The East Side Neighborhood Community Action Meeting held with the Honorable Mayor Timothy Stewart at their meeting held on 11-6-08.
The mayor gave his overview as an excellent update of the current and future expectations of the city services for the west end.
He mentioned the rehabilitation that is underway at the old fire station which has been used as the emergency building and will be ready in a few months for public use and scheduling of meetings. He touched on the Broad Street area growth that is occurring.
Leaf pick up whether curb side or bagged with a spring time final pick up after the snow has melted.
Importantly he announced a terrific change in this year’s snow plowing schedules by going from 10 routes to l4 with double shifts and arranging the same routes being done by the same trucks with their first doing the emergency and or public safety routes which will result in faster completion of the task with the same employees becoming familiarized with their routes. He also announced a change from the traditional salt and sand to a salt that is less toxic to the grass and trees by the road side.
He continued by announcing in addition to the standard garbage pickup that they will be introducing a separate canister for the recycling materials which will only have to brought out to the curb every two weeks. Some people place metals and furniture on the on the curb side without arranging a scheduled pick up with the city’s department of public works. They have inspectors checking around the city and issuing $100 fines to these violators.
The Mayor also mentioned that with the new recycling program, the materials are being sent to the Bristol facility, which produces electricity, and suggested that it helps the city to save on electrical cost. He also mentioned that the contractors assigned to pick up the garbage start as early as 4 AM in order to beat the traffic caused by the school busses but that he will negotiate a 5 AM start up when their contract renewal is due. He also did mention that the containers cost the city approximately 800 to 900 thousand dollars which was funded through bonding.
The Mayor elaborated that the planned work for the Walnut Hill Park which will commence after the cancer walk-a-thon on mother’s day in order to correct the pot holes caused by drainage problems on Hart Street and in the Park itself. Due to the major drainage corrections needed to be accomplished, this project will take a long time to complete. Hart Park had its baseball field re-done along with the girl’s tennis courts as well.
He also mentioned that the New Britain Police Department is attempting to fill the current vacancies with New Britain Residents if at all possible with the 70 Applications that have applied. He reported the removal the police sub-station from Broad Street to the West End near the Chesley Park area.
He also explained the city has experienced less income from its investments creating a shortfall on the anticipated budgeted income and we will not hire to fill the vacancies at city hall and may have to go to a shorter work week for our workers because we cannot layoff all of our workers. We have stopped our personal use of city vehicles for going home for lunch in order to save the fuel involved.
He announced the planned west end streets to be repaved are Jubilee, Smalley, and Linwood which is part of a five year plan that was decided not on a political basis but by having a survey done and setting the priority needs.
The Mayor did answered many questions asked by the residents but he seemed reluctant in answering about the cemetery fencing problem since it is a legal matter but did indicate that the individual contractor was arrested and that there is a performance bond involved.
He mentioned the problem properties while under bank forecloses with the banks providing no services such as lawn maintenance and snow removal and how the city has to do the clean ups and having to place a lean on the properties.
Saint Thomas School was also mentioned with the Mayor indicating that a local Middletown developer is interested in making a 55 and over residence with it.
He answered questions about seniors obtaining a tax freeze on their property taxes by their applying at the senior center through Mr. John Coughlin to make the arrangements and especially those who need help in removal of leaves and snow off their properties due to disabilities they too must see Mr. Coughlin in order to prove their income status for their eligibility to obtain the needed help.
Additionally, the Mayor during the Q&A period mentioned how they have portable cameras that can be placed anywhere in order to get surveillance information to help the police department to move forward with their suspected criminal activity investigations. He alluded to some cameras being placed on top of telephone poles and all are motion detected and do work on the internet as well. He also indicated that they are dealing with the taggers by their grouping several of the misdemeanors charges together in order make a felony conviction stick.
The Mayor made an excellent presentation and all those present were well satisfied with all his answers and hoped to see more of him in the future. I should indicate that Aldermen Mark Bernacki and Adam Platosz were also present along with four members of the New Britain Police Department.
42 comments:
If the mayor can send people around to write $100 tickets for garbage can violations, why can't he send someone to the shopping centers to enforce the parking regulations, or is the garbage police a separate police force?
I think that keeping handicapped parking spaces free for our disabled citizens to be able to park at the grocery store is certainly more important than whether someone put a lid on their garbage can or mixed their multicolored glass with their clear glass in the recycling bin.
