Hyper Local News Pages

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

01/06/10 READER SUBMITTED COMMENTS: Acting Zoning Enforcement Officer Casey O'Donnell's Email Stops Donald Kiefier's P&Z' Board

You Wont Read This In The Greenwich Time .......

Casey O'Donnell Asserts That He Is Greenwich's Approving And Enforcement Officer And Will Not Let Donald Kiefier And Planning And Zoning Commission Violate Food Plain Regulations At The Cos Cob Power Plant Site


Forget About The Connecticut Open Meetings Laws !!!!!

Planning And Zoning Commission Stops Public Hearing And Conducts Illegal Side Bar Meeting Over Casey O'Donnell's Email.

Barry Montgomery Reports:

The predetermined approval of the Planning & Zoning Board's Power House Park application was brought to an abrupt and rude halt leaving the audience in wonderment.

As the P & Z sat patiently listening to the audience, some in concurense, some with warnings of issues yet to come and only one who thought the project was a $10 Million boondoggle, the commission's common composure and stonewall attitude of a body already predetermined to approval, but needing to go through the charade of listening with great sincerity, knowing full well how they have decided to vote.

Chaos erupted. it started with quiet muttering of three of the members about something appearing to be causing contention. The balance of the members, objecting to the rudeness of these few for both the mutterings and knowing they were being excluded, demanded to be included.


"I've got the floor,"said one member.

The chairman, sensing rebelling in his usually obedient concurrers, called for a time out. In the middle of a public hearing no less, he stopped the tape, cut off a standing audience member about to speak and told the audience to amuse themselves, hoping no had the audacity to think they could listen in to this animated discussion.

What's going on we wondered, intimidated out off prying into this secret conversation unfolding before our very eyes?

Secret meetings in plain sight?

Apparently, someone forgot about the open meeting laws of our state.

Now there’s a new one for the august lawyers in attendance, full of solemn splendor and dignity?
Well it turns out that Casey O'Donnell, the acting zoning enforcement officer had tipped over the apple cart on the way to the coronation of the Town's pandering to the soccer dads who were anxious for another field.

No matter that it would be under the Electromagnetic Force (EMF) of the super high tension power lines with a radiation field so strong, the wires "sing" their carcinogen danger on developing children's bodies. A force so strong, it makes the flagpole hidden cell tower, bathing an elementary school, seem miniscule in comparison.

Anyway, Casey had sent last minute warnings that he would not let the Town bring and place 4 feet of soil over acres of coastal flood plain protected land even if it was the way the Feds had ordered the soil carcinogen to be "capped" so our little dears would not be scampering around in their bear feet absorbing the arsenic up through the souls of their feet.

We want no "Love Canal" here in Greenwich. It would seem so tacky to kill the babies of the "super elite rich" of the families who call Greenwich home. Never mind, the issue of the vast Nutcracker army of water rats who will also call the Power Plant Park their home too. Thanks to the wonderful habitat created by the mammoth stone "rip-rap" placed on the sound's banks at the cost of Millions. It appears no provision by the Conservation Commission was ordered to create a habitat for the Rat's predators.

We can't have "killer" animals living in a pristine Greenwich park, can we?

A $10 million park for soccer players and water rats?

Is there a poetic justice here by the powers that be in Greenwich?

It seems the powers that be have a sense of humor and whimsy to their reprisal.

But back to Casey and his monkey wrench. A little history is order. Back 40 or so years ago when the National government decided that they needed to protect everyone who lived on a river, pond or sea shore from the calamity of flooding; not by removal, but by government sponsored insurance.

But how to get the people to buy the insurance voluntarily?

And how to force every municipality to declare what a flood plain was?

So our congress passed a law.

Really, passed one without an unconstitutional super majority.

The demand was this: If a town failed to adopt the Fed's declared flood plain boundaries and corresponding regulations, no one, not one, no matter whether they were subject to flooding or not, could mortgage their home with any institution in any way insured by the Federal government.

100% voluntary compliance.

Well, fast forward to today.

It seems Casey seems to read the law so that if the Town violates the covenants, with the P & Z's blessings, of the no "filling" of coastal flood plains, no one, no matter where they live, will be able to get a mortgage with one of these Fed insured institutions. Not one mortgage in all of Greenwich.


