Showing posts with label village district. Show all posts
Showing posts with label village district. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Court Again Rules in Favor of City in Proto vs Planning & Zoning Commission Lawsuit


Proto vs. Middletown Planning and Zoning Commission matter is currently pending in Middlesex Superior Court.  Yesterday, the court granted the City Attorney's request to revise the plaintiff’s complaint and overruled the plaintiff’s objection .  As a result of the judge's orders, the plaintiff will have to file a revised complaint taking out the allegations that were outside the record. The judge ruled earlier these allegations against the Commission be removed, but they plaintiff filed a recent complaint in attempt to subvert the judge's ruling an attempted to re-enter the allegations into the record.

Read more about the lawsuit in a previous post: http://www.middletowninsider.com/2013/04/citizens-sue-p-commission-over-mx-zone.html 

Amended Complaint: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B1OYjxtLEgUwZkxTSWxRSFJXMFE/edit?usp=sharing 

Ruling:  https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B1OYjxtLEgUwS3F4VkxDZGhsa0U/edit?usp=sharing

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

City Wins Round 1 of MX Zone Change Litigation, Allegations Against City & Commissioners Dismissed

Judge Aurigemma sustained  the City of Middletown's Objection to the plaintiff’s Motion to Amend the Record.  The  Plaintiffs, Jennifer and Jared Proto and their attorneys sought to add to the record 175 pages of e-mails and other documents the plaintiffs received via FOIA and to seek the depositions of Director of the Planning, Zoning & Conservation Dept. William Warner, Commissioner Ken McClellan (R), and Commissioner Molly Salafia (R) (despite Salafia's recusal  prior to the initial hearing before the vote).  The Court sided with the City and denied the plaintiffs' Motion.  The case is proceeding as submitted without these additional documents and without any depositions.  The Judge exonerates the commissioners and planning director of any wrong doing as the plaintiff's allege; finding there were in fact no illegal or unethical "ex parte" communications whatsoever.

The findings of the Judge and Motion  with counter allegations & criticisms from City Attorney Brig Smith are linked below:
Objection to the Plaintiff's Motion to Amend the Record
Order to Sustain Objection to Motion to Amend the Record

Sunday, April 14, 2013

Delusions of Grandeur or Delusions of Slander?


  • Has society made you pre judge those with certain political beliefs?
    Below is a conversation with a reader on facebook. It seems our blog has taken on mythical status and we are responsible everything perceived negative in Middletown.  Must be that damn Insider blog!!
    Some of our readers are experiencing un-explainable paranoid delusions ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ChrisTopher Polack
    It comes to my attention that your website slandered me and my volunteer activities with Midnight on Main. If you really like making up stuff, come see our improv comedy show this Friday.
    Seriously, your site is really funny.
  • Middle Town
    Explain this slander?
  • ChrisTopher Polack
    I volunteered for Middnight on Main. I received no compensation I don't even know why my name was dragged into the blog post.
  • Middle Town
    Type a link to what was specifically said that was incorrect.
    Did you get paid by the Chamber? Which post? Was it a comment?
  • Middle Town
    Did you get paid for any media related to Midd on Main by the Chamber or another source? You are welcome to write a letter to the editor if your accusation of slander is serious. You can clear up who did or did not pay you if you like. Please cite the specific example and where it was posted by us in a blog post. We cannot find anywhere were WE wrote that. We do not screen and are not responsible for what anonymous commentors post. middletowninsider@gmail.com subject : letter to the editor
  • ChrisTopher Polack
    I did not get paid for any media by Middnight on Main or the Chamber for my volunteering for Middnight on Main.
    You know, I do a search on your site and I can't find any link to my name. So, either it's not there now or or perhaps it was an anonymous comment?
    I blame the liberal media.
  • Middle Town
    So you are accusing us of slander- a serious allegation and without ANY proof or merit at all??? SO you are basing your accusation on??? Hearsay? It is not very nice to make random accusations when there is no truth. We too research our facts very well.
  • ChrisTopher Polack
    You're right, slander is a strong word. It's not a random accusation. YOu seem familiar with this topic by citing the Chamber. Did you say anything about me? Y/N?
  • Middle Town
    NO! You are active in the community and we know that from your facebook postings. If there were comments on other blogs or websites like the Press etc would you accuse them too?The Chamber, CHC, and City all worked together to promote Midd on Main. There was a combination of paid and unpaid workers used.
  • ChrisTopher Polack
    Okay, thanks for clearing that up. I don't know where people are getting their info from.
  • Middle Town
    We don't even know what people! Thanks for making us the scapegoat. Have a good night!
  • ChrisTopher Polack
    Hey, sorry we started on the wrong foot, anonymous blogger..Come see some comedy Friday and have a good laugh.
  • Middle Town
    Thank you! We might post this if you don't mind- its a good laugh- Check under the bed tonight- just to make sure none of our staffers are lurking there  Good night

    Thursday, April 11, 2013

    Corruption, Ellen, St. Francis and other Rublings or Who Got Paid for Midnight on Main.


