Sunday, March 31, 2013

As Mayor Delivers Budget Remember Promises Made in 1999 STILL Unfulfilled

Below is a piece written by Ken McClellan Middletown Republican Town Committee Chair reposted here on the Middletown Insider with permission. The piece, which has commentary on an actual piece of Middletown Democrat campaign literature (pictured below) was originally published on the MRTC website in 2009, but is still relevant as now 14 years later many of the same promises from the Middletown Democrats in power are still unfulfilled. 

We felt it was relevant to borrow this post for republishing because on Monday Mayor Dan Drew will deliver his budget raising taxes for citizens. 
We were already told by Drew taxes will be raised .9 mills, however, the actual budget won't be released until tomorrow.

The Common Council (still controlled by many of the same Spendacrat/Serracrats) will get a chance to review the budget- which has more holes than swiss cheese- and eventually vote to adopt or amend. When we as citizens receive the budget, will the promises made by the Democrats in power - most the same as the ones in power STILL today- be fulfilled?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Promises Made - 1999
In the 1999 campaign, Mayor Dominique Thornton and the Democratic candidates for council made promises to the people of the City of Middletown.  Twelve years later, we're still waiting for results.
Here are the promises, in their words:



Take a few minutes and decide for yourself if they've done the things that they've promised.
Remember the motto:  Progress, not Politics.  Think about recent events in Middletown and on the Council.  Who is working for progress and who is playing politics?

Wishing All of Middletown A Blessed Easter

To all of Middletown from the folks at the
 Middletown Insider,
 a Blessed Easter
and Happy Spring!

Easter Photos Around Middletown: St. Pius Church Middletown Living Stations

Reader submitted photo. St. Pius Church Living Stations of the Cross live exhibit by youth, part of the church's Easter programming. 

Are you doing something special around town for Easter? 
Send us a photo!

Saturday, March 30, 2013

Letter to the Editor: MRTC Vice Chairman Responds to Tax Increase

Letter to the Editor. Letters to the editor are published as a courtesy and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Middletown Insider Staff.  Below MRTC vice chairman responds to Mayor Dan Drew's budget calling for a .9 mill rate increase. The full budget will be delivered Monday and the Common Council and public will have a chance to comment later in the month.
-------------------------------------------------------------------


Spending continues and yet growth is non existent in our City, state and country. Our grand list has gone down for the first time in many years and yet the budget continues to grow. 

What happens next year when the revaluation goes into affect? 

I feel bad for those seniors who live on fixed incomes and can't afford another increase in taxes.

William Wilson,
Middletown Republican Town Committee Vice Chairman
Middletown,CT

Thursday, March 28, 2013

South Fire District Easter Flower Sale

Press Release: South Fire District Local 3918 is holding their annual
 Easter Flower Sale this weekend

All proceeds go to Middletown based charities: Amazing Grace Food Pantry, 
Middlesex Cancer Center, 
Middletown Little League, 
Adopt-a-Family Program & MDA.

Event Location:
South District Firehouse, 445 Randolph Rd
Date & Time
March 28 - 30, 2013, 8 AM  to  7 PM
 
 

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

CHC RAP-By Sir Steal A Lot aka Your Dime is Crime


Non-Profit’s Delight

sung to Sugar Hill Gang’s Rappers Delight



I said a money, you’re a dummy, I make more money
To the hip hop hippity hop , I say $600,000 times again
A you don’t take it to the feds, so I won’t see red, I deserve it, I deserve it.
ENTITLMENT CITY- Yeah, I deserve it, It’s mine! (Well really yours)

Man,  the taxpayers paid for it,  and I took MO, MO, MO, oh yes- I did and you will be
Po Po Po ! 

Now, the feds are poking around like a little clown, but I know Hickenlooper pooper scooper, - so leave me alone .. Big bowties for a sly little guy.  I’m supposed to help people, but I don’t -it’s not my dime it’s yours.  Your money SUCKA!

 To the poor and the rest to do what is right-not.
I have a big ass office like with mobiles TVs- I’m a gangsta! Yeah, I’m a gangsta! On your dime, the song needs to rhyme, so I’m here to stay and you better go away I won’t do any time, I may be slime but I ‘m a DEM like O’Rourke who dodged the bullet and should be in jail but he’s a Dem not a GOP.. Thank, stupid people to whom I will drink to tonight!!!   YEAHHHHHHHHHHH!

PZ Considers ID and IRA Zone Changes Tonight

Planning and Zoning Commission
Wednesday, March 27, 2013, 7:00 PM, Council Chambers
Links to documents on the City website below:
Public Hearing
Agenda

MIDDLETOWN PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING
MARCH 27, 2013, 7:00 P.M., COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 245 DE
KOVEN DRIVE,MIDDLETOWN, CT
PUBLIC COMMENT MAY BE LIMITED TO FIVE MINUTES. PUBLIC IS
ENCOURAGED TO SUBMIT WRITTEN COMMENTS PRIOR TO OR A THE PUBLIC HEARING. 
 AGENDA:
1. Continued: Proposed Zoning Code text amendment to modify Section 30.02 Institutional
Development Zone (Uses). A copy of the existing and proposed text is on file in the Office of
the Town Clerk. Proponent Ed McKeon Z2013-2 
2. Proposed one-lot subdivision of the property of Carmelo Magnano located at 311 Westfield
Street. Applicant/agent Carmelo Magnano S2012-5 
3. Proposed Zoning Code text amendment to add Section 61.01.59 Neighborhood Store Uses in
an IRA Zone. A copy of the proposed text is on file in the Office of the Town Clerk.
Proponent Charles & Olga Marano Z2013-3


