Phil Armetta to file retroactive application for wetlands modifications

Trash magnate Phil Armetta appeared before Inland Wetlands on Wednesday night to explain an unauthorized alteration to wetlands on his property. Armetta was asked to submit an application for the work he has already done.

In 2007, Armetta received approval to build an auto dealership on a lot at the base of his closed landfill on Newfield Street. He was required to apply for a Wetlands permit, appearing before the Inland Wetlands Commission on August 1st, 2007 . The reason for this requirement was that the development was well within the regulated zone of designated wetlands. Those wetlands are on an adjacent parcel of land, also owned by Armetta.

This summer, in order to extend the parking area of the auto dealer, Armetta removed all the brush and trees from the wetlands on this adjacent parcel, and filled the wetlands with riprap. Bruce Driska, Zoning Enforcement Officer, noticed the clearing of the wetlands, and Wednesday's hearing was to determine if this activity requires a permit.

Armetta maintained that he was not aware that he had encroached into wetlands, and told the commissioners that he was improving the location, "We wanted to clear the area and get a little more exposure of the dealership to cars [traveling on Newfield]." The map shows outlined in blue the original parcel, and in green the area changed by Armetta this summer, the northern half (or more) of the green parcel is clearly marked as "wetlands". The operator of the auto dealership told the Commission that he hoped to pave the area as soon as possible.

This site is the location of a closed landfill operated by Armetta for 16 years (the close contour lines on the right of the map show the edges of the landfill).

The Inland Wetlands commissioners voted unanimously to require Armetta to obtain a permit for his most recent actions. They also requested that the city's soil engineers assess the impact of the damage that has already occurred. Commissioner Joan Liska said, "We need to determine what the quality of the wetlands was, so we know what was destroyed."

Chairman Joseph Carta anticipated that Armetta's application would be heard at the next meeting of the Commission. If his application is denied, the Commission has the option of requiring Armetta to restore the wetlands to the condition they were in prior to the clearing and filling.

First Day for the North End

Today was the first day of school!
Here is a slide show of some great Macdonough moments and some sweet reunions of Moody kids and their families.

Also, my friend Gus (whose parents happen to be videographers!) had his first day of school as a kindergartner. It's a pretty cute video and also shows the Macdonough Surf's Up assembly where the kids sing the school song, are welcomed and the new teachers are honored. Congratulations everyone and have a great year!

Curb Eyesores

Last week I noticed 6 small piles of garbage within two blocks of my house. This week the same 6 piles were still there but now 6 more had joined them.

I called the Bulky Waste phone number in the phone book and asked about the new rules for pick up and was referred to the public works phone number at city hall. When I told public works about the 12 piles of garbage, they asked “what streets are those piles of garbage on?” and in response to me they replied that “no one on those two streets has called for a pick up.” If they had called for pick up they would have been told that free bulky waste pick up has been suspended due to budget cuts and that now the residents of the central area of town, who used to get regular free bulky waste pickups, have to pre-pay $75 to public works before bulky waste will be picked up. However, that $75 buys up to three truckloads of bulky waste disposal.

Now what to do about those small piles of refuse? Most of the piles of garbage on my walk would not be worth paying $75 for a pick up. If we as neighbors complain to public works, public works will contact the Health Department and they will send someone out to give the offenders a warning and a period of time to get the garbage removed. If the home owner or the renter does not remove the garbage, public works will send someone out to take away their garbage cans.

Clearly this is a problem. If the amount of garbage left on the street can double in one week, we have an image problem if not a health problem. The nice woman who answered my questions at public works said “well, it is a learning curve.” I’m pretty sure that some of the piles of garbage were left by people without means to dispose of the items…no car at all or they have a car too small to carry a mattress to the dump. The broken table just does not fit in the garbage can and for some of my neighbors $75 is well beyond what they can afford. Calling the health department can only make the matter worse. Furniture left out in the rain over the last couple of weeks would be a health problem if brought back into the house. Leaving it on the street, means their garbage cans will soon disappear and now they would have a real health problem of garbage building up in or around the residence.

