Parker - The Ethics Ad Hoc Committee - Brookfield Board of Selectmen

Friends of Brookfield

Has Ethics in Brookfield yet to find a way almost 16 months after the Great Debate ensued lost in the wilderness? Is Parker innocent based on the original Ethics Ad Hoc committee's failure to recommend an enforceable Ethics Ordinance and it failure to correct it in a timely manner? Does he deserve a timely resolution from the Brookfield Board of Selectmen?Brookfield selectmen delay action on $7,500 legal bill

By Ethan Fry - Danbury News-Times
Updated: 06/05/2009 10:35:13 PM EDT

BROOKFIELD -- The Board of Selectmen opted Monday to delay deciding whether to pay a $7,500 legal bill from a lawyer who represented the chairman of the Zoning Commission before the Board of Ethics in February.

The charges, from Danbury attorney Martin Rader, were incurred as Rader defended Zoning Commission chairman Stanley Parker against allegations that Parker obligated the town to pay a $1,000 legal bill without following the town's charter.

The ethics board concluded he had, but selectmen rejected the Board of Ethics' recommendations in the case after Town Attorney Thomas Beecher advised them the ethics board didn't have jurisdiction over charter violations. <Wait just a minute. Is this the same law firm that helped set up the Ethics Ordinance with Howie "The Mailman" Lasser LAST TIME? Seems THEIR legal fees are going up to help correct THEIR oversight from last time, right? And wasn't it the Board of Selectmen who filed the Ethics Complaint in the FIRST PLACE?>

Town Attorney Francis Collins said at the selectmen's meeting Monday that a state law provides for the reimbursement of town officers who incur legal expenses in the scope of their work for the town. <Under the laws and ordinances in effect AT THE TIME of the occurrence, right? There's a thing called Ex Post Facto, right?>

First Selectman Robert Silvaggi then referenced a case in New Milford -- that town ended up paying $90,000 to settle a lawsuit brought by a former finance board member for legal expenses he incurred to defend himself against an ethics complaint -- and asked Collins whether the town could set guidelines for such eventualities.

"I don't want to set a bad precedent where things go crazy," Silvaggi said. "Is there some way we can establish some parameters, or is that not doable?"

Collins responded the town could try to negotiate a settlement on the $7,500 bill or just vote on paying it. <Certainly not a tyranny of good intentions...for it is the law in place, and not intentions, that is the justice to be measured, no?>

Howard Lasser, the chairman of an ad hoc committee charged with revising the town's ethics ordinance, said during the public comment portion of Monday's meeting that selectmen should wait to take action because the complaint against Parker hasn't been fully resolved. <So Howie "The Mailman" Lasser is going to CHANGE the ethics rules AFTER THE FACT and THEN hold Parker to account AFTERWARDS? Isn't the ad hoc committee charging with REVISING the ordinance? That would be like changing the speed limit on a road after the fact and having everyone who violated the new speed limit for the last 10 years get speeding tickets!">

"You still have an allegation of wrongdoing and no resolution to that," Lasser said. "I think there needs to be some facts established first, before you can make a determination as to who pays the bill." <So Howie wants to judge Parker under the NEW RULES even though what he did happened under the OLD RULES?>

Lasser also argued that the state law cited by Collins lets the town escape paying legal fees when a town officer is found to be culpable of wrongdoing. <Wrongdoing? Really? According to that SAME LAW FIRM, the Ethics Committee could not find Parker guilty under the Ethics Ordinance since the Ethics Committee cannot review violations of town charter...the very reason the Ad Hoc Committee on Ethics is back revisiting that subject. Does the left hand know what the right hand is doing???!!!>

The law says that a town, in the event an officer has a judgment entered against him, shall be "reimbursed ... for expenses it incurred in providing such defense."

Lasser said the wording of the statute indicates an employee or officer should get prior approval for town money to be spent on his or her defense before the defense is mounted, not after the fact. <Except that it the TOWN that is prosecuting Parker. They should pay it unless PARKER is found guilty of the ethics violation which according to the law firm the Ethics Commission...under the CURRENT ORDINANCE...CAN NOT DO per Beecher, right?>

Another resident, Scott Wallman, pointed out that the ethics complaint against Parker -- for allegedly spending $1,000 on legal fees without authorization -- was similar to the item on the selectmen's agenda Monday.

