No Funds To Reopened Library

"What kind of a town cancels Library hours when there is another town department that has a $800,000 surplus?" 

Wrong again about the $800,000.  You like that number a lot but, sorry it is not accurate. But lets talk about the library. The amount of money that is being spent on FOIs would be enough to reopen the library.  Perhaps you would like to cover the cost of your PD FOIs, so we can open the library again.  If you want all this FOI information, I think the taxpayers would agree that you should be the one to pay for it.

Instead of blaming John Dayton or the Fire Department for the cut in library hours, warm up your never-ending FOI machine and find out which Town Department cut their budgets, and which department did not.  You may find that the blame for the shortage of funds for the library falls on someone else’s shoulders. The Fire Chief can close any building in town if shown to be unsafe, yet I don’t believe he has any power to fund the library that results in its closure. 

More Hate From The Pit.

“Mike Belden must be the worst bookkeeper in the world”

  “ Dayton is the ultimate coward, he makes an allegation but won't say a name. 

Typical of this guy who closes libraries but lets departments buy brass poles that go nowhere.”

They also tie little old ladies to railroad tracks and throw banana peels in front of the Middlebury Convalescent Home. Endless insults with no substance, and there he goes again mocking the tribute to Dr. Arnold. Insults, FOIs, page after page of negative postings.  Everyone in town government is a crook.  The MVFD is hiding thousands of dollars from the ignorant masses. The Fire Chief is a bad administrator.... Hate, hate, hate... Nothing positive ever.  Everyone volunteering for public service in this community should be under suspicion.  Don’t trust anyone.  Especially the 65 members of Middlebury Volunteer Fire Department. They are all in it for themselves and out to get the residents of Middlebury.

So, why didn’t John Dayton mention Pat DeAngelis’s name in the Republican/American article?  Probably to protect Mr. DeAngelis.  Wasting thousands of dollars of taxpayer money with his boatload of FOIs may make some residents a bit testy.

We know there is a very good side of Mr. DeAngelis.  I think all of us would like to see that good side of him instead of all of his hate. Unless he gets a visit from Dicken’s  three spirits, we don’t see that happening in the near future.

Right now, the Middlebury Volunteer Fire Department needs EMTs for daytime. Like most small towns, we need all the help we can get to serve the residents of this community.  Maybe a good thing for a retired gentleman to consider.

Is The Town Hall A Historic Building???`

"With an antennae on its chimney will the town hall now lose its status as an historical building?"

Its one antenna, not antennae which would be plural of course. The problem with the entire historic building argument, is that the Town Hall is NOT listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The most direct way to find out if a property is listed is to check the National Park Service's NATIONAL REGISTER INFORMATION SYSTEM.

We did and found that the building itself is not listed.  Now if the FD had mounted the antenna on the Josiah Bronson house on Breakneck Hill Rd, the Nathaniel Richardson House on Kelly Rd, or Tranquility Farm, it may be a different story. Or would it?  The farmhouse at Tranquillity Farm was recently gutted and is being completely rebuilt.  So much for preserving that property. The Town mounted the antenna on a chimney, they did not gut the structure.

There is the Middlebury Center Historic District which includes the area “roughly bound by Library Rd, North and South Streets, and Whittemore Rd” But, it does not mention buildings.  If such restrictions were in place then residents living around the Green would be denied making exterior changes to their homes such as adding satellite  antennas.  The antenna tower should really be taken down as well, because it falls within this historical zone.

The Town Hall already has a host of different add-ons that would blemish its historic value such as conduits that run up the side of the building. The light for sliding in the back.  Does Mr. DeAngelis want that light taken down, so the children can not slide at night? How about Mr. St John's security cameras, with wires in pipes that run up the front of the building.  Should they be removed as well?

Was putting the new High Band antenna on the Town Hall chimney worth the $4,000 saving to the Town?  We think so. The MVFD was able to save the Town $4,000 of the $5,000 that needs to be generated in order to hire a clerk to respond to Mr. DeAngelis’s FOIs.

Mr. DeAngelis Mocks Fire Pole Dedicated To Dr. Arnold

"Why the hell would we spend two grand on such a pole in a one

story building?"

"The Chief payed $2000.00 of the money the town gave him from the 

Westover money for a pole. That's right, a pole, one of these HERE. We 
don't know why somebody would put a sliding pole in a one story 
building. There are poles and there are Poles.
HERE"

    "You know there blowing smoke at you when they cry about copying 

some financial documents but somehow they can't explain expenditures for 

brass poles, catering services, knit hats, party rentals, polo shirts,propane, 

soda, beer, Bobcat, etc. Stop crying and give the public the figures."

