New Nuisance Law

Factguy wrote: Ms. Moon, the city will be saved. Population will fall below 30,000, which is their plan, and what is budgeted in future for police and fire.  Strong voter participation supporting the city makes every levy assured to be passed. Its only a matter of time before tax is raised to 2.0%, in line with Hamilton. The time being spent now is to get those off the merry go round that aren't on board, off, which brings population down to the goal. If you weren't on the bus to Greenville, thanks for the offer, but no thanks for participation. Straight talk.

Why do they want the population at less than 30 thou? Losing revenue, property taxes, city income tax, less buying power in population loss....don't understand the logic......or complete lack of it. Why do the current crop of leaders have, as their agenda, the focus of town destruction and why do they insist on making this a small yuppie fru fru town like Oxford? The city demographics won't allow them to do so. This will never be just a college/artzy town. The atmosphere won't allow it. The city is surrounded by progress and activity and they want to make this place a quiet little laid back serene village? Ain't gonna happen no matter what their plans may be. Lebanon was once that quiet little village they now want for Middletown. Lebanon is slowly yielding to more activity and growth and is no longer the sleepy little hamlet it once was.

To Dean/Moron-Monroe is being financed by a donation left by someone who-obviously unlike you-knew what an asset a library is to a community. It does not surprise me you don't use the library-god forbid you learn or experience something new and useful-better to just stay at your keyboard and kvetch about every little problem in town. How sad for you.
Vivian-yes,like  many public places (Movie theaters, churches,  daycare's, etc). there have been bedbugs found at the library. They have trained staff in proper treatment of suspect material and have had professional service when needed..
To anyone who feels libraries are outdated and unnecessary-PLEASE visit and see what is REALLY happening-not hearsay from those who just want to vote NO on every levy no matter what. Sit in on a children's storytime or attend a computer training class. Join the thousands (yes-thousands) who participate in the Summer Reading Program-there are many other programs that benefit both minds and bodies. As with any election it is better to know what you're getting for your vote

Yep Acclaro...we live under "Landen Law"...also known as make it up as we go law.

Well Factguy I guess this is where we will agree to disagree
The numbers clearly show that our city can not survive on its current path and the EPA will be knocking at our door in 2016. 
If the tax rate goes to 2% we will lose even more people and business.

What is that old saying "People treat you the way you allow them to treat you"
It is time to get off the couch and march on City Hall.

Ms. Moon, the city will be saved.

Spider

I will support anyone that wants real change in this city…not just plant a few flowers and put lipstick on the pig change.

I want to call City Hall and get an honest answer to any question that I have…not a tap dancing lesson.
I want to watch a City Council Meetings and know for a fact that everything that is being said is truthful.
I want to get a bang for my tax dollar and see results.
..…at this time I’m getting none of the above.

The real problem with any codified ordinance in Middletown is it gives the city selective ability to hassle and become a nuisance for those it wants to purge or retaliate.

Ever read the tax ordinance? It requires every 16 year old or over the DECLARE income, and pay income, even if the income is nominal. How many kids really file the form and pay city tax on the yards they mow each summer, the money made raking a yard. Had a friend tell me over coffee recently, his 27 year old son got a letter he hadn't declared income in the years he was in college at Middleberry in Vermont, then grad school at U of Vermont. He called, explained no income, attending college, and was a non resident. City gave him until 4/15 or threatened to have him arrested. Most attorneys know you don't use criminal threats as a collection agency tactic associated with ethic obligations.

Kid filed form, paid his 100. penalty fine, unconscionable when no income was made, and said he'd never be in Middletown again. Some welcome wagon down at Donham, with a kid now working at Boston Consulting Group making more than 150,000 annually never wanting to set foot in city

All the ordinances allow is discretionary hassle. Your friendly city at work with its ordinances that run people out, not in.    
 

Read this new ordinance closely, including all of the referenced ordinances, and you will find that City Hall can declare virtually ANY property in Middletown a "nuisance" under this ordinance.

They might tell you that "that is not what it means", but THAT IS WHAT IT SAYS!!!

You will be able to beat them in court, but that will cost you!!!

Factguy

Many people in this city have stepped up and gave freely of their time and talents over the years to try to make Middletown a better community and two years later when you talk with them they are walking away saying I will never get involved with a city project again. 

We have all read wonderful stories in the newspaper about a future project and we get all excited about it…and a year later the entire project turns out to be something entirely different that’s not wonderful at all but just another total waste of taxpayers money.

Several years ago while all the cities around us were cutting cost and personnel Middletown did nothing and later decided to use 10% of our emergency funds to get them “over the hump” and it was right back to business as usual.

Over the past 30 years City Hall has raped and raided every fund and now they want more…I will not give them another dime and I will vote NO on any and all levies. It is time for City Hall to learn to be frugal and live within their budget.

Factguy, this is no longer a friendly city that cares for its citizens….this has become a power hungry City Hall operating under Home Rule with Vague Laws so they can do as they damn well please…and the above legislation is a perfect example of this fact. 

What Middletown needs now is TOTAL CHANGE ON CITY COUNCIL AND CITY HALL from top to bottom.

 

FrmMide81, only a MORON would justify a levy increase, renewal, or ANY expense predicated upon it being a place to house the homeless. Its for Monroe moron.

Yes Dean
Rome is burning and City Hall called in a decorator to fix the problem...
But your sun glasses today beause that brighter future is just around the corner........

Making an issue out of a non issue. The ordinance is for chronic properties that have tenants that steal, do drugs, are loud, and corrupt. Landlords aren't doing proper background checks, or even doing background checks, so these people move into a property, and its non stop problems. Talked recently to a landlord, retired ATT sr executive from Maryland area, that had a tenant with a child, move in. Within a month, this woman, a parent, went into a big box store, and stole a 65 inch tv. It wasn't an hour that the police found her from security cameras, and spoke with her. They found out she was one of their drug informants, and did nothing but squeeze her for the bigger fish. These people are nuisances, but the decline of Middletown CREATED the problem. There is nothing a landlord will be able to control, other than a shuffle of property. Nuisance party kicked out of one property moves to a new property, and continues to be a nuisance.