May 25, 2006

By Sharon Bass

With the average assessed home value having jumped 89 percent this year and a mil rate that wasn't brought down enough to prevent a major tax hike, Hamdenites are anxious. Some are scared they won't be able to foot their bills. They're angry, crying that the mayor and Legislative Council chose to create new positions, give pay raises to select employees and didn't chisel much away from the ever-escalating school budget.

Despite the gloomy picture, Tax Collector Barbara Tito said it might not be as bad as it looks. At least not for some. She said a smattering of property owners might actually see a bit of tax relief this year because of the lower mil rate on cars. But most won't.

Tax bills go out at the end of June, are due July 1 but people have a month to pay without being penalized. If the tab isn't paid by Aug. 1, 18 percent yearly interest is tacked on, effective July 1.

The Town Council recently commended Tito for her high tax-collection rate -- over 98 percent. She is in charge of bringing in property, motor vehicle and business equipment taxes.

Hamden Daily News: So, how did you get started in town government?
Barbara Tito: I served one term on the Board of Ed and in November of 1979, I was asked to become tax collector. It was a political appointment by Mayor Dick Harris. I was tax collector for six years during the Democratic rule. Then [Republican] John DeNicola became mayor, and I believe it was in January of 1986 he came in and told me he was letting me go and putting in his own political appointment.
HDN: And you came back.
BT: John DeNicola was only in for two years and then [Democrat] John Carusone was elected mayor. The morning after his election, he called me and asked me if I would come back and be tax collector.
HDN: Why did you return?
BT: I think it was my love for the job. I love the work. I love the people. I just loved what I did. And I certainly had a good rapport with John Carusone. I had known John for a number of years.
HDN: What happened later on when Republican Barbara DeNicola became mayor?
BT: It's an appointment by charter but it is in the union [now]. So it's the best of both worlds.
HDN: What did you know about tax collecting before taking the job?
BT: I knew nothing. The approach I took was I had a nucleus in the office. I sat down with every employee in the department, learned what they did and how they did it. And I was able to learn the position.
HDN: How do you collect taxes?
BT: In a variety of ways. No. 1, we're going to mail out the bills. And I would say, if I had to guess, maybe about 94 percent of the people will pay those bills. Now, it's the last 6 percent of the people that become the difficult job. After the tax-collection period is over in July, what we do is send out delinquent bills. That will happen in September or October. And we'll get another percentage of people who will pay those bills.
HDN: How many delinquent notices do you typically send?
BT: I would say we probably send out 10,000 reminder bills …
HDN: That represents just 6 percent?
BT: We've got 72,725 bills. You get a separate bill for property and cars. Some people have two or three cars. Now, if people don't respond to the reminder bill we send out another reminder. And obviously we need to be aggressive in the collection process, because if we're not we're not going to meet our budget projection at the end of the year.
HDN: And if they still don't pay?
BT: If you do not pay that bill, a lien is going to be filed on your property. And that's statutory. We have to.
HDN: What about unpaid car taxes?