Read proposed Zoning Text Amendments and Staff Comments (available at Town Clerks Office) here: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B1OYjxtLEgUwUE1MM2cyZGNnbWc/edit?usp=sharing

Today's Insider is Brought to You By the Letters F for Fudget & A or Appropriations

Mayor Dan Drew will be giving his Fudget address on Thursday, March 28, 2013, at 7 pm. in the Council Chamber.
Last years budget increased taxes and had a fiscal year with a record number of monthly Appropriations requested by almost every single department at some point during the fiscal year. Ie "we didn't want to shock the public into thinking we needed even more money so the Mayor didn't include certain line items style appropriations".  Mayoral aide Joseph Samolis better tie those sneakers tight! Samolis will have to throw Dannyboy over his shoulder and carry him out of the Chambers before anyone can ask questions 'cause this budget is gonna be a doozey of Big Dannel Malloy caliber!
Oh Baby, it Hurts so Good! So just how much will Mayor Drew raise your taxes this year? How many times will he use the phrase "together as a community" to justify his raising of your taxes
 If you are at home  sipping a mint julep while the Mayor gives this televised address and take a drink every time Mayor Drew lies, will you be standing by the end? Will we be able to see Councilman Tom Serra's lips moving while Drew speaks? 
 To quote another veteran councilman "It's for the children!"


Depression Era Blues



Insider Suggested Complimentary Playlist: 

1.: "Hurt So Good" by  John Cougar Mellencamp

2.  "Danny Boy" covered by Andy Williams

3. "Blame the BOE Increase Shuffle" by Big Tommy and Lil' D

4. "Mo Yo Money, No Problems" by  the Notorious T.A.X.

5.  "Every Breath You Take" covered by Ed McKeon & 
The Village People

6. "Your Spin Me Right Round" by The Mess, with back up vocals by the Democratic Town Committee Ol' Boys Club Choir. Belabored introduction by former chairman Com. Dan Russo

7. "Knock Three Times (On Your Front Door)" by Ed McKeon & Fishmuscle.

8. "Justify My Pay" by Community Health Center CEO Mark Masselli with instrumentals by Meriden Mayor Mike Rohdes

9. "I can Be Your Hero"  The damage control remix, acapella by Joe Samolis, with special dedication to Mayor Drew, Spanish lyrics by Rep. Matt Lesser

10. Banish the Budget Blues'
1930, words and music by Jack Lumsdaine
Regal Record G20758
Sung by Art Leonard
The first page of  Australian Prime Minister James Scullin’s  budget speech, delivered in July 1930, set the scene of worldwide economic depression.
Introduction For years we’ve sung about the blues, since ragtime first began
The blues for old Kentucky, and the blues for Alabam
But a brand new blues is with us, if you read the daily news
Mister Scullin wrote it and it’s called the budget blues
But here’s an antidote so let us sing
This little chorus till the rafters ring
Chorus Banish the budget blues, spread the happy news
Good times are coming, keep on humming
Whether you win or lose, put on your running shoes
Give it a smile, get over the stile and banish the budget blues
Patters There’s a tax on hats, a tax on boots, a tax on women’s clothes
A tax on all the little things that only a married man knows
Tax on pictures, tax on punters when they back a winner
And now they’re going to tax the bookies, when they get a skinner
A tax on bags, a tax on fags, a tax on wooden legs
To provide the old age pension for the grocer’s new laid eggs
There’s a tax on whisky, a tax on beer, but by the heavens above
What will all the taxis do if they put a tax on love?
So let us all be happy and we won’t care a jot
If we sing this little chorus they can take the bally lot
Chorus

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Tyler Perry's Madea comes to the CHC! (Without the FBI)



Madea to Visit Community Health Center

Press Release from United Artists and Tyler Perry


Middletown - Mayor Daniel T. Drew and the Middletown Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce that award winning author, comedian, friend of Oprah and actor Tyler Perry have agreed to lens the newest Madea film,  Madea Hangs out at the Community Health Center, in Middletown.  Perry has starred as the pocket book yielding, wise cracking grandmother character on numerous TBS shows and films.
“I wrote this film with Middletown in mind in order to focus on the money issues that are plaguing the Community Health Center,  if all goes well I hope to film a followup, Madea goes to Kidcity in the fall,” said Perry an avid churchgoer and native of New Orleans.   “In the old neighborhood a youthful African American male can go to jail for stealing $100.00 from a laundry mat.  If you are white and run a non-profit organization, it’s okay to steal due that person’s value system.  I know this guy once from CT who ran the CHC who used to say, ‘I deserve the $601,000 year because I help people’, but come on that’s highway robbery.” Perry, the star of the thriller Alex Cross said yesterday at a luncheon at The Cantina.  
According to United Artists, the music for the film will be conducted by various groups from The Buttonwood Tree with a few soundtrack titles already available on ITUNES: I Love to take 4 months off from Work (Dalai Lama); U Are Poisoning the City;  J. Edgar Hoover Blues, and I should really be giving a  LOT of money back (Hypocrite Democrat song).

Guest Blog: Greetings Patriots from Palin Smith Conservative Roundup

Below is a roundup of Conservative events being held this week. Complied and submitted by Palin Smith. Opinions are that of Palin Smith and do not necessarily reflect that of Insider Staff.
 