    Rumblings Part II

    Holy Smokes! Joe forgot to back in the 'ole' boy.

    Corruption in the Public Sector-  Are we talking about the famous Community Health Center run by Ernst Starvo Blofeld  or in this case Mark “I love my bowtie” Masselli.  This man  banks a lot of capital on your dime folks?

    That’s right the taxpayaers of this fine city are paying for Mark’s  trips to the Olympics and other festivals all in the name of  WHAT?  Why did he have to go to TIBET or the Olympics? Let’s get real.  Perhaps he was finding medical supplies for the CHC in the mountains of TIBET or getting hockey puck samples at the winter Olympics.  

    The spin has already started, in the commentary section of The Insider and  other fine (biased) blogs in town a few folks wrote to say:

      “Mark started a company many years ago to help those  in need that need health care.” 

    Really?  Did he use his own money to do that or did he create a non-profit company that allowed him to be tax exempt and award himself a huge salary of his own.?  You know the answer to that one folks.  BIG BUCKS

    The only way to expose this type of corruption is from the outside or to utilize people who are not involved in the magical circle of public sector corruption. Translation: bring in The Untouchables.

    The problem with public sector corruption is that everyone who is in a position to clean it up has to get his or her own hands dirty to get there. That's the "dirty little secret". Everyone is dirty, so nobody can blow the whistle without being implicated themselves. Which is why the light has to be shined from the outside, i.e. The Insider.
    SAFER GRANT- Remember how Dan Drew was all overthe Italian mayor about hiring cops when he debated Giuliano a few years back? Drew in fact railed against Giuliano for not taking the SAFER grant!  One reason Giuliano did not pursue SAFER was because the City would then have to cover the total sum of the salaries of the new law enforcement hired under the grantonce the grant ran out after two years. Well, it seems Drew is doing the old cop shuffle himself.  The boy king who backs into his stall, has opted out of keeping on the SAFER grants, a program that will allow Middletown to hire a few extra Police and Firemen.  If one goes back and views the three debates, Dan mentioned numerous times that our city needed more cops and emergency management personnel and he would be the 'man' to deliver those folks to Middletown.  On April 4, 2013 the tides have changed and Drew is quietly letting the SAFER grant go without hiring anybody new in fire and police.   I can see the comments now, “A SAFER grant only pays for an employee for two years and then the town is on its own and has to come with said employee's salary.” So what! Dan Drew promised to bring in more cops and said he would get the job done.  I think not.  He also promised to lower taxes.  Spin that one, High Street doorknockers!

    Random Thoughts-  Perhaps the people that are suing the city after the double whammy denial at the Planning and Zoning Committee should focus on a few important issues that are plaguing the town:

