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Monday, September 8, 2014

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR

Apparently HPD has been receiving complaints from residents and politicians regarding speeding in the area of Asylum and Woodside Circle in the West end.

As the result of their increased enforcement one of the first ticketed for speeding was none other than Hartford's own Councilman Ken Kennedy, reportedly 46 in a 30 MPH zone. No details yet on just how that conversation went. Maybe Kennedy has one of those corvette engines he feared were going to go in HPD cruisers.

Friday, August 22, 2014

THE MEANING OF INSANITY -SEGARRA STYLE

The Rock Cats Crew
 
I am paraphrasing here, but I think many have said the definition of insanity is repeatedly doing the same thing while expecting a different result.

Maybe there might just be a touch of insanity in the Segarra Administration.

After being widely criticized for 18 months of secret negotiations to lure the Rock Cat's away from New Britain. apparently the secrecy continues. Yesterday a "secret group" met out of the public eye to look at the proposals submitted for the develo0pment. According to the Hartford Courant, the public was not permitted to sit in on the meeting Thursday.

I have to ask why?  If you as Mayor were widely criticized for the secrecy that was a major part of sinking the deal in the first place, wouldn't you want to go in a different direction if you wanted the public acceptance. The deadline for submissions has already passed, so nothing can change now. Reviewing the proposals in a public discussion will not cause any issues as far as confidentiality . The public does not need to speak or even be heard, but they do have the right to know that everything is being done aboveboard and be given the option to observe the process.

When it comes to trust in Segarra and his administration, that seems to be eroding every day. A little common sense might start turning that around and he needs to throw the windows open to every aspect of business at Hartford City Hall. The good , the bad and the ugly.

This is the public business and tax money and they have every right to know what's going on before it is too late. A group of bureaucrats making decisions behind closed doors will not move this project forward one inch and will not win any support from residents. And yes, with the exception of one business person on the panel, they are all bureaucrats .

The secret meetings may also be a violation of the FOI Laws as they apply to Executive Session or "meetings from which the public is not permitted"

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

ROCK CATS PAY UP, HARTFORD DOES NOT

News this afternoon is that the Rock Cat's delivered their past due property tax check to the City of New Britain. They may still be going to court to try to get a Judge to reopen negotiations  for their tax deal, but they might want to try repairing the bridges to New Britain that they destroyed based on false assurances of a "Done Deal" with Mayor Segarra.

This deal apparently may be causing more problems for Segarra , according to City Hall sources. There have apparently been questions circulating as to where the  money has been coming from to fund the attorneys fees and consultant's fees associated with the 18 month secret deal and planning sessions. Since the Hartford City Council never voted on or appropriated  the estimated half a million dolllars  and no where does it show in the current budget.

So the question arises, how is Segarra doing this legally? The answer now may be that he wasn't and instead may have tapped into School Construction Building money, essentially creating his own "Rock Cats " slush fund and attempting to maintain the secrecy without anyone noticing where the money was being spent.

According to a source familiar with finance and payment processes at City Hall said that this week City Treasurer Adam Cloud has refused to sign a check for over $76,000 cut for payment to the law firm of Updike , Kelly and  Spellacy. According to the source who spoke on the condition of anonymity, Cloud questioned the expenditure when presented with the check to sign and where the money was coming from and which account.

 It was apparently found to be drawn from an account for Architectural and Engineering Design work on School Building projects. According to the source, both Federal law and State Statutes are clear on using grant or bond money for purposes other than which they are authorized. Criminal charges could potentially apply to any misuse. A proper investigation by appropriate authorities would be needed to determine if that line has been crossed.

The source stated that the City Council would need to pass a new bond resolution for a substantial re-use of any bond dollars. No record of that being done can be found at this time. Re-purposing school dollars for use on a baseball stadium would be considered a substantial change requiring Council approval.

A clause in state statute also holds anyone releasing funds improperly can be held personally liable, which means Cloud could be on the hook for the $76,000 or possibly any other checks he signs and releases if the funds aren't being drawn down properly.

This deal stinks with every corner turned, and now it might be time for outside authorities to begin taking a closer look, especially if money intended for Hartford children and schools is being used to fund the Segarra Field of Dreams.

City Treasurer Adam Cloud was unavailable for comment at the time of posting.