He said Parker should have known the charter prevented him from spending the original money.

"I'm not sure why the chairman needed an additional $7,000 worth of legal fees to answer that same question," he said. <The same reason the town has had to have repeated town meetings on issues...a case of bad legal advice perhaps?>

At the end of the discussion, Selectman Jerry Murphy said too many issues remain unresolved for selectmen to act. <Is he saying "Don't confuse me with all these facts when I've already made up my mind!"?>

"There are too many question marks for me," he said before selectmen voted unanimously to table the item. <Aren't there always?>

WPCA EXPOSÉ

Friends of Brookfield

WPCA EXPOSÉ

Disaster #1

An excerpt from the May 27th minutes of the Water Pollution Control Authority, chaired by Republican Town Committee Chairman Marty Flynn said:

"Clean Water Funds Update – Atty. Sienkiewicz contacted Laurie Hall, Town Bond Council, who stated she has not received anything as requested from Mr. Belden. After Mr. Belden's resignation and before his re-hire, Atty. Sienkiewicz contacted Ms. Hall and asked her to send him the correspondence she had sent to Mr. Belden, which was actually correspondence that was sent to the previous Controller, Theresa Mitchell. Atty. Sienkiewicz reviewed the paperwork, and asked K. McPadden to gather items that could be complied from the WPCA office files. In the meantime, Atty. Sienkiewicz spoke with Stacey Pappano, Engineer with the State DEP. She indicated that we are included in the new Priority List, but we will not get the full amount of money. She stated that the Clean Water Funds require that the engineering services contract be approved in advance and she claims that Birdsall has been paid on a per diem basis. The force account work/inspections require that accreditations be provided; Roger stated that he is meeting with Ms. Pappano next week to discuss this. Atty. Sienkiewicz stated that the Clean Water Funding is supposed to be a Reimbursement program, but the Town went out and bought bond anticipation notes, so we're not getting reimbursed. Atty. Sienkiewicz will send the documentation regarding the land acquisitions to Ms. Hall. "

Now reading through that the first bit of news is that "... Laurie Hall, Town Bond Council, who stated she has not received anything as requested from Mr. Belden." One would have thought that the town controller, having already gone through the probationary resignation - reinstatement debacle would have been more responsive to the Town's Bond Council, right? She said, according to the minutes of the meeting, that she "...has not received anything as requested from Mr. Belden." . Mr. Sienkiewicz who represent the state agency WPCA and NOT the Town of Brookfield as the Town's Bond Council does and took the matter to the WPCA employee and out of the control of the Town Controller. A little unusual? A lot unusual!

Worse, he spoke to the State DEP on behalf of the town, not as the town's Bond Council, and received word that Brookfield was in a NEW priority list but we would not be getting the full amount of money!!! Could Brookfield be short the entire amount of the Clean Water funds (upwards of HALF the remaining fund balance of the town)? If so when will Brookfield know? Isn't that the Controller's job to find out? Isn't that what Ray Bolek and Theresa Mitchell did before?

To make this a TOTAL unmitigated disaster, and waste hours upon hours of people's time, WHO authorized town to go out and buy BOND ANTICIPATION NOTES? That's what the TOWN TREASURER, DAVID SCRIBNER does beside the PENSION PLAN, right? Because he did that, we are we now NOT GOING TO BE REIMBURSED???!!! Does the right hand know what the left hand is doing?

Disaster #2

An excerpt from the May 27th minutes of the Water Pollution Control Authority, chaired by Republican Town Committee Chairman Marty Flynn said:

"1087 Federal Rd. Unit 8, FroFro Realty, LLC – Atty. Sienkiewicz discussed the draft settlement proposal letter which will be sent to Mr. Froehlich. The amount due as of 12/1/08 totals $13,371.64, with an immediate requested payment of $6,190.87; thereby leaving a principal balance of $7,180.77 to be billed on December 1, 2009."

