Mayor Drew Plans to Stiff Retirees & Cops

City employees rely on pensions, because by law they are ineligible for social security.
Mayor Drew plans to under-fund  their pensions

Dear Middletown Insider,

I was hoping that you'd consider investigating something I was told recently by an individual who is a reliable source of information.  I was told that the Mayor has dipped into the city employees' pension fund to the tune of 1.5M to get the budget balanced.

I am anxious to know if this is true and if it is legal for him to do so.  I was told that  Councilwoman Hope Kasper is aware of this as well.

This idea makes me very uneasy.  After years of paying into Social Security, I expect that it will be bankrupt before I am eligible to retire.  Is this what I am to be faced with from the city's pension fund as well?

 Signed Anonymous. from Middletown

Dear Anonymous-  Yep, Dictator Drew wants to stiff retirees.  And we aren't just talking about the senior center!  Just a few notes about the City of Middletown Pension Plan as there seems to be a lot of misconceptions out there. The general public hears the word pension and think how lucky the municipal employee is but there are advantages to working social security that the municipal employee does not get.

First of all the City’s Pension plan was established back in the 40’s under a 218 Agreement with the State and under Federal laws. Through the years, there have been several changes to the laws but for the most part, municipalities across the country are bound by the same regulations. However, those regulations are not necessarily the same for state and federal governments.

The City of Middletown’s Pension Plan is controlled by the City of Middletown’s Code of Ordinances and is a defined benefit plan. This means that the retirement benefit is based on a formula rather than the contributions an employee has made to the fund. The formula is set by the ordinance however the formula has been modified over the years by the various union contracts and the City is responsible for the funding of the plan.Membership in the pension plan is also set by the ordinance. Although it is a defined benefit plan, the employees do contribute a percentage of their pay to the fund; at this point either 6% or 6.5% depending on which union they belong to. Currently people who work under and contribute to social security pay 4.2% of their pay.

Municipal employees, unlike state and federal employees because of the regulations, are not allowed to participate in Social Security. This means that they do not receive any social security benefits; their retirement income will come from their pension plan. The municipal employee is not able to apply to Social Security for disability pensions. Also, there are Social Security Acts that affect municipal employees only that the general public isn’t necessarily aware of: the windfall elimination act and the government offset act. Basically if a municipal employee works also under a job that participates in Social Security, when the times to collect their social security benefits, those benefits will be offset or reduced by their government pension. The other act affects those employees who are collecting social security benefits based on their spouse’s social security record; when the employee starts to receive a government pension, then the social security benefit is reduced, usually stops.

While the municipality is responsible for funding the pension plan, Middletown has done well: it’s plan is healthy due to the fiscal responsibility exercised by the City, the Pension Board and the Actuaries. The municipalities gain by having a pension plan by not having to pay into the social security system the matching 6.2% of ALL employees’wages. This is significant!!! That’s 6.2% on ALL MONIES PAID!!

In this year’s budget proposed by Mayor Dan Drew, he has reduced the amount of funding

proposed to be paid into the pension fund. The City of Middletown’s pension fund in

ONE FUND that all retirees are paid from no matter what department they retired from.

The actuaries compute each year the “health” of the fund and make recommendations as to what the City should pay to the fund to keep the fund “healthy”. Police employees are part of the general fund; fire retirees and sanitation employees although paid from the same retirement fund are funded through their respective budgets so any contributions made are not included in the general fund budget. Some employees cost more for their retirement due to some of the actuarial assumptions and rules for their benefits such as police officers and therefore the actuaries recommend that the City add to the pension fund to ensure the “health” of the fund to cover for these added benefits. Middletown is in a somewhat unique position in that the pension fund has made money over the years and could actually get away with not putting the recommended amount for the extra cost of the police members. The downside would be that should the fund not do so well in the future, because the City is ultimately responsible for the funding, it may have to contribute more at a future date to cover the savings of today.

The question becomes: do we want to open that door?? Once a door is opened, it’s hard to close. This budget is not proposing to actually take any funds from the Pension Fund but to change the amount that it pays into the fund to meet it’s obligations by law. The first kneejerk reaction is to change the police retirement benefits however, that’s not a realistic proposal in our opinion just because there are numerous factors involved including the age of police officers. And, the Insider for one would for the most part, rather have police officers start young especially if they’re going to physically chase someone down rather than have officer start later in life when is more likely ( no not always)  is working against them physically speaking. Police need the extra retirement benefits because of the physical demands of them on their job and the toll they take.

