By James Tinley
Register Staff
MILFORD — A judicial marshal accused of trading doughnuts and cookies for sexual acts with a 19-year-old female inmate remains free on $1,000 bail after his arraignment Friday at Superior Court at Milford.
Manfred E. Vives, a lead judicial marshal, allegedly grabbed the breast of an inmate, who on several other occasions flashed her breasts and kissed another female inmate while Vives watched, in exchange for baked goods and sweets, according to an arrest warrant affidavit.
Vives, 39, of Ansonia, was arrested on a warrant charging him with fourth-degree sexual assault.
In a written statement to police Vives denied all accusations and said he was being targeted in retaliation for raising concerns about inmate and marshals’ safety because of staffing levels. The inmate said she flirted with Vives and willingly flashed her breasts for doughnuts and cookies while in the lockup in the basement at the courthouse, according the warrant affidavit.
The flirting allegedly began Sept. 12 and continued Oct. 23 and Nov. 6, the days when the 19-year-old was brought from York Correctional Institution in Niantic for court appearances.
There are no security cameras or audio recording devices in that section of the courthouse.
In a statement to police, the inmate said Vives reached through the bars and grabbed her breast after reaching in to give her an orange soda.
“He did not force me to do anything I did not want to do,” she said in a statement to police. “I don’t want to make a complaint and don’t want him arrested.”
But according to the warrant affidavit, she also said, “I was subject to humiliation and sexual misconduct right here in this cellblock.”
Authorities learned of the accusations only after the inmate asked another marshal for cookies.
She allegedly told him that she had previously flashed a marshal matching the description of Vives in exchange for food. That marshal went to his supervisor, who took a statement from the inmate, eventually resulting in the arrest of Vives.
Chief Judicial Marshal Louis A. Speringo Jr. said he could not comment while the case against Vives is pending.
Vives became a judicial marshal in 1999 and worked in the Bridgeport Judicial District. He transferred to the Ansonia-Milford district in July 2007.

By Brian McCready
Milford Bureau Chief
MILFORD — Ask and you shall receive.
Days after two Democratic aldermen publicly raised concern about the state Department of Transportation’s seemingly slow reaction in removing graffiti from state property, state workers began hurriedly working to get rid of the eyesore.
Alderman Robert Nunno, D-5, and Aldermanic Chairman Ben Blake, D-5, last week both raised concern that the DOT had not removed graffiti from the state’s Old Gate Lane Railroad Bridge.
Nunno and Blake claimed the DOT may be in violation of the city’s new graffiti ordinance that mandates property owners remove graffiti from their properties or face possible fines. After Nunno and Blake shared their concerns Mayor James L. Richetelli Jr. said he had previously asked the DOT to remove the graffiti on several occasions and if it were not removed then the city might perform the work and bill the state.
Late last week DOT workers power washed a portion of the graffiti from the railroad bridge, and by the end of the weekend the graffiti was expected to be removed.
“I’m really happy,” Nunno said of the graffiti being removed. “It’s a quality of life issue. I really hope that this gives this attention and will encourage other property owners to do the same.”
Blake said the DOT’s seemingly quick response was due to “an example of how mighty the power of the pen is,” a reference to media reports on concerns about graffiti on state property.
“The press is a force to be reckoned with,” Blake said. “It’s a positive result that local government is willing to do their part to ensure we clean up the graffiti.”
A DOT spokesman could not be reached for comment.
The Board of Aldermen approved the new ordinance that makes Milford among other communities statewide that allow municipal officials to enter private property and remove graffiti. Milford appears to be the municipality to fine property owners for failing to clean up graffiti, though several New Haven aldermen are pushing for adoption of such fines. The Milford ordinance requires a property owner to remove graffiti within 10 days of receiving a notice, and noncompliance is punishable by up to $90 per day.
The Milford ordinance also allows the Public Works Department to remove the graffiti if a property owner does not, then the city can bill the owner for the costs. If the bill were not paid, the city can place a lien on the property.
The city had been hit with a rash of graffiti last summer and police arrested 17 youths last year for vandalism.

By James Tinley
Register Staff
MILFORD — City environmentalists are impressed with the hundreds of acres of open space Milford has purchased and kept free of development over the years.
But with those hundreds of acres of open space, and no open space manager, a coalition of volunteers has formed to help monitor and keep the city’s open space clean.
The idea behind the Milford Open Space Volunteer Stewardship Program is to share the work it takes to keep tabs on the open space, said Barbara Milton, one the group’s leaders. Each of the 26 members has a map that divides the city into the five voting districts and about 12 other sub-districts. Each member is responsible for keeping tack of the open space that is near their homes.
“It shouldn’t fall on one person all the time,” said Ann Berman, the Environmental Concerns Coalition chairwoman. “It’s a great idea to get everyone organized.”
Milton said she approached the mayor about an open space manager, but given the city’s tight budget, this position is not a priority for funding.
“As a result, our open space has suffered from vandalism, dumping, erosion, vagrancy, invasive species as well as destruction by animals and people,” Milton said. “Although state laws have been put in effect requiring human offenders to pay sizable damages, Milford can still use stewards to help protect and maintain the land.”
She added that the city has been very responsive to most requests, but the city’s “resources are small.”
Police Chief Keith Mello has designated an officer to act as a liaison to help address persistent violations of city laws occurring in areas designated as open space, Milton said. He also sent letters to property owners surrounding the large tract of open space known as the Solomon Property that helped curb people driving dirt bikes and other all-terrain vehicles.
Milton said the enforcement works, but requires continued vigilance by people like her “open space stewards” and police.
The group of “open space stewards” is looking for more volunteers, Milton said. She can be reached at osvsp@optonline.net.
James Tinley can be reached at jtinley@nhregister.com, or 401-3530.