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

All the above come from a Westover GIFT, not taxpayer money.  Since the Westover account is a “gift” and not Taxpayer money does it need to be explained?  If I receive a gift from my parents for Christmas, should I explain it to Mr. DeAngelis?? If I don’t explain it to Mr. DeAngelis, am I hiding something?  I don’t think so.

If Mr. DeAngelis is that anxious for the Fire Department to explain why they erected a fire pole in their firehouse when there is not even a second floor, we would then have to explain to him that the fire pole was put into place to honor Dr. William P. Arnold Jr. who unselfishly served the Town of Middlebury since 1953.  The man who rode to medical calls by horseback during snow storms. A kind, gentle man with a heart of gold who practiced in Town for 50 years. He is the salt of the earth.  His true loves are horses, cowboys, and the Middlebury Volunteer Fire Department.  The Department erected the pole and hung a plaque in that location to honor this fine man.   Any other questions about the pole???

There seems to be no end to who Mr. DeAngelis targets. He is now mocking the honor of an 84 year old Town icon. The Fire Department has a great deal of respect, love, and admiration for Dr. Arnold, and we do not appreciate you attacking an area in the Firehouse we created in his honor.

How many fire poles could the MVFD purchase from Taxpayer money (not gift) Mr. DeAngelis has wasted with his FOIs?

Pat DeAngelis FOIs Cost Taxpayers Another $5,000!

"FOI requests taking their toll 
  What’s the cost for freedom of information? $5,000 and 26 hours. 
  Middlebury’s Chief Financial Officer Michael Belden told the Board of Finance on Wednesday night that a recent influx of Freedom of Information Act requests have made the town’s finance depart ment “collapse.” Belden said town departments have clocked more than 26 hours filling the re quests.  The board’s chairman, Jonathan Dayton, said one resident “who we will not name” was the source of most of the FOI requests.
  “The amount of work that is being done for these requests is unbelievable,” Dayton said. “We have other things we have to do, like payroll. We fought viciously with this one individual to give us more time, but he threatened to take us to the FOI Commission.”
  After 15 minutes of discussion, the board voted to move $5,000 from the town’s contingency fund to hire a part-time worker to handle the FOI requests. "

It seems that Mr. DeAngelis is wasting more of the taxpayer’s money.  Another $5,000 to hire a clerk to handle the FOIs. The $5,000 is nothing compared to what the Police Department paid.  I don’t know what Mr. Belden and Mr. Dayton are complaining about. 

Its okay for Mr. DeAngelis to waste thousands of dollars on taxpayer money on his witch hunts, but the MVFD can’t spend $400 from a Westover GIFT to purchase lime green T-shirts for their kids at the annual FD picnic. Why lime green for an FD event?  The picnic was held at Quassy.  The lime green shirts were chosen so parents could pick out their children in the large crowd.

I think the next FOI Mr. DeAngelis should file, is to see how much money has been wasted on all his FOIs.  We know the Police Department number is a whopper, but we do not have the exact figure yet.  What grand information was discovered through this waste of taxpayer money.  Stay tuned.

Master of Ceremonies Ken Heidkamp’s Faux Pas At St. John’s Retirement Party

Former Chairman of the Fire Commission uses Ed St. John’s retirement party as a springboard in an awkward attempt to slam the MVFD.  His negative comments were met with boos and jeers by guests who paid $30.00 per ticket to attend the event.

This behavior illustrates one reason the Fire Department opposed the Fire Commission from its conception, and how Mr. Heidkamp  continues following a political agenda set by the former First Selectman to “get even” with the Fire Department. 

Those who attended the event would characterize his assailing comments directed toward the MVFD as cowardly and in poor taste.  A retirement party is hardly the venue for pontificating negative and inane comments about our dedicated volunteer fire department. It would appear that Mr. Heidkamp and his guest of honor remain bitter that the Charter change that included a permanent Fire Commission was defeated soundly by an almost 2 to 1 vote by residents last November.  

The original political game plan is not working. To the dismay of the previous administration and a handful of his minions, the Police and  Fire Departments have developed a close working relationship with the Board of Selectmen. Because of this, they have afforded the new leader of this community no “honeymoon” ... a story for another time.