 Underfunding the pension fund is a slap in the face to all City employees who will one day become retirees. Underfund one year, what about the next??

But again, the Insider has reservations about doing this as it seems to be postponing the inevitable.
Save today to pay more later?? 

Guest Blog: The Democrats War Against Women

Saving the Great Experiment : a new blog by local Shaun P. Woodward
click graphic to link to his blog

A great article by fellow local Middletown blogger Shaun P. Woodward

http://savingthegreatexperiment.com/?p=232

That is right, the Democrats have waged war against women this past week.  First you had Democratic strategist and frequent White House visitor Hilary Rosen blast Ann Romney for not working a day in her life.  Now late this week, remember if you want something to go under the radar always release it on a Friday, White House financial records were released.  “Shockingly” there is an imbalance in pay between men staffers and women staffers.First I would like to discuss the Hilary Rosen comments.  I am a very hard-working American.  I work long hard hours to support my growing family.  My wife has chosen to be a stay at home mother.  We do not have the same financial freedom as the Romneys.  However, we do value this particular way to raise a family.  We believe the only way a mother can truly raise and nurture her kids is to be a stay at home mother. 
Please try to tell my wife that raising our son is not work.  Please try to say that to any stay at home mother.  Some women choose to stay home and others choose to go to work.  I respect all working or stay at home mothers.  Raising children is hard work and guess what, there are no breaks.  For a representative of the Democratic party to suggest that stay at home mothers do not work is outrageous.  The Democratic National Committee (DNC) quickly distanced themselves from there once beloved Rosen.  Back pedalling at it’s finest.

So you have probably heard the DNC and Joe Biden saying the Republicans have waged war on women.  The war they are speaking of is contraception.  I love how the DNC really thinks the American public is that stupid.  They are insulting your intelligence.  If you actually read between the lines, Republicans are supporting the religious rights of the individual.  There are many religions that do not support contraception.  So how can the Democrats support the invasion of religious beliefs?  They do not have the constitutional authority to do so, plain and simple.  So the spin the Obama administration and the DNC are giving is they are calling it the War on Women.

Funny thing though, the White House released financial records that show there is an $11,000 difference in median income between male staffers and female staffers.  That is right, “the defenders of women’s rights” have an unequal pay scale.  Of the top 20 earners within the administration only are six women.  If they really did defend women’s rights would it be 10 women in that top earners segment?

Here is the deal.  Joe Biden, Hilary Rosen, Debbie Wasserman Schultz and whoever else does not give two shits about women rights.  What they want to do is spark their core foundation with this rhetoric.  They need to win in November and they are panicking.  Obama’s approval rating is in the high 40′s and no President has been re-elected with those numbers.  Bush was even in the mid 50′s during his re-election in 2004 during an unpopular war.  So what this all boils down to is the DNC thinks women are dumb and will fall for their b.s.  Not going to happen, American women are too smart for your “right out of the Saul Alinsky handbook” games.

RECUSE EXCUSE REFUSE : Democrats Deny Former Chief Due Process

Middletown Councilman Tom Serra leads conga style walk out of  Mayor and fellow Democrats to prevent a quorum.

Former  Police Chief Patrick McMahon appeared before a special meeting of the Common Council this week, tin order to appeal his termination as Deputy Chief. The meeting was forced to be cancelled by law for lack of a quorum after every one of the attending Democratic Council members recused themselves from hearing the appeal. 

Chief McMahon was suspended by former Mayor Giuliano  after allegation arose that  McMahon was accused of drinking while in uniform. McMahon questioning lied to Giuliano.  Eric Daigle was hired by the City to investigation the situation. McMahon was on paid administrative leave for over four months. McMahon disputed the charges depsite Daigle reporting to the City that infact infractions occurred. Mayor Drew terminated on McMahon on February 23, 2012. A Laudermill public hearing was held, in name only; Mayor Drew came to the hearing prepared to fire McMahon and did so before he and his attorney could rebut the allegations.