By Brian McCready
Milford Bureau Chief
MILFORD — The Downtown Merchant Business Association and Chamber of Commerce President Kathy Alagno are urging city officials to hire a new police officer to help quell the frayed nerves of downtown business owners.
Recently, there were two high-profile robberies in the city’s downtown.
On March 29, TJ’s Package Store, 43 River St., was robbed by two men who wielded a gun. The pair ran away with an undisclosed amount of cash from the store, police said.
The second robbery took place shortly after midnight on April 10. Alderwoman Jessica Blackletter, D-4, and her friend were robbed at gunpoint while they were walking on the Green. Their assailant made off with their wallets and cell phones, police said.
Police officials say they have responded by beefing up patrols downtown.
Alagno said she will speak with Mayor James L. Richetelli Jr. and members of the Board of Aldermen about hiring an additional police officer for the downtown area. She said the officers could have a “very visible presence during the daytime hours.”
Richetelli said he will meet with police, downtown merchants, and chamber officials soon to hear their concerns. He said hiring one new officer just for downtown may not be possible, but the city would beef up patrols downtown.
Police Chief Keith Mello said there has been a significant increase in the number of visitors downtown because of the thriving businesses there. He said he understands the business owners’ concerns.
“I believe it’s the right of our citizens to let their concerns and desires be known to their elected officials,” Mello said.
“We are doing everything we can with the resources that we have,” he added. “We have a presence down there day and night and when the bars close.”
Mello said the department needs more police officers to meet the increased demand and calls for service. The chief added that for several years the department did not see an increase in staffing levels. Currently, the Board of Finance and Richetelli have approved adding one officer in next year’s budget. Mello, who requested two new officers, said he is also sympathetic to the current difficult economic climate.
Former DMBA President Susan Shaw said she is drafting a letter on behalf of the downtown merchants to the aldermen asking for another officer to be added within 18 months. She said that is how long it takes to hire and train a new officer.
She said the police do a “great job,” and the two “terrible incidents” serve as a reminder to everyone downtown that they have to be “vigilant.” But she added that most people she talked to are “not overly concerned.”
“There is not a sense of panic. We feel safe down here,” Shaw said. “We don’t want to be reactive. We want to be proactive.”
Alagno said she met this week with members of the DMBA and the Police Department to talk about what downtown merchants can do to safeguard themselves. A workshop will be set up for businesses, she said. She added that she will work with police spokesman Officer Vaughan Dumas on e-mail notification if there is a problem or issue downtown.
Register reporter James Tinley contributed to this story.

By Brian McCready
Milford Bureau Chief
MILFORD — City officials are seeking to have the state Department of Transportation remove graffiti from the Old Gate Lane railroad bridge, and if the state doesn’t agree, the city may do the work and send the DOT a bill.
The Board of Aldermen last year approved an ordinance that allows the city to go onto private property and remove graffiti, and appears to be the first community to fine owners for failing to clean up the graffiti. The ordinance requires an owner to remove graffiti within 10 days of receiving a notice, and noncompliance is punishable by up to $90 per day.
The city had been hit with a rash of graffiti last summer and police arrested 17 youths last year for vandalism.
Alderman Robert Nunno, D-5, said he drives by the graffiti on the way to the gym, and feels the state should remove it. He said if private business owners and residents are required to remove the graffiti, a government agency should be treated the same way.
“It’s my personal view that an ordinance is only as good as the municipality enforcing it,” Nunno said.
A state Department of Transportation spokesperson could not be reached for comment.
Mayor James L. Richetelli Jr. said there is not a different standard, and his office has contacted DOT officials on multiple occasions asking them to remove the graffiti.
“We expect they will do that, but they have not given us a date,” Richetelli said.
Because the graffiti is on a railroad bridge, DOT officials say it’s a safety hazard to remove it without the proper expertise, he said.
“We expect them to cooperate,” Richetelli said. “We hope they do it sooner than later. If they don’t, we do have the ordinance, and we will explore the possibility of removing it ourselves, and then billing them.”
The new law allows the Public Works Department to remove the graffiti if an owner does not, and the city can bill the owner for the costs. If the bill is not paid, the city can place a lien on the property.
Aldermanic Chairman Ben Blake, D-5, said he’s driven by the graffiti several times and it caught his eye.
“I felt it was peculiar because we did make a big emphasis a year ago (on graffiti), and I’d hope we hold our government to the same standard as we hold our private citizens to maintain their property in the same pristine condition,” Blake said.
Blake predicted the DOT would remove the graffiti once the issue hit the “papers.”
Nunno said he’s also noticed some graffiti has lingered on buildings downtown, which he said should be addressed. He praised the owner of Route 1 Guitars in Devon, who immediately removed graffiti from his building, and then went next door and removed the graffiti from two adjacent properties.
“The only way to stop this is if the kids don’t see their marker or tag,” Nunno said.

