The Truth About The Pumper Replacement Plan

Brief History:

To my knowledge the pumper replacement plan started in 2002, although I have heard that there were plans started even before that.  The original Engine 2 drawing was dated 2002.  The MVFD has a spec that is dated February 11, 2003. 

In the Winter of 2003, MVFD Officers met with then First Selectman Ed St. John, to discuss the replacement of Engine 2.  Mr. St. John expressed a real interest in what he described as a “Global Plan” - solving three problems all at the same time by replacing Engine 2, refurbishing or replacing Engine 4 and Rescue 1.  He expressed an interest in bonding the entire project. 

Then came the politics.  Mr. DeAngelis FOIed the MVFD for Mr. St. John’s Ph.D. documents, presumingly to dig up “dirt” on Mr. St. John, while fighting Town Hall against the Straw Pond Development.  The MVFD complied, as was mandated by law, and the relationship between the MVFD and Mr. St. John began to erode.  Mr. St. John began a series of attacks against the MVFD and its leadership.  No pumper on the horizon.

In 2005, disheartened from the past attacks against the MVFD, many of the MVFD members (certainly not all) chose to support Mrs. Bollard for First Selectman.  A bitter campaign ensued, but in the end Mr. St. John won the reelection. Even though Mr. St. John won, he was unable to put his bitterness aside and work with the members of the MVFD. In fact, the exact opposite was about to happen.

In the Spring of 2006, the Chief and Officers of the MVFD appeared at a Selectman’s meeting to ascertain what the status was with plans to replace the pumper. In a series of three meetings with the Selectmen that could be characterized as a bureaucratic wild goose chase, Mr. St. John and Mrs. Strobel voted to form a fire commission, instead of making a decision about replacing the pumper themselves.  They outsourced their duties to a group of uninformed, untrained, and politically motivated and appointed individuals to make decisions about lifesaving equipment for this community. Click Here.

The fire commission proved to be an enormous mistake. It did not expedite delivery of a new pumper, but rather was put into place by Mr. St. John and Mrs. Strobel to delay it.  In the meantime the cost of the apparatus was continually rising. In November of 2007 the voters rejected the Charter and a permanent fire commission, by voting it down by  almost a 2 to 1 ratio.  

To further delay the replacement plans, Mr. St. John hired a consultant for $9000.00 to study the Town’s apparatus needs.  This was a waste of taxpayer money since Mr. St. John was already well aware of the fact that apparatus needed to be replaced and indicated so in the 2003 meeting with the MVFD.

Early in 2008 the fire commission was dissolved and work was started to pass a Town Budget. The budget finally was voted on, which brings us to the present.  The MVFD is still attempting to replace a 27 year old fire engine, a project started in 2002.

Because of the inaction of the previous administration, Middlebury now has an aging fleet of fire apparatus.

Engine 2 27 years old

Engine 3 20 years old

Engine 4 21 years old

Engine 1 17 years old

Rescue 1 30 years old.

Here Is Where We Are Now:

When American LaFrance went Chapter 11, the MVFD went to the Department’s second choice with the same spec; Ferrara Fire Apparatus.

When the local sales representative priced the MVFD spec, the price of the engine came to $505,919.00, which was well above the American LaFrance price. This is the important part here. The National Sales Manager of Ferrara was aware of the LaFrance bid, and was also aware that the MVFD was chiefly an American LaFrance Department.  In an effort to break into Middlebury, and to increase Farrara’s presence in New England, he agreed to lower the price of the apparatus to $474,920.00.  That is a great deal of savings for the Town.   This price is good until December 1, 2008.

Sharp Price Increase Looming:

After December 1, 2008,  the company will increase their prices.  This would mean that the price of the engine will increase by another $20,000.

On January 1, 2009, NFPA 2009 goes into affect and there will be another price increase of $20,000.00 to $25,000.00.  

Not acting now will increase the apparatus price by January 1st 2009, by $40,000.00 to $45,000.00. Middlebury will get the same truck, but pay a whole lot more.

There is already $315,000.00 that has been set aside for purchasing this pumper.  The Taxpayers have already voted for these funds, and it does not affect anyone’s taxes.  There is $159,000.00 that must be raised to pay for the engine in full. It has been said that this remaining amount can be paid for our of unassigned funds that are already present in the current budget.

The clock is ticking and time is running out.  Forcing a referendum will further delay the process and bring the Town dangerously close to the December 1st deadline. Middlebury has a chance to close the deal on a project started in 2002.  

When the MVFD started to work with former First Selectman Ed St. John the price of the pumper was $360,000.00.  Because of the delay of the past administration, the pumper will cost approximately $114,000.00 more.

In an April 18th, 2005 poll, published on Firehouse.com, with 6827 respondents, only 6% of the responding departments owned a “First Out Engine” older than 20 years.

The apparatus in town is not getting any younger.  Further delays will exasperate the problem and will lead to steep tax increases down the road. In addition, ignoring the problem, increases the chance of equipment failure. Engine 3 has already failed once this year on its way to a call. If our apparatus fails at the moment it is needed the most, it becomes a safety issue, and a liability issue for the Town. Firefighter safety and the safety of our residents should be Middlebury’s number one priority. 

