Middletown Forum : May 17,2009 Middletown City Managers Report http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/ This is an XML content feed of; Middletown Forum : City Manager : May 17,2009 Middletown City Managers Report Tue, 06 Oct 2026 12:08:20 +0000 Sun, 24 May 2009 06:44:14 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Web Wiz Forums 10.12 360 www.middletownusa.com/forum/RSS_post_feed.asp?TID=1335 Middletown Forum http://middletownusa.com/images/blog-logo.jpg http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/ May 17,2009 Middletown City Managers Report : I AM TOLD................. "A... http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1335&PID=6644&title=may-172009-middletown-city-managers-report#6644 Author: Go Buckeyes!
Subject: 1335
Posted: May 24 2009 at 6:44am

I AM TOLD.................
 
"A few years back HUD first approved use of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) monies by the City of Middletown to replace former General Fund housing code enforcement activities.   However, there was (and still is) a stipulation by HUD that CDBG funds be spent only for personnel costs and related activities that are strictly limited to eligible lower-income census tracts."
 
I AM TOLD..................
 
"A policy adopted last August by a recently suddenly retired senior City staff person may have compromised the HUD requirement stated above in that housing code enforcement staff conduct these activities beyond the eligible areas (citywide).  And, is it possible that personnel from other Community Revitalization Department divisions may be performing these duties because of declining building activity in Middletown?"  Confused
 
INQUIRING MINDS WANT TO KNOW..................
]]> Sun, 24 May 2009 06:44:14 +0000 http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1335&PID=6644&title=may-172009-middletown-city-managers-report#6644 May 17,2009 Middletown City Managers Report : City Hall hates Mr. Self because... http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1335&PID=6641&title=may-172009-middletown-city-managers-report#6641 Author: Go Buckeyes!
Subject: 1335
Posted: May 23 2009 at 11:48am

City Hall hates Mr. Self because he saw first-hand what others have tried to expose to the citizens of our community.  You are so right Mr. Kidd.  I will tell him.]]> Sat, 23 May 2009 11:48:18 +0000 http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1335&PID=6641&title=may-172009-middletown-city-managers-report#6641 May 17,2009 Middletown City Managers Report : To Go Buckeyes!, You are exactly... http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1335&PID=6639&title=may-172009-middletown-city-managers-report#6639 Author: Nick_Kidd
Subject: 1335
Posted: May 23 2009 at 10:33am

To Go Buckeyes!,
  You are exactly right about the selective enforcement. I have personally seen it many times. After I ran for Mayor in 2007 and started exposing some of Middletown's problems, I was hauled into their kangaroo court on Feb. 1, 2008 because I wasn't outside painting in Jan. When I called a council member and ask why, since that program was suspended from Sept. until May. The answer I got back from the dept. head was "Yes the program is suspended, but there is no ordinance that says that they can't haul me into court anyway!"
Even though there was no justification for the malicious procecution I still had to pay $180 in court cost.
  Spiderjohn the municiplal judge does not hear these cases, our magistrate does and your guilty no matter how much evidence you have. You will pay court cost even if every word the inspector wrote was a lie. That is what all of this is truly about, how the city can steal more of our money.
   Nelson please call me (424-6036) as I want to use some of your information in an appeal to the state auditor. We must work together to stop the abuses in city hall. One way to slow down the abuses is instead of sueing the city over these abuses, sue all of the individuals involved under a civil rights violation. Under a civil rights lawsuit they're on their own to hire their own attorneys. Let them take responsability for all the money missing out of the auto and gas fund and the fund to separate the sanitary and storm water sewers downtown.
   Does anyone know the location of all of the new red light cameras? I want to get a digital record of the yellow light timing. I may have a surprise for the city over the old cameras.   
]]> Sat, 23 May 2009 10:33:14 +0000 http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1335&PID=6639&title=may-172009-middletown-city-managers-report#6639 May 17,2009 Middletown City Managers Report : To: Ed Richter, Middletown Journal I... http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1335&PID=6631&title=may-172009-middletown-city-managers-report#6631 Author: Go Buckeyes!
Subject: 1335
Posted: May 22 2009 at 7:54pm

 
To: Ed Richter, Middletown Journal
 
I remember Doug Adkins, Interim Community Revitalization Director promising the City Council a revision to the City of Middletown's late 2008 application for $2.144 million NSP funds.  It was promised within 90 days (sometime in April or early May)???  What happened???
 