GREETINGS PATRIOTS:
Last week was amazing for several reasons, and this week is shaping up to be memorable as well. A week ago at the Legislative Office Building (LOB), a hearing was held on a proposed new law to require liability insurance for gun owners. A man from Vernon named Robert “Boomer” Steed testified. We got in contact with Boomer and discovered that he had also testified on SB 1076, the gun bill. That’s the hearing that went on for thirteen (13) hours on March 14.
Boomer’s testimony was extra special, almost Lincoln-like in it’s form and content. We uploaded it to You Tube and released it to our Twitter Team. What happened next was magic. Glenn Beck picked it up and soon dozens of other blogs lit up with “The Constitution Did Not Guarantee Public Safety, It Guaranteed Liberty” http://youtu.be/ledhyTAE2zo
To date over 125,000 different people have viewed Boomer’s video. If you want to be inspired, please read the hundreds of comments. We will hear and see more from Mr. Steed in the future. We may have stumbled upon Connecticut’s “Joe The Plumber”.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On Wednesday afternoon we traveled to Goshen to record the following video. Consider it a 2nd opinion on gun magazine size.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On Thursday night, March 21, we attended a town hall meeting at the Bristol Public Library. It was an opportunity to meet Senate Minority Leader, John McKinney, Sen. Jason Welch and Rep. Whit Betts. Please try to attend any public meetings with your state senators or state reps so they can hear from you. Attendance is much above average these days. Wherever we go we recruit grass roots conservatives into the movement. Here’s the entire town hall meeting separated into issues and individual questioners.
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5wsVsNCEygpw6JAi90F_ALkJTeqZ1N7p

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Saturday afternoon, March 23, we attended US Senator Chris Murphy’s meeting at the Pequot Library in Southport. We found many new people who had been looking for a way to get involved. Here’s the entire town hall. We were the only video camera present.
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5wsVsNCEygqgnn_PFg58wK8HjgveDMtb
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Connecticut Restoration Coalition met again Saturday night, March 23 in Southington. Everyone is welcome to attend. Bring some friends. We talked about a rally that will infuse new enthusiasm into the Tea Party. Every patriot group is coming together at the Capitol on April 20 at Noon in a Gun Rights/Tax Day/Constitution wing ding . Two well-known out-of-state keynote speakers are being wooed. You can learn more and follow the news on Facebook as the rally preparations develop.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
UPCOMING EVENTS
Tuesday March 26
1. 4th District Rep., Elizabeth Esty & 1st District Rep. John Larson, Chairman of the newly formed Task Force on Election Reform, as well as Nick Nyhart of the Public Campaign, and Karen Hobart Flynn of Common Cause for a forum on election reform.
Tuesday, March 26th, 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Farmington Library, Community Room (Next to Town Hall)
6 Monteith Drive, Farmington, CT 06032
If you would like to attend, please RSVP by emailing esty.districtschedule@mail.house.gov or by calling my office at 860-223-8412.
2. State Senator Kevin Witkos (R-8) and State Representative Bill Simanski (R-62) will provide a legislative update at the Barkhamsted Board of Selectmen meeting at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 26.
Rep. Simanski. “This meeting presents a great opportunity for all Barkhamsted residents to voice any questions or concerns they may have about their state government and all the proposals currently being discussed this legislative session. Anyone who has an interest in what’s been going on at the Capitol, join us at the meeting and share your thoughts.”
The event is open to the public and will be held at the Barkhamsted Town Hall located at 67 Ripley Hill Road.
Anyone can attend - not just local residents.
Wednesday March 27
Governor Dannel P. Malloy  will host a community forum in Naugatuck on Wednesday, March 27, 2013, from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Naugatuck High School’s Library Resource Room (543 Rubber Avenue, Naugatuck).
These town hall-style events provide an opportunity to discuss the state’s pressing issues face-to-face with state residents. They are open to the public; tickets are not necessary and seats are available on a first come, first served basis. Those who would like an opportunity to ask a question should arrive a little bit earlier to fill out the sign-up sheet. Doors open at 6:15 p.m.
Thinking of attending
Thursday March 28

Please join State Rep. Dan Carter and other area legislators on Thursday, March 28th for a town hall-style meetings in Redding where they will discuss the issues shaping the 2013 legislative session. The hour-long meeting, hosted by State Reps. Dan Carter and John Shaban and State Sen. Toni Boucher, begins at 7:00pm at the Mark Twain Library, located at 439 Redding Road. The event is free and open to the public. Anyone unable to attend but would like to discuss state issues can contact Rep. Carter at Dan.Carter@housegop.ct.gov or 800-842-1423.
We hope to attend this meeting
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Saturday, March 30, the CT Restoration Coalition will not meet due to the Easter Holiday. King 33 will be open every Saturday at 5 PM starting in April. http://ct-rc.org/ We expect a huge turnout on April 6.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you are on a mailing list for Democrat legislators, please pass back any news about upcoming town halls or other meetings.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
One final note: When you see Boomer Steed’s testimony you will realize what a great spokesman he is and will be. A great communicator. He will only improve. Boomer is constrained by his government employment. He’s actively seeking a new job. He would relish the opportunity to devote more time and effort to our cause.
His salary requirements are modest. Boomer lives in Vernon. If you can help Boomer find a good private sector job you would be helping us all. In his own words, Boomer’s short resume:
"I have truck class B license, forklift skills, warehouse, etc. More recent experience in communications, familiar with micro office, logistics, shipping, writing reports, supervisory experience, etc. …….. I'm going to go out tomorrow and Wed and see what's available locally. Knock on some doors."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It does not require a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority keen to set brush fires in people's minds. (Samuel Adams)
Pass the matches......
Palin Smith

Guest Blog: The Malloy Connection by John Milardo

 Below is a essay by John Milardo. All opinions expressed are that of the author and not necessarily that of the Insider staff.
The essay in its original format can be downloaded here: https://docs.google.com/file/d/1hG3LNoxp6zqztie5Lkg7dNbpYiubr042XnUFYZ5ufa9WL5WZnKv-K0VVDNtT/edit?usp=sharing
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“And Justice For All” is a newsletter involving my opinions, views, and commentary as a life long Middletown resident. In my capacity as a former employee of Middletown (retired) for over 41 years, I have a different perspective regarding how and why public figures do what they do.