The powers that be do have a sense of humor, don't they?

What's a little 4 feet of fill here, there and everywhere?

The Feds have to learn to take a Joke.

And then again, maybe we can make a deal for our house mortgages from Abu Dhabi?

They’re it the money these days, aren't they?

So now what?

The Feds say you have to cap. The Feds say, but not with dirty clean fill. A town, home to the gangsters who figured to how to sucker the "little people" into wealth destructive mortgages, surly ought to be able to wiggle out of this conundrum.

They were so smart the last time.

They only collapsed the world's wealth by 40%.

Smart minds can solve any problem.

UPDATE:
As Ussual,
The Grenwich Time Is A Day Late And A Dollar Short
By Frank MacEachern, Staff Writer
A potential hitch that could affect flood insurance rates for town residents caused the Planning and Zoning Commission to delay voting Tuesday on a plan to turn the Cos Cob Power Plant at 22 Sound Shore Drive into a new town park.

The plan would make the 9.7-acre site into a park that would include an artificial-turf field, walking paths and a children's play area.

Midway through the meeting, however, it was discovered that part of the site's waterfront is in an area that could be strongly affected by large waves from tropical storms and may violate Federal Emergency Management Agency guidelines.
Comment:
Once Again,
The Greenwich Time Fails To Report The Full Story
There Is Nothing About Acting Zoning Enforcement Officer Casey O'Donnell Email
There Is Nothing About The Public Meeting Tape Recorders Being Turned Off
There Is Nothing About The Illegal Sidebar P&Z Meeting That Violated The Open Meeting Laews Of Our State
The Greenwich Time Continues .....
The National Flood Insurance Program is administered by FEMA and is a voluntary program whose goal is reduce the loss of life and damage caused by flooding, said Katie Blankley, the town's deputy director for planning and zoning.

In exchange for federally backed flood insurance, municipalities, like Greenwich, adopt and enforce regulations to control new construction, substantial improvements and repairs, she said.

Part of the proposed new park falls into that category, and the commission is going to check with FEMA to see if the development can proceed, she said.
Comment:
Shouldn't Katie Blankley, the town's deputy director for planning and zoning have with FEMA to see if the development can proceed, before the public hearing was started?
Why Doesn't Greenwich Time Reporter Frank MacEachern mention that affordable workforce housing for emergency responders, nurses and teachers was supposed to be on the Cos Cob Power Plant Site?
Maybe Hearst Newspaper Reporter Frank MacEachern Has Been Around Long Enough To Know What Is Really Going On In The Backrooms Of Town Hall?
The Greenwich Time Continues ......
The commission left the matter open and may discuss it at its next meeting on Jan. 26.

The coal-fired plant began operation in 1907 to provide electrical power for the New Haven rail line, which runs just north of the former power plant site. The plant continued providing power to the trains that transported millions of commuters until the 1980s when it ceased operations.

The plant was removed in 1999 and 2000 at a cost of $6 million that was shared between the town and the state. Soil contaminated by PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) has already been removed from the site.

Town officials plan to open the park to the public in 2012..... Blah .... Blah ..... Blah ..... Blah ......
COMMENT:
The Greenwich Time Just Runs Planning And Zoning Press Releases Though The Spell Checker, Before Hi ting The Publish Button.
Once Again Frank MacEachern Has Failed To Stay For All Of The Planning And Zoning Meeting And Hasn't Bothered To Ask Planning And Zoning Officials The Tough Questions.
Mainstream Corporate News Reporter Frank MacEachern Didn't Know About The Illegal Sidebar Meeting, Because He Wasn't There To See It.
However, Citizen Journalist Barry Montgomery Was There Tuesday Night And Reported It On Wednesday.
That's Why If You Want To Know What Is Really Going On In Greenwich You Have Got To Read The Local Blogs And Out Of Town Newspapers
PLEASE SEE:
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09/06/10 Jim Himes Says: Thank you.