I realize that the decision to suspend bulky waste pick up may have seemed like a fiscally prudent one – but as Izzy Greenberg said at the council meeting recently, it will cause our central downtown area to look like a dump in a short period of time. I did walk around my neighborhood this morning and the blocks nearest the Wesleyan Campus had no piles of garbage. None on Church Street? None on High Street? None on Lawn Avenue? Is Wesleyan making arrangements for pick up on these streets? I did notice a few small piles of garbage on these streets a week or so ago. The Wesleyan Freshmen arrived this week with their parents and the image they have of Middletown might be marred if they went through any of the neighborhoods adjoining campus with piles of garbage. I walked a little farther from campus this morning and saw 3 mores piles of garbage on Hotchkiss Street had been added since this weekend.

Is there a way to get what is out on the curb now in the Village District and in the North End cleaned up? At the very least notices need to be sent out to all Middletown residents telling us what the new bulky waste policy is to prevent these eyesores from appearing.

In the best of all worlds a compromise of picking up the first week of every month or even quarterly might help out the many residents who cannot make their own deliveries to the dump. Also, a smaller fee of $25 for the pick-up of one item might solve a lot of these problems.

Busted Sewer Budget Means Probable Rate Hikes

In a memo to Mayor Sebastian Giuliano and City Finance Director Carl Erlacher, Water and Sewer Director Guy Russo revealed that only two months into a new fiscal year the Sewer Department is out of cash.

In his memo, Russo indicates that because of "(the economy, conservation, lack of usage, wet weather) that total sales are down" to about 6.5% below anticipated revenues. In addition he cites a 7.1% delinquency rate, further anticipated "low sales," anticipated slow collectibles as ongoing issues which will prevent solvency in the near term.

The Sewer Operating Budget is currently out of cash and is owed $1.4 million.

The city is meeting Sewer and Water payroll, but all vendor and supply payments are on hold.

Russo is suggesting a rate increase of $1.45 per thousand cubic feet treated to help make up for the shortfall. This increase would generate $128,000. Another rate increase may be needed in May.

While the lack of revenue is part of the problem, the department has, for at least the past two years, set budget at a higher number than would be available from actual billings. In 2007, the department budgeted $3,730,757 but only billed $3,568,690 resulting in a difference of -$162,000 and an actual shortfall of -$388,446 because of non-collections.

In 2008, the department budgeted $3,960,899 when actual billings were only $3,876,072, a difference of -$84,827 leading to an actual shortfall of -$386,325.

And in 2009, the department budgeted $4,386,272 against anticipated billings of $3,941,888, a difference of -$444,384, and an actual shortfall of -$724,000.

By state statute, the Water Pollution Control Agency (WPCA), the controlling agency for the Water and Sewer Department, is financially autonomous from the city, meaning that once the city has approved a budget, the WPCA is solely responsible for managing expenditures and revenue which applies to that budget.

Among the strategies suggested for making up the shortfall are the rate increase, an immediate loan of half a million dollars from the General Sewer Improvement Fund (which would have to be repaid by fiscal year 2010), an aggressive stance toward collection of unpaid bills (using a collection agency already working for the city), a freeze on filling vacant positions, and cancellation of several sewer projects and the purchase of a new sewer vehicle.

Erlacher will be making a presentation on the Sewer budget crisis at tomorrow's meeting of the WPCA (5:15 PM, Water and Sewer Department headquarters).

Around Middletown in 80 Days: Day 9

First Day of School

Commodore Macdonough School

66 Spring Street

Today is a day filled with excitement, anticipation and a healthy dose of trepidation. Today is the first day of school in Middletown. This morning, students returning to Macdonough School in the North End, were welcomed by Principal Jon Romeo, the teachers and staff, as well as our intrepid traveler, Phileas Fogg. Phileas enjoyed the first SURFS assembly of the year and the Beach Boy tunes that welcomed him. After learning the school song and listening to a story, Phileas decided to learn more about the school itself.

Macdonough School was dedicated to the memory of Commodore Thomas Macdonough, a US Naval hero who was most famous for defeating the British navy during the War of 1812 in the Battle of Lake Champlain. For this heroism and leadership, he was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal of Honor.

Commodore Macdonough's connection to Middletown began early in his career, while he was stationed in the city to assist in overseeing the construction of gunboats. Macdonough returned to the city and made his home here after ending his naval career and is buried in Middletown. The Commodore Macdonough school was built in 1924 and dedicated in 1925.