The Town Meeting - The Purest Form Of Democracy - Corrected

“Gormley , Desmarais say "no" to referendum, hope to sneak million dollar 

package through late night Town Meeting.

Yesterday, at the Selectman's meeting Gormley and Desmarais said 

"no" to a free , open referendum vote on hundreds of thousands of additional 

dollars of tax increases. They want to sneak the million dollar package through 

a late night town meeting.

Like thieves in night they want to come in and steal your wallet, again.

There is a petition going around town that calls for a referendum vote on the

issue. Sign it when you see it and vote "no " to this insidious tax increase.”

(Correction: This posting has been edited from a previous post - It was reported to me that Mrs. Strobel voted against the Town Meeting. That information was not correct, so I have republished this post with the correct information.  Mrs. Strobel voted for the Town Meeting even though she was more in favor of the referendum. Mr. DeAngelis fails to mention on his website that Mrs. Strobel did indeed vote in favor of the Town Meeting along with Mr. Gormley and Mr. Desmarais.)

What about the Town Meeting?  Mr. DeAngelis falsely characterizes the Town Meeting as a dangerous place to tread, full of bullies and thugs, waiting to trounce on your freedom of speech.  Wrong again.

Town Meetings are considered the ultimate symbol of freedom of speech.

In the 19th Century, Alexis de Tocqueville wrote in regard to New England Town Meetings the following:

“in New England, where education and liberty are the daughters of morality and religion, where society has acquired age and stability enough to enable it to form principles and hold fixed habits, the common people are accustomed to respect intellectual and moral superiority and to submit to it without complaint, although they set at naught all those privileges which wealth and birth have introduced among mankind. In New England, consequently, the democracy makes a more judicious choice than it does elsewhere.”

In Woodbury:

“The origin of Woodbury's Town Meeting must be sought in the history of the colony and in the meetings of the first settlers, members of the Congregational Church or " Standing Order " as the establishment was called. Just when and how Woodbury's Town Meeting became a purely political governing body is not known. The Town Meeting today is an assembly of the legal voters of the town for the purpose of transacting the business of the town. It is a form of pure democracy. The Annual Town Meeting is held in the Town Hall on the first Monday of October, at which time the budget is presented by the Board of Selectmen. The polls are also open for the election of town officers. The Annual Town Meeting is adjourned to the second Monday in March, and at this meeting the budget is voted, and a tax is laid on the grand list. Any other relevant business may be presented at these meetings. Special town meetings may be called by the selectmen, or upon the application of twenty qualified voters, but the business of these meetings must be stated in the call. Notices of town meetings must be published in a newspaper in circulation in the town and are posted on the public sign post on front of the Town Hall at least five days before the meeting. The town clerk is by law, clerk of the Town Meeting. The moderator is chosen from the last corrected voting list.”

William Francis Galvin, the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts said the following about the Town Meeting:

“The purest form of democratic governing is practiced in a Town Meeting. In use for over 300 years and still today, it has proven to be a valuable means for many Massachusetts taxpayers to voice their opinions and directly effect change in their communities. Here in this ancient American assembly, you can make your voice heard as you and your neighbors decide the course of the government closest to you.”

How about Vermont:

“On the first Tuesday of March, voters in communities across Vermont come together to discuss and vote on town issues.  This is called Town Meeting Day.  For over 200 years Town Meeting Day has been an important political event as citizens elect local officials and vote on town and school budgets and make many other decisions for the town.  In many towns, Town Meeting has also become a place to discuss state and national issues that effect us in Vermont.”

Connecticut:

“Connecticut shares the Town Meeting form of government used by many other New England communities. They differ from Massachusetts and the northern tier of states in being more tightly bound to the published agenda -- in Connecticut, the Town Meeting may discuss, but not alter, an article placed before them; nor may they place new items on the agenda. If a Town Meeting rejects a budget, a new Town Meeting must be called to consider the next proposed budget. State Law allows the Board of Selectmen to adopt an estimated tax rate and continue operating based on the previous budget in the event a Town Meeting hasn't adopted a new budget in time.”

So where are the thieves? The only thieves we have seen are the one’s who, in the dead of night, stole American freedoms from the lawns of Middlebury.  There are also those thieves who steal the truth from the residents on a daily basis, through lies and distortions, that only serve to bolster their cantankerous views of what they comprehend as the truth. Their motives are not to benefit this community, but rather create chaos and instability.

Middlebury Has A Better Deal Than Winsted, And Winsted Has A Pretty Good Deal

Winsted ambulance deal gets approval

 BY GARY GENTILE
 REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN
  WINSTED—Selectmen on Monday approved a less ex­pensive one-year deal for emergency medical service with the Winsted Area Ambulance Association.
  Taxpayers will save about $12,000 this year. The new contract charges the town $7.50 per resident, plus the cost of workers’ compensation and liability insurance. The town was paying $9 per resident plus insurance, or $91,916, in the contract that expired June 30.