Jim Himes for Congress

Friends,

Today is the one year anniversary of my swearing-in to the U.S. Congress. It has been a wild ride, to say the least. We have worked hard to turn the economy around. While far too many Americans remain in real distress, indisputable signs of recovery are cause for hope. The epic battles around health care reform, financial regulation and energy have been tough, but have moved our country forward. Nothing that comes out of Washington is perfect, but I have been proud to contribute to these efforts.

I have also not been shy about breaking with my party when conscience or the interests of my constituents required it. Thus, in one year, I have accumulated the single most independent voting record of any Congressperson in New England.

I am hopeful that year two of this term will see the completion of much of what we started in year one. I am hopeful that we will focus on an issue that I believe is critical to the future of this country, but which has been on the back burner to date: education.

And of course, I hope that our economic recovery eases the pain of so many Americans, and that our troops abroad are safer and more secure than they were in 2009.

In this difficult first year, your support has meant the world to me. Your phone calls, emails and participation in meetings big and small have made me a better representative, and have strengthened my faith in our democratic process. Your financial generosity has given us a tremendous sense of momentum and support. In fact, because of your support not only did we meet our year end fundraising goal -- we surpassed it!

I can't tell you how much your generosity means to me and to this campaign. Thank you again for standing with me and fighting to stop the efforts to undo the progress we have made. Together, we can and we will continue to make a difference in 2010.

Sincerely,

Jim


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01/06/01 Greenwich Resident Son And Law Of Empire State Building Owner Richard Blumenthal Wants Dodd's Seat

Chris Dodd: Jumps ship
Blumenthal Steps In As Conneticut Voters Have Become Sick And Tired Of Dodd's Banking And Hedge Fund Buddies In Greenwich

Polls Say Voters Are Tired Of Dodd Cutting His Wall Street Friends Some Slack As He Gets A Sweetheat Mortgage Deal .....

Dodd, D-Conn., retiring from Senate; AG to run
Houston Chronicle -
John Christoffersen, Susan Haigh
Connecticut's popular Democratic attorney general, Richard Blumenthal, quickly announced he would run to replace Dodd. Blumenthal, 63, said he has had his ...

Video: Sen. Byron Dorgan Announces Retirement

CleanSkies.com

Replacing Senator Dodd: Who is Richard Blumenthal?
Christian Science Monitor


First on Ticker: GOP FOIAs Democratic candidate
CNN Political Ticker (blog)

Blumenthal jumps in
Politico (blog)
Some good news on a basically dark day for the Democrats: Richard Blumenthal, the Connecticut Attorney General and the White House's preferred candidate all ...


Blumenthal Announces Senate Bid
Associated Content
Will Blumenthal take his seat? Back in March of '09, Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, a registered Democrat, was quoted by Dean C. Pagani, as saying "It ...

Dodd's Retirement: Seismic Fallout As Politicos Angle For Attorney General ...
Hartford Courant

Here's A Dark Horse Canidate To Replace Blumenthal......

Jepsen to run for AG
TheDay.com

Republicans in the running to replace Dodd include Rep. Robert Simmons, who had been ahead of Dodd in the polls, Linda McMahon, former chief executive of World Wrestling Entertainment, and businessman Peter Schiff.

This going to be one ugly race ......

The National Republican Senatorial Committee sent a request this morning to Blumenthal's office asking for copies of information ranging from "budget requests" and "state credit cards issued to Attorney General Blumenthal or provided for his use" to statistics on "plea bargain rates, felony conviction rates, and all other data associated with cases handled by the Office of the Attorney General for each year beginning in 1991 through present."

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01/06/10 The Raw Greenwich News Feed: Afternoon Edition

Greenwich News Reports:

