First Selectman Gives Himself Passing Grade After First 100 Days

By John Voket

Newtown’s First Selectman Joe Borst gives himself a “B-minus,” for his performance after serving the first 100 days as the community’s top elected official. Sitting in his office behind more than a dozen piles of paperwork lined up in several neat rows across his desk, the local official made no bones about how much more challenging the job was than he expected.

Mr Borst, a Republican, unseated five-term Democrat Herb Rosenthal, who received enough votes to keep a seat on the Board of Selectmen. Mr Borst said in recent days, “things are getting better” than they were in his first few tentative weeks on the job.

Just four days after taking his oath of office, the first selectman sat before the local ethics commission, where he was narrowly absolved of a conflict of interest finding when a single No vote among a bare quorum of four ethics commissioners killed a motion to find Mr Borst in violation.

Three of the four ethics commissioners in that hearing agreed he had had a conflict.

Then, during Mr Borst’s first full Board of Selectmen meeting, he voted against continuing as planned a project to develop municipal offices at Fairfield Hills. A motion to continue the work, which was made by his running mate, Republican Paul Magiafico, was supported by Mr Rosenthal and passed despite Mr Borst’s objections.

During his campaign, Mr Borst, who received the support of the Independent Party of Newtown (IPN), promised to thoroughly reexamine the project despite the fact that extended delays might put the town hall development timeline in jeopardy.

A request for comment on Mr Borst’s performance during his first 100 days was not accommodated by IPN representatives at the time The Bee went to press Thursday.

In an interview early on the morning of his 101st day in office, Mr Borst said he could look back on the success of getting a commercial lease signed by Hawley Realty to develop a medical facility at Fairfield Hills, which would also be the new home of Kevin’s Community Center public health clinic.

He said despite split votes putting Mr Borst in the minority on several other occasions, and issues over improper actions taken by him on behalf of the board, but without the selectmen’s approval, the first selectman said he is “reaching out to build consensus” among members of the board.

In regard to the controversial development of Bridgeport Hall as a single, central government office complex, Mr Borst said he has yet to hear one complaint from town personnel about space needs or overcrowding conditions most often cited as the reason for relocating town services to the former state hospital campus on Wasserman Way.

Mr Borst said he arrived to his new position December 1, 2007, with “no expectations.”

“I viewed it as a new job, I’ve got to learn it, and I’m doing the best I can,” the 80-year-old first selectman admitted. “I’m thankful to be learning something new every day.”

Saying he most enjoys meeting residents and supporters in social gatherings or during visits at the first selectman’s office, Mr Borst said his door will always be open to the many citizens for whom he is working. He said among the more routine calls he has answered one came from a resident complaining about increased litter along Route 302; he also heard from several taxpayers following the recent round of property revaluations.

Looking forward in the short-term, Mr Borst said the future of the town is predicated on the outcome of an April 22 budget vote. In the meantime, the first selectman said he will live by the Golden Rule.

“I’m here to help the people,” he said, adding that his “hands-on” style of management sometimes conflicts with the amount of reading and paperwork he is faced with while stuck in the office.

“I enjoy going to luncheons; I enjoy being out with people and the conversations,” Mr Borst said.

Legislative Council Chairman William Rodgers said Mr Borst has recently taken suggestions that are leading to more comprehensive updates to the full council. He also empathized with the learning curve Mr Borst was facing coming into office in the middle of an important budget cycle.

“The watershed of one’s political year is budget season,” Mr Rodgers said. “It’s tough getting sworn in and going right to work on a huge budget.”

Mr Mangiafico called the first 100 days since the new Board of Selectmen was seated “a learning experience for all.”

“Clearly there is much more disagreement on issues than there appeared to have been in the past,” Mr Mangiafico told The Bee. “Discussions have been more probing, and in many cases more comprehensive with resulting non-unanimous votes being cast.”

Mr Mangiafico said procedurally, the selectmen have faced some difficulties.

“But hopefully, as greater experience and understanding regarding proper protocols are gained, we will function more smoothly and efficiently,” Mr Mangiafico said.

Mr Rosenthal said considering Mr Borst’s long tenure on the Legislative Council, and previous service on the Board of Selectmen, he was surprised to see a lack of understanding, especially involving the processes and protocols related to the first selectman’s role in the larger board. Mr Rosenthal said, however, that Mr Borst has been “quite personable” to him during dealings between them since Mr Borst took office.

“None of us have worked together in this capacity before, so we have to put our dealings in perspective,” Mr Rosenthal said of his fellow selectman. Mr Mangiafico was formerly a school board member.

“We were sometimes presented with items to vote on without warning or any backup material, but that is not a personal issue,” Mr Rosenthal said. “And I won’t judge [Mr Borst] based on the way I did things. Everyone is entitled to their own style. And it’s a difficult job.”

Finance board chairman John Kortze said from his seat, the first 100 days seemed challenging for Mr Borst.

“As far as the Board of Finance is concerned, we’ve asked him a significant amount of questions — and the answers have been forthcoming as he begins to get his arms around this tremendous responsibility,” Mr Kortze said. “All we really see is his work in relation to his financial responsibilities, which appears to be among the most challenging.”