Owner decides to hang on to popular hangout

By Brian McCready
Milford Bureau Chief
MILFORD — A month ago, Stonebridge Restaurant owner Richard Conine said he was putting his separate Daniel Street nightclub up for sale.
At the time, Conine’s nightclub had been in the news for a string of disturbances that occurred at the downtown hotspot.
But on Monday, Conine said he has reversed course, and the facility will remain in its current form. He also said a planned addition to the second floor is about to begin; it will feature a 100-seat theater. He said the second-floor addition work is likely to stretch into next year and could cost in excess of $1.5 million. Currently, the front of the building is being renovated.
“We are going to keep it,” Conine said of the business. “We are excited by Hollywood East moving into Stratford (at the former Army Engine Plant site.) We anticipate a gigantic surge in business.”
Conine said business has been good since the nightclub first opened in March 2005. He said that since the rash of arrests in late January, and early February the club has hired more police officers.
Conine also noted most of the incidents that led to arrests originated elsewhere, then it spilled over into his business.
“We’re a good business and provide entertainment, and allow people to have a drink and dance,” Conine said. “It’s not a problematic place.”
On one weekend in January, police were called to the Daniel Street club on four separate occasions. One incident included a man outside of the nightclub pulling a knife; another included police responding to a fight inside the club, and a woman alleging a man inappropriately touched her.
Police spokesman Officer Vaughan Dumas said Conine has been “proactive” in hiring more police, and while there were several incidents earlier in the year, none of them included local residents.
Economic and Community Development Director Robert Gregory said it’s a good thing for downtown that Conine’s club will remain.
He said he also is very pleased that the performance venue on the second floor is being added.
“It fits into the nighttime entertainment segment we have,” Gregory said.
Conine converted the former Putnam Furniture building at 21 Daniel St. into the nightclub, which is 25 feet from the Stonebridge.
The nightclub features comedy performances, jazz, deejays, bands and private parties.

By Brian McCready
Milford Bureau Chief
MILFORD — A developer is seeking approval to construct nine townhouses in three buildings at the site of a former apartment complex that the city condemned in 2005.
Acquisition Trust LLC, owner of the 180 Melba St. parcel, is seeking to add nine two-bedroom units on land that served as parking for the former dilapidated apartment complex. The entire parcel consists of four acres.
“It’s an environmentally sensitive project, and will have a positive impact on the neighborhood,” said attorney Steve Studer of Milford.
The former 53-unit apartment complex at 180 Melba St. was condemned for myriad health and building code violations, including failing air quality tests and lacking structural integrity.
The city spent about $110,000 relocating the residents, including paying for a portion of their rent and providing emergency housing, which is supposed to be repaid by the building’s owners.
The existing residential building on the property was constructed in 1964.
“Those apartments were never upscale or well-managed,” Studer said. “It became a problem for the city.”
He said the land proposed for the townhouses had contained 19 unregistered motor vehicles, and police were routinely called to the apartments for drug use, breach of peace and domestic incidents.
Studer said his client purchased the building in 2007 and is renovating the existing building. The rehab project includes reducing the number of units from 53 to 41, then adding the nine townhouses. Studer said there is a net reduction of three units, but the number of bedrooms is increasing.
Studer said his client needs a special permit to increase the number of bedrooms proposed for the site. Zoning regulations allow 16 bedrooms per acre. If the applications were approved, 20.5 bedrooms per acre would be allowed.
Studer also produced letters of support from neighbors, including Breaker Beach and Southwind Association.
Assistant Fire Chief Lee Cooke in a letter recounted the property’s checkered past, including numerous code violations, and that extensive mold was rampant inside the building. He wrote that the developer has “consistently stepped up to the plate,” to do the project correctly.
Architect John Wicko said the goal is to make the entire project have a “village character,” and that the units will be upscale. He said in order to make the project more upscale, they needed to add more two-bedroom units.
Originally, there were 29, 1-bedroom units, which has been changed to 18, 1-bedroom units, and 32, 2-bedroom units.
PZB vice Chairwoman Kim Rose, D-3, declined comment on the pending application. The PZB will vote on the application at its May meeting.

Former Milford resident Jeff Strumpf was elected April 15 to a three-year term on the Board of Education in Springfield, NJ. He and two running mates were swept into office by a better than two-to-one margin, defeating three incumbents for seats on the nine-member board.
The three challengers campaigned on a platform of fiscal responsibility, better communication with the community and greater cooperation with the Town Council. They assume office on April 21.
Strumpf is a graduate of Joseph A. Foran High School and earned a degree in communications from Hofstra University. He is global marketing manager for the Orthopedics Division of Stryker Corporation in Mahwah, NJ. He and his wife, Susan, a school psychologist in Union, NJ, live in Springfield with their two daughters, Beth and Jennie, who attend local public schools in Springfield. Strumpf is the son of Phyllis and Manny Strumpf of Milford.


Send us your news about city residents and former city residents.