Blumenthal: 5 Things You Might Want To Know
Hartford Courant
By JON LENDER The Hartford Courant Richard Blumenthal, 63, of Greenwich, is in his unprecedented fifth term as state attorney general, a post he has held ...
Greenwich police blotter
Greenwich Time
A 17-year-old Greenwich boy was arrested and charged Dec. 29 with possession of cannabis, interfering with an officer and second-degree forgery. ...
Focusing On Dating Violence
Hartford Courant
Three high school students from Greenwich, Stamford and Norwalk
, all of whom are involved in the Center for Youth Leadership, recommended that schools train ...
Skyscraper envy? No way, Empire State Building owner says
Greenwich Time
By Neil Vigdor, Staff Writer Peter Malkin wouldn't trade the view from the Empire State Building, of which the ...
WishList expands despite tough economy
Westport-News
Over time, as two more stores opened in Darien and Greenwich, WishList became the go-to place in lower Fairfield County to purchase clothing for young ...
Police seek pendant owners
Greenwich Time
"The articles were brought to the attention of the Greenwich Police Department following a suspicious pawn transaction,". ...
Natural Gas Futures Gain Most in a Week, Top $6 on Cold Weather
BusinessWeek
...
materially oversupplied to more manageable inventory levels," said Tom Orr, director of research at Weeden & Co., a brokerage in Greenwich, Connecticut. ...
Parks and Recreation collects Christmas trees
Greenwich Post
Greenwich Point, 6 am until sunset — first parking lot across from the Nature Center. • Holly Hill Recycling Center, 7 am to 3 pm weekdays and 7 to noon on ...
Election commission questions McMahon's campaign
Stamford Times
In a letter sent on Christmas Eve day to the treasurer of the Greenwich Republican's campaign committee
, an FEC analyst asked that the candidate's ...

Greenwich In The Blogoshere:

Gosh, maybe Greenwich Time isn't dead after all « For What It's Worth
By christopherfountain
Just a few weeks after making the smart move of hiring Riverside's Bob Horton as a weekly columnist, GT has added Teri Buhl to its staff. ...
For What It's Worth - http://christopherfountain.com/
$10950000 • Greenwich, CT Haute Living Magazine
By Haute Living
Beautiful Georgian-style estate amid 2.3 park-like acres.
Haute Living Magazine - http://www.hauteliving.com/
Republican Caucuces Tonight. – Our Greenwich
By franktrotta
Our Greenwich - http://ourgreenwich.com/

Recently Updated Greenwich Web Pages:




Greenwich Connecticut Hotels- Hyatt Regency Greenwich- CT Hotel
Hyatt Regency Greenwich - official site. Indulge in luxuries at our Four-Diamond Greenwich hotel just 45 minutes from NYC. ...

Greenwich Republicans clamor for estate tax relief - StamfordAdvocate
M. Jodi Rell vetoed a pair of bills Monday seeking to delay tax relief for heirs of estates over $2 million, currying favor with some of the same ...

Animation Technical Assistant Scripting Jobs in Greenwich, CT ...
Job search for 2 Animation Technical Assistant Scripting Jobs in Greenwich, CT at indeed.com. one search. all jobs.


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01/06/10 The Raw Greenwich News Feed: Overnight Edition

The Latest Greenwich News Reports.....