  The nonprofit association dropped its rate for Winsted because of its ability to raise a large part of its budget by billing patients. The association also serves Barkhamsted, Colebrook and Hartland. Winsted is the only town that has a written contract.

  Selectmen expressed satisfaction with the association’s services and pricing even though the group has a significant surplus. The association has averaged a surplus of $30,338 per year since 1997-98, with an average surplus of $100,919 the last five years.

  Still, the group buys its own ambulance and other equipment, and often makes generous donations to police and fire departments for such items as stun guns. The group also provides free first aid training in the schools.

 The association is not willing to waive its fees entirely because of the unpredictability of reimbursement from Medicare and other insurance carriers, Selectman Jeffery Liskin said.

  “Trust me, if we went out to bid we’d be paying about a half a million dollars for the same service,” Liskin said.

--------------------------------

Kind of like Middlebury except.

1) MVFD does not charge the Town one penny for providing the service. In fact, the MVFD pays out $80,000 a year for a contract with Campion Ambulance for ALS services. Winsted charges each resident $7.50. The article did not state whether or not ALS services were included. 

2) MVFD has never taken anyone to collections if their insurance company would not pay the bill.  Winsted is not willing to waive its fees entirely because of the unpredictability of insurance companies.

Winsted is similar to Middlebury in that -

1) The MVFD buys its own ambulance and equipment. Middlebury currently has a new ambulance that is in the process of being built, and will be delivered in a few months.  The price tag to taxpayers? Zero.

2) The MVFD gives donations back to departments in town. MVFD recently purchased 4 defibrillators to be placed at various public places around town, and $25,000 worth of Holmatro Rescue Tools.

3) As Selectman Jeffery Liskin said, the contract saves Winsted about a half a million dollars a year for the same service. Middlebury realizes the same savings.

-----------------------

It seems like the Town of Winsted is pretty happy with their system, even though the service bills, and the Town still has to kick in $7.50 per person, plus insurance. In 2000 the population of Winsted was 7,321. If the population remained stable that would be $54,907.50 plus insurance costs.  

Middlebury insurance costs for vehicles come under the Town’s Fleet Insurance which would presumedly be significantly less than what Winsted is paying for a private organization. In addition most of the personnel who ride the ambulance are cross-trained firefighters who are already under the Town’s insurance policy.

Middlebury has a great deal. It’s hard to imagine why anyone would want to mess with it. But, Mr. St. John spent thousands of dollars of taxpayer money last year paying his lawyers to try to do just that.  Mr. St. John’s contract would have killed the goose that laid the golden egg.  Fortunately, the MVFD flatly turned down the contract, and when  Mr. Gormley and Mr. Desmarais were voted into office, the one-sided contract was thrown out the window.

The MVFD is currently putting the finishing touches on a new contract with the Town that will be mutually beneficial.

More Lies And No Leadership

“they (leader at mVfd) pulled the new truck out of the budget to make it look like a 3% decrease but instead will place the new truck funds on 2nd half of budget to be "voted" on at town meeting (stacked by supporters)

whose playing a game ??
looks like the leader of mVfd is. They pulled the funds for this new truck so it would look like 3% DECREASE in the town budget when in essence the 2nd part of the budget will be INCREASE. Stop being sneaky and voting for this under the taxpayers noses. Gee let me guess....the entire fire dept (trucks and personnel) will be there for "town meeting".
God help anyone who speaks against it. They will be tared, feathered and spit on.”

To me this is truly amazing that one can constantly perpetuate a never-ending string of lies and never entertain the slightest thought of checking out whether or not a statement is accurate.

It is a fact that the MVFD did cut their budget (not including hydrants).  Over the last two years the MVFD cut its budget by almost 14% to a level of $209,448.00.  That’s almost one half of what the library’s budget is.

However, the pumper was never part of the budget issue at all, and no one at the MVFD ever requested that the pumper be delayed. In fact, it was exactly just the opposite.  The MVFD has been trying to move forward on this pumper since 2003. Mr. St. John and Mrs Strobel did nothing to move this ahead, and did everything to delay it. It appears that Mrs. Strobel is playing the same game still.

Once the new administration came into power a new push was made to expedite this replacement apparatus.  The Department was told by the BOS and BOF that once the budget was passed, they would move ahead on apparatus replacement.  The MVFD did not like the delay, but in the spirit of cooperation, waited until the budget did pass.

To say that the MVFD pulled the funds was just an absolute lie.  It never happened.

Most of the money that will go toward the new pumper has been set aside each year for the purpose of purchasing the pumper.  This is money that has accumulated through past budgets that have already been approved by the Taxpayers. In fact, there is $315,000.00 set aside to purchase this equipment. The total price tag is $478,000.00, so there is a deficit of $163,000.00 that needs to be raised.  That Washington Dr. $946,000.00 could have easily made up the difference.