Is that the Republican Town Committee Treasurer, Craig Froehlich's business? 1087 Federal Road? How many years behind on payments was he? Why did they waive penalties and interest for HIM? What about all the other people in town that got penalties and interest over the years and HAD TO PAY THEM? Is this fair? Is this treating all the town's citizens equally? How do they propose fixing all of them? Should disputed items be paid FIRST and then disputed in order to avoid penalties and interest? Isn't that what the IRS does? The State Department of Revenue? The Brookfield Town Tax Collector? What special privileges are being extended here and why isn't EVERYONE in town being given them equally? After all, according the minutes of the same meeting:

"Delinquent Reports – M. Rajcula-Ongaro distributed and reviewed the top ten delinquent customer report. Atty. Sienkiewicz suggested levy and sale proceedings on the top 3 delinquent customers. The Commission gave Atty. Sienkiewicz their approval to initiate levy & sale proceedings for the Ferreira, Hick's Realty and Gabisch properties. M. Rajcula-Ongaro will send Atty. Sienkiewicz copies of the bills and liens as he requested."

Why didn't they levy and sell the Craig Froehlich's property at 1087 Federal Road? You see people being treated differently here?

Disaster #3

An excerpt from the May 27th minutes of the Water Pollution Control Authority, chaired by Republican Town Committee Chairman Marty Flynn said:

"Engineers Comments – Cliff Gold, previous engineer for the WPCA, reminded the Authority that the town needs to seek additional capacity from the City of Danbury. Chairman Flynn reminded the Authority that when the WPCA took on the 3-condo sewer project, the town was under obligation to enter into an intermunicipal agreement for additional outlet capacity, but just prior to finalizing it, everything stopped. Atty. Sienkiewicz stated that in the original study, the plan was to buy 50,000 gallons for the 3-condo project and the High School at $6.00 per gallon. It will now be an additional cost because the town never bought the additional capacity, nor will it be funded by the Clean Water Fund; therefore, it will no longer be $6.00 per gallon, which is what C. Gold built into the project cost."

So....the town (WPCA) failed to buy the additional capacity necessary. Just plain forgot? How does something like this happen at a state agency like the Water Pollution Control Authority? Does the state attorney general's office know of this? The state auditors? Worse..."nor will it be funded by the Clean Water Fund"!!! So what does that mean? Do all the sewer users under this INCLUDING THE BROOKFIELD HIGH SCHOOL RENOVATION PROJECT (BROOKFIELD TAXPAYERS IN THE GENERAL BUDGET) have to pay huge increases for the SAME SERVICE?

Disaster #4

An excerpt from the May 27th minutes of the Water Pollution Control Authority, chaired by Republican Town Committee Chairman Marty Flynn said:

"Chairman Flynn discussed that at a future meeting, the Authority will need to untable the High School Public Hearing in order to levy a Benefit Assessment & Connection Charge. At that time, an Assessment bill will then be sent to the High School."

OK folks....remember the $600,000? Could the WPCA be short so much money from the Clean Water Act debacle that they are about to drop the hammer on the town of Brookfield for collections, specifically the Board of Education, and ask for their money back? Remember that money. We've been talking about it for over two years while it sat tabled waiting for the High School Public Hearing. Bring your checkbooks folks, it appears that the WPCA is running out of money and making deals everywhere to up the cash balances, right?

Disaster #5

An excerpt from the May 27th minutes of the Water Pollution Control Authority, chaired by Republican Town Committee Chairman Marty Flynn said:

"J. Pisco stated that the survey data that was given to Birdsall for design on Grays Bridge Rd. was incorrect, so the pipe had to be lowered to maintain clearance. Because of this, they could not connect to the original manhole, but to a manhole further away at a lower elevation. This change will result in a change order of approximately $16,000. R. Prinz questioned who would pay for this error. J. Pisco was unsure of the answer, but he will look into it."

What if you built a railroad starting from either coast...and instead of meeting in Kansas City, one ended in Chicago and the other in Dallas? In any event, they just blew $16,000! Who IS going to pay for it? You? Who do you think?!

You can't make this stuff up. Read the minutes yourself. Is this your idea of competence? You decide.

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Psssst...pass it on. Get Cranky.

Continue to send this email to all your friends, neighbors and relatives as you have and help re-invent a 21st century town that wants accountability for the tax and grant dollars it gets and gives.

As always, feel free to write back and share your ideas. To get on the mailing list, simply send message to The.Cranky.Yankee@gmail.com with the word SUBSCRIBE in your subject line.

Please continue to write back with your tips, observations and rumors of what is going on in Brookfield's public schools and government. Like Jodi, we want good government.

Let us know what you think is both right and wrong with the public's business of education and governance in Brookfield. We won't prejudge you nor reveal you as a source.

