Milford Republican Town Committee

Key News

Support Our State Senate Candidate

The West Haven Republican Town Committee is hosting a fundraiser for Senate candidate Mike DeGrego and, of course, welcomes MRTC members to attend. The event is this Thursday, May 17th from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Italian American Club, 85 Chase Lane, West Haven. All are welcome.

The Passing of Lew Scarpa

With great sadness, we express our sincere condolences to Rose Scarpa on the passing of her beloved husband, Lew.
The funeral mass for Lew will begin at 11 a.m., Thursday, May 3rd at Saint Agnes Church, Merwin Avenue, Milford.
Please join us as we gather to support Rose through this difficult time.

Support Milford Earth Day - April 14th

By: Alderman Dan German

Milford, Connecticut, April 3, 2012 - With Earth Day just around the corner, I was disheartened last night when the Democrat majority of the Board of Aldermen declined to even discuss possible funding opportunities.

Every year, the Milford Earth Day Committee solicits private donations to support the citywide cleanup; however, the cost of the event typically taps out the budget completely. I had hoped this year that the City could chip a small amount of seed money for:

A permanent tool cache to lend out for volunteer service projects throughout the year;
Supplies like paint to assist this year’s Earth Day effort; and
Items like plants to help beautify our great city.

The amount I envisioned wasn’t grand – slightly more than $5,000 as an Earth Day commitment and promise to improve our open spaces throughout the year. I thought it would have been money well-spent – or, at the very least, worth discussing.

Unfortunately, I was really surprised and disappointed when the Board voted down the opportunity to discuss my proposal to fund the Earth Day program's outreach ability. Protocol requires agreement of two-thirds of the Aldermen (10 members) in order to add to the meeting agenda an item of “New Business” like this. Democrats stood united against the opportunity to discuss it, voting nine to five Republicans, who favored the discussion.

Despite this setback, Vincent Piselli, Director of the Milford Earth Day Committee, did a great job promoting Milford Earth Day last night before the Board of Alderman and a packed house! For eight years now, he and a group of 10 talented and dedicated environmental leaders have organized the Milford Earth Day event and have led nearly 10,000 hours of service in cleaning our open spaces.

This year, Earth Day will be held on Saturday, April 14th from 8am to 3pm at Eisenhower Park. Every year hundreds of enthusiastic volunteers gather together to work in the park and around Milford to improve our city on that day! This is a great event and a tremendous amount of work gets completed.

Residents are welcome to join our existing private sponsors who support Milford Earth Day's community stewardship program. Contributors who would like to donate funds, tools or plants to Milford Earth Day may contact: Ed Abbazia, (203) 848-7543, Edward.Abbazia@Gmail.com or Vincent Piselli, (203) 506-9888, gardensrx@gmail.com. For more information, please see www.milfordearthday.org.

IT’S THE “T” WORD, AGAIN.

Where's the Transparency?

At the Board of Aldermen public hearing Monday, Mayor Blake looked annoyed as speaker after speaker pleaded with legislators to table his plan to change municipal health insurance carriers – if only so employees can digest the impact of the change. Blake countered that a scheduled employee seminar on April 10th would answer all their questions about the plan he wanted to implement on April 2nd.

The taxpayers were not amused.

One after another, teachers, union leaders, firefighters, municipal workers, paramedics, and school administrators worried aloud that Blake was handing them inferior coverage at greater cost. A main complaint was that the mayor gave them no information before trying to slam it through the Board of Aldermen.

The good news is that Blake apparently used RFP’s to solicit new healthcare, dental and pharmacy management services. This is a nice change from the recent no-RFP, no-bid award to new municipal bond counsel, Pullman & Comley – the generous Democrat campaign contributor.

In fact, this healthcare change may be a terrific initiative, a great idea, and a massive money-saver from the word “go”. If so, transparency will be a beautiful thing.

At least the Aldermen got the message. They tabled the implementation of the healthcare benefit change pending receipt and review of additional information.

Mayor's Youth Awards

Nominations are due April 5 for the 24th annual Mayor's Youth Award. Our own Matt Gaynor received this recognition several years ago!

Any resident (age 18 or younger) or group can be nominated. Nominees can be anyone who has helped to improve the quality of life for the City or for an individual. Awards will be given in the elementary, middle and high school categories. The mayor and Milford Youth & Family Services will present the awards on May 16 at City Hall.