By Brian McCready
Milford Bureau Chief
MILFORD — When it comes to a proposed pet crematory, you don’t have to ask City Planner David Sulkis twice for his opinion.
At the Planning and Zoning Board’s public hearing Tuesday, Sulkis repeatedly criticized a proposal by Robert Mickolyzck, owner of Snowflake Pet Center, to construct a pet crematory to accommodate the cremation of pets up to 200 pounds in size.
The PZB did not vote on the application, but will likely vote at a May meeting.
“I believe this is a very bad idea. Crematories are a prohibited use throughout the city,” Sulkisa said. “It’s a very noxious use.”
In March, Mickolyzck submitted an application for a special exemption to build and operate a pet crematory at the center.
Sulkis noted that the site of the proposed crematory, 1 Rowe Ave., is a buffer to a residential neighborhood.
Mickolyzck argued that the pet center has operated as a kennel for the past 40 years, a veterinary hospital the past 10 years, and the addition would provide a needed service.
“A crematory will help take care of pets when their time ends,” Mickolyzck said.
He said that when an animal dies he has to store it in a freezer, then ship out the remains to Stamford, Manchester, or Westbrook. There are no pet crematories in this area.
PZB member Janet Golden, D-2, raised concerns about the noise and the affect the crematory would have on the environment.
Mickolyzck responded that there would be “minimal” noise, and there would be no odor because the animals are confined to what he called “dual chambers.”
Not everyone agreed.
“The smell of burning flesh is unmistakable,” said PZB member Kevin Liddy. “How will you control the odor?”
Mickolyzck reiterated that the smell would not be an issue.
“The smell coming from the Burger King on the Post Road is more than us,” Mickolyzck said.
Zoning members also raised concerns over the possibility that Mickolyzck will turn the proposed crematory into a regional facility, and questioned the need for the facility to accommodate some animals that are larger than some humans.
“You’re asking to cremate animals up to 200 pounds. What’s the difference between a large dog and a human?” asked PZB member Frank Goodrich, R-3.
Sulkis provided data from the National Center for Health Statistics, which lists the average American male’s weight at 190 pounds and the average female weight at 163 pounds.
Mickolyzck said there are more restrictions on human cremations in light of some high profile cases in which human remains were never burned. He said if the project were approved, he would keep a log of all animals cremated. He said if the pet owner did not want the ashes, he would put them in the garbage.
The state requires a 20-acre parcel for a human crematory. The state has no requirements for a pet crematory.
PZB member Gregory N. Vetter, R-1, asked whether Mickolyzck planned to turn the crematory into a regional facility, and Mickolyzck responded that he might eventually provide the service for other vets in Milford and possibly Stratford.
Mickolyzck said he would likely cremate about 10 dogs and cats a week. Sulkis said if the PZB approved the pet crematory, it would be “hard pressed to stop additional crematories” from sprouting up in Milford.
The South Central Council of Governments did not approve the application, saying it would have a negative impact on the municipality, Sulkis added.
“I cannot be supportive of this and I did tell Mickolyzck,” Sulkis said. “It’s prohibited all over the city and for good reason.”

By James Tinley
Register StaffA former Milford prosecutor was charged Wednesday with embezzling about $20,000 from his own union and stealing more than $60,000 intended for charity and crime victims, authorities said.
Former Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney L. Mark Hurley was charged with 198 counts of second-degree forgery and two counts of first- and fifth-degree larceny for allegedly pocketing money meant for crime victims.
The thefts allegedly occurred after criminal defendants agreed to pay money for restitution, which was supposed to be disseminated to the victims. The money was given to the prosecutors’ office, and Hurley is accused of keeping that money.
Hurley, 48, of 2 Danube Drive, Trumbull, also is accused of embezzling $18,000 to $21,000 from the Connecticut Association of Prosecutors, where he served as treasurer for 16 years.
Hurley’s attorney, Edward Gavin of Bridgeport, previously said he has offered the union a good-faith payment of $10,000 to show full restitution would be made. Gavin did not immediately return a phone call Wednesday to comment on his client’s arrest.
Hurley surrendered to state police Troop I in Bethany Wednesday morning when he learned there was a warrant for his arrest, state police said. He was released after posting $100,000 bail and will be arraigned Wednesday at Superior Court in Middletown.
“The allegations against Mr. Hurley are serious and go to the heart of our criminal justice system,” said his former boss, State’s Attorney Kevin Lawlor. “Mr. Hurley is presumed innocent. If these charges are proven, however, justice needs to be served.”
Lawlor is in charge of the Ansonia-Milford Judicial District, where Hurley was the supervisory state’s attorney beginning June 9, 1995. Hurley was hired as a prosecutor in 1986.
Neither Lawlor nor Matthew C. Gedansky, the prosecutor handling the case, offered any comment on a potential sentence for Hurley if he is convicted.
“At this early stage, it’s not appropriate to make any comments,” said Gedansky, state’s attorney for the Tolland Judicial District.
A criminal investigation was launched in February 2007 by the State Police Major Crime Squad and the Tolland state’s attorney’s office, resulting in six arrest warrant affidavits being filed against Hurley, said Lt. J. Paul Vance, state police spokesman. Hurley resigned in March 2007 after news of the probe became public.
“The investigation was time consuming, but successful in coming up with a significant number of charges,” Vance said. He said investigating a member of the Judicial Branch did not present an added difficulty. The Tolland state’s attorney is handling the case to “show no possibility of impropriety,” Vance said.