Happy with the direction of the results shown in test scores? Wonder where the school activity receipts went over the last few years? Have a safety issue that concerns you? Fearful of retribution from Board of Education members? From Board of Finance members? From Selectmen? Been "talked to"? Tired of "forking it over" to the WPCA?

Drop us a line. Many do and thank you for doing so. See an injustice? Let us know so we can let all your neighbors know and get a consensus of opinion in the community...

There are many people in the community, hundreds, that want to help and thank for doing so. As always these are only opinions being shared and you should form your own.

Fwd: Brookfieldgate

Friends of Brookfield

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Is "Brookfieldgate" slowly revealing itself here in Brookfield or something far more nefarious and sinister slowly rising into public view for the first time? You decide after reading this...

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"A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong gives it a superficial appearance of being right." - Thomas Paine

(Purple Bold Italics are comments, questions and observations interwoven with the original letter to the editor)

Translating Newspeak (1984 Revisited in Brookfield)...

A reply to the "Brookfield Critic, Come Forward" Letter to the Editor by The Brookfield Party Leaders

Friday, May 29, 2009, The Housatonic Times

Dear Editor:

Many of us have been bombarded by misinformation (OK, let's see exactly who is the arbiter of facts, right? Who has declared themselves god and only "they" can decide? It appears the Republican and Democratic Town Committee Chairpersons have done so, right?) and innuendo (She appears to have been pretty direct, I think. Don't you? While I may not agreed with everything she's said, it appears she had " good intentions " as a citizen volunteer for honest government. There are always divergent opinions I think and divergent opinions should be tolerated in a democracy in my mind.) via a site that calls itself Brookfield United (What difference does the name of a website make?), signed by a person, Chris Patrone, who is not listed in the Brookfield phone book (So what? Whatever happened to the constitutional right to privacy? And what if, like half the people today under the age of 40, she only uses cell phone service?) nor, and more to the point, is this person a registered voter (Exactly what law is on the books that a person can only express a political opinion if they are a registered voter? Or if they only use their maiden name? Or if, like Thomas Paine, writes anonymously because of the fear of retribution by King George - or in this case King Flynn and Queen Park - for speaking out on issues she feels are most offensive in local government and decides to actually take some action to bring attention to the general populace of what she perceives as going on? - as an opinion beyond the biased and filtered local newspapers. Here we go again. Is this the requirement of those who have declared themselves the political god's of Brookfield and have anointed themselves as Arbiters of the Grand Inquisition?)

He/she has never, to our knowledge (So the fact that they are ignorant of any knowledge is grounds for the Public Inquisition of private citizens if they dare to speak up with ideas contrary to the "Powers That Be" / The Party?), been to a public hearing (Exactly how do they know that? Do they scour the signup sheets to speak to people privately in the parking lot or hallways afterwards? To call them on the phone? To write them anonymous letters? ) or attended any commission meeting (Again, exactly what is the requirement to attend a commission meeting to disagree with what a board or commission has promulgated? Who made this law up? The Political gods of Brookfield?), has never voiced his/ her concerns to any town official (How do they know she hasn't? Because she hasn't spoken to "Them"? - the Political gods of Brookfield? Shades of idolatry!), elected or otherwise (Otherwise? How CONDESCENDING! They take appointed people and place them is a separate class - the elite "Inner Party"? You can tell how much "They" appreciate people who are appointed, no?), yet seems to be filled with ideas (Filled with ideas? Is that a crime?) of what is wrong with our town (translated: dare to disagree with their political agenda?) and interested in communicating (Heaven forbid! Shades of George Orwell's 1984! Political gods in Brookfield want all ideas and thoughts scrubbed before communicating them i.e. the "Ministry of Truth". They must subscribe to the Cultural Revolution model the Chinese invented when they had problems with people "communicating" unapproved thoughts - hereby exposed as Thought Criminals ) that to anyone (God forbid they communicate to anyone but those on the "approved" list?) but those that can actually work (Anyone think that is the problem? That they AREN'T working to address them?) to address the perceived problems (Perceived? More condescending? Is that like "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder?" Maybe we can have a referendum on it so people can express their opinions on issues like the town's financial condition without the fear of personal retribution? If there really are issues - and my perception is there are - what difference does it make WHO surfaces them? Why is this about WHO and not WHAT? Why the political concern about WHO and no focus on WHAT like the condition of the town's PENSION PLAN? The town's FUND BALANCE?).