When Daniel Drew lost his first mayoral bid attempt to then republican Mayor Sebastian Giuliano in 2010, the local democrats had enough. Giuliano was a three (3) term republican Mayor in a democratically controlled city, and that had to end. (Quite frankly, in Middletown, any mayor who has more than a couple of terms under their belt is ripe for the picking – anyone being elected as mayor past three (3) terms is pretty amazing.) What could the democrats do to win the mayoral seat back?

The local democrats ran to Governor Dannel Malloy, and asked him for help. He endorsed democratic mayoral candidate Daniel Drew in 2012. The Governor made some personal appearances, and made sure Drew was in the public eye as much as possible – Drew became Mayor. We know Drew spends a lot of time in Hartford rubbing elbows with everyone. Maybe Malloy has bigger and better things planned for him? As like many politicians, I presume the Governor’s motive is power and control over Drew. He’s got Middletown’s mayor on his side for support no matter what the issue may be.

Why would Governor Dannel Malloy bring novice Mayor Daniel Drew with him on a trip to China? What could Drew offer Malloy or the Chinese? Did Drew learn about communism, poor wages and working conditions or forced labor? Did they bring back anything to the citizens of the State of Connecticut that would enhance our technology or manufacturing industries? I haven’t seen anything that the Chinese trip has done for our States economy.

One of the first things Mayor Drew did when elected was to authorize a committee to look into reorganizing and consolidating City of Middletown departments. It is said to be for the purpose of saving money and being more efficient. I can assure you it is for other reasons. Mayor Drew put the committee together and made sure it contained Governor Malloy insiders.

When negotiations began between the City of Middletown and Teamsters Local 671, Mayor Drew hired a law firm that had connections to the Malloy campaign. I can assure you, as I have first hand knowledge, that Mayor Drew is not very labor oriented or friendly.

When Governor Malloy recently informed Connecticut towns that State grants and subsidies were going to be eliminated and/or severely reduced, Mayor Drew said nothing. Other towns and Cities, no matter whether they were democrat or republican Mayors, decried the loss of State funding. Mayor Drew and his democratic council members have been silent. Get ready for July…. “Got Your Tax Bill… Round 2”.

Mayor Drew recently hired a new City Attorney named Brigham Smith, from Lansing Michigan. How could there be a Malloy connection? No way! Mr. Smith wants to be close to his family who moved back to Connecticut, and if you look really, really close … perhaps the former Mrs. Smith has a Stamford connection.

You can’t make this stuff up!

Stay strong. Stay involved. Stay together. Seek the truth.

Yours in Solidarity.
John Milardo

Guest Blog: Fred Carroll: Do You Speak "Street?"

  Below is a guest blog from resident Fred Carrol. The essay reflects views and opinions not necessarily shared by the Insider staff, and is published as a courtesy to readers. "Dr." Fred Carrol has shared his thoughts with us many times before via guest blog- his last can be read here: 
"Thoughts on Homelessness"
__________________________________________________________
Of Niggers And Fagots And Bitches And Whores....Do You Speak "Street?"

Everyone knows the term Quality Of Life and it is clearly a self explanatory phrase, as in when you hear "Quality of Life code violation enforcement" you think of Rudy what's his name, and New York City being saved, salvaged, resurrected as it was, from the criminality which had reached critical mass by the simplest, most obvious tactic in the world......go after little things, and you solve big problems when all is said and done. And while I don't wish to compare Middletown to New York, I suggest that the principle demonstrated by the "New York Experiment" is too valuable to ever ignore. Society at large of course cannot legislate stupidity or hostility out of the human heart, but since "From the heart speaketh the mouth", I sure would like to see enforcement of any and all codes pertaining to volume, content, context and correctness with regard to "hate speech". If liquored up loquacious loiterers got ticketed for their loud public vulgarity, eventually a "change of heart" might even occur in their restless, heaving breast........and let's get those Spittoons on the ground!

Fred Carroll Art Impressario

Monday, March 25, 2013

Middletown Republican Town Committee Meeting March 25th

Press Release from MRTC: The next meeting of the Middletown Republican Town Committee will be on Monday, March 25, at 7pm, at City Hall. Please join us.

William Wilson
Vice Chairman, MRTC

Nonprofit CEO Pay Topping $1 Milion Rises With Scrutiny

Note: With the ongoing investigation by the Federal Authorities into the money management of the Community Health Center in Middletown and it's alleged connection to the campaign of infamous politician Chris Donovan (D). We felt that the article from Bloomberg Reports below would be very helpful in looking at the big picture of salaries for the non-profit CEOs... Yes, it's a lot of money! Yes, they do say give it up for the people! No, they don't (usually) pay taxes on anything! Yes, some of them are allowed to take their spouses (who happens to be a the CEO of another non-profit) and head to India/Tibet for four months to hand with His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lamai.  If you and hubby are in India/Tibet, then who, mind you was watching the gates at Community Health Center and Kid City?