The Town is getting back to normal.  The lines of communication are open again.  The divisive commissions are crumbling. Departments are working together, and having regular Department Head meetings with the Board of Selectmen.  Democrats now have a say at the Town Hall, and are no longer treated as an empty suit at the table. Republicans are realizing that some of the “old guard” is just the wrong guard to be leading their party.

Mr. Heidkamp, if you have something to say about our Middlebury Volunteer Fire Department, I suggest that you go to their Firehouse and say it.

Stop Whining And Pay-Up Middlebury!!!

     “It has come to our attention that a certain town employee is whining about 

responding to FOI requests. Here is what we have to say to him:

 a. If you cannot produce end of the year financials for preceeding years, then something is wrong with your system, or you.

 b. How hard is it to hit the "print" key?

 c. You want us to never ask what you do with our money? I don't think so.

Democracy can be a pain, all that accountability and stuff.”

I believe those who will be “whining” the loudest will be the Taxpayers in Town when they find out how much Taxpayer money all these FOIs are costing them.

I guess your version of democracy includes taking police officers off the streets, and the hiring of clerks to feed your fishing expeditions that fuel the never-ending attacks on the Police Department, Fire Department, and the new Board of Selectman. Because of the cost of all these FOIs, you have now set your sights on the Middlebury Taxpayer who has to pick up the tab.  Most people in Town will not be very happy paying for your constant attacks on those who unselfishly serve this community.

The Westover Account Is A Gift Not A Tax

           “ First of all you have to understand what the "Westover Account" is. It's' money that Westover school pays to the TOWN---not directly to the Firehouse, but to the TOWN. It does so in lieu of taxes. The TOWN then gives the money to the Firehouse.”

Thats right, you need to know what the Westover Account is, which apparently you do not.  Westover is a private, non-profit girls boarding school and is tax exempt.  It is not required to pay any taxes.  It does not pay this amount of money in lieu of taxes, because it does not have to pay taxes at all.  The money that is given to the Town is what is called a GIFT.  

The Town then gives out the money to various departments and they can do what they wish with the money.  That is how Westover wants it.  There are absolutely no restrictions on how the money is to be spent.  Again, it is a gift not a tax payment.

The Fire Department actually gets more, but Mr. St. John would skim off the top $2,500.00 to be used for the Town’s Appreciation party at the end of the summer.  I believe that is chicken and beer instead of burgers and beer. 

Even though the money is meant to go to the Fire Department to do what they wish with it, it is still a Town controlled account. All of the expenditures from this account must be paid by the Board of Selectman. The Selectmen write the checks, not the Fire Chief.

This account has been around for years and has been used by all Fire Chiefs for whatever they wished. It is not a unique account for the current Chief.

What are all these Astro bills?  Electrical improvements to the Firehouse at discount prices and approved by Ed St. John. 

Fleeces and shirts to the members, how could they do such a thing?  A member risks his life 365 days a year, spends hundreds of hours helping our residents, and at the end of the day they give them a fleece.

FD Victory Parties?  If the Town sees it fit to take $2,500.00 for a Town party, it seems the MVFD can take a certain amount to pay for FD parties.  

Did Santa's Elves Save Middlebury $4000.00 ???

"It seems that when the fire chief wanted to put his antennae on the town owned tower at the town hall the town rightfully wanted guarantees from the vendor that the vendor would not harm the tower. When the vendor refused to give said guarantee the chief had no choice but to call out the huge ladder truck ( it's good to see that we use that $750.000 piece of equipment for something, even if its just for antennae installations ) and hire some elves to put the antennae on the chiming of the town hall"

Wrong again.

In order to install the antenna on the current tower would have required digging a trench from the Town Hall to the tower. This would have been expensive and was not included in Chief Perrotti's Homeland Security Grant. It would have been an added cost to the taxpayers. In consultation with N.E. Communications it was determined that the chimney of the Town Hall would make an ideal location to mount the new antenna.

The new site offered several advantages.  1) There was no need to dig a trench.  2) There was a cost savings, because not as much cable would be required. With less cable, there is also a boost in reception. 3) It is a better location and will actually provide better reception than the existing tower.

So who were these elves?  Not Santa's, and certainly not hired as incorrectly reported above. These were members of the Middlebury Volunteer Fire Department who took time out of their holiday weekend to help their town and save the Taxpayers thousands of dollars.  It was a difficult job, and members worked in excess of five hours on the project.  Watertown Fire was called to assist with their platform truck. Middlebury's Truck 1 Aerial Ladder was also used in the operation.  The operation was a success and the MVFD is now one step closer to implementing the new high-band radio system awarded from the almost $300,000 radio grant.