Come on Mayor Stewart, let's do something for these poor disable people!
If the mayor is so proud of these portable cameras that he can move around to different telephone poles, why can't he deploy one in the Sgt Szczesny garage until he gets off his fat lazy butt and finally does something to put in permanent cameras for the safety of the senior citizens and college students using this garage.
This idiot has a lot of nerve bragging about this fancy technology he has at his disposal while he ignores the safety of the people using the garage. Maybe he just figures these elderly people have lived enough, as he is arrogant enough for such an attitude.
Mr. Smith, did the mayor indicate how many town hall employees he was planning to layoff? You just reported that he said he couldn't layoff all of them, so did he give any clues how many layoffs to expect?
I think we all deserve to know if the city is expecting layoffs of municipal employees.
Mayor Timmy says he won't allow the town hall employees to drive their cars to go for lunch and is saving money on gas this way, does this mean that Timmy Boy is parking his car and taking a cab when he drives to the golf course on city time, or are we continuing to pay for the gas to drive his butt to and from the golf course every day?
NEW BRITAIN TOWN CRIER said...
If the mayor can send people around to write $100 tickets for garbage can violations, why can't he send someone to the shopping centers to enforce the parking regulations, or is the garbage police a separate police force?
Message posted to New Britain Town Cried...Step up to the plate?
We are waiting for your posted list of the New Britain Shopping Centers where you claim handicapped parking spaces need enforcement?
Where are your photos of those license vehicle violators that should be sent to the police?
So do your civic duty... do something for these poor disable people! Just posting ...doesn't correct the problem?
President-elect Barack Obama called Nancy Reagan this afternoon to apologize for a joke about her having held "séances" in the White House, an Obama aide said.
“President-elect Barack Obama called Nancy Reagan today to apologize for the careless and off handed remark he made during today’s press conference," said transition spokeswoman Stephanie Cutter.
"The President-elect expressed his admiration and affection for Mrs. Reagan that so many Americans share and they had a warm conversation."
Reply to the New Britain Town Crier regarding as to how many town hall employees the mayor indicated he was going to layoff?
The mayor did not state a number of layoffs but did say a reduced work week for the city employees due to the financial budgetary problems. He did express that the city needs the employees.
Since the mayor has expressed an intention to reduce gasoline costs for the city, I would like to make a suggestion. Why don't we eliminate the take home car for the mayor, or even better yet, do like other towns have done and eliminate the mayor's car completely? If he were to drive his own vehicle on city business, he could simply submit a mileage reimbursement to the city treasurer. This would result in a huge savings for the taxpayers.
In fact, wouldn't it be within the power of the veto proof Democratic majority on the city council to simply vote to eliminate the car and sell it? Let's see if these Democrats have the nerve to stand up to the mayor on this subject.
Frank Smith is it true that Alderman Lou Salvio is responsible for the more than 120 property foreclosures in the
City of New Britain since the beginning of this year - 2008.
And that Mr. Salvio voted against the Trueworthy Foreclosure Aid Funds Package where the City of New Britain would help people paid their monthly rent or mortgages and also help the poor folks in Hartford relocate to New Britain.
Yes,it has gotten so bad here in New Britain that at a recent meeting of landlords and city officials, several landlords stated that they were unable to find good tenants, and that made them unable to make their own mortgage payments.
Frank Smith - Where do we sign up to get the 40 acres and the Mule?
The Beginning is the End is the Beginning - The Depression of the 30's is here?
The beginning is the End is the Beginning - the Depression of the 30's is here?
nbtown crier, i totally agree with you about keeping handicapped free for disabled shoppers who display the handicapped tag or license plates. It may not be possible for the police to constantly patrol the parking lots for this purpose, but it may be possible for the store security patrol to be authorized to issue tickets to violators. This could possibly add thousands of dollars a year to the city coffers; perhaps give the stores 10% of amount of fines collected that they turn in.
Anonymous wondered what shopping centers have handicapped parking? Open up your eyes..they all have them, from little convenience stores to large box stores such as Wal*Mart, Stop & Shop. I believe it's required by law. Not a bad suggestion, shoppers taking photos of the violators, and sending the photos to the police dept.
The 2009 Resistance States:
As American citizens, while we will show respect to President-elect Obama, we oppose the far-Left and socialistic elements that comprise the centerpiece of Obama agenda.