Phileas wishes all the students and teachers in Middletown a great year.

The Return of the Wesleyan Library Book Sale

From Jennifer Hadley

Friends of the Wesleyan Library Book Sale

The book sale that was postponed from the spring will be held on Saturday Sept. 12 from 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. in the lobby of Olin Memorial Library, 252 Church Street, Middletown. There will be over 4000 academic and popular books, most books priced $1-$5, with special books $10-$20+. There will also be a not-to-be missed Silent Auction of collectible titles and older, scarce and unusual items from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.. Cash and checks accepted. For more information or to volunteer for the event, email libfriends@wesleyan.edu, call 860-685-3897, or visit http://www.wesleyan.edu/libr/friends/events.html . A list of silent auction items will be posted by Sept. 8th.

"The 'Molten Core' of the Constitution: Habeas Corpus After Guantanamo"

The Friends are hosting a talk by Stephen Oleskey, Wesleyan '64, entitled "The 'Molten Core' of the Constitution: Habeas Corpus After Guantanamo" on Tuesday, Sept. 15 at 4:30 p.m. Oleskey is a partner at WilmerHale in Boston and co-lead counsel in the case of Boumediene v. Bush, which established habeas corpus rights for Guantanamo prisoners. He has been lauded for his international pro bono work and commitment to public service. The talk is free and open to the public and will be held in Smith Reading Room, Olin Memorial Library, 252 Church Street, Middletown. For more information, email libfriends@wesleyan.edu or call 860-685-3897. This event is part of a series in honor of Constitution Day. It will conclude with a post-talk discussion moderated by Professor Richard Adelstein on Sept. 17 at 4:30 in the Develin Room, Olin Library.

Freshmen Arrive at Wesleyan

And Wesleyan President Michael Roth writes about the big day.

Several Departures at the Middletown Press

In the past few weeks, the Middletown Press has seen the departure of two editors, two reporters, and a photographer. That leaves the Press currently operating with a diminished staff.

Middletown Press publisher Dan Moriarty characterized all the departures as resignations, and when asked if such a substantial change in news personnel was normal, he said, "At a paper this size, this kind of turnover is not unusual."

One long-time editor who left said that her departure was not voluntary but that she was "let go" on unsubstantiated charges of wrongdoing a day after she filed a harassment claim.

In the past several months, more than one employee has been absent from the newspaper for extended periods with stress-related illness.

Among those who have left for good, recently, are editors Alice Clayton and Cassandra Day, reporter Sloan Brewster (who has just accepted a job at as Farmington weekly newspaper), and news photographer Brenda De Los Santos.

"Every position that has come open," Moriarity said. "We're searching, recruiting and replacing the positions."

Moriarity declined to say how many people are currently on the news staff.

"I'd have to look at my payroll sheets," he said.

An anonymous source informed the Eye that news, editorial and sales staff has declined from 11 to 5 in recent days. Moriarity said that those numbers are not accurate, and that the paper would soon be up to full staffing. He said that the newspaper is currently operating with local news staff and assistance from the New Haven office.

The Middletown Press is a Journal Register Company paper. The Journal Register Company emerged from Chapter 11 protection at the beginning of August with new financing. The refinancing plan wiped out former stockholders and transferred ownership to secured lenders.

According to the AP, the restructuring plan was not without controversy:

Judge Allan Gropper approved the plan over several objections.

The company's largest union, the Newspaper Guild, as well as Connecticut and Pennsylvania state officials, objected to plans for paying up to $1.7 million in bonuses to top executives.

A $6.6 million payment from secured to unsecured debt holders also drew criticism. That money went to pay in full those deemed critical suppliers — ink and newsprint providers, for instance. Although some other unsecured debt holders, who received only 9 cents on the dollar, criticized the payment, the company argued that its newspapers would have been crippled if it couldn't pay its suppliers.

Moriarity, a former general manager with the Middletown Press, returned in February of this year as publisher.

Around Middletown in 80 Days: Day 8

Amici's Italian Restaurant

280 Main St

Join Phileas outside on this beautiful late summer day for a great dinner at Amici Italian Restaurant on Main Street in Middletown. Please come out, bring a friend, and support Oddfellows Playhouse. 20% of sales this evening will be donated to Oddfellows.

