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Welcome to the West Haven Voice
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Thursday, 10 May 2012 00:00 |
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By Bill Riccio, Jr. Voice Editor As expected, no major changes were implemented when the City Council met last week to approve the city’s budget ordinance for the fiscal year beginning July 1. The decisions were already made going into the session and some last-ditch efforts to make modifications were rejected in a session that has become pro forma over the last several years. Council members actually hammered out the final budget the night before last Thursday’s special session, so motions such as one to reinsert the delinquent tax collector position cut from the plan, or increase an allocation for pool repairs failed. All in all, the proposed $147.32 million bottom line stayed the same. The budget represents a $200,000 increase from the current budget. The Board of Education’s $500,000 increase over this year was left in tact.
When the final plan came up for a vote, the ordinance passed 8-4 with Councilman John Lewis not in attendance. Under the plan, the city’s mill rate would remain 32.25 for the new fiscal year. That means taxpayers will be asked to pay $32.25 per thousand of assessment on their homes at 70 percent of assessed value. The mill rate does not include the fire districts. The council did amend Mayor John Picard’s proposed budget for the Allingtown Fire District. Picard had proposed a plan that would put the mill rate at 8.08. The council opted to raise the rate .30 to 8.38 in order to allow for extra funds to help pay down the aggregate deficit of more than $750,000. Picard’s plan did not include a deficit-reduction item. It is hoped the new mill rate will raise more than $165,000 to bring down the shortfall. In finalizing the city and school budget, the council did make some minor modifications: *A $70,000 allocation for a new construction liaison officer was cut in half, with the remainder of the money put in contingency. Should the position be filled, Picard can request the remainder of the allocation through asking the council to transfer funds. * The Democratic and Republican Registrars will get a $3000 increase in salary after this year’s election, when the new term takes effect. Council members reasoned the positions hadn’t been increased in several years. * The raises that were accidentally given the mayor and city clerk were eliminated. Automatic increases given unionized positions were erroneously figured in during the budgetary process. * An allocation of $7500 was put into the Park-Rec budget for Board of Education facilities used by the Recreation Dept. The pool needs a new lift for handicapped swimmers. Meanwhile a new lifeguard position is needed at the city’s beaches. Finance Chairman Michael Last praised the overall work of the council and the final product. “The budget passed by the City Council will not make everyone happy but it is a reasonable spending plan considering the current economic climate and more importantly does not raise taxes,” he said.
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AFD mill rate hiked: WS referendum set |
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Monday, 14 May 2012 20:12 |
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By Bill Riccio, Jr. Voice Editor While the City Council passed its first Allingtown Fire District budget following a take-over vote last week, one of the remaining two districts has finalized its spending plan for the new fiscal year, while the other is implementing a new charter revision to determine the fate of its budget. The council finalized the Allingtown budget, but opted to increase the mill rate from a proposed 8.08 to 8.38. The budget plan now has a built-in earmark to decrease the aggregate deficit that led to the voters in the borough opting to dissolve the 75-year-old district last December.
In the budget plan that now goes into effect July 1, a total of $165,000 will be used to bring down the combined deficit, now estimated at around $750,000. The increase is ironic because a smaller request by the former fire commission was soundly rejected by the voters four times before the resolution to dissolve was brought to the floor. Meanwhile, the First Taxation District (Center) passed its budget at its annual meeting last week. Electors voted to approve the $12.14 million spending plan that is justly slightly larger than the current budget at $12.11 million. Commissioners opted to use fund balance money to keep the mill rate at its current 8.5. The West Shore’s annual meeting saw its $9.010 million budget come under a new home-rule charter revision that was approved last year. Under the revision, the budget is presented at the annual meeting and a referendum is conducted 22 days later. The referendum is scheduled for Saturday, May 26, the traditional date for commissioner elections. Those measures include: - Eliminating the position of Administrative Captain and expects to save approximately $100,000 annually;
- Making the final lease payment on a fire engine in the current fiscal year, saving another $57,000;
- PILOT (Payment in Lieu of Taxes) has increased to $264,026;
- Controlling overtime, sick, and injury line items to the budget.
“This is due to the leadership of Chief David Collins and Deputy Chief Pat Pickering along with a young force of men and women that have been hired over the last 5 years,” the commission said in issuing the budget. The District is planning to execute its Capital Improvement Plan for apparatus by purchasing a new rescue truck from the accrued savings. Also, four grants have been awarded to the District that will aid in upgrading existing programs or allowing for purchase of new equipment. - $180,000 Port Security Grant for a Fire Rescue Boat;
- $17,007 Fire Act Grant for a turnout gear washer and dryer;
- $302,359 Fire Act Grant for citywide fire radio replacement;
- $10,000.00 Community Development Grant for C.O detectors for 3rd grade C.O education program.
Those wishing copies of the budget may obtain them at the Benham Hill and Dawson Avenue stations.