By Brian McCready
Milford Bureau Chief
MILFORD — At Wednesday’s unveiling of the state’s traveling memorial, “Faces of Connecticut’s Fallen,” the father of slain Marine Cpl. Jordan C. Pierson called his son his hero.
One year ago, Eric Pierson of Milford was in Arlington, Va., to celebrate the Iraqi peoples’ Liberation Day anniversary when he met a man from Colorado whose son, a Navy SEAL, was killed when his helicopter was shot down.
Pierson recalled how the man described his son.
“My son is my hero,” Pierson remembered the man saying. “I’ve been saying something close to that … but Jordan Pierson is my hero.”
Pierson, along with his wife, Beverly, and their son, Nathan, were among about 75 people who came out for the unveiling of the Department of Veterans Affairs-sponsored traveling memorial. The memorial depicts the faces of the 42 Connecticut troops killed while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Jordan Pierson, 21, a 2003 Joseph A. Foran High School graduate and University of Connecticut student, was killed Aug. 25, 2006, by a sniper in Fallujah, Iraq.
Eric Pierson recalled another story that he says demonstrates soldiers’ compassion in the face of the brutality of war.
Marines were out late one night looking for an insurgent’s home when they spotted something they thought was a rat, but was instead a “cat with a big head.”
The cat was in poor health and covered in fleas. The Marines carried it back to base. Their superiors told them it was their responsibility to take care of the cat, so they removed the fleas one by one and fed the cat a can of tuna daily.
“They made a difference in this world. One person, one cat, one day at a time,” Pierson said.
The memorial features a video tribute to each of Connecticut’s fallen servicemen and women, which includes a photo of each person, his or her rank, military branch, date of death and country of death.
The memorial will be on display in the foyer of the Veterans Memorial Auditorium at the Parsons Government Center for 90 days. It will be available for public viewing from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m., Monday through Friday, and on weekends when activities occur.
Mayor James L. Richetelli Jr. welcomed everyone in attendance and said how “honored and privileged” the city is to host the tribute.
“At ceremonies like this, how we wish we didn’t have to have these types of ceremonies,” Richetelli said.
He said no matter what people’s opinions on the war are, everyone stands behind the men and women fighting for their country.
Veterans’ Affairs Commissioner Linda S. Schwartz said the idea for the tribute was born after she and Gov. M. Jodi Rell placed a wreath in the state Capitol to commemorate those who died in combat.
Schwartz recalled when Jordan Pierson, who was then in Iraq, sent her an e-mail saying the state’s veteran affairs Web site was “just for the old guys,” and asked what could she do for the younger soldiers.
“I said, ‘I looked at our Web site and you are right,’” Schwartz recalled.
Jordan Pierson told her via e-mail that he wanted to go to college and buy a house. After his tour, he hoped to visit Schwartz.
He died two months later in combat.
“Jordan challenged me to be of service to the men and women coming home today,” Schwartz said. “There is not a day where someone doesn’t benefit from his challenge to me, and that is his legacy.”
Joseph Della Monica Sr., whose son Joseph Jr. has served two stints in the armed forces, said the dedication ceremony was touching.
“It was a tear-jerker for me,” Della Monica said. “It’s a tribute to the men and women who gave their life for their country.”

By Brian McCready
Milford Bureau Chief
MILFORD —Talk of a third historic district in the Gulf Street area has begun, while one Planning and Zoning Board member says she is hopeful there is a way to preserve all 400 historical structures in the city.
PZB member Kim Rose, D-3, who is chairwoman of the PZB historic committee, said there is the possibility of creating a third historic district downtown.
She said there are a number of historic homes along Gulf Street that should be protected.
Rose said she is concerned most of the city’s approximately 400 historic homes are scattered, and she wants to afford those buildings protected, as well.
“How do you protect them from additional exterior renovations affecting the historical nature of the property?” Rose asked. “There is very little the Planning and Zoning Board can do.”
She said she became concerned about the welfare of historic homes after the 18th-century Cadley farmhouse was demolished last year.
“It’s important for every town to preserve its historic buildings. After the demolition of the Cadley property it’s time to protect every home that is left,” Rose said. “We’re a little unusual. We have a lot of scattered homes.”
The purpose of the district is to restrict new construction and additions that change the nature of the area.
Any developer who attempts a project that does not conform to the regulations of the historic district will not be able to proceed.
Rose said there are some state statutes that may give some hope to preserving the historical nature of the scattered homes.
Her committee may make recommendations to the Board of Aldermen to look at creating an ordinance to preserve scattered historic buildings.
City Historian Richard Platt said Stacy Vairo, a professional architectural historian who works for the state Historical Commission, recently updated the city’s historic resources inventory.
He said defining the historical nature of a building is very subjective.
The former Milford Jai-Alai building was on the previous list because of its architectural characteristics, which won awards, he said.
Community landmarks such as Paul’s Hamburgers are also on the list, he said.
Rose said Gulf Street may lend itself to a third historic district because there is a high concentration of historic homes on that street.
Platt said he is all for Gulf Street being made into a third historic district.
“There are a lot of old homes. A lot of 18th-century houses,” Platt said. He said it was in the original charge for the committee that created a historic district south of the Green. “I think I need to give the aldermen a nudge on that after the budget,” Platt said.
“A historic district is the best protection you’re looking for,” he added.
Platt said he remains concerned about the isolated historic homes in the city, but questioned whether anything could be done to protect them.
Aldermanic Chairman Ben Blake, D-5, said the work of the historic committee is a “worthwhile endeavor,” and is something the aldermen will look into.