How In The World Could Paul Perrotti Trade A Town Vehicle For A Golf Cart??

Well, the truth is, HE CAN'T!  At least not without permission from the First Selectman. In order to sell or trade any vehicle you need a "Title" for the vehicle. This is something Paul Perrotti had no access to. Only the First Selectman has access to such titles and would have the authority to sign this title over to another party. Taft School could not have registered the vehicle with DMV without a title.  So, if Paul Perrotti did not sign over the title, who did?  The answer - former First Selectman Ed St. John. So the question should really be, why did former First Selectman Ed St. John trade a town vehicle for a golf cart?

Because the transmission was gone and the vehicle was falling apart.  The vehicle was a 1994 police car that was passed downed to Chief Perrotti.  Taft School expressed an interest in the vehicle thinking they could put a new transmission in and get a few more years out of it; something the Town was not willing to do. So the vehicle was traded for the golf cart, plus Taft made a  $500.00 donation to the Fire Department. 

The golf cart has come in handy at a variety of calls.  It has also been utilized by the Police Department from time-to-time.

There is no mystery here, just a former First Selectman who apparently forgot he signed off on the title.

What Does John Dayton Know About Fire Apparatus?

"So, John Dayton, who works in a bank, we believe, does not "agree" with a professional fireman who teaches fire education courses. And what, pray tell, are Mr. Dayton's qualifications relative to fire safety? We should listen to him, not an expert?  Why?"

Simple, John Dayton is a veteran member who has been with the Department for many years.  In his younger years he was extremely active with the Department. Because of his firefighting training he understands "rural firefighting" much better than the "city firefighting" consultant who spent only two days in Middlebury. 

The notion that everyone else in the world knows what is best for fire protection for the Town other than the Fire Department, is simply ridiculous. The MVFD has been successfully protecting this Town since 1941.  Their understanding of the apparatus needs far overshadows the opinion of a consultant who only visited the Town for two days. If you review his report he shows little understanding of our town and our Fire Department.  He did however get a few things correct. 1) The MVFD needs a new Pumper and Rescue, and 2) The MVFD is a well-run Department.

But, you don't have to be a trained firefighter to understand the basic principles of firefighting, which have not changed since Ben Franklin started the first department in Philadelphia.  In order to put out a structure fire efficiently, you need water.

How many fire trucks does it take to extinguish a fire?  If there are no hydrants, you may need all of them.  Even with hydrants at the last structure fire, the Department used Engine 3, Engine 1, and Engine 4 at the scene.  So, where was Engine 2?  Back at the firehouse where it suppose to be.  Engine 2 is a second alarm piece.  If you have another fire in town and have your only three engines committed to a first call, how will you respond to the second call?

The answer, a mutual aid company maybe?  Maybe, but what if a natural disaster such as a hurricane or tornado has occurred, and mutual aid companies are not available? What then?

With the increase in development in Town, and the population on the rise with hundreds of new homes being built, it makes little sense to reduce the fleet.

Fire Department Budget Distortion

The MVFD is the largest organization in Town with the smallest budget.  The FD gets approximately $300,000 from the Town each year.  Thats a lot of money. But, did you know that 1/3 of that money goes to maintaining the Town's hydrant system.  Approximately $100,000.00 never gets into the hands of the MVFD.  This money should actually come out of the MVFD's budget, because municipal water supply is more of a function of Public Works than firefighting.  In fact the 2008 edition of NFPA 1001 has taken hydrant testing out of the Standard.

What the MVFD is left with is around $200,000.  Where does this money go?  Approximately $40,000 goes to vehicle maintenance, and with the aging state of the MVFD fleet this number is bound to increase.  The MVFD also spends approximately $20,000 on protective equipment.  Firefighter safety is the number one priority.  What about the rest? Well, there is electricity, heating fuel, and a host of other expenses.  Since this is Town money then records of all expenses are available at the Town Hall.

It should also be noted that the Fire Department successfully cut their budget this year.

How much did the Police Department FOIs Cost The Taxpayers?

Someone should ask Chief Guisti, how much the FOIs cost the taxpayers of Middlebury.  We know it was quite a bit. Police Officers who are hired to serve and protect the residents of Middlebury had to be taken off the streets in order to fulfill the FOI requests.  Who is now wasting the taxpayers money? Statistics that could be obtained from the Internet had to be compiled by taking police officers off the streets.  We pay our police to protect us, not to do statistical research for Middlebury residents.