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Ogrun runs a 50k for 'Fisher House' |
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Thursday, 10 May 2012 00:00 |
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It’s well known the Fisher House Foundation has planned on building a long-term residential facility for wounded soldier’s families on the campus of the VA Administration Medical Center. The project has captured the imagination of several organizations in West Haven, and one school administrator in particular. West Haven High School’s Provost, Kurt Ogren took such an interest in the projectwhen he found out about it in December of 2011 and thought it was a wonderful cause. “I decided I wanted to raise funds and awareness for this project that will be right here in West Haven,” Ogren said, “and I sincerely appreciate all former and current members of the United States Military and their families for the sacrifices they have made to protect our freedom.” |
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24th Rotary Auction to aid Fisher House |
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Thursday, 19 April 2012 00:00 |
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The Rotary Club’s 24th annual Silent and Live Auction April 28 at the Westwoods Ballroom, 85 Chase Lane, will kick off its ambitious campaign to help raise $3 million for Connecticut’s first Fisher House. Earlier this year, the Rotary Club, which has supported the West Haven community since 1931, added the Friends of Fisher House CT to its long list of charitable groups. The nonprofit organization aims to build a 16,000-square-foot “comfort house” at the Veterans Affairs medical center for 20 families to stay. |
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Kelly clan remembers its loss aboard Titanic |
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Thursday, 19 April 2012 00:00 |
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By T. Sean Maher Special to the Voice April 14, 1912 was a tragic night, referred to cinematically “A Night to Remember” and immortalized in the 1998 James Cameron movie, Titanic. For one area family it is a memory of a soul lost at sea. On that night, James Kelly, patriarch of the Kelly clan of Leixlip,Co. Kildare, Ireland was lost as he set sail on the ill-fated ship bound for the US and a better life for himself and his family. Margaret Kelly, the eldest daughter of James and Katherine Kelly, had been working in Strouse-Adler corset factory in New Haven for two years when, in early 1912, she bought her father a third-class ticket to come across the Atlantic on the maiden voyage of the Titanic. |
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'Civic Awards' honors 7 residents |
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Thursday, 26 April 2012 00:00 |
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More than 400 are expected to gather at the Westwoods tomorrow night to honor a total of seven residents, who have contributed many hours to churches, fraternal and civic organizations and youth athletics. The West Haven Civic Awards in the Spirit of the Jimmy Fund will be presented with the festivities to begin at 6:30. Begun in 1963 as the Jimmy Fund Dinner, this most recent iteration still honors those who have given back to the community in a way that far exceeds what they have taken. As is our custom, we present a brief profile of the award winners. |
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District's liability a hurdle |
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Thursday, 19 April 2012 00:00 |
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By Bill Riccio, Jr. Voice Editor As the City Council considers an ordinance that would allow the municipal takeover of a fire district, one concern that has arisen among politicians and residents is that of long-term debt. The Council had its first reading of the ordinance last week, and will take up the question after it has examined the documents provided by city attorneys and district officials. In December, the voters of Allingtown asked the city to take over the district after several attempts at passing a budget ended in failure. The district is suffering from a short-term deficit, and voters refused a raise in the mill rate to cover those expenses, despite assurances from the district’s Fire Commission and Fire Chief the budget had been cut to its bare bones. Since that time, the city’s Corporation Counsel Peter Barrett, along with his staff, has looked into the intricate laws that concern dissolution of the fire district, which was established by the General Assembly in 1937. The resulting ordinance was presented to the council at its April 9 session. |
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City-firm sign contracts for seawall rehab |
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Thursday, 26 April 2012 00:00 |
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By Bill Riccio, Jr. Voice Editor The contracts are signed and ink is dry. Blakeslee Arpaia Chapman has begun work on a 1400-foot seawall that city officials are hoping with give a kick-start to a 15-year-old project. “I just signed the contract five minutes ago,” was the response from Mayor John M. Picard Tuesday morning when questioned about the bulkhead construction. “We’re very excited, and the company has already begun work on the project.” Blakeslee-Arpaia Chapman, a well-known construction firm in the area, was the winner of the second round of bids on the bulkhead project and was awarded the contract for $1.59 million. The reconstruction, which will repair and replace approximately a quarter-mile of seawall, is considered pivotal in getting the West River Crossing project underway. |
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Copyright © 2012 West Haven Voice. All Rights Reserved.
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News Briefs
The bulk trash pickup schedule for the next two months is Feb. 6-10 and March 5-9.
Residents are reminded that bulk pickup is on their scheduled curbside collection days in the second calendar week of each month. They also are reminded to separate metals and recyclables from regular trash and to put out trash no more than 24 hours before pickup.
Violations carry a $100 fine.
Bulk items include couches, chairs, mattresses, tables, carpeting, padding, fencing and small amounts of bundled lumber, which cannot exceed 6 feet in length.
The amount of bulk trash per collection is limited to 6 cubic yards, which is equal to a pile of trash 6 feet long, 6 feet wide and 4 1/2 feet high.
Although such “white goods” as refrigerators, washing machines and stoves are considered bulk trash in other communities, the city still picks up those items, along with tires, on residents’ weekly collection days.
To prevent a potential fine, property owners should familiarize themselves with the city’s trash guidelines, which are posted on its website, www.cityofwesthaven.com.
To report a complaint, call the Department of Public Works at (203) 937-3585. Complaints are kept confidential.
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