BT: If you don't pay that we can do a variety of things. We are going to report you to the motor vehicle department, which we do on a regular basis. That stops you from being able to register your car. So that's a very effective tool. We do put a lien on motor vehicles as well. We don't take the car back. We put in effect a mechanic's lien. So if you own real estate, you're not going to be able to refinance that house or sell that house without taking care of that lien on the car. And that's something I've done for the last five or six years and it's been extremely effective because people have been refinancing one and two and three times on their properties.
HDN: How many liens have you put on real property over the years?
BT: We have 19,279 real-estate bills and I end up putting 600 liens. We send them a letter with the town attorney's signature telling them if they do not pay [their bills] we refer them to outside attorneys. At that point the attorneys begin the foreclosure process.
HDN: How many actually go through foreclosure?
BT: Almost none. Almost none. I would say in all the years I've been here -- 25 years -- if we've had 10, that would be a lot.
HDN: How much higher will bills be this year?
BT: I think the mayor said the average increase will be about $1,000. And that is going to be offset by their motor vehicle taxes. We're going down to 27.95 [mil rate]. We're currently at 43.24. So someone with a motor vehicle valued at $1,000, where they were paying $43.24, they're going to be paying $27.95.
HDN: That's not much savings.
BT: If their real-estate bill went up $400 and their car went down $200, their net increase is only going to be $200.
HDN: Would that be a typical scenario?
BT: I haven't seen enough of them to actually know. Mine personally is going up $900. We have two older cars so it's insignificant.
HDN: I'm wondering if that will be the more typical case. What is the average motor vehicle tax bill?
BT: I don't know what the average is. I know that, say a newer SUV one or two years old can be anywhere from $800 to $1,000.
HDN: Do you think it's going to be tougher to collect taxes this year?
BT: I would not expect any difference than our [usual] tax-collection rate. You have to remember that 25 to 30 percent of those bills are paid by banks through people's escrow, so people aren't even going to see that bill. I think the other bills people are going to pay. They are not going to not pay their bills. Are they going to be happy about it? I don't know.
HDN: Are there payment options for those who truly can't pay?
BT: We do have people we will work with. In other words, if somebody calls us and says, 'The first half of my bill is $1,500. I don't have $1,500. Can I go on a payment schedule?'
HDN: And?
BT: We're very taxpayer friendly. That is my philosophy here.
HDN: Would you elaborate on that?
BT: What would happen is, if you tell me you can't pay your bill by July, I'm going to explain to you there's a state statute that requires us to collect interest. Interest is 18 percent, and that's set by state law. That's a burden, an incentive.
HDN: How many payments are allowed?
BT: The most we can divide them into is 12 months. We don't encourage people to do that because they're incurring the interest charges. Most people when they understand they're paying 18 percent interest will find an alternative. And decide to pay that bill on time.
HDN: In your experience here, how many do you feel really can't pay?
BT: Very, very few. I think the majority of people prioritize and it becomes a matter of if I own a home that's one of the costs of owning a home. Is it going to affect other things that they do? Probably. They're going to have to put aside an additional $800 or $400 or $1,000 for taxes. That means that money is not going to be spent on something else.
HDN: Then you believe there's unfounded angst now about the tax hike.
BT: I think the majority of people have not seen their tax bill or have not calculated it.
HDN: So they're worried maybe for nothing?
BT: Maybe for nothing.
HDN: The Council has lauded you for doing a really good job bringing in the money. What is your collection rate so far for '05-'06?
BT: The latest number I have is from May 11, and we're at 98.4 percent.