“Elaine Strobel is the only Selectman with the guts to call for such a 

referendum”

The apparatus is an essential tool to accomplish a needed task, and Mrs. Strobel is attempting once again to delay this replacement shows a real lack of leadership on her part.  She is elected by the residents to do her job, and that is to help make decisions that are in the best interest of the residents in this community. Fire protection should be way up on that list. Mrs. Strobel should be supporting apparatus replacement, as she should have supported the budget.  It appears her allegiance to Mr. St. John is stronger than her allegiance to the safety of residents, thus continuing the crusade of putting politics above public safety.  

If the pumper is not ordered by the end of the year, the cost of this piece of apparatus will go up by another $50,000. If the apparatus was ordered back in 2003 when it was scheduled to be ordered, it would have cost almost $125,000 less than it does today.  

Thats what happens when you have people in power who care more about their own agenda than the people who they were elected to serve.

Dr. Jekyll And Mr. DeAngelis

“Does the Middlebury Police force have two different standards for 

arresting people?

Two local women were arrested for "stealing" two crummy lawn signs

BASED ON AN ALLEGATION OF A POLICE DEPT EMPLOYEE. However 

when a woman alleged that she was harassed and screamed at by a man 

who's political views are more in line with the first selectman, the man, to our 

knowledge he was not arrested.”

After reading the posting yesterday by “Time Machine” I could not help but wonder if Mr. DeAngelis even writes his website anymore.  Does he have a ghost writer filling in for him now? 

When Mr. DeAngelis wrote back in 2005, his tone and demeanor were so completely different. His main attack was on Ed St. John, Jim Smith, Elaine Strobel, and the entire RTC.  What the heck happened? At what point did he drink the proverbial St. John kool-aid?  

Now Mr. DeAngelis is targeting our great Police Department and is questioning whether they operate with some sort of double-standard.  I think its the same standard.  They arrest people who break the law and don’t arrest people who don’t.  It’s as simple as that.  They also can see through lies and distortions, and measure the credibility of witnesses.

If you were to believe Mr. DeAngelis you would think that Middlebury is a town in chaos, spinning out of control from a corrupt BOS (except Elaine), BOF, Police Department, and of course Fire Department.  In the same breath he champions the causes of the past administration who appears to have caused many of the problems Middlebury faces today. He also seems to ignore what he said about these same people in 2005. (Read “Time Machine’s” postings.)

Credibility of the PD and the MVFD is in question, but who is questioning the credibility of the person who admitted lying about his education, who appears to have cost the Town almost a million dollars, and now wants to return to his position? Why is that?

Mr. DeAngelis also believes that the Middlebury Volunteer Fire Department is somehow duping the Town into purchasing a new Pumper.  This was something Mr. St. John and Mrs. Strobel should have accomplished back in 2003, but chose politics ahead of public and firefighter safety.  

Mr. DeAngelis characterizes the fire apparatus purchase as some sort of toy for a juvenile firefighters.  A shiny engine to delight a selfish group who cares little about the taxpayers.  

Contrary to what Mr. DeAngelis may believe, the MVFD cares a great deal about the residents in this community, and proves that on a daily basis. It has been stated here many times.  The engine is for the community, not for the firefighters. The very existence of the Fire Department is for the community.

Kurt Vonnegut put it the best when he said, “I can think of no more stirring symbol of man's humanity to man than a fire engine.”

"Time Machine" Shares Some Old OMP Posts From 2005

Here's a page from ourmoneypit, August 3rd, 2005. Sorry, I can't reproduce the crazy colors and font sizes. Three years ago he went after St. John. Read on


"St. John/Strobel '05" has $18,907.00 in its treasury. The money was contributed by:

a. Developers, law firms, special interest groups in general,
b. Town officials and chairmen appointed by the selectman to town committees,
c. private citizens, family members, themselves.

We will begin listing each developer, law firm, special interest group, town official, etc. that contributed to Mr. St. John. This information is in the form of a public document in the Town Clerks office. You can get your own copy from the Town Clerk. You can get the financial statements concerning the Republican and Democratic Town Committees and the information of Campaign 2005 there as well.HERE

More Contributions ...HERE

Remember...land use decisions , by law, must be made by land use committees...so what is this?...HERE

There are 54 acres of land in Middlebury that in 1986 sold for
$350,000.These same 54 acres of land were sold in February, 1993 for $1.5 million dollars. In May of 1995, 10 of these acres were sold... HERE

More from ourmoneypit in 2005

We've all heard the rumors about Ed.
That Ed St. John used to sign official town documents using the title "Doctor" i.e,. "Ph.D". If he wants to sue Bob Berger because of some little didly thing why isn't he suing all those who don't believe his Ph.d bit? Did he obtain a legitimate Ph.d from an
accredited university of higher learning by the year 1975? Or DID HE LIE? He has been asked many times, by many people to produce his "degree". He remains silent. Why?
Can you trust a man who lies about his credentials? Would you hire
such a person.?...HERE

and HERE
and HERE

WHAT KIND OF PEOPLE, FOR LOVE
OF MONEY OR POSITION SUPPORT A
MAN LIKE ED ST. JOHN, KNOWING
WHAT HE IS? WHERE IS THEIR
SHAME?

Ed says he doesn't get involved in land committee decisions.