 By law, McMahon is entitled to a public appeals hearing.  Daniel Ryan, the Attorney who serves as Corporation Counsel for the Common Council. Ryan advised the Common Council to honor McMahon's motion that four Council members also recuse themselves from hearing the appeal.

Tom Serra, Ron Klattenberg, and Mary Bartolotta,all were asked by McMahon's attorney to recuse themselves for conflicts of interest and did so. Mayor Drew voluntarily excused himself before the meeting. No word if he was in Hartford, Middletown, DC, or a foreign country again on trade matters.  In a blatantly pre-orchestrated move to stop due process all together Councilmembers Todd  Berch, Gerry Daley, and Grady Faulkner, who had NOT been requested to recuse themselves did. What this a move showing solidarity with their & reinforcing rumors of group-think mentality?  Reasons each gave for recusal were so lame we have chosen not to even regurgitate them here. Councilwoman Hope Kasper didn't even bother to show up. Reports say she was helping her illegally hired son in law, real estate agent Josh Berger pick out curtains for his BOE office; this could not be confirmed at the time of this post. Berger was hired by the BOE as Budget Administrator & Head of Nepotism Negotiations, a position which  he currently holds even after the 90 day temporary hire period has expired, after Kasper served on the Hiring Committee and choose him over 10 other applicants who scored higher. Yes master!


The Insider feels, whether or not one agrees that McMahon's appeal be honored, that EVERY accused person deserves due process, and here was a situation where elected officials did not honor the laws of the City and do what they were elected to do: hear grievances, SERVE CITIZENS, and see that due process is given to ALL.  Unlike the Democrats who took their ball and went home so no one could play, the four Republicans on Council remained seated. The Insider would like to see seat belts installed to all council chairs.or Councilmember stipends ($6,000.00) reduced each time a member misses a meeting or recuses themself!

It pointed out to the Insider by one of our readers that this is not the first time the Democratic Councilmembers did a conga line out the door of a meeting they did not want to sit through! During the Food Not Bombs litigation over a year ago, on numerous occasions Democrats walked out in refusal to hear the public speak. During a Public Safety hearing last year, Councilmember Bob Santangelo was caught on film getting angry and storming out of a meeting to prevent it from taking place. The outburst and article can be found here: http://middletowneyenews.blogspot.com/2011/10/bad-behavior-at-public-safety.html

What is our point? IRONY. Imagine you are a tax paying citizen or City employee accused of something- you go to speak before the Council as is your right. They for whatever reason simply do not like you- maybe it's your shoes. They walk out and deny you due process- how does that feel? Why then do you keep voting them in?

Chief Michael McKenna is a fine officer qualified to be police chief of Middletown and the Insider wishes him well and supports him. Frankly, there is no reason not to give him a fair shot like anyone one else with a solid reputation of hard work, and the Insider doesn't mess with folks who are licensed to carry firearms openly. It was no secret McKenna was the first choice of the Democratic Councilmembers however, and McMahon was not because according to Tome Serra he "doesn't worship here" and in Serra's eyes therefore did not meet the residency requirement despite owning property. Tom Serra made a comment that along the lines of" McKenna comes from a good family."  as quoted by the Middletown Eye here.
http://middletowneyenews.blogspot.com/2012/03/large-turnout-of-city-workers-for.html
 Should coming from a good family be the only qualification making you a good cop? Um, no. However, as the Insider would like to point out the IRONY of Tom Serra's nephew being hired as a cop less than two months after McKenna secures the position. This man could be qualified and could make a good cop, granted in a small City the odds of everyone being related to someone is high, however; the timing screams patronage especially after comments regarding family pedigree (in this case the Serra clan) & religious practices  made on record by Councilmember Tom Serra.

Happy Taxiversary Connecticut!

Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of Connecticut's Income Tax

Thanks fo Gov. Weicker this is the 20th anniversary of Connecticut's income tax which has increased 148% since 1991 while the populous has grown only 6%. In 1991 the State of Connecticut, under Governor Lowell Weicker, passed a state income tax. This new tax was sold to residents as a short term solution to solve a budget crisis. Now 20 years later residents and the state economy are still suffering. Happy Taxiversary Connecticut Taxpayers!

The Tax Foundation recently announced that Connecticut taxpayers have to work until May 5th to pay their total tax bill. This is the latest Tax Freedom Day in the country!

