This week and next week, The Newtown Bee will continue its series of profiles of candidates for the town’s elective offices. This week, candidates for the Legislative Council, Town Clerk, the Board of Finance are featured. 

Each candidate was asked a series of seven questions. The following questions are answered with corresponding numbers in each candidate profile. They are not re-stated in each individual profile.

 

1. What is the most critical governmental matter facing Newtown today?

 

2. If elected, how do you plan to contribute towards addressing that issue?

 

3. What is the single most valuable skill or talent you can offer to the community, and how will you apply that talent or skill to best serve our community?

 

4. Is there an issue or need that you believe does not get enough attention in town? What would you do to address that issue?

 

5. Since almost 70 cents of every tax dollar collected in Newtown is spent by the school district. What are the priorities the Board of Education and the district’s administration should address in spending those tax dollars?

 

6. How should the Fairfield Hills Authority balance commercial and recreational uses of the facilities there as well as the surrounding campus to serve the best interests of the entire community?

 

7. Much has been said recently about prevailing negative attitudes and a general mood of dissatisfaction in the community. Some blame rapidly escalating property taxes, while others have issues with the current political leadership. Do you think the prevailing mood in town has grown more negative in recent years, and if so, what can you do to help make it ‘nicer in Newtown?

Legislative Council

 District 1

George Ferguson

49 Taunton Hill Road, Newtown, Connecticut 06470                            

364-9917

E-mail: george@fergusondevelopmentgroup.com

Website: www.fergusondevelopmentgroup.com

Family: Kathleen and I have been happily married for 23 years with three children, Kaitlyn at the University of Connecticut, Casey, a senior, and Liam, a freshman, at Newtown High School.  We have a yellow Labrador retriever named Sam and he’d like to go to Head of Meadow.

Party affiliation: I am the Republican in the family. Fiscally conservative and socially progressive.  Don’t spend what you can’t afford and don’t mortgage the kids’ or town’s future.

Newtown residency: Six terrific years

Education: BS Finance, Fordham University; MBA, Adelphi University; certificate, Advanced Management Program, Vanderbilt University; Certificate, UConn/CTDEP – Inland Wetlands Training Program; secretary, Newtown Conservation Commission.

Occupation: Planning and organizational development consultant to not-for-profit organizations for the Ferguson Development Group.  We work with boards and administrative leaders in the areas like capital campaigns, strategic planning, board development, fund raising and the infinite array of details that go along with these things.  Lots and lots of consensus building. Thirty years experience working in not-for-profit sector to build consensus and implement collaborative voluntary efforts to plan, fund and implement projects that improve peoples’ lives. 

Question responses:

1.Maintaining and improving the strong sense of community involvement and ownership that have been hallmarks of Newtown and other New England communities.  It really is Nicer in Newtown and keeping that way will take a greater effort to reach out and involve the citizens.

2. I plan to help Newtown stay connected and engaged in managing its growth and determining its future.  I’ll do this by utilizing the knowledge and experience I’ve gained from a career of building volunteer coalitions and implementing efforts to improve people’s lives. 

3. Ability to communicate, establish coalitions and seek consensus toward a common purpose.

4. Communicating better to ease the frustration expressed by citizens and the town’s paid and volunteer leaders.  Some citizens think the leaders aren’t listening to them because the leaders don’t do what those citizens want.  Some town leaders say they see a citizenry who is disengaged, doesn’t attend meetings or vote. We are all culpable. Every spring we try to get 27,000 people to agree to go in the same direction. This can be done better by providing more information, building consensus and getting out to vote. Our voluntary spirit, friendliness and egalitarian nature are what make this town great.  People are involved, friendly and accepting of one another regardless of traits that might divide other communities.  We really should strive to hold on to this, and I think we can and will do better. Preserving our open space and agricultural heritage is also very high on my priority list because it makes good economic sense and keeps our town beautiful.

5. Priorities for the Board of Education should be providing a quality education for the children of Newtown at every level.  First we have to fix the overcrowding problem at the high school as it’s impacting students, teachers, and administrators and driving quality down.  We also need to plan; establishing a clear Mission and Vision; setting challenging and realistic goals; and then tracking our progress.  “Every child can and will learn” is nice but we need to set our sights higher.  I’d like to see the Newtown High School listed alongside Southbury and New Fairfield in Newsweek’s “America’s Best High Schools” issue.  It’s an achievable goal.

6. The direction that the authority seeks to go is fundamentally sound.  Private and public investments, mixed use, commercial, active and passive recreation, town center, retail, and services.  The authority is a good example of an idea that on the face of it makes perfectly good sense but hasn’t worked out as smoothly.  The idea was to streamline decision making, de-politicize property development and hasten results.  Unfortunately the authority has become a lightning rod for dissent.  There is enough of a perception that the authority has substituted the decision making of the many for the decision making of the few to cause long term turbulence. For real results to be achieved here it will require a lot of people’s involvement and support.  Right now the crowd isn’t feeling a sense of involvement or ownership.  