The truth is that he signed this agreement in 2003. This agreement calls for
the development at Straw Pond (the one he claimed he was not involved with)...HERE
The truth is, in the example of Straw Pond, long before an application went to the
planning and zoning Bd. the town attorney agreed to a proposal to "develop the property jointly" HERE

If the town attorney made an "agreement" as stated in the minutes of the 2003 Planning and Zoning meeting then..HERE

Straw Pond Developers are mainly mall owners, little residential experience...HERE

Straw Pond Senior Housing a phoney development...HERE

Town Employee mocks taxpayer...St. John doesn't want to get
involved...HERE

CHAIRMAN OF POLICE COMMISSION OUSTED...HERE

Campaign 2005 has a new approach to
Middlebury politics. Some of our main
issues are:

Moratorium...HERE
Taxes...HERE
Budget...HERE
Cultural activities and Education...HERE

St. John/Stroble

"Vote for us, 22 years was not enough time to accomplish anything"...
The website for St.John/Stroble practically shouts this out loud.
Reading their website is a good indication of why this administration is
stuck in first gear. For example Ed actually states: HERE

The following list of St. John/Strobel "accomplishments" is listed on
their site as such :

* our town is fiscally sound..HERE
* our schools provide a secure educational environment for our
children HERE
* our seniors are provided with attractive affordable housing and a
center for recreational and educational enrichment HERE
* our police and fire departments are highly trained and well-equipped
HERE
* our pristine parks and Greenway provide recreation for all ages HERE
* sewer and water lines have been expanded into many neighborhoods,
eliminating the need for septic and wells HERE
* our public works department provides efficient services 24 hours a
day HERE


Complete list of ST. John/Strobel contributors ding-ding-ding$$$$$$$

Freedom Of Speech For The Few

“On August 27, Paul Perrotti assured Gormley that the MVFD could get the 

budget approved. Pretty brave of Perrotti to jump in on the fourth budget try 

when the odds of it passing were probably 9/10. Sort of like when the Soviet 

Union declared war on Japan after the Americans dropped the atomic bomb.

 Perrotti didn't do so well pushing for Brennan to win the nomination or in 

pushing for Brennan to win the election or in trying to stop Gormley from 

getting elected  or in pushing to get his boys elected to the Republican town 

committee or in stopping the FOI from kicking his ass.. Pretty interesting talk 

for a non-political 501 C3. At the most Perrotti brings about 50 votes, counting 

his family.”

Paul Perrotti does not speak for the voters within the MVFD and has never said he speaks for these voters. Nor did Chief Perrotti ever tell Tom Gormley that the MVFD would get the budget approved.  That is just another flat-out lie.

Mr. Perrotti, the resident of Middlebury has the same rights as any citizen to support any candidate or cause he chooses.  These are the same rights as Mr. DeAngelis enjoys, yet, Mr. DeAngelis seeks to silence anyone who opposes him.

Mr. DeAngelis and his alleged sign-stealing allies believe that freedom of speech is only reserved for themselves. Stealing signs is justified, and something that should not be condemned, if the message the signs deliver is in opposition to Mr. St. Johns political aspirations. 

One thing that Mr. DeAngelis does not understand, and Mr. St. John does, is that if the MVFD did get on the same page and vote all the same way, it would result in a rather large voting block.

It will be only a matter of time before Mr. St. John realizes that Mr. DeAngelis poses more of a liability than a benefit.  When that happens, watch the pendulum swing.

Wrong About Lawyers And About Mulch

“The Fire Chief, a guy who spends 20 grand on a lawyer wants to SAVE the town money by taking away a job from a Public Works Employee.

Paulie P. will spread his own mulch around his own building with his own equipment. The Teamsters have filed a grievance. Good for them. Get the union busting ego maniac.”

Wrong again. The MVFD has not spent 20 grand.  Mr. DeAngelis seems a bit mixed up.  It was actually Mr. DeAngelis that cost taxpayers more than 20 grand for his frivolous FOIs.  

The bulk of the money the MVFD has spend on legal council has been for the benefit of protecting the interests of Middlebury residents, from the actions of Mr. St. John.

It started in early January 2007 when Mr. St. John’s office questioned whether or not the  MVFD’s ambulance and the members that rode on it were insured by the Town.  He already knew the answer, but tried to challenge the MVFD about the matter, a move that threatened the PSA of the organization.  The MVFD paid a lawyer from non-taxpayer funds to reach a legal decision about the challenge. 

The next attack came later that year when Mr. St. John and his team of lawyers attempted to write up an ambulance contract that would have basically taken over the funds for the ambulance billing service.  

Right now, all funds that are used from this billing service go into maintaining the ambulance.  Mr. St. John wanted the Town to seize the money, so it could be put in the general fund.  That would have been the end of the ambulance. When the MVFD refused to sign the contract, Mr. St. John’s lawyers told the MVFD to “Batten down the hatches.”  The very same lawyer that was threatening your Fire Department was being paid from your tax dollars.

When Mr. Gormley was elected, he threw Mr. St. John’s ridicules contract out the window and began work to draft a new more realistic contract with the Town. The new contract would protect the interests of both the Town and the MVFD.  The MVFD has had to spend more non taxpayer money on that endeavor.