Unfortunately, the Tax Foundation release is just the latest in a long line of economic indicators that are not in our favor. Some other lists that CT ranked in poorly include:

The non-partisan group, The Institute for Truth in Accounting (IFTA), named CT as a "Sinkhole" state, a label the state earned by being one of five states in the country that IFTA's research revealed to be in the worst financial positions.

The non-partisan group State Budget Solutions ranked Connecticut 48th in Per Capita Debt. Connecticut residents are roughly $28,000 in debit to the state of Connecticut based on this new study.

                                           
h/t Americans for Prosperity

Former Superintendent Forms Super Music Group

Frechette, Haynes and Senges- Together Again: $350,000 + One Million Tour

            It seems that former Superintend of Schools Michael Frechette and his merry duo of cronies aren’t done polluting the intellectual stimuli of the citizens of Middletown, he’s back and this time his assembled a band that consists of his former assistants: Barbara Senges on tuba and Nancy “The Illegal” Haynes on blowhorn.  Although not officially named yet, some Middletown residents are calling the trio "The Users" or "The Richies".

“Although I was paid a tremendous sum of money from the Middletown school system for doing nothing, I decided to get the band together and play a final gig at Kiegwin Middle School for all my adoring fans,” Dr. Michael Frechette told reporters last night at a literacy press conference last night in Middletown.  “I will be selling CDs and I hope the citizens band together to bring me back for education work in town, which of course would benefit me due to the large consulting fee I will charge the district,” Frechette said with a twinkle in his eye as he adjusted his diamond ring and asked Haynes in a sharp voice to, “move my Rolls [Royce].”

Recorded Live from the Scream Room!

For $12.99 plus shipping and consulting fees, fans get the following songs:

One NIGHT ONLY! (CD COVER)

1)       I Fought the Law and the I Won

2)          Chain, Chain, Chain of Fools.. (Middletown Residents are Suckers!)

3)           Hit me with your Best Shot

4)           You’re so Vain with Carly Simon

5)            Poker Face

6)            Hot For Teacher in the Scream Room

7)            Mo Money, MO Problems

8)           Miki’s Girls

9)             The 466 Blues (Contracts are Null and Void Anthem)

10)         It’s good to be the King

11)         Theme from the Godfather

12)         Don’t stop Believing

13)         The Mileage Anthem

14)         It’s the End of the World as We Know it. (Teachers need Supplies)

Obama's 9-9-9 Gas Plan

Many years ago voters rejected Republican presidential hopeful Steve Forbes' interesting 10% tax plan that proposed to do just that- tax every American ten percent of what they earn.  Years later, another presidential GOP contender Herman Cain proposed a tax plan that suggested, like Forbes' plan, controversial things such as: clarity, consistency, and common sense. Imagine if the government took out 10% every check and then when April rolled around folks wouldn’t be stressed out using their computer to figure out 1040A forms or running to H+R Block at all hours of the night? Would be pretty simple.

Recently the White House announced President Obama's 9-9-9 Tax Plan, a daring proposal that challenges  everybody to keep buying more and more gas. Don't like it? Plunk down  $64,000 and purchase a Chevy Volt and your local dealership. White House officials have also suggested that consumers should put fresh air in their tires every 200 miles and attempt to car pool or take a bus to work.  "In order to save the environment and save money on gas, consumers should buddy it up to work," said liberal filmmaker and Halliburton and Honeywell stockowner Michael Moore from his limousine.  Stars such as Barbara Streisand and Sean Penn have also come out to support the president's cause of convincing America to pay more for gas, "Although I own a fleet a cars and spend almost $22,000 a year to water my lawn during one of California's biggest droughts, I feel that the President is correct because he is a Democrat and our motto for the people is: do what we tell you to do, do not imitate what we do," Streisand said.

Meanwhile in the Nutmeg State, Democrat legislators are fighting Len Suzio, State Senator 13th District and his bid to cap the Connecticut gas taxes. Suzio's position is that the state needs to cap their "hidden taxes" and stop the practice of taxation without representation, a move that could potentially save CT residents thousands of dollars over the next few months.  The Democrats also proposed a plan to save the taxpayer pennies on the dollar or pennies on the pennies.  Confused? Don't feel bad, their proposal is to loop off a 1.5 cents for brief period in 2012 and then, guess what? It’s back to the old system in 2013 for everybody and then we can compare notes to see how many half cents we save at the pumps.