By Brian McCready
Milford Bureau Chief
MILFORD — Threats of teacher layoffs has prompted Board of Education leaders to suggest joining a proposed state health care consortium as a way to ease the school budget crunch.
School board Majority Leader Greta Stanford, D-1, and Chairman David Hourigan, D-4, said they both want city officials to explore the feasibility of joining state Controller Nancy Wyman’s planned health insurance consortium. They said it could save the city more than $700,000.
But Republican Mayor James L. Richetelli Jr. said at “first glance,” the health care consortium would likely not save taxpayers any additional money. He said city officials will take a closer look at the proposal.
Richetelli said he is pleased Democrats are looking for ways to save money.
“We do that every day,” Richetelli said. “I’m glad they are thinking along the same lines.”
Wyman, along with municipal and labor leaders, earlier this month announced The Enhanced Municipal Employees Health Insurance Plan, designed to save tens of millions of tax dollars that municipalities spend on health insurance. Wyman said the self-funded plan would use the state’s buying power as leverage to help drive down the costs of health insurance by pooling municipal employees statewide into one risk group.
A town with 1,000 employees, including teachers, could save $720,000. Milford has 2,000 employees, including teachers.
Milford’s health insurance is self-funded. Stanford and Hourigan said it’s possible the city’s savings may not be as significant, but they said the city should still research whether funds could be saved.
“At this moment in time, any savings we could get will be to our benefit,” Stanford said.
The school board is seeking a $82.9 million budget, which the Board of Finance has reduced by $2.1 million. The school board’s budget proposal has been reduced from a 6.4 percent increase to a 3.7 percent increase.
City teachers pay 15 percent of their health insurance costs, education officials said.
At a PTA Council meeting last week, Hourigan said parents wanted to hear cost-saving measures to help ensure no teachers will be laid off. If the aldermen do not restore a significant portion of the funds the finance board cut, school officials are threatening double-digit layoffs.
Richetelli said he sent the information he received from Wyman’s office to Finance Director Judith Doneiko for review.
“We’re always looking for a way at making our health insurance more inexpensive,” Richetelli said.
Democratic Town Chairman Richard Smith said it was the Republican-led majorities in city government over the past two decades that have been responsible for raising taxes.

By James Tinley
Register Staff
MILFORD — Two Milford residents have been added to the Sikorsky Memorial Airport Layout Plan Advisory Committee after an oversight left Milford off the committee for months, said Mayor James L. Richetelli Jr.
Flight patterns take planes over most of Milford’s west shore, and many residents don’t want to see an increase in flights. The airport is situated in Stratford but owned by the city of Bridgeport.
Richetelli recently appointed David L. Ivanovich Jr., 25 Marsh St., and John F. O’Connell, 283½ First Ave., to the committee. They are expected to take part in the April 24 meeting. The two also live along the flight path and know first-hand the number and size of planes that fly overhead, Richetelli said.
Alderwoman Suzanne Manning, D-3, said Ivanovich and O’Connell are “two people who feel passionate about the situation and want to have a voice.”
Manning, who represents the district most affected by the air traffic patterns, said she looks forward to the information the two will bring back. “It will be helpful for the residents to know what’s happening with the airport,” Manning said.
The committee is composed of residents and municipal representatives from surrounding communities, pilots and airport officials, said Steve Forbes, a spokesman for the airport. “The committee takes in the issues and advises folks of what their opinions are,” Forbes said.
Interest in the airport has picked up in recent months after plans to renovate and upgrade airport facilities were announced.
Airport officials say the $30 million in upgrades, which include a 38,000-square-foot hanger, a 15,000-square-foot terminal and 15,000 square feet of office space, will only replace existing structures, and there is no plan to expand air service.
Extended safety zones that the Federal Aviation Administration recommended be added to the runways also will mean traffic on Main Street in Stratford will have to be rerouted.
Local environmentalists and other citizens are concerned the upgrades will mean more air traffic and larger jets. “I’m concerned about the fuel and pollutants from the planes as they go shooting across Milford because we are on their flight path,” said Ann Berman, chairwoman of the Environmental Concerns Coalition. “People have complained that the route goes right across the coast of Milford.”
Richetelli said as long as the renovations don’t mean an increase in flights or the size of planes, he supports the plan. But, he cautioned, Ivanovich and O’Connell “need to be watchdogs for Milford.”

By James Tinley
Register Staff
MILFORD — Every time city police officers suit up for work, empty locker No. 43 stares back at them, serving as a reminder of the ultimate sacrifice a fellow officer made 21 years ago on April 12.
To pay tribute to that fallen officer, Officer Daniel S. Wasson, shown at right, city police asked that officers wear a black shroud over their badges last Saturday. Wasson was gunned down in Milford while making a routine traffic stop April 12, 1987.
Officer James Kiely said last week that police also hoped residents would "think of Danny and the sacrifice he made for the citizens of this city."
In Milford, several memorials have been created to honor Wasson, which is a testament to the indelible affect the slain officer had on the city, said Deputy Chief Steve Fournier.
In 2003, the Milford Connector, which runs between Interstate 95 and the Wilbur Cross Parkway, was officially renamed the “Daniel S. Wasson Connector.”
Then-Gov. John G. Rowland signed the measure. Hundreds turned out to honor Wasson. The ballfield behind Parsons Government Center also is named Daniel Wasson Field in his honor, and there is a stone memorial to him on Daniel Street.
“Danny ... will never be forgotten,” Fournier said. “He was a fantastic officer and had a lot of potential.”
Wasson was a two-year member of the force, but in that short time, he became an officer others wanted to emulate, Fournier said.
Wasson was on patrol, with his dog, General, in the early morning when he spotted a car driving erratically on Boston Post Road.
Wasson stopped the car near the Orange line and called in his location to headquarters. He wrote down the car’s license plate number before he got out of his cruiser.
Police said Thomas A. Hoyesen got out of his car, pulled out a revolver and shot Wasson in the chest.
Hoyesen was caught in Bridgeport a short time later. He pleaded guilty to capital murder charges, avoiding a possible death sentence.
Hoyesen, now 54, was sentenced in 1988 to life in prison without the possibility of parole. He is incarcerated at the high/maximum security MacDougall-Walker Correctional Institution in Suffield, Department of Correction online records show.
The record shows that his maximum sentence is 999 years, 99 months and 999 days.
James Tinley can be reached at jtinley@nhregister.com or 401-3530.