We recognize that it will take a patriotic and resilient Citizen Resistance to block implementation of this agenda and we join with others who oppose these threats to our liberties.
So, help us GOD!
Welcome to Obama’s nation...
1 million citizens resisting.
The “transformational” figure who will “change the world” is now in charge, and he’s on a mission. Emboldened by an overwhelming electoral victory and a near-supermajority in Congress, Obama the President-elect.
Obama and his allies are preparing to implement his liberal, “post-American” agenda. Simply put, what President-elect Obama and the Pelosi-Reid Congress have in store has the potential to rapidly move America to the socialist Left.
Who can stop the Obama agenda? Only an unprecedented idea-based Resistance from freedom-loving citizens can prevent the full implementation of Obama’s march to the Left.
That’s why Grassfire.org is seeking to identify and mobilize grassroots citizens who will Join The Resistance— an alliance of patriotic, resilient and determined conservatives who will not forsake their principles. Our goal? One million citizens joining together by Inauguration Day, January 20, 2009.
Anonymous, are you telling the handicapped parkers that they must first do the mayor's job for him in order to get him to do his job?
ALL HANDICAPPED RESIDENTS TAKE NOTE that one of the mayor's surrogates is saying that in order to get the mayor off his butt to help you with the out of control problem with unauthorized persons tying up your parking spaces, you are going to have to go around and take pictures of them and make a case to prove to the mayor that you need help, and if the owner of the car catches you taking a picture of the car, who is going to protect you from the inevitable violence?
NICE POSITION MR. STEWART, YOU JUST KEEP DOING NOTHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM WHILE YOU PLAY GOLF ON THE TAXPAYERS TIME, BUT EXPECT TO HEAR MUCH MORE ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND YOUR TOTAL LACK OF A RESPONSE AT ELECTION TIME NEXT YEAR (or are the rumors true that you don't plan to run for re-election and is that why you just don't seem to care about anything)?? Do us all a favor and if you are stepping down next year, have the decency to share that fact with all of us and then we will at least understand why you have the lame duck administration that you have.
What exactly does a "Community Organizer" do? Senator Barack Obama was a Community Organizer in Chicago area – and the answer has left many New Britain residents asking themselves,is their a "Community Organizer" here in New Britain.
Yes, New Britain resident Elena Trueworthy, wife of Alderman Mike Trueworthy is also a Community Organizer, whose work centered on organizing low-income families in New Britain’s North-Oak neighborhoods.
When asked what she has learned from her experience as a "Community Organizer" in the North-Oak neighborhood, Elena Trueworthy offered four comments – that one can access in the HRA publication: "Free To Grow" - http://www.rwjf.org/reports/npreports/connecticut.pdf
The Human Resources Agency of New Britain (HRA) hired Elena Trueworthy, a University of Connecticut graduate, who had a flawless command of both English and Spanish to engage in the task of engaging Puerto Ricans residents as a political force.
Her strategy was to identify a small number of committed North-Oak residents and build on them. She began by going apartment to apartment explaining what a "Community Organizer" was all about.
It’s all about visibility – and to recruit prospective community leaders from the ranks of low-income families, primarily mothers like Sylvia Cruz who became an Alderwomen in the City of New Britain.
I hear that Tom Bozak is running for Mayor next year on the Republican ticket!
Tim Stewart is the "George Bush" of New Britain. He is ruining the Republican name here in New Britain with his tired old policies and it will prove to be devastating to the Republican brand name for New Britain politics for years to come. Do you think it is a coincidence that we have 13 Democratic Alderman on a board with 15 members? With our own version of George Bush at the helm, Tim Stewart makes me ashamed to admit I am a Republican. The longer he is mayor, the more devastation he will do to our party and the longer it will take our party to recover.
Why would we pay him mileage for driving his own car. LET HIM WALK!
How many at City Hall will be see a shorter work week?
The Obama Administration will call on Americans to serve in order to meet the nation’s challenges. President-Elect Obama will expand national service programs like AmeriCorps and Peace Corps and will create a new Classroom Corps to help teachers in underserved schools, as well as a new Health Corps, Clean Energy Corps, Veterans Corps and Handicapped Corps.
Obama will call on citizens of all ages to serve America, by setting a goal that all middle school and high school students do 50 hours of community service a year and by developing a plan so that all college students who conduct 100 hours of community service receive a universal and fully refundable tax credit ensuring that the first $4,000 of their college education is completely free.