This person, whoever he or she is, seems to have many misconceptions (Is that because the politicians fail at good communications about how the town government is supposed to work? Exactly how have they outreached? The local bars after meetings? Is that their idea of reaching out to families?) about how the Town of Brookfield works (Behind the scenes? Ethics violations found guilty? Illegal meetings found under FOI law?) and yet has no qualms about communicating those misconceptions without any concern for facts (AH! The fact god and goddess are back. The gospel according to Saint Marty and Saint Joni. They have again appeared to smite those who would dare to think different than they - expose the Thought Criminals! Hold the Inquisitions! Purge the Party!)

It is indicative of an uninformed person to hide behind an alias (Yes, indeed, over the ages we - the enlightened and anointed - now label Thomas Paine, Ben Franklin and many other of the country's founding fathers to be "UNIFORMED PERSONS" - shades of the Tory Party, the Hessians and King George!), spew forth accusations (Heresy! Burn her at the stake! Here come the Witch Trials!) that cannot publicly be corrected (Why not? There are many venues of communication. Just look at 1984 and the ONE TRUE Republi-crat Party for a model of how to do it. It is readily apparent that no effort has been made whatsoever except for the Vacancy Inquisitions of the town's political parties.) and claim to have a better way (I haven't read that she had a better way, but rather she wanted to support people who had an ALTERNATE WAY to do it since, in her eyes the current way has failed miserably and she wanted to put her support there) to do it without giving any actual solutions. (Shouldn't the current officeholders be doing that? Isn't what they were elected to do? Be responsive to input instead of dismissing it out of hand? Shouldn't THEY be held accountable for the mess the town now finds itself in? Does the term "throw the bums out" apply in this year's elections?)

It is our concern that we or the public have no way of responding to these perceived problems, so we ask that anyone with questions about our government, the individuals who are currently in office as volunteers for their town, or other issues that are raised come to a public meeting of the board in question and voice your concern, or send an email to the Board of Selectmen, or call either of the town chairs so we may publicly respond to your concerns. (Unless you are a member of the "elite" Inner Party, be prepared for no reply.)

Transparency in our government is our goal. (Goal? That's an admission that it currently is not. That every question or request for information requires a Freedom of Information filing with the Town Clerk and in many cases, no response for months and even years. That transparency? The refusal to post the town treasurers report on the town website like other towns? The town audit like other towns? The detailed town budget like other towns? The detailed monthly financial statements like other towns? The quarterly pension statements like other towns? Meeting minutes on a timely basis like other towns? Meeting change notices like other towns? That type of transparency?)

You cannot have that when people circulate unsubstantiated accusations (Why not list them and respond to them with information and not opinion that that is the case?) while hiding behind false names (Ben Franklin, Thomas Paine, James Madison and all our other founding fathers must be turning over in their graves on that one since they all wrote anonymously. Wonder if the powers that be failed social studies. They sure didn't read.) or anonymous organizations (Oh great, no wonder the Masons have no hall in Brookfield with that attitude) with no public leaders (Why? Because you want to attack the public leader instead of addressing the problems? It sure sounds like that is the case. Has there been INVESTIGATIONS on private citizens by members of the Republican or Democratic town committees? What will Freedom of Information requests of public leader's and elected party committee members emails reveal? It is high time that we begin to do that to provide an open and honest government that is transparent for the people of Brookfield?)

We stand behind open, honest and ethical government (It's obvious to many that you certainly haven't stood FOR open, honest and ethical government! An example is the tortuous journey of the ethics adhoc committee. It has now taken more time to try and put together than the United States Constitution when you look back over the last 18 months.) If Mr. (Ms.?) Patrone does too then he/she will step forward and work with us to confront the challenges we face in Brookfield. (Why? Because you the elected can't? Perhaps it's time to step aside and let new people in with new ideas instead of party decorated re-threads. Brookfield deserves better than the last six years.)

Joni Park, Chairwoman (AKA "Big Sister"?)

Democratic Town Committee (AKA "The Also Rans"?)

Marty Flynn, Chairman (AKA "Big Brother"?)

Republican Town Committee (AKA "The Inquisitionors"?)

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Psssst...pass it on. Get Cranky.