The last legal cost is from Mr. DeAngelis, with his never-ending FOI attacks, that have also cost the MVFD money.  Are the attacks really coming from Mr. DeAngelis, or is Mr. St. John continuing his crusade against the organization and using Mr. DeAngelis as his attack dog?

All this money wasted to feed the vendetta of Mr. St. John.  That was money that could have gone to the food bank, to the Little League, given away as scholarships, etc...  

As far as the mulch and taking money away from a Public Works employee... that is just bull.  As stated on numerous occasions, the Fire Chief and MVFD take a great deal of pride in their organization, and that extents to the grounds of the firehouse as well. Every year before Open House they spread mulch around the plantings making the grounds look terrific.  This year was no exception.

With a reduction of work force in Town, there is more than enough work to go around.  The dump had to be closed last summer so that workers could keep up with the grass cutting alone.

The Town has bigger problems facing it, than worrying about who is spreading mulch. It has no impact on anyone’s job. The only ones who seem to be upset by the mulch is the Union Stewart, Mr. St. John and Mr. DeAngelis, because Danny Norton, Tom Gormley, and Bob Desmarais all approved the work to be done by the MVFD.  Time for the critics of Tom Gormley and Bob Desmarais to grow up.  

The Special Few Firefighters Getting Rich Off Your Tax Dollars

“Did somebody say the Middlebury VOLUNTEER Fire Dept. Just you

wait as we start the processing of all the money that runs from the department 

to pants pockets for SOME individuals. Not ALL FIREMEN, JUST SOME

SPECIAL FEW FIREMEN.”

You don’t have to wait for Mr. DeAngelis’s big scoop here.  The information about MVFD Incentive pay and Fire Pay has been published on the MVFD website since March 18, 2008.  Go to http://www.middleburyfire.org to see the listings. But, that did not stop Mr. DeAngelis who traveled to the Firehouse this week with one of the alleged political sign thieves in-tow, to examine the fire pay records.

Every year there is a reduction of men and women across the USA that are willing to volunteer their time for either the fire service or for EMS. People are busy with their jobs and families and time to volunteer for other organizations becomes almost non existent. 

On top of that the demands on Volunteers in a post-911 world are higher than ever before.  The average EMT course is around 160 class room hours.  Firefighter I courses in Connecticut has recently jumped from a 160 hour course to over 200 hours.  All to be a volunteer.  On top of that, there is yearly OSHA training, NIMS training, meetings, live burns and Department drills that members must attend.  That is a lot to ask.

Many towns have created incentive, fire pay, tax deductions and/or pension programs in order to attract volunteers to their ranks.  The goal is to get volunteers through the door, train them, and get as many years as they can from them before they either burnout, lose interest, or just get sick and tired of hearing how bad they are, on Mr. Deangelis’s website.

Thus, in return for their service two types of pay were offered to the MVFD members.  This is nothing new.  The fire pay has been around for years.  Regular members get paid $6.00 per call.  Officers get a little more. This is an incentive for members to show up to calls.  Its paid out twice a year; in the summer and at Christmas.

In addition, several years ago there was discussion of providing a pension plan to give something back to members for their years of service.  The system proved to be too expensive.  On top of that, requiring members to wait until they were 65 years old to collect this pension hardly was a way to attract young firefighters.  

Consequently, an Incentive Pay plan was established.  It was based on a “Point System” in which the firefighters who did the most work, would receive a greater share of the funds in the Incentive account. The more you do, the more you get.  If you don’t do anything, you get nothing.

Mr. DeAngelis talks about the “special few firemen” who are filling their pockets with your hard-earned tax dollars.  The truth of the matter is that these same special few firemen are the same firemen that are saving this Town a tax increase of 2 to 3 million dollars a year. That is what it would cost to have a paid Department.  The very people Mr. DeAngelis likes to attack, are the one’s that have their finger in the dike to prevent a paid FD from coming to Middlebury.  You lose that “special group” watch your taxes go up when the Town is forced to hire paid firefighters.

No one at the MVFD is getting rich.  In fact, most members lose money in lost wages and time when they respond. 

No Room At Town Meetings For Free Speech

“Woman harassed  at meeting, police report filed.   Those of us in the neighborhood could not help but notice two 

policemen talking to a woman in front of her house on Thursday morning. 

OMP found out later that the woman was filing a police report regarding 

being harassed by a large, loud man at a Middlebury Finance Board 

meeting. The man was allegedly screaming at the woman and making the 

woman very frightened and insecure about her safety.

The man was found guilty of disturbing the peace in almost the very 

same circumstances not long ago at another public meeting. Gormley 

needs to get the town back to where it is safe to go to a meeting without 

loud crude individuals screaming at people.”

Wrong again. Witnesses at the scene reported that there was absolutely no screaming, and that the woman never appeared frightened about her safety.  In fact, such an incident would have surely seized the attention of two police officers who were standing only a few feet away.