7. The good news is that people are concerned about Newtown’s future and want to see it thrive and prosper while retaining its scenic and rural character.  People have lots of things to be stressed about like the war, terrorism, globalization and our children’s future.  Increasing property taxes and the rising cost of things like energy and health care are especially challenging as real estate values decline.  Government cannot and should not be looked too to provide for all of our wants and needs.  As a community we need to start making choices and being proactive not reactive.  Local government certainly has a leadership role to play but to prosper we need to make an effort to involve more people.

John M Aurelia Sr.

PO Box 43, Newtown

426-6673

Website: http://www.newtownrepublicans.org/bios/johnaurelia.shtml

Family: Been married for over 43 years, I have a son, three daughters, four grandsons and one granddaughter and a 12-year-old puppy named Charlie.

Party affiliation: Republican

Newtown residency: Since 1960

Education: Graduated Stratford High, Connecticut School of Electronics, numerous continuation education seminars for management courses

Occupation: Retired IBM employee of over 36 years in the technical customer support field; New England Systems, Inc as a technical support and trainer of computer operations; owner of Green Valley Construction

Question responses:

1. Fiscal spending.

2. Tighter control.

3. I offer bulldog tenacity, once I commit myself to a project I see it through.

4. Senior Center. I believe its budget has been the same for the past five years. There is a much-needed Senior Center in Newtown but it keeps getting put on the back shelf.

5. I have nothing critical to say of the Board of Education’s spending practices. All my children have gone through our educational system, and I am very satisfied with their success.

6. The plans set forth seem both community and commercially balanced in my opinion.

7. I think negativism is a watchdog of local government.

Joseph DiCandido

4 Whitewood Road, Newtown

426-2477

E-mail: Nutekaero@aol.com

Family: Married 45 years to Eloise. We have three children and three fantastic grandchildren

Party affiliation: Republican

Newtown residency: 11 years

Education:  BS in Civil Engineering City College of New York

Occupation: President and founder of Nutek Aerospace Corporation for the past 25 years. 

Question responses:

1. I recognize that many citizens of Newtown feel that they are overtaxed, and I am concerned that as our taxes have increased year after year the services provided by those taxes continue to diminish.  We must fundamentally change how town government views taxpayers. Connecticut has the highest per capita tax burden in the nation therefore our government will find it increasingly more difficult to justify the runaway cost of providing “essential” public services while maintaining and protecting our infrastructure such as buildings, roadways and bridges.

2. I would encourage economic development by reducing or eliminating unwarranted bureaucratic barriers to business, commerce and free market competition. I will continue to question the way we conduct our business. The increased cost of labor and materials must be offset by gains in productivity. This basic economic principal must be understood by our elected officials and all public employees. In addition, I will continue to propose reasonable spending reductions where possible in order to reduce the financial burden on future generations.

3. I have six years of accumulated knowledge with regard to the critical problems facing our town. I have demonstrated that I can be a good listener at times, but more importantly, I believe I can articulate my position on important matters and have on occasion used persuasive dialog to change the hearts and minds of my fellow council members. I promise the voters of my district that if reelected I will continue to take the same course of action. 

4. I know there are a growing number of Newtown residents that are experiencing difficulties paying their everyday bills and keeping up with their mortgage and tax obligations. Unfortunately this problem will only get worse as the overall economy and housing prices continue to weaken.  The solution is to provide our citizens much-needed tax relief by having the political courage to identify and eliminate waste and inefficient programs.

5. I believe that the same statement that I made in response to your question #2 is appropriately applied to the Board of Ed’s handling of the school budget. The results of not applying this philosophy by the Board of Ed is, in my opinion, part of the reason why in the last six year period the educational portion of the budget has increased by approximately 52 percent while the student population grew by only 12.6 percent.  During this time we went from a blue ribbon school district to one that is now on warning from the NEASC.  In addition, we have serious repair needs that during this same period were not adequately addressed. Many of the costly and ineffective state mandated programs must be openly discussed and evaluated not only for their social effectiveness but also for any negative impact they may inadvertently have on the overall student population.

6. I believe the Fairfield Hills Authority’s master plan, which some people have criticized, does address the above issue quite satisfactorily.  While it is not a perfect plan (and no plan ever is) it does strike a balance and recognizes the need for commercial and residential participation, public buildings and recreational facilities.  I believe the plan is flexible enough to adjust to future economic cycles.

7. Whenever anyone is asked to pay higher taxes in return for fewer services, I believe that is sufficient cause for some people to view their government officials in a negative way. The way to express this dissatisfaction is at the voting booth.  I suggest you vote for those candidates running for public office who have pledged to govern for all the citizens of Newtown not just the more vocal special interest groups.

Christopher Brennan Lyddy

3 Smoke Rise Ridge, Newtown

426-6927

E-mail: chris@lyddyforcouncil.com             

Website: www.LyddyForCouncil.com

Family: The son of Sally Farrell Lyddy and of the late Thomas P. Lyddy. The brother of Ryan, Kara, Katie and Kyle.