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May 11, 2006

Lyndon Pitter, 40, director of Highville Mustard Seed, father of four, divorced Photo/Sharon Bass

By Sharon Bass

Brilliant visionary?

Or brilliant con artist?

Depends on who's talking -- about Lyndon Pitter, founder of the Highville Mustard Seed Charter School in Hamden.

In 1998, the New Haven Advocate named Pitter the "best suburban activist." Last October, the state began investigating him for financial and other wrongdoings. On April 13, Attorney General Dick Blumenthal demanded the charter school board to "immediately" remove Pitter, after it was discovered he lied about having a college education and submitted forged diplomas to the state. Last year, six of his seven board members and his CFO walked out, saying they could no longer put up with the director's mishandling of money.

Then listen to his new board members -- particularly Chair Mitchell Young -- and some school parents. They praise Pitter. They seem to worship him. They say he's created a school in a class of its own. They will defend him, it seems, no matter what.

When board members discussed removing Pitter last month, per the AG's written command, they eagerly gave him another title -- director of strategic planning and resource development -- instead of making him leave. They said they could not imagine the school without Pitter. So he remains at the Leeder Hill school, in his director's office under a new title.

It was agreed for this interview that Pitter would not answer questions about the investigation. So he was asked to talk about who he is.

He talked about his mother.