    A)   Villagers, please help the food pantry- Those people really need help, but yet, most of  you like the MK-Ultra Zombies that you are want to please your master and help Blue House LLC make money.  Think about it, why couldn’t the master pay for the anti-Middletown lawyer himself?  He has the money, but  he wants you, the MK-ULTRA followers to pay the money for his Kurtz like journey into madness.   
    B)  Perhaps the village district can get together and send Ellen DeGeneres a letter and request that she stop dancing on the program. Enough is enough.
    C)   Question of the day:  What notable (rich) members of the  Middletown elite were paid for their services on New Year’s Eve at the Middnight on Main event?   The town elders were yapping about “giving it up for the community” or stating that , “being a volunteer is a great thing,” while taking city money for the event. The liberal rich get richer:  I love the smell of fresh MOOLA in the morning! Money that is! There' a lot of money in liberalism. Don't deny it ED4ED or MM.
    D)   Token Republican- The roster of the Riverfront Task Force has been announced  and according to the April 2, 2013 published committee  brief, only one member of the Republican Party is allowed in the room.  Former Deputy Mayor and Suzanne Vega fan (R) Joseph Bibsi (the Garrett Morris of the group) will join Richard Pellitier, Mike Gaudino, Dan Russo and others on this important commission, er I mean Task Force, in order to complete important tasks.
    E)    Drunk Driving is a bad thing, please don’t do it.
    F)   The Middletown Board of Education has voted to privatize their cafeterias. Perhaps now, we can get the kids to eat some fruit! Ketchup doesn’t count.
    G)  Development Design Review- Bob Landino ‘s case is coming up and it seems that 3 of  the 6 members will not be voting for a variety or reasons. Conflict of interest baby! The number one overused excuse not to show up. Let's  take a stance on the Landino issue.  I still love how the mayor of the town is 100% in support of Landino, but yet the village people district zombies continue to ignore this.  He's the enemy folks! Wake up.
    H)   Did Dan Drew really compare himself to King Solmon and St Francis of Assisi in the recent budget address?  Rumor has it that Drew had Joe Somolis, his designated car parker to taste his food thrice daily.  The other day the Mayor's CD player broke and Joe had to ride shotgun and rap the entire side 1 of Dr. Dre's The Chronic while helmet head dove the MN1 car around Wesleyan Hills.  "Everything going to be alright, yep, yeah, protect the gov, yeah, f- th 2nd amendment."
    I)    Earl V. Roberts still wants to run for something in the fall.
    J)    What happened to NEAT?  Did their funding really dry up? Mark, come on can you spare them some loose change? Stupid Question.
    K)  Coleman’s Carnival showed up and it didn’t rain.  Is that a pig flying?  Rumor has it hell recently froze over as well.
    L)   Who does more for the community Fred Carroll or Mark Masselli? Answer: Fred, hands down!
    M) Hats off to BOE member Ryan Kennedy: Board member Ryan Kenney objected to the redistricting of Macdonough on the grounds that the board would have to revisit the issue again in the fall. "This is a very temporary fix to a very permanent problem." said Kennedy. 
    N) Wesleyan’s new (lack of) ethnicity policy- This is true folks! The Wesleyan Security Officers are not allowed to use color to describe anybody doing anything remotely suspicious on campus. If someone is carjacking you in the Usdan lot, the cops can’t say, “All units be on the look of a white male, 5 feet 7 inches with glasses.”  The Wes security will have to say: “All units be on the look out for a male 5 feet 7 inches with glasses.”  What's next leaving gender and hair color out of physical descriptions too? This is the stupidest thing I have heard of in town.
    o) Complete Streets Report only has 3 out of 56 pages that aren't common sense fluff  that actually talk about pedestrian/bike issues in Middletown specifically. Oh yeah and a color coded map that the city pz department probably could have done in an afternoon. Good theories, but no real plans! Yup, taxpayers paid the professional consultants $20,000 for this 6th grade level book report that took a year to complete!
    P)  Margaret Thatcher said "There is no public money, only taxpayer money." And on that note another wise person once said: "Grants are the institutional equivalent of prostitution. The "John" (ie the institution paying the grant) offers payment to any "hooker" (eg. a city, a school district, a non profit) who will perform specific act or acts. And we all know how well that ends. R.I.P Iron Lady.
    Q)  Where the hell is the streaming for municipal meetings that was supposed to be finalized a few months back?  Now, that may be the stupidest thing I have heard of in town. Imagine expecting the town to fulfill any objective on time, that’s like ED4ED actually making a difference on the board or education.

    Thursday, April 04, 2013

    Citizens Sue P&Z Commission over MX Zone Change

    Jennifer Proto and husband lawyer Jared Proto are suing the P&Z Commission and Acquisitions Holdings LLC over the MX Zone change which passed last month.

     Earlier in the month Jared Proto filed a FOIA request asking for a years worth of correspondence from the commission and department. BOE member founder and editor of the Middletown Eye Blog resident of downtown Ed McKeon, along with the Proto's lead citizens in protest of the zone change. McKeon is one of 7 village district residents who comprise Blue House LLC; the members of which bought a older home on College Street to fix up and sell. On his blogs and facebook pages, Ed McKeon solicits residents to send money to the legal fund set up by the Proto's to sue the commission.

    After the vote, Director of Planning and Zoning William Warner issued a memo to clarify questions regarding alleged  historic properties affected by the zone change.

    This week the Historic Preservation and Design Review Commission will review the design proposed by Centerplan Development LLC for the property at the corner of Washington St. Centerplan was the proponent of the MX zone change.