Party affiliation: Democrat

Newtown residency: 24 years, lifelong resident

Education: Newtown High School Class of 2001, Salve Regina University, bachelor of science in social work, University of Pennsylvania, School of Social Policy and Practice – Cross studied at the School of Nursing and the Fels Institute of Government, masters degree in social work. Family Therapy Training Institute of Miami – Certified Brief Strategic Family Therapist.

Occupation: Social worker/clinical supervisor for two Juvenile Risk Reduction Centers; one in Danbury and the other in Torrington, CT. Employed by Community Solutions, Inc. for one year.

Question responses:

1. As Newtown continues to grow, so do the issues that face our municipality. Our leaders, now more than ever, need to know and hear from the people they serve. Without this open, honest, and direct communication, the important issues that plague our town (i.e. substantial growth, economic development, education, and environmental concerns) go untouched and have very little chance of getting resolved in a democratic, fiscally responsible, and ethical manner. Although a basic concept, this is in fact, the most critical governmental matter facing Newtown today.

2. Why wait? I vow to address the communication issues in Newtown before I am elected. In fact, my day to day involvement with Newtown is based on getting to know the issues, the people, and how I can better serve our community. I am committed to providing enhanced communication, strong ethics, and bold leadership for Newtown. Coffee with Chris, e-mail updates, and various neighborhood initiatives are just a few of the personal touches I have already established to ensure that I achieve these goals. The opportunity to serve on the Legislative Council will enhance my ability to work toward developing a healthy governmental infrastructure for and with the people of Newtown.

3. I am a civic minded leader who blends vision with action. I pride myself on my ability to communicate and connect with individuals, groups, families, and communities of all compositions, interests, and needs. For me, leadership is measured by what and how much one is able to help others accomplish. I am in this race because I am ready to provide Newtown with the bold leadership necessary to achieve great things. As a lifelong son of Newtown, I am committed to protecting the culture of our community while using my new ideas and energy to address the realities we face.

4. According to HOME Connecticut, our state ranks 50th out of the 50 states in our ability to retain young people between the ages of 25 and 34. Unfortunately, this statistic is a reality for our community here in Newtown. Of the 169 towns in Connecticut, 154 are considered to be unaffordable for most families. It is concerning that Newtown is regarded as one of the most unaffordable communities. Every year we see young professionals flee the state because they can find good jobs and affordable housing elsewhere. This is detrimental to our community in many ways. There are very few opportunities for young families and young working professionals to live and work here. We know this group of people is crucial to the development and maintenance of a healthy and prosperous community. I plan to explore ways that the town can tap into the incentive programs outlined by the State of Connecticut and how we as a community can support and embrace this valuable group of people while remaining sensitive to the unique charm and character of our town.

5. We need to create and maintain a healthy, productive and prosperous community. There is no doubt in my mind that this process starts with providing a wholesome education to our youth and families. Education is one of the most important investments a community can make. It is also one of the most expensive. We need to call upon the Board of Education to provide the details of this spending in a manner that can be understood by the general public. We need to be reassured that the spending is effective, efficient, and appropriate. When I graduated from the Newtown public school system the high school was regarded as a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence. I am committed to supporting our children so that they can benefit from the same, if not better, education that I was afforded here in Newtown.

6. As a hub for commercial and recreational initiatives, Fairfield Hills offers an incredible opportunity for the healthy development of our community. It is, therefore, imperative that we continue to balance this initiative with the intent of providing for our social, economic, and environmental needs.

7. Much of the uproar in Newtown has resulted in the fact that people do not feel they are being heard by their elected officials. Every week I open the newspaper to angry, shouting, and sometimes slanderous letters to the editor. Regardless of whether or not this is a perception or a reality, the issue needs to be addressed. As Newtown continues to grow, so do the issues that face our municipality. Our leaders, now more than ever, need to engage with constituents in an open and honest dialogue. People need to feel and believe they are being heard and the leaders need to take the time to listen. I already have the ball rolling on addressing these issues and making Newtown a more pleasant place to live. Coffee with Chris, e-mail updates, and various neighborhood initiatives are just a few of the personal touches I have established.  Newtown is a great community and I believe my various skills and initiatives will augment our ability to develop and maintain a healthy, productive, and prosperous place to live. 

Frank M. Scalzo

175 Mt. Pleasant Road, Newtown

270-8972

E-mail:  fscalzo3452earthlink.net                                              

Family: Wife, Peggy; children, Michael, 12, Nicholas, 10, Dominic, 6, Brianna, 4.

Party affiliation: Democratic

Newtown residency: 43 yrs

Education: Graduated Newtown High School - 1981

Occupation: Commercial motor vehicle inspector for the Department of Motor Vehicles Commercial Motor Vehicle Enforcement Unit for 13 years.