Hamden Daily News: You grew up in Jamaica?
Lyndon Pitter: Yes, m'am.
HDN: And when did you leave Jamaica?
LP: Long time. Probably 1989. Young man. I went to New York and I could not deal with the noise and I couldn't deal with the fact that you have to lock your door at night.
HDN: Isn't Jamaica like that?
LP: Yes, Jamaica is like that but it's a little bit different in the sense that if you live in an area, people know you. So people protect you. If you are a community leader, people will protect you.
HDN: What about your parents?
LP: My father left Jamaica when I was two years old, and came to the United States. And never returned. And my mother, who is a butcher, she would get up at 3 o'clock in the morning or 2 o'clock in the morning to go to the slaughterhouse. They would then kill the cow and clean it. She was a real tough lady. There's a very gentle side about her in the sense that, you know, outgoing and caring, but I think one of the most hardworking person I have ever seen in my entire life. You imagine that she gets up at 2 a.m., leaves the house at 2 a.m. in the morning and she would go to the country and go to the slaughterhouse and do what they have to do. Then she comes home at 6 o'clock. Then she makes breakfast. Then she wash clothes. Then she would clean the veranda. Then she would cook the dinner and put it in the thermos. And then by 10 o'clock she's going to the [butcher] shop to work. And she stays there till 6, 7 in the evening. Then when I get off at school I would have to stay at the shop with her, and she would make one of the fridges into a bed so if I needed to sleep, I would sleep on top of the fridge. We weren't allowed to cut the meat or do anything. All right? So that's the routine, and it goes from Monday to Sunday.
HDN: You couldn't stay home?
LP: No, she's very protective. We have to spend the entire day with her. And you know, we talk about life and we talk about seeing people coming in [the butcher shop] and give them meat and wouldn't collect any money. One of the most famous stories was a lady named Ms. Rutty. She would come every Saturday; she only eats chicken. She would come and collect her chicken from my mom and never pay. And I couldn't wonder why. And after a while Ms. Rutty disappeared. And when I started to do community work, I walk and visit this house and there I look and saw Ms. Rutty. She was on her bed. Could not move. Her toenail was this long [indicates about a foot in length]. She was in a deplorable condition. I told her my name and she remembered everything about me. That I was born premature. So I spend the day. I comb her hair, cut her toenail -- I had to use a pliers. I didn't give her a shower or bath, though.
HDN: That's some story.
LP: The dignity of the person is what my mother always talked about. You do nothing that makes a person feel less than who they are. When she gives the meat to people, she would hide because she didn't want us to know that she's giving it away for free because she doesn't want that person to feel as if they are not valuable. Or if they come in the shop, they must wait until everybody else is gone before she would sell them. No, they are just as important as the person who was going to be buying. So this was her philosophy. One, you do for yourself. No. 2, you work hard and you make no one feel less than they are.
HDN: Is she still alive?
LP: Yes, she is still alive. We talk all the time. She's my closest friend. My mother was my main influence. And there were a couple of priests who were my main influences also. My mother is very, very determined. She never gives up on anything.
HDN: Are you like that?
LP: I think pretty much so, but I think she does a much better job than I do. She is very straightforward. She would tell you her mind. Not that her tongue is loose but she will tell you straight up so you won't have any misunderstanding in terms of what she would talk about.
HDN: I see.
LP: I should tell you this story. One day this guy came to the [butcher] store. It was on a Saturday. Two guys. They actually came to rob her. One was standing outside and one was inside and I was sitting on the fridge. So the guy came to her and said, 'Give me all the money.' So she turned to the man and said, 'Did you give me any money to put down?'
HDN: Did he have a gun?
LP: Yes, he had a gun. And he said [again], 'Give me all the money.' And she said, 'Well, if you give me money to put down I want you to come and take it.' So he pull his gun and point the gun at her and say, 'Give me the money.'
HDN: And you're watching this?
LP: I remember it vividly. It's probably one of the most unsophisticated gun I've seen. And he point it at her. And he pull the gun and ready to shoot her and I decided to run out of the shop. I just collapsed outside and they decided to leave at that time.
HDN: Some mother.
LP: That's my mother. Never afraid of anything and full of determination and one of the most benevolent person you would ever find on the face of the Earth.
HDN: And tough.
LP: If you go to school and mess up, by the time you go home you get your ass kicked. She was a disciplinarian and firm because one of her things is the gun culture in Jamaica and a ganja [marijuana] culture. And all my friends would smoke and I could never dare smoke because if I smoke, my mom would really take care of me. She would come home and would check [his breath] to see if she could smell ganja. So I couldn't smoke. I couldn't play football on the street. She wanted to make sure her kids came out OK. She doesn't believe in babysitters.
HDN: Why did you leave Jamaica?
LP: Some of it I don't want to get into. I had no intention of coming to America. While growing up my favorite toy was the short-wave radio. I used to listen to BBC, Voice of America and I would know all the things that are happening in the world. The United States was getting very, very scared that Jamaica was becoming too close to Cuba so we were going to become Communists. You get brainwashed, you know? I was really scared about some of this stuff they were saying.
HDN: You eventually wound up at St. Ann's Church in Hamden.
LP: Right. When I first got here, I was looking for a rosary on my way to Stop & Shop and I went to St. Ann's. And Father Bonadies came out and said, 'Why do you want a rosary?' And I said, 'I want a rosary for meditation.' And he said, 'No black person comes here and asks for a rosary.' I said, 'As far as I'm concerned I don't care about who comes in and asks for a rosary.' And we start a conversation about Catholicism and things like that. And he said, 'Gee, you know what? I just applied to get a deacon and they turned us down. And so I'm looking for an auxiliary minister, would you consider it?' That's how I ended up at St. Ann's.
HDN: Who are you?
LP: I think I'm the kind of person that people underestimate.
HDN: In what way?
LP: In many ways. People thinks I have political aspiration and that's never the case. You know, somebody asked my daughter the question, 'How do you feel black?' And she was puzzled by the question, so she turned to the person and said, 'How does it feel to be white?'

