For Whom the Gov Tolls

What began as a nondescript, regularly-scheduled Community Meeting (7 PM) of the Common Council on Thursday April has transformed into a Special Common Council Meeting (6 PM) featuring four votes, two binding, one "feel good," and one to have a discussion out of the earshot of the public.

RESOLUTIONS 4A and 5B
Will Black Vets Be Disappointed?

25 Industrial Park Road, the proposed
site of the Post 206 facility.
(From Google Maps)

This is a combination of resolutions that were pulled from the agenda at the regular monthly meeting of the Common Council on April 1.  The pair of resolutions call for an appropriation of $260,000 for American Legion Post 206 (Harry Ruffin Jr. Post) to establish an American Legion Post at 25 Industrial Park Drive.  The resolution was pulled originally because it needed to be two resolutions: one for appropriation, and one approving the business plan presented by Post 206.  On that Monday reps from Post 206 were turned away from the meeting after the a motion to amend the agenda, presented by Common Council member Mary Bartolotta, was rejected by the Council.

Legion Post 206 has presented the Common Council with a business plan for establishing the post, and programs in the post.  The facilities would provide meeting space for veterans, and ROTC.  Among the programs are a series of "Veterans Helping Veterans" programs, a business incubator, and "Raising Hope," a program for mothers raising their sons alone.

Legion Post 206, is asking for $260,000 (10% of the total estimated project cost) from the City of Middletown.  This funding is needed to secure additional bond funds from the State of Connecticut.

With Middletown's historic generosity towards veterans, especially considering the recently granted preferred status of American Legion Post 75 for use of city fields, one would think these resolutions would pass handily.  But sources in City Hall say that a bi-partisan allegiance of Council members is attempting to scuttle the resolutions in the hopes of embarrassing mayoral candidate Bartolotta.

RESOLUTION 5B
Share the Hate - Tolls and Rich Folks

Ten days ago, Council members Gerry Daley and Seb Giuliano dismissed a resolution which called for the creation of an ordinance to confirm that all sports fields built in Middletown in the future would be constructed using natural grass, and not plastic turf.  Both Daley, and Giuliano, who is rumored to be the Republican candidate for mayor, dismissed the resolution as frivolous, because it didn't have the teeth to actually accomplish anything.

Daley:  I’m not really sure what this is.  At the risk of invoking Earl Roberts.  Boy, I can’t believe I’m gonna do this.  This seems like a feel-good thing to me.  He would say that all the time “this is just a feel-good resolution,” and in that case I think maybe that’s what this is.

Giuliano: This is  just a nullity…it’s of no legal effect whatsoever.  I don’t know if it’s feel good.  It just doesn’t do anything..

Strangely, just over a week later, Daley and Giuliano are sponsors of a "feel good" resolution that condemns Governor Ned Lamont's budget for suggesting that the state construct tolls to collect transportation dollars, while refusing to raise taxes on wealthy residents.

This resolution, which has no legal standing to accomplish anything (the city cannot create a resolution that requires the state to legally adopt or amend a budget), is a philosophical "feel-good" resolution with no teeth.  In addition, the resolution yokes two issues together, tolls and taxes on the
rich, which means anyone voting on it cannot oppose either/or as a budget philosophy, but must accept both together.

Voting on the resolution will prove troublesome for Common Council member Rob Blanchard, who has already spoken in opposition to the resolution.  Blanchard works on Governor Ned Lamont's staff, but insists his objections are based on his duties as Council member.  He is quoted in the Hartford Courant as saying:

"Honesty, it is the most outrageous, toothless and meaningless resolution that has come before the council during my tenure."

Daley's defense of the resolution can be found here.

Mayor Dan Drew, who would only vote on the measure in case of a tie, is said to support the anti-toll resolution, although he came out strongly in favor of tolls in his ill-fated run for governor.  He was also in favor of taxing wealthy residents.

In the following clip in which the mayor announced his candidacy for governor, his comments on tolls begin at 10:35.

                                             

RESOLUTION 6A
So Sue Me, Again

In a final resolution, the Common Council will be asked to meet in Executive Session with Attorney Michael Rose who has been hired to defend the city, the mayor and the human resources department in a lawsuit brought by BOE Personnel Director Michelle DiMauro alleging discrimination and harassment. Michael Harrington will also be in the Executive Session; Harrington is with LeClairRyan, the law firm which carried out the investigation into whether the mayor was discriminatory and retaliatory in his hiring practices (Report is Noncommittal on Mayoral Malfeasance).

The special Common Council meeting, scheduled for 6 PM will be followed by the regularly-scheduled Community meeting where residents can speak to the assembled Council on any topic.