Question responses:

1. There are several matters that include but are not limited to that are critical. One such matter is the Fairfield Hills property that I feel is moving in a positive direction. Another would have to be the schools overcrowding situation and the battle the Board of Ed has in addressing this situation. We all know that the taxpayers need to be assured that the resolution is just that and not a “Band-Aid” to the problem.  

2. My contribution to the issues should never be considered mine but the contributions of my fellow Newtowners’. If elected to the position of Legislative Council it will never be my intent to gain any results for my own issues but to hopefully gain some success in addressing the issues that concern the people of Newtown. I have been here a long time and I plan on being here a lot longer.  If elected the results that I help to achieve will not only effect the people of Newtown but they will effect myself and my family for years to come.

3. My most valuable skill or talent would have to be my ability to rationalize and be able to analyze and utilize given information. My ability to communicate with others on a level that we can work together to accomplish the task at hand. I feel that being a person who was raised in town and having watched its unconventional growth, I have a good understanding what this town needs and the direction it needs to go in without jeopardizing the integrity.

4. One issue I feel needs more attention is the maintenance and upgrading of our roads. If we keep ignoring this issue and not fund the monies needed to stay on top of our deteriorating roads then it will take more money and involve more intense repairs. This will result longer time construction areas are going to require to complete them. The Highway Department is doing a fabulous job on the projects that are on going but they need more support. We as taxpayers need to make sure our tax dollars go to the most necessary projects. I want to be part of that decision making process and assist the town. If this requires going to the state for the additional funding through the state aid to municipalities from the DOT special transportation fund.

5. They need to stop looking at the short-term solutions and start considering the long-term effects these “Band Aids” are creating on the taxpayers. I feel that almost 70 percent of the budget should be sufficient and the Board of Ed needs to be content with that figure. This is a large town and by only allowing 30 percent of the budget going to the town budget I feel if this percentage tips anymore in the favor of the Board of Ed it will start compromising the health and safety of the entire town. The high school does not another addition. We need another high school now not 5 -10 years from now.      

6. I feel that the authority needs to allow some commercial use to off set the maintenance cost of the recreational use, Hopefully the authority will be able to tie in the commercial use with the recreational use so that one can compliment the other. The commercial use should not be industrial type but more of the retail and professional type. There also should utilization of some of the buildings for town offices so we can stop renting other properties at taxpayer’s expense. I feel the balance needs to lean towards recreational use not only for local team sports but also for the causal sport or exercise activity. If the Fairfield Hills Authority uses their creativity this property should serve the best interests of all Newtowners. 

7.  I have lived in this town my entire life and we Newtowners have had our share of negativity over the years. I feel that there is some negativity in the town now because a small number of people are not completely satisfied with the way things are being handled or they are not satisfied on the time frames of some projects. In my opinion these people are the minority, and I think as Newtowners we just need to be more patient and allow things to fall into place. We don’t need to have personal agendas interfere with the needs of the town.  I feel that anyone who spreads negativity in any manner for any reason cannot and should not call them self a Newtowner. As a true Newtowner I can honestly say that this town has taken pride for it’s “Nicer in Newtown” motto and people need to remember this and try to live it.  Negative criticism hurts the many and benefits the few. I personally do not think any one person can fix this prevailing mood but as a true community we can all give the moral a boost by offering positive criticism or suggestions.

Francis G. Pennarola

17 Webster Place, Newtown

270-7153

E-mail:  fpennarola212@earthlink.net

Family:  My wife Maureen is a special education resource teacher at Head O’ Meadow School in Newtown.  We have three sons, Adam, a senior at UConn, Brian, a freshman at Tufts University, and Patrick, a junior at Newtown High.

Party affiliation: Democrat

Newtown residency:  18 years

Education:  BA in Government from Wesleyan University, JD from the University of Connecticut School of Law.

Occupation:  Attorney for 31 years. Employed by Chipman, Mazzucco, Land & Pennarola, LLC in Danbury.

Question responses:

1. I believe that the tax burden the citizens will face in the years ahead is the most critical governmental issue.  Taxes affect us all, young and old, working and retired, rich or poor.  The capital needs of the town are considerable.

2. I would start by trying to expand relief for the elderly on fixed incomes.  There may be ways to ‘freeze” taxes going forward.  Keeping the elderly in their homes can help relief the burden on the schools. 

3. I believe in compromise, not on principles, but on details.  I would continue to work with all members of the Legislative Council, new and old, if reelected.

4. We need both intermediate and long range planning.  It is unrealistic to plan appropriately for 25 years in the future, but we should be able to focus on the specific needs over the next 5-10 years and outline anticipated future needs. I think the first selectman’s committee is a good start and look forward to its expansion.

5. Providing the best education we can for our students, maintaining the quality of our teaching staff and upgrading facilities.

6. There should be a mix of uses that enable the site to be self sustaining, while preserving the bulk of the land for future needs.  The purchase was one of the best things to happen in my 18 years in Newtown.  It will not, and was not intended, to provide any meaningful tax relief for the town

7. Certainly the rhetoric has been more negative in the past few years.  I think it reflects different views on the priorities the town should have as well as a desire to see more immediate needs addressed (such as school repairs) at the expense of long standing needs (a new town hall).  I look forward to working with the new council, a guarantee of at least five new members, to help set community priorities.

