson, Mayor Perez of Hartford
and State Treasurer, Denise Nappier
 John Larson - Connecticut's First District Congressman: "Congressman Larson, Mayor Perez of Hartford and State Treasurer, Denise Nappier at the South End Democratic Club event."  From the Congressman's Web site 10/09/2010.