Mr, DeAngelis believes that speaking to one at a Town Meeting is harassment, yet attacking and insulting the BOS, BOF, Fire Department and Police Department on a daily basis is not. 

It seems that the woman in question has a difficult time with free speech.  Turns out that she was the very same woman that allegedly violated the free speech rights of a Middlebury resident when she allegedly stole a sign off his lawn and was arrested for doing so. Political signs are protected speech according to the Supreme Court. However, some individuals believe that these freedoms are only reserved for themselves.

Fire Apparatus Heats Up BOF Meeting

“Fire Chief and Ed Asslin, Finance Bd member engage in screaming match 

as an example to young people.

Speaking of a total lack of class the Fire Chief and a Finance Board 

member were screaming at each other prior to the Finance Bd meeting. A 

Selectman was so upset that the police were called even though another

Selectman and the Chairman of the Finance Bd sat there and did nothing 

as  Perrotti and another fireman screamed at Asslin..

         Good God has this town degenerated to where loud,  thug like 

behavior has become the norm? What is even more unbelievable is that 

the Finance Board then appropriates large sums of money to someone 

who behaves in this fashion.  Are the Finance Board members that weak 

that they are intimidated by a loud mouth?

         Go figure.”

Let’s get your fact straight first. Prior to the start of the Finance Meeting the other night, where apparatus replacement was to be discussed, the MVFD brought with them to the meeting, Engine 2, Engine 3, and Truck 1.  This little action seemed to upset Mr. Asslin, thinking that the MVFD was somehow staging some sort of stunt.  

The truth of the matter was that it was no stunt. BOF Chairman John Dayton had requested the apparatus be brought to the meeting so that the board and all others in attendance could see the apparatus that was in question.  

A heated discussion ensued between Mr. Asslin and the Chief until Mr. Asslin was told by Mr. Dayton that it was no stunt at all.  Like the gentleman that he is, Mr. Asslin apologized in front of everyone to Chief Perrotti, and like the gentleman the Chief is, reciprocated the apology to Mr. Asslin telling him he was sorry he raised his voice.  

Elaine Strobel, again showing little leadership, decided to call the Police Department hoping that in some way the event could end up in the paper or on Mr. DeAngelis’s website. Its not the truth that is important, its the agenda and to create chaos. Go figure.

The Town has not degenerated, but rather is slowly coming back together from the damage caused by the previous administration.  The realization that Middlebury now is faced with the prospect of replacing a fleet of fire apparatus because of passed inaction, is bound to make tempers flair..

"Taxpayer" Comments On Middlebury Development

Those houses on Washington Drive will all be four bedroom houses. No age restrictions, folks. You're looking at another Brookside.

Let's use the Brookside math to show you what this will cost. Each house will have two school age children. Each kid costs $13,000 per year. The house is taxed at $7,000 per year.

Ka-ching!

Let's do it slowly so the moneypit crowd can follow along. Two kids times $13,000 equals $26,000 per year. Subtract the $7,000 in property taxes and you get - are you ready for this - $19,000 per house drag on Middlebury!

They could build 100 houses there. Maybe more. No age restrictions!

Let's multiply it out folks. 100 houses times $19,000 drag per house equals - hold your wallet - $1.9 million dollars per year.

So folks. You have your Brookside. Now you have your Long Meadow Farms.

Oh wait. The Ginsburg Development. a/k/a Ridgewood Golf Course. Hundreds of condos. No age restrictions. Same math.

And you want to bring Ed St. John back? The man who brought you all of this?

How is Ed gonna balance the budget with all those kids coming in? How is anybody gonna keep things reasonable with that big bubble?

Of course! Kelli Bollard, the financial expert, will find a way. That's why she's helping to get rid of that stupid Gormley. The stupid guy with his stupid forensic audit and his stupid commercial development plans.

Kool-Ade anyone? Better stock up!

A Message From "Man On The Street"

My math says that the mil rate could have been kept flat if we had that $950,000 to use. You know, the $950,000 that Ed St. John spent without authorization to help the developers. The $950,000 that Keli Bollard never mentions at the Board of Finance meetings. The $950,000 that Deangelis never headlines on his web site.

Yep, our taxes could have been flat this year, but you didn't read it on ourmoneypit. You heard it here and you heard the truth.

A Big Thank You For Chief Perrotti

“Town owes big "Thank You" to Paul Perrotti"

Even though the IRS may ultimately negatively critique Paul's actions , 

Paul was helpful in getting the Charter turned down. This was a blessing 

in disguise as if it had passed Tom Gormley would be in office for FOR 

FOUR YEARS INSTEAD OF JUST ONE MORE.  If that had happened the 

town would have resembled Hiroshima after the war more than the small 

CT town it currently sometimes is...so to speak.”

Thats right Mr. DeAngelis, the Town does owe Paul Perrotti a big thank you, but not for just playing a role in getting the Charter turned down.  The people in Town could see that Mr. St. John’s action towards the MVFD were destructive for this community. Mr. St. John’s fire commission was a disaster. The voters agreed and Mr. St. John’s permanent fire commission went down in flames.