Something to Talk About!

I am always amazed at the logic of most of the country's liberals, here are some photos to spark discussion.

Mike Clark Is Still Prosecuting John Rowland After All These Years

Submission from one of our fellow bloggers, reprinted with permission from the author. Thanks Queen!

Mike Clark Is Still Prosecuting John Rowland After All These Years

Capitol Report picked up an interview on the new Roraback fan club website powered by The Register Citizen today. Mike Clark decided to take shots at Lisa Wilson Foley for having Former Governor Rowland attend an event for her campaign in Waterbury last week. Mike Clark is sorely mistaken if he thinks he is going to gain favor with party faithful by continuing to persecute the very popular former governor he brags about bringing down.

While taking shots at the Wilson Foley campaign what Clark does not realize is Rowland is still a star within many republican circles. By calling attention to his vendetta as the lead investigator back in 2004, we are all reminded that thanks to Mike Clark and his hot tub investigation, we have Dannel Malloy in the governor's mansion. Voters need to ask themselves if Mike Clark did us a favor?

John Rowland served his time. He has one of the highest rated radio shows in Connecticut. He is swarmed by admirers every where he goes. Rowland knows how to do one thing better than any other Connecticut republican, he knows how to WIN! Any candidate should be honored to have the former governor speak on their behalf. He is truly one of the greatest political minds of our time in Connecticut politics.

Mike Clark had best get some new advisors if he thinks trashing John Rowland is going to put him in a better position with the convention delegates or voters. There are too many of us who remember how good things were when Rowland was in office compared to how they are now. Reminding the electorate Clark is directly responsible for Rowland's resignation is not exactly a winning campaign strategy.

John Rowland deserves dignity and respect, for he was one of our best governor's for three terms.

I AM,

THE QUEEN

http://ourqueensview.blogspot.com/2012/04/mike-clark-is-still-prosecuting-john.html

All letters to the Insider are printed as a courtesy to readers, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Insider.  We want to hear from you! Please submit thank you!

Armed Robbery at Wesleyan Dorm

Wesleyan University Public Safety would like to alert the community that on Saturday 4/7/12 at 7:00pm a student reported being robbed in their room. The student stated that while he and another student were in the room they let a non-student who was known to them into the room. The non-student then displayed a handgun and detained the students leaving after he took a computer, cell phones and cash. The students were not injured.

The suspect is described as a heavy set Caucasian male, approximately 5′ 8″ tall, in his early 20′s wearing a black knit cap, grey hooded sweatshirt, dark jeans, sneakers and carrying a backpack with red and black markings.

This incident is under investigation By Middletown Police and Public Safety. Anyone with any information is asked to call Middletown Police at 860-344-3200 or Public Safety at 860-685-2345.

Source-Story and Photo: Wesleying

Mayor Drew's Design of Senior Center Addition Released!

Mayor Drew wants to sell the already purchased Eckersley Hall, toss the  program studies previously completed, and schematic designs that were being done by an architect selected by public bid, and build a cheaper addition to City Hall for a Senior Center. Forgoing an "optional" public bid process & design competition, Drew has hired an architect under the "professional services" line item. Perhaps the Mayor brought back some drywall for the project from his recent week long tax payer funded trip to China.

 Like his secret trip to China on our behalf, Mayor Drew failed to inform the Building Committee which has met weekly for over a year to plan the Senior Center project that he decided on an alternative study &; already hired an someone to perform the services.

It was brought to the Insider's attention this morning that this is the same mayor that originally wanted seniors to "work off " their real estate tax relief with his proposed

"tax credit for volunteer hours" progam for seniors.  Giuliano had repeatedly tried to pass numerous tax breaks for seniors only to be vetoed by the Democratically controlled Council. While the Insider applauds a senior tax break,  Drew's original campaign promise forcing the seniors have to work for it the Insider feels was insulting to seniors who have worked their whole lives and should be reaping those benefits. Unfortunately the tax break passed without the indentured servitude clause is only is available to a a few low income seniors and is approximately on average $50.

Question: Is Mayor Drew  pulling the rug out from under the seniors' highly anticipated new center, that by the way, was fully debated, approved and is already in the works?