With the possible acquisition of the Transfer Station being the highlight of Mayor Boughton's State of the City address (and the fact that his office handed out notices of the meeting to member of the common council who were in attendance at the SOTC address), a special meeting of the Common Council will be happening tonight to address the issue.
Here's the lineup:
SPECIAL COMMON COUNCIL MEETING - December 22, 2008 The meeting will be called to order at 7:00 P.M.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE & PRAYER
ROLL CALL McMahon, Nagarsheth, Johnson, Trombetta, Calandrino, Perkins, Visconti, Chianese, Esposito, Saadi, Cavo, Rotello, Diggs, Teicholz, Arconti, Curran, Knapp, Levy, Riley, Seabury, Stanley ________________PRESENT _______________ABSENT NOTICE OF THE SPECIAL MEETING - There will be a Special Meeting of the Common Council on Monday, December 22, 2008 at 7:00 P.M. in the Common Council Chambers in City Hall to act on the items below. ______________________________ PUBLIC SPEAKING ______________________________ 1 - RESOLUTION - Resolution of Intent ______________________________ 2 - ORDINANCE - Danbury Solid Waste Authority ______________________________ 3 - COMMUNICATION - Request for Funds - Legal Fees ______________________________ EXECUTIVE SESSION - Acquisition of Real Property ______________________________ There being no further business to come before the Common Council a motion was made at _________P.M. by __________for the meeting to be adjourned.
My primary concern is the lack of information regarding this very complex issue. First, let me go on record and state that in theory, the city taking over the transfer station SEEMS like a good idea. That being said, as someone who has watch politics for a LONG TIME, you should NEVER form an opinion until you know ALL the details...and that's where the problem starts.
Running a transfer station is no laughing matter...in fact, it's REALLY complex and there are a number of concerns that come to mind, the least of which is the cost of the operating expense for the facility.
Besides the mayor's announcement that he wants the transfer station, the mayor's office has provided NO information in terms of the details. For instance, there is NO copy of the resolution of intent on the city's website, no copy of the ordinance for the creation of the Danbury Solid Waste Authority, or a copy of the communication for a request for funds on the city's website...and I highly doubt that members of the Common Council were provided with this material on Friday also.
As someone who has pointed out problems with a number of things that's been ill-advised approved by this administration (i.e., parade ordinance, 287g, sex offender ordinance, volleyball ordinance, etc), everyone should demand that the mayor's office provides the public with more details in regards to this possible acquisition which could cost the city of Danbury MILLIONS of dollars. If Boughton claimed that the city can rake in 2 million dollars per year by operating this facility, then HE SHOULD PROVIDE THE PAPERWORK TO BACK UP THIS CLAIM.
Here's some more things to consider:
1. How many employees will be needed to run this place? What will be their salaries, pension costs, benefit costs?
2. What's the cost for the liability insurance for the operation? Maintenance costs?
3. How will the city pay for the station (B-O-N-D).
4. How much will we LOSE in tax revenue by taking over this property?
5. When did the city first start thinking about taking over this facility? Was it prior or after the planning commission voted against the second transfer station (Putnam)?
There are many more questions than answers every taxpayer should be concerned...very concerned. Remember, the proof is in the details!
If you can't make it to City Hall tonight, I'll be on hand to video tape the happening...
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On September 26, 2007, ten plaintiffs filed suit in response to an arrest of aday laborers at a public park in Danbury, Connecticut. Plaintiffs amended their complaint on November 26, 2007.
The amended complaint states that plaintiffs sought to remedy the continued discriminatory and unauthorized enforcement of federal immigration laws against the Latino residents of the City of Danbury by Danbury's mayor and its police department.
Plaintiffs allege that the arrests violated their Fourth Amendment rights and the Connecticut Constitution because defendants conducted the arrests without valid warrants, in the absence of exigent circumstances, and without probable cause to believe that plaintiffs were engaged in unlawful activity. In addition, plaintiffs allege that defendants improperly stopped, detained, investigated, searched and arrested plaintiffs. Plaintiffs also allege that defendants violated their Fourteenth Amendment rights when they intentionally targeted plaintiffs, and arrested and detained them on the basis of their race, ethnicity and perceived national origin. Plaintiffs raise First Amendment, Due Process and tort claims.
Plaintiffs request declaratory relief, damages and attorneys fees.
On September 26, 2007, ten plaintiffs filed suit in response to an arrest of aday laborers at a public park in Danbury, Connecticut. Plaintiffs amended their complaint on November 26, 2007.