Unfortunately, the good things that were included in the Charter were also defeated as well.  Whose to blame?  Mr. St. John and Elaine Strobel, who refused to separate the permanent fire commission question from the vote, even though the BOF was given a petition of almost 200 signatures of residents, requesting that the board separate the question. The request was denied. Mrs. Strobel was quoted by Voices saying that, “Splitting up the ballot would be too complicated.” They put arrogance in front of good judgement.  For more information -  Click here.

The Town owes Paul Perrotti a big thank you for all he does.  Unlike Mr. DeAngelis who wallows in negativity and unproductive hate for the benefit of his hero Mr. St. John, Paul Perrotti actually does something productive in this community on a daily basis. He has helped a great many people, including you Mr. DeAngelis.  He does not wear is good-deeds on his sleeve, but rather moves on to his next challenge with enthusiasm and energy. 

Making over 70% of the fire calls, Paul Perrotti is the hardest working Fire Chief who ever held the position. If you have ever needed the MVFD for anything, you know what Paul Perrotti and the rest of the Department, does for this community.

With decades of experience and a list of certifications a mile long under his belt, Paul Perrotti shined last February during the hydrogen tank truck leak in Middlebury. The 14 hour ordeal was one of the biggest hazmat incidents the State has ever seen. Paul Perrotti was Incident Commander and handled the event with the highest degree of professionalism, the hallmark of the Middlebury Volunteer Fire Department. The Connecticut State Police even sent a letter to the Department citing their high degree of professionalism in the way the Department conducted itself during that long cold day on I-84.  When everyone else was running away, the MVFD and its Chief were moving in, attempting to mitigate the situation.  

That also included First Selectman Tom Gormley who immediately arrived at Fire HQ to speak to residents who had been evacuated and to ensure that all of their needs were being attended to, by the Department.  He then was escorted up to I-84 where he stood on the pavement in the freezing cold with the rest of the firefighters until late into the afternoon when the incident was under control.  For more about the incident - Click here.  

Thats the kind of First Selectman I want.  One who works with the MVFD, instead of trying to tear it down.

As far as Mr. DeAngelis’s Hiroshima analogy, I think he has the timing a little off.  The bomb has already dropped, and its Tom Gormley and Bob Desmarais who are cleaning up the mess left by the last administration.

Time To Shoot The Trial Balloon Down

We, as a town, wasted 12 grand on an audit that...

According to Town Hall,  Mr. DeAngelis has wasted over $20,000 of taxpayer money on his frivolous FOIs.   Mr. St John wasted $9,000 on a consultant to find out whether or not he should replace a 27 year old pumper and a 30 year old rescue truck.  Mr. St. John wasted thousands of dollars of taxpayer money trying to takeover the MVFD ambulance billing.  This would have destroyed the ambulance as we know it in Town. Mr. St. John tried to block the antenna replacement at Town Hall that could of jeopardized the radio grant and could have resulted in a loss of almost $300,000.00.

Mr. St. John, according to the audit appeared to be acting independently from the Town.  His actions have cost the Taxpayers $946,000. Thats almost a million dollars out of our pockets, and he has the audacity to call it a witch hunt? When is he going to pay this money back to the Taxpayers? I want my money back!

That was $12,000 well spent. It was conducted by an outside independent group, and it will show what really happened and who is really responsible.

Now he wants to return? Mr. St. John’s little trial balloon he launched today needs to be shot down to reality.  The very man who created the problems that Tom Gormley and Bob Desmarais are trying to repair, wants to come back and cause more damage?

Mr. St. John wore out his welcome years ago.  It is not his Town.  He is not an ordained king, nor is he entitled to ever sit in the chair again.  He should have done what he said he would do back in 2007 and ridden off into the sunset. 

More Distortions Coming

“After spending thousands and thousands of dollars on lawyers Perrotti and his gang now are willing to hand over what they should have handed over a year 

ago.

  At least PERROTTI , through the lawyer we all pay for, says they are

willing to turn over  Fire Dept financial information that they should have 

turned over a year ago. We personally don't believe a thing Perrotti says, 

but we'll wait and see.”

Mr. DeAngelis is once again distorting the facts. He will only be receiving what he is legally entitled to see, and nothing more.

Rumor has it he will be meeting at the Firehouse this week with the MVFD Treasurer.  From the beginning the MVFD has contended that the information Mr. DeAngelis is entitled to see is available at Town Hall. I believe the only information he will be receiving from the MVFD Treasurer is MVFD Incentive pay records.  Since these funds are derived from taxpayer money, Mr. DeAngelis is entitled to see these records.

This will be redundant information that Mr. DeAngelis has already received. A detailed payout list not only of the Incentive pay, but also the Fire pay, has been posted at the MVFD website since March 18, 2008.  There was a complete listing of members names and the amount they were paid.  I guess this was not enough, and apparently he will be shown the checks themselves.

The MVFD has been clear from the beginning regarding what Mr. DeAngelis was and was not entitle by law to see.  That has not changed.  It is expected that when he does not get information that he is not entitled to see, he will once again insinuate that Chief Perrotti is lying.