Nomination forms can be obtained at Milford Youth & Family Services, 150 Gulf Street; the mayor's office; or at www.ci.milford.ct.us. The completed nomination forms can be faxed to 203-783-3238 or e-mailed to croche@ci.milford.ct.us. For more details, please call 203-783-3253.

I'm betting there are young people out there participating in our community or neighborhood organizations who deserve this recognition. Let's nominate them!

Lisa

Jim Richetelli 2012 Hall of Fame Honoree

To mark the event, the Republican Town Committee will make contributions to Foran and Jonathan Law High Schools in Jim Richetelli's name.

For photos from the event, click here. For photos from other events, click here

Election Cash to Mayor Blake Looks Bad

Appointment Follows Generous Campaign Contributions

At an Oct 27 fundraiser for Milford Mayor Ben Blake, 17 Pullman & Comley lawyers showed up and contributed more than $3,000. In addition the Bridgeport based firm purchased advertising space in Democratic campaign ad books.

Pullman also contributed to Democratic mayoral hopefuls in Middletown and New Britain. Campaign records show Pullman lawyers gave far more money to the campaigns of the three mayors than any of their legal competitors.

Following the election of Blake and the other Democrats, Pullman was chosen to handle the bond business in all three cities.

For details, click here

CT GOP Changes Presidential Primary Rules

This year's Presidential Primary is scheduled for April 24th. The GOP has changed the way delegates to the national convention will be awarded in order to attract more Republican candidates to compete actively in our state.

For complete details on the new approach, click here

Election Results

We'd like to thank Bob Joy, Linda Stock and all of the candidates who agreed to represent the Republican Party in this year's election. We'd also like to thank the many people who volunteered to work on this year's campaign. We're constantly amazed by your dedication, enthusiasm and hard work and we're proud to have been able to work alongside all of you. We want to congratulate Ben Blake, Linda Stock and all of the Republican and Democratic candidates who won this year.

Typically after an election, the party that lost begins attacking and looking to score political points. The party taking power responds in kind. This goes on until the people of Milford become so disgusted that the parties are force to stop temporarily. Republicans have said repeatedly that people of both parties need to come together and work for the good of our city. We believe this when a Republican is mayor and we believe this when a Democrat is going to be mayor. We promise that we will not engage in petty partisan politics. We're going to focus our efforts on doing what's best for our city.

For complete election results, click here

City Clerk Linda Stock - A Record of Accomplishment

2009 – Present

All Resolutions back to 1965 including one additional year, 1948, have been indexed into our computers for easy access
Secured a State of Connecticut grant to have our Code of Ordinances placed on line
City Charter put on line
Installed a new scanning system which saves time (documents are scanned into the system)
City Clerk Operations Manual being updated (last revision was in 1989)
Updated job descriptions for Clerks and Assistant City Clerks
Celebrate “Municipal Clerks Week” by sharing our office duties with the public as well as students
Developed a coloring book for children, enabling them to understand what duties the City Clerk’s office performs, i.e., dog licenses, marriage licenses, hunting and fishing licenses, etc.
Held mini-safety seminar with Milford Police to make the office more secure for staff
Office has been remodeled and reconfigured by our Public Works Department
We now have a separate area for our visitors, complete with a new copier whose lease is approximately ½ as much as the old copier
Claims, maps, trade names and veterans listings have been placed on our in-house computers
We are collecting e-mail addresses to remind citizens to license their dogs
We kick off dog licensing month by inviting our Police Canines to our office to receive their licenses (along with some treats of course)
Recreated, microfilmed and bound 3 volumes of our veterans discharge papers (this will be done in our office from now on)
We are in the process of having our land records scanned back to 1997 in order to have them available to all on line
Ten years of our vital statistics have been codified and bound
Developed and implemented recapitulation calculation spreadsheet for elections to back up hand counts
Last but by no means least, we have begun single stream recycling in our office

Republican Women of Milford Raise $2,750 for Library

City Clerk Linda Stock and the Republican Women of Milford sponsored the first annual RWM Charity and raised $2,750 for the Friends of the Milford Library.

Participants played 9 holes of golf, and had a family style dinner and a chance to win incredible prizes including a car form Courtney Honda.

The event was chaired by Gina Badalamenti.

For photos from the event, click here. For photos from other events, click here

Republican Women of Milford Charity Open

Help the Library

The Republican Women of Milford sponsored the first annual RWM Charity Open on Tuesday, August 23rd at the Orchards Golf Course. The group is raising money for the Friends of the Milford Library.

Participants played 9 holes of golf, and had a family style dinner and a chance to win incredible prizes including a car form Courtney Honda.