Benjamin J. Roberts

19 Farrell Road, Newtown

426-1039

E-mail: ben.roberts@charter.net

Website: www.independentpartyofnewtown.com

Family: I am married to Monica Kim Roberts, who has been a Newtown resident for 29 years and whose two children, James and Emily Marron, went through the town school system from K-12. 

Party affiliation: I am a registered Democrat, but I am running as an Independent Party of Newtown candidate.

Newtown residency: eight years

Education:  I went to high school in Chicago, and I attended both college and business school at Columbia University, receiving my MBA in 1991.

Occupation: For three years, I have worked with individuals and small businesses to help them reflect their social and environmental concerns through their investments and other financial decision-making. Self-employed.

Question responses:

1. My overriding concern is that the process by which our leaders are making key decisions fails to serve our needs.  When power has been concentrated for too long in a small number of hands, an attitude of complacency and entitlement can take hold.  The effort required to engage the citizenry, and to develop and build a consensus around a long-term vision, is seen as unnecessary.  Many things, including the decline in the quality of our schools, budgets that do not have popular support, the contentious relationship between the Board of Education and the town government, the decision to build a new town hall, the lack of accountability in our budgeting process and the lack of strategic planning, suggest that we need a change in leadership. The Democratic and Republican parties in town are working hand-in-glove, running on a list of “accomplishments” without specifying a vision for the future, let alone presenting a platform for achieving it.  That might be acceptable if everything was running smoothly in our town. Unfortunately, that is not the case and the responsibility for our current problems and the lack of a vision for dealing with them rests squarely on their shoulders.

2. The Independent Party of Newtown (IPN), of which I am honored to be a member, is a group of highly motivated, civic-minded citizens who have come together out of frustration with the current leadership’s indifference to our concerns. These intelligent and hard-working people are guided by a commitment to open government, emphasizing accountability and transparency and an end to the practice of back-room decision-making.  By gaining control of the Legislative Council, which contrary to its recent history as a rubber stamp for the Board of Selectmen, actually holds principal power under the town charter, IPN will provide crucial checks and balances and will insist on efforts to solicit public opinion and build consensus.  We will have open debates about alternative approaches to major policy questions.  And we will make the development and adherence to a long-term strategic plan the guiding principal for all our decisions. Our Declaration of Independents, (found at www.independentpartyofnewtown.com) details five ways we will put these principals into action: creating a long range plan, bringing Fairfield Hills under Legislative Council oversight, the prioritization of capital spending for school and recreational facilities, bringing accountability into the budget process, and publicly providing detailed information on all government decision-making.

3. I have been an entrepreneur for most of my career (see my bio at www.independentpartyofnewtown.com).  While I have deep expertise in financial matters, I consider myself a generalist, with the ability to think critically, systematically and creatively in a wide range of contexts.  I love the challenge of digging deeply into complex issues. I know how to find and make use of expert advice, ask tough questions and organize information in ways that add perspective and clarity. And I know how to present this information in a way that builds a consensus for action. As a member of the Legislative Council representing District One, I will put these problem solving skills to use by spearheading efforts to tackle one of the major challenges facing the town, whether it is the development of Fairfield Hills, keeping the budget under control, bringing our schools back to blue ribbon status, or appropriately managing future development. In this role, I hope to become a prime resource to the council and the town as a whole in moving us forward with innovative, effective and affordable strategies for the future. 

4. Limiting Newtown’s population growth, the underlying dynamic driving both tax increases and school issues, requires much more attention.  The widely accepted concept of “Smart Growth” emphasizes that development should be promoted in areas (generally cities) with existing infrastructure and previously developed sites that can be adaptively reused (e.g. “brownfields”).  On the other hand, it should be discouraged in towns lacking public transportation and infrastructure on undeveloped land (“greenfields”).  Newtown is clearly in the latter category.  And while the town has taken some admirable steps to increase the zoning requirements for new housing and to buy a modest amount of open space, it has completely failed to stem the tide of greenfield development that has overburdened our schools and budget. Innovative thinking is needed, focused on taxes, zoning and economic development. It makes sense, for example to aggressively support small businesses in town, but not to encourage large scale projects that will create also new housing demand.  It is also necessary to lobby Hartford aggressively, perhaps with changes to the tax code and for actions that foster regional planning.  Additionally, open space acquisitions need to be made in ways that maximize the reductions in residential development.