While at the same time promoting youth programs such as Youth Build and Head Start, Obama will encourage retiring Americans over age 55 to serve in Handicapped Parking Corps by reporting to their local police departments unauthorized persons utilizing Handicapped Parking Spaces.
Change in 2009!
I thought he said if it were up to him, he would lay them all off, but since he can't do that, he is going to reduce the work week for ALL of them!
I didn't know the mayor has a vanity plate on his car. I recognized him getting out of a car with a plate that said #1 NB, the only thing I could figure out that stood for was #1 No Brains! Why would he advertise that?
kudos to the mayor for his idea of reducing the work hours for city employees. why not close city hall on fridays and furlough all the employees every friday, and that way you will save 1/5 of your employment costs without significantly reducing the services to the public.
sounds like this strong mayor form of government just isn't working right. seems like the council should explore what we would need to do to return to a weak mayor form of government, and hire a city manager who would have professional management skills to run the city. this way the city doesn't have someone who just happens to win a popularity contest at the helm, but rather has someone who is installed as the professional manager because of his/her management skills.
do these furloughs apply to the police and fire departments too?
Anonymous that asked “do these furloughs apply to the police and fire departments too?”
The Mayor did indicate that the Public Safety Departments will not or cannot be touched.
One way to handle the violators of the handicapped parking spaces, other than photographing them is to make a complaint to the management of the stores. If they do nothing about the violations, are they just as responsible for paying a fine as the illegal parkers?
Those who happen to have a Cell Phone can call the Police Dept. and report the violator, with the make of the car and the license plate number.
What about people dropping someone off at the store entrance, and remaining there while the passenger does his/her shopping? Some park in such a manner making it next to impossible to drive pass them.
so apparently the mayor only plans to furlough the city hall employees.
Are the layoffs going to apply to the public works and the Parkis departments?
It sounds like layoffs for everyone but police and fire fighters.
didn't he say if it were up to him, he would lay them all off?
Does the furlough apply to the city golf course? At least that will be one day the mayor won't have any place to go, so he will probably stay home rather than bore himself with going to work.
I kind of liked the idea of taking his car away, how many furloughs would that eliminate? Let him walk!
Santa Tim, talking about laying off people right before Christmas. What a nice guy!
It is not the Mayor's responsibility to tag handicap parking space violaters, it is the responsibility of the Police Dept, it's the same as giving parking tickets to people whose parking meter time has expired.
Next time I go shopping, I'll bring my camera and take photos of those parking illegally in the parking lot and send them to the Police Dept. It shouldn't be difficult to e-mail the photos to the traffic division.
Thanks for the suggestion NBTown Crier.
Where was the Democratic council majority when the mayor was approving millions of dollars for repaving west end streets over a 5 year period, plans to layoff or furlough city employees, or buying new recycling bins for everyone in town? To listen to the mayor at the East side meeting, he is the burgomaster with all the authority to do whatever he pleases. Why wasn't the council involved in making these decisions, and how does he get all this power without the council, or do they simply rubber stamp whatever the burgomaster wants? Is there even anyone in charge at the council?
A concerned citizen.
Politics As Usual...Frank Smith?
NEW BRITAIN — Democrats on the Common Council have once again checked their Republican counterparts, this time squelching the GOP’s choice to fill a vacancy on the school board with a 33-year-old father of two and instead choosing former school board member (from 1999-2003) Leslie Jacobs, whom RTC chairman Paul Carver called a pawn for the Democrats.
At the last council meeting two weeks ago, the Democrats tabled the appointment of Jamie Giantonio, sparking a harangue by Republican Mayor Timothy Stewart, who scoffed at the move as political payback.
Carver said Monday that the Democrats are extracting payback from the Republicans for their part in the blockage of the Democratic Town Committee’s choice to fill a Democratic vacancy on the Common Council last year with Rick Lopes.
It may not be the mayor's job to tag the handicapped parking violators, but as the chief executive officer of the city, is it not his duty to see that the job is done?
why not appoint Bozek to the school board, won't that make the repubicans happy?
Maybe the mayor would not have been caught with an unexpected budget shortfall as he put it, if his lap dog Screwie Louie Salvio didn't get the auditor canned. If she were still around, she might have been in a position to warn about the upcoming shortfall and we wouldn't have the mayor looking to layoff or furlough city employees.
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