Continue to send this email to all your friends, neighbors and relatives as you have and help re-invent a 21st century town that wants accountability for the tax and grant dollars it gets and gives.

As always, feel free to write back and share your ideas. To get on the mailing list, simply send message to The.Cranky.Yankee@gmail.com with the word SUBSCRIBE in your subject line.

Please continue to write back with your tips, observations and rumors of what is going on in Brookfield's public schools and government. Like Jodi, we want good government.

Let us know what you think is both right and wrong with the public's business of education and governance in Brookfield. We won't prejudge you nor reveal you as a source.

Happy with the direction of the results shown in test scores? Wonder where the school activity receipts went over the last few years? Have a safety issue that concerns you? Fearful of retribution from Board of Education members? From Board of Finance members? From Selectmen? Been "talked to"?

Drop us a line. Many do and thank you for doing so. See an injustice? Let us know so we can let all your neighbors know and get a consensus of opinion in the community...

We'll focus the discussion on issues that all of you. Thanks for all your support and sharing your issues. As always these represent opinions and thoughts and any conclusions you draw are yours to do.

Fwd: Reflections on freedom of speech, thought and inquiry (questioning)

Friends of Brookfield

Below are snippets of quotes you might want to reflect and store as the days and weeks ahead unfold. Remember them when reading the paper, emails, and conversations. Pay attention to what's being said and more importantly what isn't...and of course...form your own opinion! Remember, inquiry and questioning are good things.

A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong gives it a superficial appearance of being right. - Thomas Paine

If the freedom of speech is taken away then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter. - George Washington

The peculiar evil of silencing the expression of an opinion is, that it is robbing the human race; posterity as well as the existing generation; those who dissent from the opinion, still more than those who hold it. If the opinion is right, they are deprived of the opportunity of exchanging error for truth: if wrong, they lose, what is almost as great a benefit, the clearer perception and livelier impression of truth, produced by its collision with error. -John Stuart Mill, On Liberty, 1859

We are willing enough to praise freedom when she is safely tucked away in the past and cannot be a nuisance. In the present, amidst dangers whose outcome we cannot foresee, we get nervous about her, and admit censorship. - Edward M. Forster

Did you ever hear anyone say, "That work had better be banned because I might read it and it might be very damaging to me?" - Joseph Henry Jackson

If you don't have this freedom of speech, then all these little fellows are weaseling around and doing their monkey business and they never get caught. - Harold R. Medina

If all mankind minus one were of one opinion, mankind would be no more justified in silencing that one person than he, if he had the power, would be justified in silencing mankind. - John Stuart Mill

"Free speech is intended to protect the controversial and even outrageous word; and not just comforting platitudes too mundane to need protection." - Colin Powell

"Restriction of free thought and free speech is the most dangerous of all subversions. It is the one un-American act that could most easily defeat us." - William Orville Douglas

We are not afraid to entrust the American people with unpleasant facts, foreign ideas, alien philosophies, and competitive values. For a nation that is afraid to let its people judge the truth and falsehood in an open market is a nation that is afraid of its people. - John F. Kennedy

"The Framers [of the Constitution] knew that free speech is the friend of change and revolution. But they also knew that it is always the deadliest enemy of tyranny." - Hugo Black

The populist authoritarianism that is the downside of political correctness means that anyone, sometimes it seems like everyone, can proclaim their grief and have it acknowledged. The victim culture ensures that anyone who feels offended can call for moderation, for dilution, and in the end, as is all too often the case, for censorship. And censorship, that by-product of fear - stemming as it does not from some positive agenda, but from the desire to escape our own terrors and superstitions by imposing them on others - must surely be resisted. - Jonathon Green

When one makes a Revolution, one cannot mark time; one must always go forward -- or go back. He who now talks about the ''freedom of the press'' goes backward, and halts our headlong course towards Socialism. - Vladimir Ilyich Lenin

I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it. - Voltaire

The beginning of thought is in DISAGREEMENT -- not only with others but also with ourselves. - Eric Hoffer

He that would make his own liberty secure, must guard even his enemy from opposition; for if he violates this duty he establishes a precedent that will reach himself. - Thomas Paine

I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection. 'Tis the business of little minds to shrink, but he whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves his conduct, will pursue his principles unto death. - Thomas Paine

It is an affront to treat falsehood with complaisance. - Thomas Paine

It is error only, and not truth, that shrinks from inquiry. - Thomas Paine

This election, start the re-birth of Brookfield with an open and transparent political process that embraces open and honest dialogue on the state of Brookfield finances after years of Republican and Democratic voting control. This November the unaffiliated voters in Brookfield, it's largest block and the town's silent majority, should chart a new course free from politics and shouldn't have to select "NONE OF THE ABOVE" by sitting on their hands and not voting.