Trumbull downs Greenwich in girls basketball
Greenwich Time
By David Fierro, Staff Writer Facing just a five-point halftime deficit against formidable Trumbull, the Greenwich High School girls basketball team was in ...
Police: Town man pulls gun on chimney sweeps
Greenwich Time
By Debra Friedman, STAFF WRITER A Greenwich man caused alarm Tuesday morning when he pulled a gun on two chimney sweeps who had arrived on his property to ...
Landscaper Arraigned In Daughter's Death
Hartford Courant
STAMFORD - A Greenwich landscaper has been arraigned on murder charges in connection with the stabbing death of his daughter. Adam Dobrzanski was arraigned ...
Democrats to hold caucuses
Greenwich Post
The Greenwich Democratic Town Committee will hold its bi-annual caucuses on Thursday, Jan. 7, at 8 pm at various locations. ...
Darien Times
'Enough's enough': Wave hockey, Vieira get first win with second period ...
Darien Times
Five unanswered goals vs. defending FCIAC champ Greenwich in the second period is all it took. "The mood (had) been kind of glum, to say the least," said ...
Spencer Trask & Co. Predicts 2010 the Year of Innovation in New Venture ...
PR Newswire (press release)
Headquartered in Greenwich, Conn., Spencer Trask invests in early stage and emerging growth companies in the communications, information technology and life ...
Church collects cozy accessories
Greenwich Post
The cozy items were given to the children at the Head Start program at Armstrong Court in Greenwich. In addition, the school collected unwrapped gifts for ...
Find a light
Westport-News
The state made national headlines this week when a Greenwich man allegedly turned on his own family. The Dobrzanski family and friends awoke to almost ...
Letter From The President Of The Connecticut Chapter Of
The Metropolitan Coporate Counsel
On hand were Jeffrey Blomberg (partner in the Greenwich office), John Greenwood (New Haven), Mitchell Kops (New Haven), and Justin Zamparelli (New York), ...
Hedge Fund AQR Goes 'Mom & Pop'
Wall Street Journal
The Greenwich, Conn.-based hedge fund firm built its reputation by managing quantitative funds for wealthy and institutional investors. ...
Mr. Bagel Express opens in Norwalk
The Hour
Riina also owns Village Bagels in Westport, Fairfield, and Greenwich. Riina likes the Norwalk location because of the corporate and small businesses that ...
Smith Bagley, Executive and Democratic Fund-Raiser, Dies at 74
New York Times
Smith Walker Bagley was born on April 1, 1935, in Manhattan and grew up in Greenwich, Conn
., the son of Henry and Nancy Reynolds Bagley. ...
FOREX-Dollar falls vs yen on housing data, rate outlook
Reuters
... dollar purely for reasons of expecting a higher yield," said Andrew Wilkinson, senior analyst at Interactive Brokers Group in Greenwich, Connecticut. ...
Riverside Partners Holds a Final Close on $406 Million for Fund IV
Earthtimes (press release)
GREENWICH, Conn. - (Business Wire) Atlantic-Pacific Capital, the largest independent global placement agent for alternative investment funds, is pleased to ...
Special
ESPN
He previously worked for the Greenwich (Conn.) Time and The (Stamford, Conn.) Advocate, and has written online for CBS Sports and Comcast SportsNet New ...
Crime and Punishment
Hartford Advocate
at Carriage House Motor Cars in Greenwich, when an 83-year-old Bronx, NY, man entered the place with three young accomplices and demanded to speak with ...
Winchester High wrestling team places 7th at Lowell Holiday Tournament
Winchester Star
47-21 and Greenwich (Conn.) 36-34. The semifinal Winchester win over Amity Regional (New Haven County, Conn.) couldn't have been any closer, 30-29. ...

Greenwich In The Blogoshere:

In the News » Professors publish study on value of redevelopment ...
A soon-to-be-published study of the Greenwich real estate market found that, historically, up to 10.5 percent of a home's price has reflected the opportunity to redevelop it later. "You're often paying a premium to develop the house, ...
In the News - http://blog.fairfield.edu/inthenews/
Artist Talk at Finn Gallery, Greenwich Library, Sunday January 10 ...
By admin
Learn the back-stories to the paintings now hanging at the Greenwich Library Flinn Gallery (through January 27th) at an Artist Talk on Sunday January 10th @
Greenwich On The Cheap - http://www.greenwichonthecheap.com/
Hartford Advocate: News - More Money, More Problems
By By Gregory B. Hladky
There was Brook Johnson, a Greenwich textile mogul who spent about $2 million of his own money on a 1992 Republican U.S. Senate campaign before getting whomped by Chris Dodd. A wealthy Darien Republican named Jack Orchulli sold his ...
Hartford Advocate: News - http://www.hartfordadvocate.com/section.cfm?uid=28

The Most Recently Updated Web Pages About Greenwich



Murder in backcountry Greenwich - NewsTimes
Greenwich, Dec. 31,2009. The driveway of 100 Sterling Road where a murder has taken place. Adam Dobrzanski is charged in killing his daughter Amanda, ...
Darien boys hockey edges Greenwich - StamfordAdvocate
GREENWICH -- A memorable second period gave Darien High School boys ice hockey coach Larry Vieira a victory he won't soon forget. ...


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01/06/10 Reader Submitted Comments: Greenwich Time Comments

Have you noticed that there are never any comments in Greenwich Time's new ECHO comment forum?

Have you ever read the onerous registration form one must fill out to make comments on above forum?

Might there be some sort of connection there?

ANONYMOUS.

COMMENT:
This dying money losing newspaper just can't get it's act together when it comes to the online edition.
With the topix messageboards the Greenwich Time had an active and pasionate online following.
All ECHO has done is create a frustrated readership that feels ignored.
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