You remember the City Council meeting in January where City Councilmen Becker, Schiavone and Marconi raised major concerns about the City's ability to implement any type of purchase-rehab-resale homeownership program.  They cited the FHA Dollar Home fiasco, huge losses in other rehab activities, etc. etc. as the reasons.
 
When they suggested making the NSP activity heavily based on property demolition there was no opposition (in fact there was support) from the City Manager.  The video tape of the meeting confirms what we all know.
 
Nelson Self
]]> Fri, 22 May 2009 19:54:20 +0000 http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1335&PID=6631&title=may-172009-middletown-city-managers-report#6631 May 17,2009 Middletown City Managers Report : A BETTER USE OF $2.144 MILLION... http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1335&PID=6629&title=may-172009-middletown-city-managers-report#6629 Author: Go Buckeyes!
Subject: 1335
Posted: May 22 2009 at 2:56pm

A BETTER USE OF $2.144 MILLION IN HUD NEIGHBORHOOD STABILIZATION PROGRAM FUNDS???
 
Good Afternoon Judy -
 
In view of concerns raised by three City Council members plus some local housing industry professionals regarding Middletown's proposed use of $2.144 million in HUD Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP-1) funds, I again present this alternative recommendation.  It was presented by me to senior Community Revitalization Department staff last October more than two weeks before the HUD submission deadline.  Sadly, it was ignored by a now retired senior staff person.
 
First of all, the proposal that CRD staff and their paid consultant concocted does put the City of Middletown in the real estate business.  And, it has the potential of adding twenty (20) more homes to the large inventory of unsold and non-rehabilitated properties already owned by the City.
 
My proposal was quite simple and produced far more "bang for the buck" than what was approved for submission to HUD last December at a City Council meeting.  In budget form here is my strategy:
 
Neighborhood Stabilization Program -- Proposed Activities & Budget
 
$   450,000    Down Payment & Closing Cost Assistance (DPA)
                            Provide Seventy-Five (75) Forgivable Loans @ $6,000 Each
                                 For Income-Eligible & "Bankable" Home Buyers
 
$1,195,000    Housing Rehabilitation Assistance
                            Provide Seven-Five (75) Repayable Loans @ $15,000 Average
                                Each For Income-Eligible & "Bankable" Home Buyers
 
$   375,000    Property Demolition Program -- Remove Fifty (50)
                            Blighted & Dilapidated Properties @ $7,500 Average Each
 
$   124,144    Program Administration, Legal, Appraisal, Other Expenses
                            Including Home Buyer Education & Counseling (LifeSpan)
________
 
$2,144,000    Total
 
The above plan DOES NOT call for the City of Middletown to acquire, rehab and resell Twenty (20) homes.  Instead, it calls for the City to make available down payment/closing cost and rehab financing in working with home buyers, participating lenders and real estate professionals.  Instead of Twenty (20) households assisted this proposal assists SEVENTY-FIVE (75) home buyers!  It is predicated upon using a variety of lending products including FHA 203 K and similar bank purchase/rehab mortgages.  It continues the success of the Down Payment/Closing Cost Assistance Program that the Middletown Board of REALTORS, local mortgage lenders, neighborhood residents and former City staff developed dating back to the Fall months of 2007.
 
Not only does this concept provide 350% of the benefit of the current plan, it is based upon all housing rehabilitation funds being repaid to the City via no- and very low-interest secondary financing.  By the way, I submitted this to HUD Neighborhood Stabilization Program representatives and they voiced no objection to this proposal.
 
