Tuesday, November 18, 2008

WEB Meeting tonight

Hi All:

The monthly WEB Meeting will be held tonight at 7pm at the Whalley Avenue Sub Station at the corner of Whalley & Norton.

See you there!

Monday, November 10, 2008

Board of Zoning Appeals Hearing - items for the WEB

Hi All:

This is a public service announcement that was mailed out to the WEB mailing list.

The Board of Zoning Appeals has two items on its agenda of interest to the WEB Management Team:

The application by a large laundromat business that hopes to locate in the Walgreen’s Plaza. Their application is for a variance to open with fewer parking places than regulations require.

The application by 50 Fitch St. is for a variance to add a liquor license and live entertainment to their business. (As you may know there was a shooting outside their business on Nov. 3.) Their business is located within 1400 feet of school property.

The BZA hearing will be on Wed Nov.12 at 6:30 at 200 Orange St. Kennedy Hall of Records.

Legislation Committee Hearing tonight at 7pm

Hi All:

There will be a hearing tonight at 7pm in the Aldermanic Chambers about strengthening the anti graffitti ban we just passed a few months ago. There were some loopholes that need closing and we would love to hear from you!

Text of the hearing:

From Alderpersons Sturgis-Pascale and J. Rodriguez submitting an amendment to the ordinance amendment prohibiting graffiti as a public nuisance and blighting influence and banning sale of spray paint to minors by specifying penalties for such violations.

Friday, November 7, 2008

Thanks for your help with the AMR billing

Hi All:

I would like to take this opportunity to thank a number of people that help develop this idea of bundled billing. I could take full credit but it must be shared, as my colleague from the 5th ward – Jorge Perez – pointed out this was mentioned in finance committees a few years before I joined.
In addition I had conversations with Pat Eagan – the head of the Firefighters Local – about this issue as well and these conversations were one of the impetuses that made me move on this issue. Pat should be recognized for his help. CAO Smuts deserves a big thank you for moving so quickly and not waiting for the order to pass last night but started working on the AMR bundled billing and getting us ready to bring in a new revenue stream when it is so desperately needed.
Lastly, I must thank my colleagues – BOA President Carl Goldfield and Alderman Roland Lemar for all of their work and input on this project for this was a joint effort in every aspect.

Yours,

Moti Sandman

Thursday, November 6, 2008

My comments to the Public Safety Committee Regarding home heating

See the Register Story Here by Liz Benton

Home Heating Safety Hearing
November 5, 2008
Public Safety Committee
Alexander Rhodeen – Chair

Mr. Chair & Members of the committee,

Thank you for giving this important issue a public hearing. I would like to start by giving a bit a background on how this item came up. Alderwomen Jones & I were discussing the concerns and calls from constituents’ regarding paying their home heating bills this winter season. We came to the conclusion that many of those with the least ability to cover their traditional home heating costs will turn to unconventional methods of heating their homes.

We both know from news reports and 1st hand accounts of people heating their homes by turning on the oven and opening the door or burning charcoal briquettes or propane gas grills in the house as well as wood. These are known dangers as they all give off the silent killer Carbon Monoxide.

Other folks will use electric or kerosene space heaters. These heating methods are a bit safer but still pose a danger if the resident is not vigilant in turning off the heating element when leaving the home or in refilling the kerosene.

The good new is that there some programs available to help out those in need Community Action Agency (CCA), the Federal LIHEAP as well as the State of Connecticut.

The problem is how we get the message out to the residents to inform them of:

The dangers in alternative home heating
The resources out there to help folks heat their homes this winter season.

Therefore Alderwomen Jones and I called for this hearing to hear from CAO Smuts & Chief Grant on how we – as a City – can get both messages across to the public.

Thank you,

Mordechai Sandman
Alderman Ward 28

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Election Results breakdown for Ward28

Hi All:

These are the numbers off of the voting machine - I did not see the absentee ballots yet. There were a total of 1,204 ballots cast in our ward.

Yours,

Moti

President:
Dem - Obama - 1,087
Rep - McCain - 95
Ind - Nader - 8
Blank - 8
Write in - 6

Rep in Congress
Dem - DeLauro - 998
Rep - Itshaky - 47
Green - Ferrucci (Ralph)- 33
Blank - 126
Write - none

State Senator
Dem - Harp - 986
Rep - Papantones - 77
Blank - 139
Write in - 2

State Rep
Dem - Walker - 976
Blank - 222
Write in - 6

Registrar of Voters
Dem - Ferrucci (Sharon) - 843
Rep - Tramontano - 72
Green - Pillsbury - 90
Blank - 199