Former Legislator/Lawyer Kevin Rennie explains the fiasco and even more connections along the money trail...
 http://www.courant.com/news/opinion/hc-op-rennie-feds-eye-middletown-health-care-agenc-20130322,0,300802.column

http://middletown-ct.patch.com/articles/fed-investigating-on-how-legislature-earmarked-15m-for-community-health-center

Not so many degress of separation?: Meriden Mayor Michael S. Rohde,a Democrat, has been in office since 2008, and is also the director of community relations for Community Health Center Inc., based in Middletown.  Mayor Rohe and Mayor Dan Drew accused  incumbent state Senator Len Suzio, who represented the 15th district of push poll calling during the last election cycle. Both then told the media during a joint press conference held on the steps of Meriden City hall they had no proof of the push poll calling, but were acting on suspicion. Suzio lost to Democrat Dante Bartolomeo. Bartolomeo's treasurer served at a Meriden polling location on election day.

"Nonprofit CEO Pay Topping $1 Million Rises With Scrutiny"




More than 20 nonprofit groups, from New York Presbyterian Hospital and the Boys & Girls Clubs of America to Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, paid top executives more than $1 million a year in 2010 and 2011, the Chronicle of Philanthropy found.
The tally, an increase from 15 such pay packages in the previous study, showed chief executive officers or other leaders at 23 nonprofit charities and foundations had taxable compensation exceeding $1 million, the Chronicle said in a study to be released today.
“By far the most comments we get have to do with CEO salaries and a general outrage and shock at some of the salaries that they see,” said Ken Berger, president of the nonprofit watchdog group Charity Navigator. “There are even donors shocked at the notion of a six-figure salary.”
As protest movements such as Occupy Wall Street have brought more focus on the richest 1 percent of Americans, high pay for nonprofit executives has prompted New York and other states to suggest limits on compensation. Nonprofit watchers such as Berger say it may also prompt additional U.S. oversight or public policy changes for the $2.5 trillion industry.
“To assume that you’re going to become a millionaire or a multimillionaire, running a public charity that’s supposed to provide a public benefit, is just absurd as far as we’re concerned,” Berger said.
Top executives at the largest U.S. charities and foundations received a median pay increase of 3.8 percent to $429,512 in 2011, according to the Chronicle’s survey of 132 of the biggest organizations. For other large nonprofits, the Chronicle said information filed in required tax filings show 2010 pay rose 2.7 percent.

Top Fundraisers

The Chronicle data is drawn from charities ranked highest in the group’s Philanthropy 400, the annual list of nonprofits that raise the most from private sources. The Chronicle collected compensation data on 274 charities and 49 foundations.
Total compensation includes salary, bonuses, deferred compensation, and retirement pay that individuals received in a single year. Other payments can include housing allowances, club dues, and additional perks nonprofits counted as compensation.
The annual survey is a way for executives and their boards to take a measure of pay and for donors to find out what’s happening, as well, said Stacy Palmer, Chronicle editor.
“Most at nonprofits are not millionaires, and it’s been tough times with many people not getting raises,” she said. “But there’s also a lot more focus on results, and that means paying for talent.”

Hospital, Museum

The highest-paid executive in the Chronicle survey, which was obtained by Bloomberg Rankings, was Herbert Pardes, executive vice chairman of the New York Presbyterian Hospital board of trustees, who had 2010 compensation of $4.3 million, including a $1.71 million salary. Houston Museum of Fine Arts Director Peter Marzio, who died in December 2010, was second with $3.94 million, in part because of payouts triggered by his death, the Chronicle said. Pardes didn’t return a phone call seeking comment.
Among traditional charitable groups, American Cancer Society CEO John Seffrin was fifth with a 2010 compensation of $2.08 million, including $1.49 million in deferred compensation and retirement. Boys & Girls Club CEO Roxanne Spillett, who retired last year after 34 years with the group, ranked eighth with 2011 compensation of $1.81 million, the Chronicle survey showed.

Cancer Society

Seffrin’s compensation for 2011 was $764,135, including deferred compensation, and he declined an incentive for fiscal 2009 performance and agreed to a cut to his base salary of 6.4 percent, the American Cancer Society said in an e-mailed statement. In 2010, his total compensation was $2.4 million, which included $1.62 million in deferred benefits that will be paid at retirement, according to the statement.
Spillett’s compensation included $1.18 million that was paid out as part of a previously reported retirement plan and the compensation was reviewed by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLC and her pay was “in line with industry standards and appropriate,” spokeswoman Jan Still-Lindeman said in an e-mailed statement. The group doubled in size and tripled in financial scope during Spillett’s 16 years as CEO, Still-Lindeman said.
New York University’s John Sexton had compensation of $1.31 million, ahead of Yale University President Richard Levin’s $1.19 million, according to the Chronicle data. Levin and Sexton didn’t respond to e-mails seeking comment.
The top executives for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Los Angeles Opera, Metropolitan Opera Association, Museum of Modern Art and the Art Institute of Chicago also made the list.

CEO Compensation

By comparison, the median total compensation for Standard & Poor’s 500 CEOs rose about 6.2 percent to $9.6 million in 2011 from about $9 million in 2010, according to Equilar Inc., which gathers data on executive pay at public companies.
More than 1.4 million nonprofit organizations were registered with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service in 2009, and the 632,604 public charities -- those known as 501(c)(3) organizations -- reported $1.4 trillion in revenue and $2.53 trillion in assets, according to a 2011 report by the Urban Institute in Washington, which tracks nonprofit activities.
Groups such as Charity Navigator aren’t suggesting specific limits on pay such as a $199,000 limit proposed in the state of New York, Berger said. The nonprofits need to ensure the pay they adopt is easily defensible among other executives, he said.
The norm is low six-figure compensation, a median of $130,000 to $140,000 for midsize to large nonprofits, he said, with pay rising to $500,000 for the biggest groups, Berger said.