IT STILL STINKS, THE COURANT WEIGHS IN ON THE WALLER SCANDAL

The Courant has just posted an editorial on the Assistant Chief posting at HFD and what has become the latest scandal for the Segarra  Adminstration to address

Here is the Courant's editorial .http://www.courant.com/news/opinion/editorials/hc-ed-fix-was-in-for-top-spot-in-fire-department-20140820,0,4519900.story

I have to ask the same question that many people calling me are asking. What does Saundra Kee-Borges have that she can hold over Segarra's head. It must be good to be be able to embarrass Segarra time  and time again and still survive.

Pedro, aren't you tired of looking like a fool at the hands of SKB yet? Clearly you can do it on your own without her help.

And as a sidenote, here we are over 24 hours later and Mayor Segarra's Lack of Communication Director Maribel LaLuz has not responded to requests for comment   I am not sure we really need it or that anyone would trust them with an explanation at this point

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

YOU CAN'T FIGHT CITY HALL

OH YES YOU CAN!!! And sometimes you may even win. After posting over a week ago about the tailor made job posting for Assistant Fire Chief. It appeared to be tailor made for the significant other/fiancee'/boyfriend of Hartford's Corporation Counsel Saundra Kee Borges.

Terry Waller was the heir apparent until about 5:00PM today when the heat in the kitchen must have gotten a little too hot for Mayor Caviar. Segarra suddenly reversed his position and ordered the position re-posted and open to all, minus the residency requirement.

We will see how this progresses but I am sure people still want to hear the truth as to how this happened and who orchestrated the original posting.

It will probably be blamed on some clerk who added the residency requirement in without any one reviewing it for accuracy. Although they did have plenty of time to fix the mistake since it was posted here over a week ago. I guess a threatened editorial from the Courant might have pushed Pedro over the edge.

Requests for comment from the Mayor's  spokeperson Maribel LaLuz were not returned

Let the comments begin!!

Monday, August 18, 2014

THE GOOD NEIGHBOR POLICY

Apparently the City of New Britain and their beloved  Rock Cats are headed to Court as detailed n the filing below. Their next court date is apparently  scheduled for 8/21/2014.  This apparently revolves around a dispute over delinquent tax payments due the City by the Rock Cats and their possible eviction from the New Britain Stadium

Let's roll out the red carpet and welcome them with open arms to Hartford. The Rock Cats motion for an injunction to hold off any eviction proceedings was denied by Judge Abrams on August 13, 2014

 Information Updated as of: 08/18/2014
Case Information
 Case Type:   M82 - MISC - HOUSING CIVIL MATTERS
 Court Location:   NEW BRITAIN
 List Type:   No List Type
 Trial List Claim:   
 Referral Judge or Magistrate:   
 Last Action Date:   08/15/2014  (The "last action date" is the date the information was entered in the system)
 
Disposition Information
 Disposition Date:  
 Disposition:  
Judge or Magistrate:  
 
Party & Appearance Information
Party No Fee Party
P-01
NEW BRITAIN DOUBLE PLAY, LLC
 Attorney:        WILLINGER WILLINGER & BUCCI PC (023585)
855 MAIN STREET
BRIDGEPORT, CT 06604
  File Date: 08/13/2014
D-01
CITY OF NEW BRITAIN
 Non-Appearing

Viewing Documents on Civil Cases:
  • Documents, court orders and judicial notices in 2014 and future civil cases are available publicly over the internet.*
  • For cases filed prior to 2014, documents, court orders and judicial notices that are electronic are available publicly over the internet and can be viewed by selecting the link to the document in the list below.*
  • If there is an e in front of the docket number at the top of this page, then the file is electronic.  Documents and court orders can be viewed at any judicial district courthouse and at some geographical area courthouses during normal business hours.*
  • You can view pleadings or other documents that are not electronic during normal business hours at the Clerk’s Office in the Judicial District where the case is located.*
  • Viewing of documents protected by law or court order may be limited.

  •                                                                                                                                                  * unless otherwise restricted
Motions / Pleadings / Documents / Case Status
Entry NoFile DateFiled ByDescriptionArguable
101.0008/13/2014     P MOTION FOR TEMPORARY INJUNCTION EXPARTE
  RESULT: Denied 8/13/2014 HON JAMES ABRAMS
No
102.0008/13/2014     C ORDER HEARING AND NOTICE
  RESULT: Order 8/13/2014 HON JAMES ABRAMS
No

Individually Scheduled Court Dates as of 08/18/2014
HHB-CV14-4035742-S - NEW BRITAIN DOUBLE PLAY, LLC v. CITY OF NEW BRITAIN
#DateTimeEvent DescriptionStatus
1 08/21/2014 2:00PMHearingProceeding