5. A top quality educational system is vital for our children and for the support is gives to real estate values.  The decline in our schools may be the key reason why our property values have not kept pace with surrounding towns.  The problem will only get worse if it is not addressed aggressively. The town’s current Capital Improvement Plan contains approximately $100 million in school projects.  Many of these, such as replacement of the heating and air conditioning system at the Hawley School, have been put off for years and will now cost significantly more than they would have if they were taken care of promptly. Poor planning for our high school needs also shows how the lack of long range thinking puts us in a financial bind. We must make the necessary improvements to our schools the top priority of our capital spending plans.  In addition, we must end the divisive relationship between the town government and the BOE, while bringing openness and accountability to the budget process.  IPN candidates for the BOE and Legislative Council share this vision. Cooperation and long-term planning will insure the restoration of our schools in a fiscally re-sponsible manner.

6. Few towns ever have an opportunity such as this given to them.  I can only guess at what some of the great minds of planning, such as William McDonough, might come up with for Fairfield Hills.  The possibilities are enormous.  And yet nearly seven years after the town approved a $21 million plan, very little has happened and we have no idea what this property will become.  Nothing illustrates the complacency and smallness of our current government’s thinking more than the failure to create such a vision. When surveys were conducted after the property was purchased, residents said they wanted school and recreational facilities first.  Their lowest priority was for commercial development.  I favor this approach.  In particular, we must avoid large scale commercial developments, such as the office building that has been discussed, that provide only minimal tax revenues while increasing population growth pressures.  Some commercial development may be appropriate, particularly if it supports local businesses and serves to create a central focus for community gathering and social activity.  But it should be done in the context of a well-planned vision for the entire complex.

7. The mood has indeed grown more negative, and I hold the current government responsible.  While all our problems are certainly not of their making (the pressure for new housing development, for example, is an external force), the lack of planning, vision and transparency, combined with an unwillingness to welcome concerned and active citizens into the political process, has led to a collapse in confidence.  Nothing illustrates this better than our struggles to pass a budget. The Independent Party of Newtown was founded because Gary Davis, Po Murray and others were repeatedly dismissed by both Democratic and Republican leaders when they attempted to become involved in the solution to our many problems.  “If you want to have input,” they were told, “go run for office.”  Little did they realize that Po and Gary would not only run themselves, but form an entirely new party to challenge the entrenched interests in our government. IPN represents an opportunity for dramatic change in Newtown.  With your help, we can create an environment of openness and accountability that allows Newtown’s citizens to have confidence that their elected officials are working in their best interests.   This year, your vote really does matter.

Albert P. Roznicki

169 Hanover Road

270-6330

E-mail: aroznicki@sbcglobal.net

Family: Wife, Nancy, married 45 years; three children– Lynn, Kristen, Karen; six grandchildren – Kayla 14, Devon-13, Sean-12, Brian-11,

Lauren-11, Carter-10

Party affiliation: Republican running as an Independent Party of Newtown candidate

Newtown residency: 10 years

Education: Perth Amboy High School, NJ; Bucknell University, major economics; University of Pittburgh, executive MBA

Occupation: BDR Medical – Chairman & CEO (medical services) for 18 years.

Question responses:

1. A formal and detailed long range/strategic plan. Without a plan that takes into consideration all of the needs of a town simultaneously we risk unnecessary and uncontrolled expenditures. By planning for today and tomorrow we address the issues of escalating property taxes, maintenance of town services and the educational and facility needs of our students.

2. The first thing I would do is review by line item the municipal and education budgets to better understand what is included and where the money is being spent. The second thing I would do is implement a zero-based budget system and assure that all expenses making up the budgets are absolutely necessary and are in accordance with longer ranged plans. Third, I would search for ways to supplement our educational and municipal needs. And the forth thing would be to revise the way we report financial information to allow the public to be better informed and part of the decision making process. It is important to remember that we work for the people, not vice versa.

3. Long range strategic/budget planning has been exhibited throughout my business career. I’m a firm believer in establishing a sound foundation before building anything.  Establish an objective, and then find ways to accomplish that objective that creates a desired net positive result.

4. There are several issues and needs that do not get sufficient attention. Transparency of government is a major issue. It’s one thing to say to your constituents that we have made a decision regarding such and such and quite another to provide the reasoning behind the decision. When a town speaks with as much conviction as they did at the Legislative Council meeting on February 7, 2007 the administration should take note. Instead the administration ignored over 400 people who spoke passionately about their concerns and needs. We must be more receptive and responsive to the public. Since Long Range Strategic Planning has been absent in this town for so many years we have no way of knowing how effectively our money is being spent. There are no milestones to compare accomplishment to expenditure. It is beyond my understanding how we can establish a Fairfield Hills Master Plan without having first established a long range plan for Newtown.  Inform the public why certain decisions are being made and the rationale associated with those decisions. Let the people know that all alternatives have been considered. Ask for their opinions. We have a very intelligent electorate that can contribute to the success of any administration. Develop an ongoing comprehensive long range plan. Solicit input from the people, listen to their issues, tell the people why and how decisions are being made and provide alternative solutions.