Psssst...pass it on. Get Cranky.

Continue to send this email to all your friends, neighbors and relatives as you have and help re-invent a town that wants accountability for the tax and grant dollars it gets and gives.

As always, feel free to write back and share your ideas. To get on the mailing list, simply send message to The.Cranky.Yankee@gmail.com with the word SUBSCRIBE in your subject line.

Please continue to write back with your tips, observations and rumors of what is going on in Brookfield's public schools and government.

Let us know what you think is both right and wrong with the public's business of education and governance in Brookfield. We won't prejudge you nor reveal you as a source.

Happy with the direction of the results shown in test scores? Wonder where the school activity receipts went over the last few years? Have a safety issue that concerns you? Fearful of retribution from Board of Education members? Drop us a line. Many do and thank you for doing so. See an injustice? Let us know so we can let all your neighbors know and get a consensus of opinion in the community...

There are many people in the community, hundreds, that want to help. Thank you for participating in our democracy! We'll focus the discussion on issues that you see. Thanks for all your support and sharing your issues.

As always these represent opinions and thoughts and any conclusions you draw are yours to do.

Fwd: Support Jodi Rell's 0% tax increase

Friends of Brookfield

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Support our home Town Govenor in her fight to have a zero percent tax increase! Help Jodi set the gold standard here in connecticut as other states have done. she's proven you can do more with less...now she needs your help to convince those that oppose that idea and want more.

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Jodi writes...

Pass budget containing no tax increases

THE Connecticut General Assembly is one day away from its deadline for finishing its work. Yet we still do not have a state budget for the next two years.

In February, I proposed a two-year budget that would cut state spending, consolidate or merge dozens of state agencies, maintain state aid to cities and towns so burdens would not fall on property taxpayers, and give those municipalities much-needed relief from costly state mandates — all without raising taxes.

Tax increases, I said, would be the worst thing we could do in the middle of a national recession. And Connecticut's economy has been terribly battered by this recession. Thousands of families, thousands of lives, have been disrupted by job losses, foreclosures, Wall Street turmoil and lingering uncertainty. Employers, many of them mainstays of Connecticut's economy, have been forced to lay off dedicated workers.

Since I released my recommended budget, the economic picture has gotten darker. Our state has lost 18,100 jobs. We have seen more than 4,000 businesses shut their doors forever. More than 7,500 families have lost their homes to foreclosure.

Four months later, we have no budget. The legislature has not even held a vote on a budget.

Because of the recession, we face enormous deficits for the next two fiscal years, as well as a persistent deficit in the current budget year that ends June 30. I have been working with lawmakers on a new budget for several weeks, but it has become increasingly clear that some simply do not have the will to make the spending cuts we need if we are going to close those budget gaps without raising taxes.

So, last week, I took the unusual step of offering another budget, a second budget, that again contains no tax increases.

Like my budget in February, this budget makes deep and painful spending cuts. They are not cuts I relish making. But the families of Connecticut are counting on their elected leaders to make those cuts and to finish their business on time.

Like my February budget, this proposal preserves municipal aid so that tax increases are not passed on to property taxpayers. It merges and consolidates agencies to make Connecticut's government smaller and more efficient, just like my budget in February did.

Most importantly, this budget is in line with what the people of our state can afford, just like my budget in February. It actually reduces spending from current levels in the fiscal year beginning July 1.

I did this because the bloat of bureaucracy is no more affordable now than when I first spoke of it in February. Families have not stopped struggling since February. And, the underlying truths of our economy have not changed since I laid out my original budget: Connecticut residents and businesses cannot afford massive tax increases.

Consider that nearby states like New York and New Jersey are raising income taxes while Massachusetts is raising its sales tax. The top income tax rates in New York and New Jersey are 8.97 percent (in New York City it's an astonishing 12.62 percent). The top bracket in Rhode Island is 9.9 percent.