MILFORD — The Recreation Department’s Benson-Crump Memorial Community Gardens Program will hold its first Gigantic Tag Sale fundraiser April 26, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Fowler Field Pavilion on New Haven Avenue behind the public library.
The event will be held rain or shine and will feature more than 40 tables of items, including books, household items, glass and dishware, kids’ toys and items, sporting goods, framed artwork, jewelry, tools, gardening items, music CDs, DVDs, VHS tapes, records, handmade beeswax candles and honey, arts and crafts and more.
The Benson-Crump Memorial Community Gardens Program is a practicing organic gardening program on the North Street side of Eisenhower Park. Proceeds from the tag sale will go toward the grounds beautification project in which native species will be planted along the front entrance of the gardens.

By Brian McCready
Milford Bureau Chief
MILFORD — Once again students will go back to school later in the fall, as officials say they will need an extra week to ensure a $7 million renovation of both high school’s science labs is completed.
Permanent Schools Building Committee Chairman Matthew Woods said the current school year was delayed until after Labor Day because officials hoped the science labs would have been renovated last summer, but bids came in too high necessitating the work be put on hold.
Woods said after the Board of Aldermen approved $7 million last week for the science labs, it ensures the work will take place this summer, but more time is needed, meaning school will once again start after Labor Day.
“It will give us more time to get the work done,” Woods said.
“We need the late start to have the least disruption to the educational process,” added school board Chairman David Hourigan, D-4. Woods said he personally has some concerns about whether both Jonathan Law and Joseph A. Foran high schools science labs will be ready, but crews will get a start on the work this week while school is on break.
He said asbestos floor tiles will be removed from both schools, but all of the furniture in the affected areas will be moved out of the school and stored in trucks.
“We determined there was no way it could be done by the Board of Education staff,” Woods said.
Finnegan’s Moving, of New York, will receive $25,171 to move items at Foran, and $19,363 for work at Law. Woods said movers will have to return in the summer to relocate all of the items.
Woods said the PSBC will award the contract April 22 for the science labs work. The low bidder on the Law science labs, which includes replacing some windows, is Connecticut Carpentry, at a cost of $3.35 million. The low bidder for the Foran work is Paragon at $5.53 million.
“We’ve been talking about the science wing for at least the last 10 years,” Hourigan said. “It’s time to get it done.” School board Majority Leader Greta Stanford, D-1, who used to work in the Foran science department, said there washe only 18 labs to be split for 30 students, which caused a serious space crunch.
“We worked under a lot of duress,” Stanford said.
For the past several years, renovations to both Jonathan Law and Joseph A. Foran high schools have been moving along in phases. At Law an elevator was installed, the cafeteria was expanded, and new windows have been installed in the school.
At Foran, less work was completed due to the discovery of lead dust in ceiling tiles. The city is working to remove the lead dust.

Vinny DeLillo, Tom Panzella and Gordon Stewart, all of Milford, tailgated in parking garage 8 across the street from Yankee Stadium before Monday afternoon’s planned season opener in Bronk, N.Y. The game never started due to rain. It was rescheduled for 7:05 tonight.