    The notice of the suit can be read here:
    https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B1OYjxtLEgUwLWViN3h5NWg4ZDA/edit?usp=sharing

    The FOIA Request to P&Z from Jared Proto:
    https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B1OYjxtLEgUwM0RKN2gyTGdfcW8/edit?usp=sharing

    A Statement of Clarification about the MX Zone change and historic properties from Director of Planning and Zoning William Warner:
    https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B1OYjxtLEgUwSll6WmtXLXFrRzQ/edit?usp=sharing

    Zoning Text Changes  and agenda: http://www.middletowninsider.com/2013/02/major-zone-changes-on-agenda-for-pz.html

    Wednesday, March 27, 2013

    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

    Tuesday, March 12, 2013

    Letter to the Editor: Councilwoman Weighs in on Potential MX Zone Change

    Below is a letter to the editor sent in by Councilwoman Deborah Kleckowski. The opinions shared are not necessarily those of the Insider staff and it is republished as a courtesy to readers.
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Opinion:  Deborah Kleckowski
    Disclosure:  Member of the Middletown Common Council/Former Planning and Zoning Commissioner

    Development vs. Neighborhoods

    I was asked to submit an opinion piece (by the Middletown Eye) on the highly charged debate of development on High Street to Washington Street.  This is my opinion and is not reflective of any other member of the Republican Party specifically or the Common Council in general. 

    I am also sending this as a letter to the editor to the Middletown Insider blog.


    There has been much discussion, even heated debate, over the proposed text change from residential zone to mixed-use commercial.  Simply, residents of the neighborhood do not want the proposed text change to allow for commercial development.   A myriad of reasons have been stated from aesthetics, to traffic and even a comparison of taxes to the city of homes versus businesses. Depending upon which side of the argument you support each side has compelling components of their point of view.

    The public should be heard on this matter, as with all matters that affect the city.  Both sides need to communicate their concerns.  Then it is up to the Planning and Zoning Commissioners to evaluate the information brought forward and to make a decision.  From first-hand experience I can tell you it is never easy to vote on highly charged matters.  However, I have no doubt that the Commissioners will have thoughtful deliberation and vote in accordance with the Constitution and the rules and regulations set forth by the Plan of Conservation and Development, state statutes and local ordinances.

    In my opinion, I suggest that the code remain virtually the same but tweaked. No change in the text will allow for projects to come forward and be approved by “Special Exception”. “Special Exceptions” do have a dilemma, if the project meets the zoning criteria it is difficult to deny a “Special Exception”.  Therefore, I suspect, and agree, that a compromise that addresses the concerns of the neighborhood and the business community will be the final course of action.  A compromise to include parameters such as two-stories, 100 ft. setback, parking in the rear etc. can be applied to the specific area in question (High Street to Washington Street). I do firmly believe that the City should linked by sidewalks allowing easy walking access from downtown to Goodwill (as well as downtown to Stop and Shop).  In addition the Planning and Zoning Commission there is the Design Review Commission which can ensure that any development be appropriate to the architecture and “culture” of the neighborhood. Any project will have to undergo “checks and balances” from elected officials, City staff, volunteer commission and of course, the public.  
    The Planning and Zoning Commission has a difficult decision to make.  Balancing business and development with the desires of a community or segment of a community is not an easy task.  Remember, elected officials do want what is best for the community; they too live here.  Decisions often entail compromise.  The community should be respectful of the decision of the Planning and Zoning Commission.  No projects have been brought forward; this vote is for a text change.

    The next meeting is March 13, 2013 at 7pm in the Council Chambers.  I believe public comment has concluded and the deliberation of this agenda item will occur.  I encourage members of the community to attend the meeting or watch the meeting on Channel 15 (cable).

    Village People Protest Development on Washington Street

    Yesterday a group of village district citizens lead by activist blogger and Board of Education member
    Ed McKeon used cross walks for 1 hour during rush hour from approximately 4:30 -5:30 pm at the corner of High and Washington Streets. The media is reporting the group wanted to create gridlock to show what they feel will be the potential impact on traffic if a proposed text amendment to the to the MX zone is passed by Planning and Zoning on Wednesday March 13, 2013. The text amendment allows for additional uses. Protestors carried signs with slogans like "No Wrecking Ball No Strip Mall","Kiss this House Goodbye", and "Mayor Drew You Bet On the Wrong Horse." One sign carried the phone number for Mayor Drew's office encouraging drivers to call and express their frustration. Four media outlets including a tv station covered the event, including Patch: http://middletown-ct.patch.com/articles/centerplan-find-other-land#photo-13639823
    See all links below for more information and proposed text changes in their entirety at the City of Middletown website:


    Planning and Zoning Commission
    Wednesday, February 27, 2013, 7:00 PM, Council Chambers
    Agenda
    Public Hearing Notice

           Item 6.1 Text Amendment Section 44.08.45 & 60.02.41 (Mixed Use Zone)
           Item 6.1 Staff Comments- Part 1
           Item 6.1 Staff Comments- Part 2
           Item 6.1 Staff Comments- Part 3
           Item 6.2 Text Amendment Section 30.02 (Institutional Development Zone)
           Item 6.2 Staff Comments

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