Top Charities

The focus of the pay controversy, much like the protests centered on the richest Americans, is on the 1 percent of the largest charities that raise about 86 percent of the funds, Berger said.
“In these very hard times, money is all that more precious and you have to maximize it,” he said.
The furor over pay to CEOs of nonprofits is misplaced and may end up damaging charity fundraising, said Dan Pallotta, author of “Charity Case” and “Uncharitable,” books on the steps the nonprofit world can take to be more effective.
“We have this total double standard that extends beyond compensation issue where we blame capitalism for creating these huge inequities in our society and then refuse to allow the nonprofit sector to use the tools of capitalism to rectify the situation,” he said.

Expert Executives

The expertise of a top-paid executive will increase the amount of money raised at the nonprofit organization and also provide more efficient leadership, Pallotta said.
“It’s always positioned as a zero-sum game, where any money paid to the leader is money wrenched out of the hands of those kids rather than looking at it as money invested in the leader to potentially dramatically enlarge the money available to the kids,” he said.
Each of the highest-paid coaches at nonprofit universities in 2009 was paid more than $2 million, and people accept that, Pallotta said.
“We look at this through the lens of preserving the purity of the nonprofit ethic rather than looking at it through the lens of do we actually want to solve these problems and what would it take,” he said. “You had better invest in leaders who are experienced at playing at those levels.”
He traces some of the resistance to highly paid nonprofit executives to the tensions between religion and capitalism set by the first Puritan settlers in New England. The Puritans were aggressive capitalists who saw charity as penance for making money, he said.
“The nonprofit system is like this church,” Pallotta said. ``It’s this irrational, emotional religion that’s all about scoring holy points so that you’ll be saved from eternal damnation. I have this friend who says, ‘the cheapest way to pay for things is with money.”’

Letter to the Editor: Mr. Mayor Do Something with Empty Buildings

 Below is an open letter to Mayor Dan Drew submitted as a letter to the editor via facebook. All opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the Insider blog or staff, and are published as a courtesy.
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Mr.Mayor

What are you going to do w/ all these empty building's? Because right now most of them can be turned into something that useful & make a lot of money. For ex. the old Waldbaums building can be a bowling alley & a cafe. You have all these , yet your not doing anything w/ some of them !!

Dashia James
Middletown, CT

Letter to the Editor: WWII Letter Still Relevant

 Letters to the editor are published as a courtesy and do not necessarily reflective of the opinions of the Middletown Insider staff. Below is a submission from Middletown Republican Town Committee Chair Ken McClellan.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The following is a reprint of an email from Kitty Werthman, 85 years old when she wrote this, she grew up in Austria before and during World War II.
I can’t verify the authenticity of the author, but the facts presented are accurate.