Photo by Brad Horrigan

By Brian McCready
Milford Bureau Chief
MILFORD — After a brief debate, the Board of Aldermen’s Ordinance Committee voted to adopt an expanded senior tax relief plan Monday evening, which will allow from 450 to 1,000 more seniors to qualify for the program.
The city offers a $600 property tax break for single or disabled seniors earning $29,800 or less or married couples earning $36,500 or less. A total of 990 seniors participate in the senior property tax program, which costs the city $557,000.
The expanded tax relief the Ordinance Committee approved will result in another $300,000 to be shouldered by the remaining taxpayers. The committee endorsed increasing the income guidelines for both singles and married couples by $10,000 each.
Ordinance Committee Chairman James Patterson, D-1, and member Jessica Blacketter, D-4, voted to approve the expanded senior tax relief plan, while member Vincent Ditchkus Jr., R-3, voted against the proposal. Ditchkus wanted to see the plan end after one year so tangible numbers concerning the impact on taxpayers would be fully known.
But Patterson and Blacketter declined to support Ditchkus’ proposal. Ditchkus spoke repeatedly about his concerns that the expanded tax relief would unduly burden the remaining city families, especially young families who are having a difficult time staying in Milford.
“Basically, you are increasing taxes on everyone else by doing this,” Ditchkus said.
Blacketter said everyone is aware that the burden is shifting under this proposal, but she said Republican Mayor James L. Richetelli Jr. pitched his own plan that would have cost taxpayers $2 million to $3 million. She said this proposal will cost the taxpayers about $300,000.
In February, aldermanic Chairman Ben Blake, D-5, created a Senior Tax Relief Committee in an effort to develop a senior tax plan that could be adopted in time for next year’s budget. The Senior Tax Relief Committee, in turn, was charged with advising the Ordinance Committee.
The committee’s chairman, George Amato, told committee members Monday night that, in the future, the city may want to increase the age for seniors to qualify from 65 to 70.
Also, he said the residency requirement could be increased from one to five years to ensure the person has made a contribution to the community.
“This will help 400 to 450 people who are desperately in need of assistance,” Amato said. “This helps people who probably just miss qualifying.”
Patterson and Blacketter thanked Amato and his committee for their hard work, and Richetelli also praised members for getting so much accomplished in a short span of time.
During the public hearing portion of the meeting at City Hall, which attracted 30 residents, just two residents spoke on the proposal both in support.
Joseph Prisco, a longtime senior tax relief advocate, said the proposal is a “start for helping the senior citizens.”
“They need it,” Prisco added. “I’m very happy they were concerned for the seniors who need the help.”

By Brian McCready
Milford Bureau Chief
MILFORD — The Republican Party’s newest leader is a relative newcomer to the city, but one whom party officials say is the right man to help bring the GOP back to political dominance.
The Republican Town Committee unanimously selected Thomas Jagodzinski as its party chairman. He succeeds former ChairmanWin Smith Jr., who decided against seeking re-election after one term.
Jagodzinksi moved to Milford from Shelton four years ago with his wife, Connie, and their three children. During last fall’s election, he and his wife managed the Republican campaign headquarters. Prior to his retirement, Jagodzinski was a senior vice president and the chief technology officer for People’s Bank.
Jagodzinski also is a lecturer and Eucharistic minister at St. Ann Church, and a volunteer at the Hospital of Saint Raphael.
As soon as he moved to Milford, he quickly caught the bug to get involved in politics.
“I was retired and have the time to devote to politics and volunteerism,” Jagodzinski said.
Jagodzinski inherits a party that lost the majority on the boards of Aldermen, Education and Planning and Zoning for the first time since 1985, but Republicans continue their almost two-decade dominance of City Hall.
“I’m looking to bringing people together. There is a lot of talent on the town committee. We need to get people together,” Jagodzinski said.
He said the party is already interviewing candidates for the upcoming state elections, and he said the main issue is that residents of Connecticut pay the highest taxes in the country.
Concerning the next local election, Jagodzinski said the party will develop a clear message for each board.
He said the problem is both Republicans and Democrats say the same thing concerning being committed to lower taxes and maintaining current services.
“People need to know what will happen when they vote Republican,” Jagodzinski said.
Former Republican Town Chairman Jack Fowler said Jagodzinski is “very detail oriented,” and “very hard working.”
“There’s not a lot of glitz but we don’t need glitz,” Fowler said. “We need someone who sweats, pays attention to the details and has common sense and does a great job.”
Mayor James L. Richetelli Jr., a Republican, said he is excited about working with Jagodzinski. “He has a lot of new and fresh ideas. He’s very organized and a motivator,” Richetelli said.
Peter Vita, Joyce Charney and Scott Firmender were re-elected vice chairman, secretary and treasurer, respectively.

Smith win 3rd term as Dem chief

By Brian McCready
Milford Bureau Chief
MILFORD — There was very little suspense when Democrats met recently to select its party chairman.
Richard Smith, shown at right, was unanimously endorsed for a third term. The Democratic Party has controlled all four state-elected positions, and for the first time since 1985, Democrats have majorities on the boards of Aldermen, Education and Planning and Zoning.
The only missing ingredient is winning the mayor’s position, which Republicans have held for close to 20 years since former Mayor Frederick L. Lisman was elected in 1989.
Smith said the party is working on finding a strong mayoral candidate, but most importantly the party is concerned with serving the residents.
“I was honored and privileged to have their support to begin the opportunity to lead the party for another two years,” Smith said. “Everyone said this was a Republican town, but they can’t say that anymore.”
Smith said the Democrats’ job is a “delicate balance,” in advocating for senior tax relief and ensuring the children have enough resources to receive an excellent education.
“We’ve got to roll up our sleeves and sharpen our pencils and get into the details,” Smith said. “Seniors can’t be turned out of their homes because they can’t afford to live here.”
Smith said if the Democrats keep their campaign promise to keep taxes down while maintaining services, then the party should be able to take back City Hall.
“We think come next year, people will take a look at our record and see if they support the Democrats’ way of getting things done. People may like to see us have the mayor spot, too,” he said.
Linda Stephenson was named the party’s vice chairwoman, while Linda Gustafson is the secretary and Janet Montalbano is the treasurer.
Aldermanic Chairman Ben Blake, D-5, said the Democratic Town Committee leaders are “intelligent people with good hearts.”
“They have to make sure they have the best interest of Milford as their foremost objective,” Blake said.
Blake said Smith’s unanimous endorsement is “testament to what he’s done over the past four years.”