Phileas is looking forward to enjoying some lobster ravioli - he's heard great things!

End of Summer Harvest

As the summer bounty reaches its peak, the weekly Farmer's Market on the South Green brings fresh fruit, vegetables and baked goods to Middletown residents. Here, Helen, a resident of a nearby senior housing complex, samples the late season cucumbers.

NEAT Hiking Club Climbs Mt. Cardigan

A great group of 13 kids and 10 adults from Middletown's North End climbed Mt. Cardigan in New Hampshire's Lakes Region this past Saturday. We stayed at the AMC Mt. Cardigan Lodge and had an amazing time swimming, playing games and learning about animals.

Thanks to the Middlesex County Substance Abuse Action Council for generous support!

September Songs, Sights & Sounds (9/01-06)

The final concert in the City of Middletown's Summer Sounds Series takes place tonight at 7 p.m. on the South Green. The Middletown Symphonic Band, Marco Gaylord, music director, will present an exciting program of music, ranging from classical works to jazz to popular standards to the music of John Williams (and much, much more.) The weather looks like it will cooperate so bring your chairs, blankets, jackets, light sweaters, and appetite for good music - you won't be disappointed.

Perhaps singing is more to your liking - rehearsals begin tonight at 7 p.m. for the Middlesex Hospital Vocal Chords and you neither have to an employee nor a patient to join. Show up at the Reverend Monsignor M. Davitt Fox Parish Center of St. Francis Church, Elm Street, sign up and start singing. For more information, call 342-3120.

Then again, one may wish to spice up their musical experiences by attending the Latin Jazz Workshop tonight at 7 p.m. in the MAC650 Art Gallery, Main Street. Conducting the workshops (the 2nd one takes place 9/15) is musicologist Jorge Arevalo Mateus. For more information, call 343-1516.

On Friday, MAC650 celebrates the opening of a new exhibition at 7 p.m. "Art Without Judges Gallery Show" is the name of the show and will be "up" throughout the month of September. Call the number above for more information.

The Buttonwood Tree reopens this Friday for its new season (after a brief respite in August) with a program titled "POSITIVITY! - A Hiphop Celebration" at 8 p.m. The musical program, which works hard to negate the image of negativity and self-hatred that often infuses this music. Live musicians work alongside turntablists to create this truly upbeat program. For more information, call 347-4957.

Also on Friday night, drummer Liviu Pop returns to Boney's Music Lounge with a group that features vocalist Toni Lynn Washington. The Massachusetts-based Washington is comfortable in both the blues and jazz idioms and this should be a fun gig. The music starts at 8:30 p.m.

On Saturday, The Buttonwood Tree welcomes the sextet known as Dani Jazz. Led by vocalist and keyboard player Danielle Elliot (a Connecticut native and recent graduate of the New School of Jazz & Contemporary Music), the ensemble features Kevin Smith (bass), Simon Kafka (guitar), Adam Jackson (drums), Tyler Greenblatt (trumpet) and Dylan Heaney (tenor saxophone) with special guest Jerrod Cattey (percussion.) There's been a lot of chat on the Internet lately about the inevitable "death of jazz" (as a commercial entity) but there are so many fine young musicians involved in the music that, instead of dying, one is tempted to say the music is "evolving" and onto new possibilities. Here's an opportunity to see and hear a fine young leader and ensemble. The music starts at 8 p.m.

At 8:30 p.m. in Boney's Music Lounge, Nu Direxion returns to play an evening of smooth jazz, reggae, r'n'b and more. The guitar, bass and drums trio plays throughout Central Connecticut and Southern Massachusetts, often with a guest saxophonist to round out the sound. One thing is for sure - they know how to "find the groove and make it move." For more information, go to http://nudirexion.com/ or call 346-6000.

Sunday September 6, The Buttonwood hosts an Artist's Reception for the opening of its latest exhibition, the very colorful paintings of Pierre Sylvain. His work has been featured in the lobby of Liberty Bank/Main Street, NOMA Gallery, and can be seen in the Imperial Caribbean Restaurant and Fishbone Cafe. The event takes place from 3 - 5 p.m.