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April 27, 2006

Tim Sullivan, 45, former Hamden fire chief, retired, still hanging around the station Photo/Sharon Bass

By Sharon Bass

When Mayor Lillian Clayman chose 35-year-old Tim Sullivan to be her fire chief in 1996, she got some hell. Opponents said he wasn't qualified. While he had only been on the force for nine years at the time, he had served the prior three as deputy chief. So Clayman had a nugget. And the Legislative Council swallowed it unanimously.

Fast forward to today. Mayor Craig Henrici has tapped 32-year-old Assistant Fire Marshal Brian Badamo for the top job. The appointment is getting big-time hell. Unlike Clayman, Henrici doesn't have a nugget. Like Sullivan, Badamo has been on the force for nine years but has not been able to advance up the ranks. Badamo couldn't make lieutenant last year. Opponents are crying he's wholly unqualified.

With the contentious appointment thick in the Hamden air, the HDN asked Sullivan what he thinks about it and what it was like being chief. He joined the department in1987, was appointed deputy in 1993 and chief three years later. Here's what Sullivan said from the basement of the Dunbar Hill volunteer fire station.

Hamden Daily News: So, what are your thoughts about the Badamo appointment?
Tim Sullivan: I know Brian very well. Brian was hired when I was fire chief. And Brian's father was appointed assistant chief when I was appointed chief. I don't think now is the right time for Brian to be chief.
HDN: You say you know about 60 percent of the current fire force. What are you hearing?
TS: A lot of people aren't pleased with the appointment. They think there are other people there who are better suited and they weren't even afforded the opportunity to be interviewed for the job.
HDN: Why do you think Badamo got the appointment?
TS: My impression is that he worked very hard for Craig Henrici for mayor. And I believe Craig believes Brian would make a good fire chief. I believe Craig believes that. I'm not saying I believe it. And I think Mayor Henrici wants to take this fire department in a certain direction, and I think that because he knows Brian so well maybe he thinks Brian is the man that will do that for him. However, I feel there are other people more suited for the job. I just wish the mayor had looked at other people.
HDN: What's the Hamden Fire Department like?
TS: I think it's not just Hamden but within any career fire department, you have a bunch of close-knit individuals who work together and watch each other's back.
HDN: How has it changed since you got involved in '87?
TS: There's a lot more people with higher education on the job. There's a lot of people on the job who have experience from not only Hamden but other towns. They're more advanced, highly trained. A lot of these people get training in their off time.
HDN: Tell me what it was like being chief.
TS: It started out when I was assistant chief. The only reason I applied for it was because Paul Wetmore was the chief and I enjoyed working with him. But during that period the town was after the firefighters union to lower the minimum-manning clause. And this was when Craig Henrici was president of the Council and Mayor Clayman was mayor. And their perception was that the overtime was out of control and something had to be done about it. And when I say overtime, that doesn't mean time and a half. Firefighters only get straight time when they come back and replace an off-duty firefighter. Anyway, that account, the 'sub-straight' account, was running up close to a million dollars a year.
HDN: What happened?
TS: They subsequently negotiated with the fire union at that time to lower the minimum-manning clause [of 23 fighters per shift], and the union disagreed with that. The union thought it was a safety issue. And it went to binding arbitration, state of Connecticut, and they ruled in favor of the firefighters union to keep it at 23.
HDN: Can a fire chief lower the department payroll?
TS: No, it's contractual. If the contract calls for 23 firefighters then the chief in his budget has to fund the 23 firefighters.
HDN: What happened after the state ruling for the union?
TS: The firefighters union contacted OSHA and cited several safety violations within the town of Hamden -- firehouses, fire equipment and so forth -- basically to bolster their argument about safety issues. And some of them were valid concerns.
HDN: And some weren't?
TS: Well, there were just some things that, you know, when OSHA comes in they go through the place with a fine-toothed comb.
HDN: But you said just some of the union's claims were valid?
TS: They were all valid concerns. Otherwise OSHA wouldn't have cited the town for it. We spent the better part of two years trying to get those violations corrected. Then the Council on its own did a study of the fire service to bolster their side of the argument. Mayor Henrici was [Council] president. They hired a guy to do a study and I think they paid $10,000 for it. And I went over the statistics with the guy and he came up with a report that basically said if you want to lower the overtime, hire more firefighters. They didn't recommend reducing the overtime. That report was run through the shredder in the Council office, because it didn't say what they were hoping it would say.
HDN: Did you have an adversarial relationship in general with the Council?
TS: I think the Council had a problem with the firefighters' overtime and they would question us constantly with our [fund] transfers to make up for the overtime during the year. One year I was only funded $250,000, and I clearly needed a million dollars to get through the year. We just went back to the Council every couple of months asking for the funding to maintain the minimum-manning clause in the contract. There was friction and unfortunately, Chief Wetmore and then myself were caught in the middle of it.
HDN: So in 1996 you became chief. Any surprises?
TS: There's a lot of things that go on that you wouldn't think the fire chief does. It's not just go to fires. But I sat in for three years on contract negotiations on the last fire contract. You deal with grievances from the firefighters union. You gotta meet certain training requirements. It's not just firefighter training; it's medical training. I learned a lot as assistant chief. And something new we had to deal with was females in the fire service in the '90s.
HDN: How many are there now?
TS: There are three I believe.
HDN: You were there when the abduction of a firefighter occurred and Brian Badamo's crew was implicated. What did you know?
TS: I'm not going to confirm or deny an abduction took place. If something happened, it was handled internally and therefore I don't want to comment on it, even though I'm retired. It was an internal matter then, as far as I'm concerned, it's still an internal matter.
HDN: Is that why people don't want to give direct answers to who was involved?
TS: Right. If this was a public matter …
HDN: Why didn't it become a public matter?
TS: You're inferring that it happened and I'm saying it was an internal matter.

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April 17, 2006

April 10, 2006