Connecticut's top rate is currently 5 percent.

By holding the line on taxes and making the tough decisions now, we will make Connecticut a beacon of opportunity — our state becomes infinitely more affordable for business and infinitely more appealing for investment.

Job creation will climb as more companies move to or grow in a business-friendly Connecticut. We can reverse the "brain drain," keeping our young college graduates in good-paying jobs here. Our housing market will rebound as those graduates and people attracted to our state seek new places to live.

This is not economic theory, it's economic fact.

Frankly, tax increases are the easy choice. But, all they do is feed the beast — and two years later the beast is back, hungry again, and always a little bit larger. Now is the time to make the difficult decisions.

I am not looking for a battle. But I am willing to fight one because it's worth fighting. The people of Connecticut are always worth fighting for. Please join me in the by urging your lawmaker to make the difficult, but necessary, choices and to pass a budget that contains no tax increases.

M. Jodi Rell is governor of the state of Connecticut. E-mail: Governor.Rell@po.state.ct.us.

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If she can do it, we all can and should. That's leadership. If you have found this email informative and think others would as well, please feel free to forward this email on to your friends and neighbors. If not please delete and thank you for the opportunity to share this information with you.

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Psssst...pass it on. Get Cranky.

Continue to send this email to all your friends, neighbors and relatives as you have and help re-invent a 21st century town that wants accountability for the tax and grant dollars it gets and gives.

As always, feel free to write back and share your ideas. To get on the mailing list, simply send message to The.Cranky.Yankee@gmail.com with the word SUBSCRIBE in your subject line.

Please continue to write back with your tips, observations and rumors of what is going on in Brookfield's public schools and government. Like Jodi, we want good government.

Let us know what you think is both right and wrong with the public's business of education and governance in Brookfield. We won't prejudge you nor reveal you as a source.

Happy with the direction of the results shown in test scores? Wonder where the school activity receipts went over the last few years? Have a safety issue that concerns you? Fearful of retribution from Board of Education members? From Board of Finance members? From Selectmen? Been "talked to"?

Drop us a line. Many do and thank you for doing so. See an injustice? Let us know so we can let all your neighbors know and get a consensus of opinion in the community...

There are many people in the community, hundreds, that want to help and thanks for participating in our democracy simply by voting or moreso by volunteering to serve on boards and commissions! We'll focus the discussion on issues that all of you. Thanks for all your support and sharing your issues. As always these represent opinions and thoughts and any conclusions you draw are yours to do.

Heard Around Brookfield - 6/5/09

After seeing the WPCA monetary disasters as outlined in yesterday's edition of The Brookfield Cranky Yankee, it has been rumored the Brookfield Board of Finance democrats have decided to start printing money, so as to avoid running into a negative undesignated fund balance next year (after all, it's it better to "just do it" and "apologize" latter for it. Makes things so much easier to do according to many.

The first printing is out (from the color xerox machine) for proofs...


Unfortunately the Republican Town Committee Chairman "Boss Hawg" Flynn and Democratic Town Committee Chairman "Pelosi" Park representing both chambers of the Politbourgh may have not have yet put their Great Seal of Approval on them so they are being replaced by...

Brookfield I.O.U. 's

printed on the mimeograph machine at town hall which was probably approved in the Murphy Adminstration Technology Plan and most likely approved during the Murphy/Davidson era of Elderly Tax Deferrals (also known as the Deathbed Deferred Tax Mortgage designed to pilfer estates and elderly people selling their houses for living expenses). It is requested that people need to stop smelling them (the mimeograph sheets) and get back to work hunting Bambi, that Lyme Tick infested awful deer living at Happy Landing. Brookfield hunters will be permitted this year. Children may be on hand from Whisconier to witness the event in the event of a practice Gas Pipeline Explosion drill. The new currency was named in honor of the annual Murphy/Davidson Shoot Bambi Hunt and is called...The Brookfield Buck.

They are not redeemable at any Brookfield Chamber of Commerce business as they require the real thing. It could be recommended that they be used for the Board of Education's Clay-For-Pay events held on the Brown's Clown's field. The School Cafeteria program already has a policy on counterfiets from the last time the secret service visited them a few years back.

A reminder - it's that time of year to cook the books! Bring something to turn the hardcovers into softcovers!

We return you now to the regularly scheduled ridiculous politics in Brookfield.