5. I believe we spend approximately 64.7 cents out of every tax dollar associated with education. First, and foremost, we must address the academic needs of all students in Newtown, below average, special need students, average and gifted students. Second, we must assure that a proper environment exists that facilitates and contributes to learning. Third, we need to assure that a proper student/teacher ratio exists while setting priorities that satisfy the educational needs of our students. And we must do this while not over burdening the taxpayer. Finally, we must search for ways to supplement the education budget.

6. Any decisions regarding the commercial and recreational uses of Fairfield Hills should be postponed until we have a finalized Newtown long range plan and that plan supported by the voters. Further, commercial and/or economic development of Fairfield Hills should not be included in any plan unless it satisfies one or more of our long-term objectives.

7. Has the general public become disenchanted with the current government? Yes. Are property taxes escalating at rates greater than inflation? Yes. Has the public consistently rejected the administration’s proposed budget several years running? Yes. Is the public upset having the high school placed on warning while we consider building a new town hall? Yes. Did the public vote down the original master plan? Yes. Did the current government establish a Fairfield Hills Authority to carry out its own plan? Yes. Should we have to listen to very well paid consultants tell us about the beautiful water feature being planned in front of the new town hall only to be withdrawn because the issue did not fully consider the environmental impact of such a water feature on streams below? No. I don’t see the issues identified and voiced by the general public as negative. I see them as part of a democratic process that sets this country above all others. This is an extremely positive reaction by the people of Newtown. As a result, the community will be the ultimate winner. Newtown is already a “nice” place to live. The current government has served its purpose and now should move on. Our job is to bring this government into the 21st century by updating our policies and procedures, improving our accountability, providing checks and balances and making the government more transparent and responsive to the people.

District 2

Ellin Patricia Llodra          

90 Riverside Road, Sandy Hook

426-6718

E-mail: patllodra@aol.com

Family: Spouse, Robert; children, Michael (Heidi, NYC, sons Oscar and Owen),

Sharon (Rob Barrows, Woodbury, daughters Katharine, Julia, Olivia), and Bethany (Chris Gilman, Trumbull, son Jackson) .

Party affiliation: Republican

Newtown residency: 37 years.

Education: BS in psychology (minor in statistics);  MS and certificate in mathematics; Sixth Year Degree in Educational Leadership; doctoral studies.

Occupation:  Executive Director,  two years, Connecticut Association of Schools

Question responses:

1. The most critical governmental matter in Newtown today is the need for our infrastructure and our services, including education, to meet the demands of a growing community without generating a tax burden which is beyond the capacity of households, young and elderly.  Conservative fiscal policies and careful allocation of resources must be guided by an informed understanding of short and long-term needs and of the actions needed to address those needs.  Planning must be dynamic and on-going in order to meet changing conditions.  Furthermore, those plans must come together in some comprehensive whole that serves as the foundation for financial decision-making. And, greater clarity and publicity is needed to ensure that townspeople know, understand, and can influence the fiscal, executive and legislative decisions and priorities.  

2. There are three aspects to the problem cited:  responsible and conservative financial decision-making; planning; and engaging the community. In financial matters,  I bring long experience, knowledge, skills, and understanding about the costs related to education and am able to place those needs in the context of the municipality’s overarching responsibility to serve all of its residents within a framework of reasonable taxation. As a long-time leader of complex organizations, I know the power of good planning and know how to align decision-making and resource allocation to garner the best strategic advantage.  Early in my tenure on the Legislative Council I raised the issue of planning and used every opportunity to focus attention on that need. I am sure that these efforts, along with those of two council colleagues, were a strong impetus for the action of the Board of Selectmen in creating an ad-hoc strategic planning committee.  Further, I am a member of a committee of four persons, two each from the council and the Board of Finance, leading a study of population demographics, geographic distribution, and potential growth in order to “understand more comprehensively the financial implications for municipal planning, municipal needs, and open space.” That project is being funded through the municipal budget and will involve the services of planning consultants.  Once data is developed and analyzed, community members will play a vital role in shaping the future.  I look forward to working with all constituents in “visioning” the Newtown we can become.

3. I do not have a single talent or skill such as being suggested here, but I do have a long history of successful experience as a leader of complex organizations. I am accustomed to the work of long-range planning, and careful resource allocation. My formal education has been in the areas of mathematics, statistics, research design, and leadership.  I have strong analytical skills and good common sense, depth of commitment, and ability to work with others for the common good. 

4.  An issue that has some prominence in my thinking and one which I feel does not get enough attention in town is the future of our Edmund Town Hall. Soon we will be faced with the reality of a town hall that no longer serves the governmental functions we have been accustomed to accessing in that location.   Its changing role will have an impact on our community. I believe that we need to pay careful attention to efforts and plans to preserve and protect this important symbol of our history.  Innovative and cost effective approaches, including partnerships with the private sector, will be necessary to subsidize the expense of repair, renovation, and on-going maintenance, lest support for that building becomes such a tax burden that it risks the danger of falling into disrepair or ill-suited uses. My role related to this concern would be to use the public position whenever possible and appropriate to advance policies and planning that focus attention on the issue.

