February 4, 2013: Common Council Meeting Tonight

Guess What’s Up with the Common Council?

Meeting tonight starts at 6:00 P.M. (Questions to Directors) & Regular Meeting begins at 7:00 P.M.

Middletown’s Common Council will have their annual televised meeting (Channel 19) tonight to discuss a wide variety of important issues and resolutions.   The 1^st meeting, council questions to directors begin at 6:00 P.M. while the main event begins at 7:00 P.M.  The second meeting allows members of the public to speak about items on the agenda at the appropriate time.  The public members who wish to speak about items not on the agenda are invited to stay and speak to Mayor Drew and the council at the conclusion of the meeting.

Mayor Drew’s Appointment of Michael Timbro as Deputy Chief:

Although there is a good chance it’s a done deal and Michael Timbro be ratified as the 2^nd top cop in the city.  Timbro was nominated after the Common Council modified the requirements necessary for the job while inserting a pay increase that tops off at 18%.  According to the Middletown Patch (www.middletownpatch.com), Mayor Daniel T. Drew asked for the changes “to encourage current, qualified officers, to apply for the deputy chief or police open position”

Resolution to Create a Middletown Riverfront Redevelopment Commission

The 2^nd major item on tonight’s agenda surrounds itself with Middletown’s waterfront redevelopment.    Local politicians and Middletown folks such as: Gerald Daley, Joe Bibisi, Larry McHugh, Mike DiPiro, Richard Pelletier, Daniel Russo, Joe Carta, Elaine Bank, Wendy Sheil, Jamie Mills, and Sheila Stone will be part of this proposed commission.  Trivia question: Who is the only Republican in the group?  IF and when things go wrong, who will they blame? Nope, not a Democrat.

Mayor Drew's China Trip

 As of this writing, nothing is on the agenda about Drew's China trip and any record involved with regard to that event have been chopsocked away.

Your Daily Spin by the Middletown Mess

Today's spin on a misleading headline meant to support one particular point of view is brought to you by the Middletown Mess.

http://www.middletownpress.com/articles/2012/04/25/news/doc4f9782f38186b215504614.txt

The title is "Middletown Officials say Small Business Grant Creates 18 Local Jobs" is entirely misleading- The article later says that 19 business have gone thru training equating to 18 jobs.  According to the article: "Of the eligible businesses that applied, 19 have gone through the program, creating 18 full-time equivalent jobs."

Again not actual jobs - no businesses or positions listed. Mayor Drew would like you to think he waved a magic wand and created jobs, but alas has not as strategically stated in the title.  Good idea grants for local businesses but a gross exaggeration that this single act brings about jobs.  Remember the $40K given by the Common Council (Economic Development) to It's Only Natural market because it "claimed" lost business over bridge traffic after moving its location further north on Main? How many jobs did that save or create and what about after construction is over? Or businesses off of Main Street not eligible for the bail out? It reminds the Insider of a certain Diner without fire insurance the burned down in 2007 and was rebuilt partially with tax payer money also on Main Street. You say its grant money its not tax payer money? Your tax money is put in the general fund some of which goes to grants via Economic Development- so as far as the Insider is concerned it is all your money-  Beware of spin its your money being spent! Don't forget to show up April 26, 2012 to celebrate your taxes going up at the Budget Hearing the Council Chambers - 6:00 pm.
http://www.middletowninsider.com/2012/04/got-date-for-april-26-pack-council.html