Thanks,
Ken McClellan

America Truly is the Greatest Country in the World. Don’t Let Freedom Slip Away
By: Kitty Werthmann
What I am about to tell you is something you’ve probably never heard or will ever read in history books.
I believe that I am an eyewitness to history. I cannot tell you that Hitler took Austria by tanks and guns; it would distort history. We elected him by a landslide – 98% of the vote. I’ve never read that in any American publications. Everyone thinks that Hitler just rolled in with his tanks and took Austria by force.
In 1938, Austria was in deep Depression. Nearly one-third of our workforce was unemployed. We had 25% inflation and 25% bank loan interest rates.
Farmers and business people were declaring bankruptcy daily. Young people were going from house to house begging for food. Not that they didn’t want to work; there simply weren’t any jobs. My mother was a Christian woman and believed in helping people in need. Every day we cooked a big kettle of soup and baked bread to feed those poor, hungry people – about 30 daily.
The Communist Party and the National Socialist Party were fighting each other. Blocks and blocks of cities like Vienna, Linz and Graz were destroyed. The people became desperate and petitioned the government to let them decide what kind of government they wanted.
We looked to our neighbor on the north, Germany, where Hitler had been in power since 1933. We had been told that they didn’t have unemployment or crime, and they had a high standard of living. Nothing was ever said about persecution of any group — Jewish or otherwise. We were led to believe that everyone was happy. We wanted the same way of life in Austria. We were promised that a vote for Hitler would mean the end of unemployment and help for the family. Hitler also said that businesses would be assisted, and farmers would get their farms back. Ninety-eight percent of the population voted to annex Austria to Germany and have Hitler for our ruler.
We were overjoyed, and for three days we danced in the streets and had candlelight parades. The new government opened up big field kitchens and everyone was fed.
After the election, German officials were appointed, and like a miracle, we suddenly had law and order. Three or four weeks later, everyone was employed. The government made sure that a lot of work was created through the Public Work Service.
Hitler decided we should have equal rights for women. Before this, it was a custom that married Austrian women did not work outside the home. An able-bodied husband would be looked down on if he couldn’t support his family.
Many women in the teaching profession were elated that they could retain the jobs they previously had been required to give up for marriage.
Hitler Targets Education – Eliminates Religious Instruction for Children:
Our education was nationalized. I attended a very good public school. The population was predominantly Catholic, so we had religion in our schools. The day we elected Hitler (March 13, 1938), I walked into my schoolroom to find the crucifix replaced by Hitler’s picture hanging next to a Nazi flag. Our teacher, a very devout woman, stood up and told the class we wouldn’t pray or have religion anymore. Instead, we sang “Deutschland, Deutschland, Uber Alles,” and had physical education.
Sunday became National Youth Day with compulsory attendance. Parents were not pleased about the sudden change in curriculum. They were told that if they did not send us, they would receive a stiff letter of warning the first time. The second time they would be fined the equivalent of $300, and the third time they would be subject to jail. The first two hours consisted of political indoctrination. The rest of the day we had sports. As time went along, we loved it. Oh, we had so much fun and got our sports equipment free. We would go home and gleefully tell our parents about the wonderful time we had.
My mother was very unhappy. When the next term started, she took me out of public school and put me in a convent. I told her she couldn’t do that and she told me that someday when I grew up, I would be grateful. There was a very good curriculum, but hardly any fun – no sports, and no political indoctrination. I hated it at first but felt I could tolerate it.
Every once in a while, on holidays, I went home. I would go back to my old friends and ask what was going on and what they were doing. Their loose lifestyle was very alarming to me. They lived without religion. By that time unwed mothers were glorified for having a baby for Hitler. It seemed strange to me that our society changed so suddenly. As time went along, I realized what a great deed my mother did so that I wasn’t exposed to that kind of humanistic philosophy.
Equal Rights Hits Home:
In 1939, the war started and a food bank was established. All food was rationed and could only be purchased using food stamps. At the same time, a full-employment law was passed which meant if you didn’t work, you didn’t get a ration card, and if you didn’t have a card, you starved to death. Women who stayed home to raise their families didn’t have any marketable skills and often had to take jobs more suited for men.
Soon after this, the draft was implemented. It was compulsory for young people, male and female, to give one year to the labor corps. During the day, the girls worked on the farms, and at night they returned to their barracks for military training just like the boys. They were trained to be anti-aircraft gunners and participated in the signal corps. After the labor corps, they were not discharged but were used in the front lines. When I go back to Austria to visit my family and friends, most of these women are emotional cripples because they just were not equipped to handle the horrors of combat. Three months before I turned 18, I was severely injured in an air raid attack. I nearly had a leg amputated, so I was spared having to go into the labor corps and into military service.
Hitler Restructured the Family Through Daycare:
When the mothers had to go out into the work force, the government immediately established child care centers. You could take your children ages 4 weeks to school age and leave them there around-the-clock, 7 days a week, under the total care of the government. The state raised a whole generation of children.. There were no motherly women to take care of the children, just people highly trained in child psychology. By this time, no one talked about equal rights. We knew we had been had.
Health Care and Small Business Suffer Under Government Controls:
Before Hitler, we had very good medical care. Many American doctors trained at the University of Vienna . After Hitler, health care was socialized, free for everyone. Doctors were salaried by the government. The problem was, since it was free, the people were going to the doctors for everything. When the good doctor arrived at his office at 8 a.m., 40 people were already waiting and, at the same time, the hospitals were full. If you needed elective surgery, you had to wait a year or two for your turn. There was no money for research as it was poured into socialized medicine. Research at the medical schools literally stopped, so the best doctors left Austria and emigrated to other countries.
As for healthcare, our tax rates went up to 80% of our income. Newlyweds immediately received a $1,000 loan from the government to establish a household. We had big programs for families. All day care and education were free. High schools were taken over by the government and college tuition was subsidized. Everyone was entitled to free handouts, such as food stamps, clothing, and housing.
We had another agency designed to monitor business. My brother-in-law owned a restaurant that had square tables. Government officials told him he had to replace them with round tables because people might bump themselves on the corners. Then they said he had to have additional bathroom facilities. It was just a small dairy business with a snack bar. He couldn’t meet all the demands. Soon, he went out of business. If the government owned the large businesses and not many small ones existed, it could be in control.
We had consumer protection. We were told how to shop and what to buy. Free enterprise was essentially abolished. We had a planning agency specially designed for farmers. The agents would go to the farms, count the live-stock, then tell the farmers what to produce, and how to produce it. Continued:

Friday, March 22, 2013

Letter to the Editor: We have Serious Budget Deficit

Letters to the editor are published as a courtesty and do not necessarily reflective of the opinions of the Middletown Insider staff. 
Below is a submission from Middletown Republican Town Committee Chair Ken McClellan that he also sent to local media and local representatives of Middletown Paul Doyle (D), Dante Bartolomeo (D), Matt Lesser (D) and Joe Serra (D). 
 joe.serra@cga.ct.gov
 Matthew.Lesser@cga.ct.gov
 Paul.Doyle@cga.ct.gov
 Dante.Bartolomeo@cga.ct.gov

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We have a serious deficit in the state budget.  I would like the state assembly and state senate, before they start looking for ‘new revenue’ to make up the deficit, to start looking at what the state is spending, and ask “WHY?”
In that vein, I have some questions about the state budget:  the state web-site, Connecticut Transparency (http://transparency.ct.gov) has a very nice, searchable database of the state budget.  In exploring this site, I’ve found some expenditures that really don’t make sense to me.  I’d like my senators and representatives to check out and get some justification for these expenditures.
1.       Teachers’ Retirement Board has a line item for $26 million for Clothing and Footwear.  There is no explanation or detail.  Why is the Teachers’ Retirement Board buying clothing and shoes?
2.      State Comptroller has a line item for Other Statewide Payments, Gross Proceeds for $3 million, with no detail.  Where is this money going?