A number of members of the now defunct HUD Consolidated Planning Committee and other local informed housing industry professionals have endorsed this approach. 
 
I trust that you may give serious consideration to this proposal that is cost-effective, productive and non-bureaucratic.
 
Sincerely,
 
Nelson Self
]]> Fri, 22 May 2009 14:56:17 +0000 http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1335&PID=6629&title=may-172009-middletown-city-managers-report#6629 May 17,2009 Middletown City Managers Report : "No way the municipal judge... http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1335&PID=6626&title=may-172009-middletown-city-managers-report#6626 Author: Hermes
Subject: 1335
Posted: May 22 2009 at 2:13pm

"No way the municipal judge will fine these citizens for these minor cosmetic situations." {from spiderjohn}
Doesn't the court system recieve a percentage of fines levied ? If so wouldn't it benefit the court as well as the city to levy fines on citizens ? If cited to court they would get court cost plus any fines and anyone who can't pay either would be making payments and in a state of perpetual debt to the city as well as the court. Correct me if I'm wrong.
]]> Fri, 22 May 2009 14:13:25 +0000 http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1335&PID=6626&title=may-172009-middletown-city-managers-report#6626 May 17,2009 Middletown City Managers Report : No way the municipal judge will... http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1335&PID=6622&title=may-172009-middletown-city-managers-report#6622 Author: spiderjohn
Subject: 1335
Posted: May 22 2009 at 9:46am

No way the municipal judge will fine these citizens for these minor cosmetic situations.
These citizens are not criminals, and these citations are non-violent and victemless.
Our local judge won't buy into this blatant citizen harrassment during such troubling economic times.
 
Just another smokescreen to divert attention from the economic development inactivity and the time wasted on meaningless activity of our Council. Not to mention the haphazard preferential spending of the govt.grant $$s.
 
Hey--let's all worrry about parking on the street or out of yor driveways!! Serious stuff!!
]]> Fri, 22 May 2009 09:46:42 +0000 http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1335&PID=6622&title=may-172009-middletown-city-managers-report#6622 May 17,2009 Middletown City Managers Report : A former city employeetold me... http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1335&PID=6617&title=may-172009-middletown-city-managers-report#6617 Author: Go Buckeyes!
Subject: 1335
Posted: May 21 2009 at 11:06pm

A former city employee told me that some housing code enforcement staff go out of their way to aggravate certain selected people.  Is there truth to that?  I think that the answer to that question is fairly obvious.  Selective enforcement.  A realtor friend told me that the inspectors will perform follow-up inspections of 2,300 Middletonians on the hit list.  What a time to crack the whip????  Oh well, think of the revenue to be generated from fines that will reduce the huge deficit.  Bah humbug!AngryAngryAngry]]> Thu, 21 May 2009 23:06:53 +0000 http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1335&PID=6617&title=may-172009-middletown-city-managers-report#6617 May 17,2009 Middletown City Managers Report : I forgot to mention that we painted... http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1335&PID=6616&title=may-172009-middletown-city-managers-report#6616 Author: Nick_Kidd
Subject: 1335
Posted: May 21 2009 at 8:50pm

I forgot to mention that we painted house numbers that were hard for our inspectors to read and painted a gutter last week. So I expect that the floodgates of businesses and people moving here to start at any moment.]]> Thu, 21 May 2009 20:50:40 +0000 http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1335&PID=6616&title=may-172009-middletown-city-managers-report#6616 May 17,2009 Middletown City Managers Report : To few people paying enough taxes... http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1335&PID=6615&title=may-172009-middletown-city-managers-report#6615 Author: Pacman
Subject: 1335
Posted: May 21 2009 at 8:49pm

To few people paying enough taxes to support a City of this size.  To Much Poverty, which results in a low tax revenue.

]]> Thu, 21 May 2009 20:49:22 +0000 http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1335&PID=6615&title=may-172009-middletown-city-managers-report#6615