The event was chaired by Gina Badalamenti.

For photos from the event, click here. For photos from other events, click here

Thank You Oyster Festival

A Fantastic Day. A Fantastic Event

Milford Republicans are proud that we were able to participate in this year's Oyster Festival. Tens of thousands of people turned out to visit our city and many will return to shop, dine and maybe even move here or start a business.

We really appreciate the efforts of all the unpaid volunteers who work so hard to make this event successful. It gives us an chance to raise a little money on our food booth and we're able to talk to people and find out what their concerns and issues are and how we might be able to help. We try to do our small part to help make the event a success.

Pictured is City Clerk Linda Stock who is in charge of volunteer area at the Oyster Festival.

For more pictures from the event, click here. For photos from other events, click here

2011 Hall of Fame Dinner

Honorees: Joe Della Monica and Sam Bergami

On Monday, February 28, 2011, the Milford Republican Town Committee held its fifth annual Hall of Fame Dinner. The annual event recognizes individuals who - regardless of political affiliation - have made outstanding contributions to the local community. This year Sam Bergami, Jr. and Joseph Della Monica, Sr. were honored. Mayor James Richetelli said, “We believe that there are some people who consistently go above and beyond in contributing to our community and tonight we are pleased to honor two such men”.

Joe Della Monica has served on the Board of Aldermen, the Inland Wetlands Agency and the Permanent Schools Facilities Building Committee. As vice chairman of the Committee of Concerned Citizens for People with Disabilities, he works to make Milford accessible and enjoyable for all citizens. He has advocated vigorously for Bodie’s Playground, an all-inclusive playground being developed in Eisenhower Park. He is also actively involved with the Republican Town Committee. Tom Jagodzinski, Republican Town Committee Chairman, said: “Joe brings a passion and commitment to everything he does that’s infectious. He makes everyone around him want to get involved and work harder. We’re incredibly lucky to have him as part of our team”.

Police Commissioner Sam Bergami is a successful local business owner. He has received many awards for his involvement in community organizations and activities, his contributions to the business community and his business acumen. He is President and CEO of Alinabal Holdings Corp., which has been identified as one of the 100 Top Entrepreneurial Organizations in America. He has received an honorary Doctorate in Business from the University of New Haven, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Milford Chamber of Commerce, a Small Business Person of the Year Award from the Connecticut Small Business Administration and a Good Scout Award from the Boy Scouts of America. In 2007, he was inducted into the Southwest New England Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame.

Paula Smith, majority leader of the Board of Aldermen, chaired the Hall of Fame Committee. A couple hundred people attended the event. Tom Jagodzinski said, “The great thing about this event is that people from across the political spectrum come out to enjoy themselves and say thank you to our honorees. It doesn’t matter if you’re Republican, Democrat or independent, you’re always among friends here.”

For photos from the event, click here. For photos from other events, click here

Unity the Key to Victory

Don't just Vote, Recruit

With the primary over, the Republican team lead by Foley, McMahon and Labriola is in a great position for the fall election.

But we're not going to win unless we all come together. Ct GOP Chairman Healy said it best : " There were some pretty tough words exchanged in some races. Let us all work to make sure whoever wins has everyone on the same team in the coming days and weeks ahead. This is where members of the State Central Committee, local town committees and other long time activists will play a crucial role.

Republicans must stand together and work together to save our state and restore our country. We can't do that by holding old or new grudges, being petty or refusing to deal with the reality of defeat. Any effort on your part to smooth out some rough spots in your town or district will help ensure a united, excited Republican team on the ground for the fall."

Welcome Democrats - Thanks for Endorsing Our Site

Republicans Are a Notoriously Fun Bunch

The Milford Democratic Party endorsed our web site saying: "their whole website is a hoot". We try to mix serious issues with a little humor and satire and we're glad to see our efforts are appreciated. We try to be funny without being mean.

It doesn't matter if you're a Republican, Democrat, Independent or unaffiliated, after this election we want to join with you as friends and neighbors and work together to make our city, our state and our country even better.

Please join our e-mail list and we do accept converts.

Hall of Fame Honorees Named

Doris Knight and Walter Farley will be honorees at this year's Republican Hall of Fame Dinner. The event will take place on Monday, March 29th at 6:30 at the Costa Azzurra Restaurant, 72 Broadway, Milford. There will be a silent and live auction. Tickets are $30.00 and can be obtained by e-mailing mrtcchair@aol.com..

Campaign 2011

Republicans on the March