Ken McClellan,
Middletown, CT

UPDATE:   "I received a reply from State Rep Matt Lesser: He stated that this line description was a coding or data artifact, and it was unlikely that the money was spent on clothes and shoes. He did not offer to get it corrected, or offer an alternative." Ken McClellan

Letter to the Editor: Department of Ed creates new six-figure job, while running of money.

 Letters to the editor are published as a courtesty and do not necessarily reflective of the opinions of the Middletown Insider staff. Below is a letter to the editor from Middletown Republic Town Committee Chair Ken McClellan. Press Release from MRTC: The next meeting of the Middletown Republican Town Committee will be on Monday, March 25, at 7pm, at City Hall. Please join us.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The federal budget is a mess and President Obama has created another
high-paid, do-nothing job for a political supporter.  Mr. David Johns was
appointed as the Executive Director of the White House Initiative on
Educational Excellence for African-Americans.

How much money is this program costing, and how much impact is it having for
education of American children?

Or, was this a reward, at the expense of the taxpayer, for a former aide for
Rep. Charles Rangle of New York?  If President Obama thinks this is such an
important issue, perhaps he should fund the salary and expenses himself.

This is just one more example of how the President, the cabinet and Congress
are out of touch with reality.  We, the taxpayers, cannot continue to pay
for useless jobs and rewards for political supporters.

I am asking Senator Richard Blumenthal, Senator Chris Murphy, Representative
Rosa DeLauro and the rest of the Connecticut delegation to please stop the
wasteful spending, and stop rewarding political cronies with do-nothing
jobs.

Shut down non-essential programs like this one.

Cut back on the number of aides, advisors and assistants at ALL levels and
branches of the government.   Even if these jobs are not a 'significant'
portion of the federal budget, taking this initiative would show that
congress is serious about dealing with the budget, and show leadership in
doing so.

Ken McClellan
Middletown, Connecticut


If you agree with me, write to our senators and congressional
representatives:
Senator Richard Blumenthal:   https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/contact
Senator Chris Murphy:  http://www.murphy.senate.gov/contact.cfm
Rep. Rosa DeLauro:
https://forms.house.gov/delauro/webforms/contact_form_email.shtml

Thursday, March 21, 2013

What's in Your Wallet? Malloy Wants State Car Tax & Home Heating Oil Tax

STATE CAR TAX GAS TAX FUEL TAX HOME HEATING OIL TAX TAX TAX!

This week, the legislature hears arguments to end the municipal car tax for vehicles valued under 28k.
Read more details at CtNews Junkie: http://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/ctnj.php/archives/entry/car_tax_proposal_doa/
Some city Mayor's - clue - NOT Mayor Drew (of course he won't question Big D)- are challenging Big Dan and arguing lack of revenue will hurt local government. On the table, but under reported is a proposed state car tax to replace the local.



 Is the repeal of the local car tax collected by Connecticut cities and towns a blessing or a curse? Most people would say a blessing - having to fork over less money always sounds good. Before you decide, this may not be the case if this local tax is repealed. Lovers of big government  bureaucracy may get their with a CT State Car Tax ! And you won't have to wait too long! Some legislators already have such a law penned and ready to go this session!  What are your thoughts on the repeal of the local car tax?

Read the proposed legislation here: http://www.cga.ct.gov/2013/TOB/H/2013HB-05102


General Assembly
  Proposed Bill No. 5102  
January Session, 2013
  LCO No. 81
   
Referred to Committee on PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT  
Introduced by:  
REP. BERGER, 73rd Dist.  
AN ACT ESTABLISHING A STATE-WIDE MILL RATE FOR MOTOR VEHICLES AND AMENDING THE DEFINITION OF ANTIQUE, RARE OR SPECIAL INTEREST MOTOR VEHICLES.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:
That the general statutes be amended to establish a state-wide mill rate for motor vehicles and to narrow the definition of antique, rare or special interest motor vehicle to include motor vehicles thirty years and older.
Statement of Purpose:
To create a state-wide mill rate for motor vehicles and to reimburse municipalities that lose money as a result of a lower state-wide mill rate with additional revenue generated by narrowing the definition of antique, rare or special interest motor vehicle. 
HOME HEATING OIL TAX PROPOSED: Think going green is good? Depends on the type of green. Do tax breaks for those who use energy efficient solutions still exist?Of course we all want to help the environment, but being proposed in the legislature currently is a bill that would tax home heating oil and propane. Is penalizing those who have yet to converted their home's heating into a more environmentally sustainable solution really the answer?


Matthew.Lesser@cga.ct.gov
Rep. Matt Lesser is in his third term representing the 100th Assembly District (Middletown). He brags that he has earned a lifetime 100% voting record from the CT League of Conservation Voters and is active in the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators. He is the new Assistant Majority Leader, and he serves on the Energy &; Technology Committee, is chair of the Legislative Subcommittee of the Appropriations Committee and is vice chair of the Government Administration and Elections Committee blah blah blah. SO email Rep. Lesser and ask him how paying more to heat your home works for you?
Click to enlarge Press Release from CEMA
Read commentary about the proposal here:
The proposed bill was sparked by Gov. Dannel Malloy's recently-released, 195-page “Comprehensive Energy Strategy” for Connecticut. The report encourages people and businesses to switch from oil to natural gas, however is  a tax on those with existing systems really the answer? Read the bill here: http://www.cga.ct.gov/2013/TOB/H/2013HB-06650-R00-HB.htm

"Statement of Purpose:
To (1) establish a heating fuel excise tax to provide funding for the implementation of cost-effective energy conservation programs, and (2) require any furnaces or boilers to be Energy Star compliant in order to qualify for the residential heating equipment financing program."

Popular Posts