5. My priorities on the education side of the budget are found in three categories: people, programs, facilities.  The quality of teachers and school/district leaders makes a difference in the outcomes for students. If we are to produce learners who are capable of achieving and succeeding in the world of today and tomorrow, then our personnel in classrooms and school offices must be of the highest caliber.  And programs of learning which challenge each student to develop his/her potential should be offered.  Finally, the facilities must be preserved and maintained so that tomorrows taxpayers do not have to bear the unreasonable costs of delayed care. Given this triad of priorities and the vast costs associated with them, I place the highest priority on the need for the BOE to aggressively explore and adopt strategies which are cost effective over both the short and long term. 

6. Commercial development at Fairfield Hills is necessary to offset the costs of purchase, development and upkeep of that 186 acre parcel and has the potential someday to provide some small relief in the general burden placed on Newtown taxpayers. A balance must be found, however, between the economic benefit of commercial development and the quality of life benefit of recreational uses, both active and passive.  The present plan to concentrate commerce in twenty-three acres provides for substantial open space; more open space than was available when the hospital was functioning. The land and the setting encourage a variety of recreational uses and have the potential to provide intergenerational leisure benefits. The use of private enterprise to create recreational facilities is innovative and appears to be cost-effective. It may be that future partnerships with private entrepreneurs will allow for the creation of additional facilities.  The present balance between planned recreational and commercial uses and the strategies being employed to develop those uses seems appropriate and in the best interests of our community. Costs related to the ongoing support and development of Fairfield Hills must be constantly monitored, however, and efforts continued to defray the expense of implementing the plan.

7. I am not sure if one description captures the mood and feeling of the townsfolk in general. Certainly there are many people who are very satisfied with Newtown, while many others are not. Passions and voices can run high on certain issues, such as the budget, town hall, and Fairfield Hills development and there is often little tolerance for those who hold opposing views. Further, there is a less vocal but strong presence of concern about the cost of living in our town.  There is some “personalizing” in the debate about choices and actions, and occasional direct and heated confrontation between elected officials and spokespersons for specific interests. There seems to be more arguing to win a point and less dialogue aiming for consensus. I believe that attitudinal shifts such as these occur when people feel frustrated and angry that their voices are not being heard, that their opinions don’t matter.  It is incumbent upon every elected official, me included, to communicate more effectively and to listen more carefully.  We need newer and better ways to disseminate information and to determine the views of all the people.  Strategies such as polling, surveys, blogs, web-casts, computer-based discussion boards are tools that can be useful. 

David Benore

9 Meadow Road, Newtown

426-0472

E-mail: dbenore@gmail.com

Family: (Wife) Ann Benore (son) Caleb Benore (stepsons) Charles LoBosco, Michael LoBosco

Party affiliation: Republican

Newtown residency: 16 years

Occupation: Sales and Marketing, self employed at Benore Marketing for 15 years.

Question responses:

1. I believe it’s a combination of factors; accountability, transparency, and fiscal responsibility. I think every taxpayer in Newtown deserves to know exactly how their money is being spent. I believe every office should be open for taxpayers to discuss issues and really be heard. I also believe that the officials making these decisions have to be held accountable. Personal agendas should not be tolerated. Making decisions for one’s personal area of “issue” whether it be education, town planning, or Fairfield Hills is not helping. We need people passionate about the entire program not just one microcosm. I also believe throwing money at problems isn’t helping. We need real solutions.

2. I want to work with the Board of Education to find out where their needs are and where the shortcomings have been. I want to be asset to these budget negotiations to help decide exactly how the revenues are budgeted. I want to help give the people of Newtown more for their tax dollar while preserving the quaint beauty of our town. I would like to have goals, not goals for today but a goal for where we want this town to be in 15 or 20 years and succeed in meeting them.

3. I’m not a politician, I’m a business man. I plan on using my skills in negotiating, planning and foresight to help the town make decisions. I’ve been negotiating every day for the last 15 years. Some days you do better than others but the important thing to me has always been the bottom line and how the customer felt after the dust had settled. The key is giving value and meeting or exceeding expectations. I think we need to do both in Newtown. I’m also free of any hidden agenda. I have no personal interest in this political position other than representing the best interest of the town and every resident.

4. One of the issues in Newtown that I don’t believe gets enough attention is our teenagers. We would all agree it’s a tough time to be a parent with kids out at night. Driving their cars, looking for a place to go. It’s even a tougher time for the teenagers. I’ve heard complaints about kids being at Dunkin’ Donuts for years. I would like to have a real plan for a place for these kids to go and socialize. I would like to see a park or a place in the “new Fairfield Hills” set aside for these teenagers to congregate without being accused of loitering. Obviously it would mean more than a parking lot. We would need to incorporate rules and regulations to avoid problems, but I think it’s an important need and should be addressed.

5. Overcrowding has to be one of the main issues. We just remodeled the high school a few years ago and now we have outgrown the school again. I find it hard to believe we couldn’t see the population growth coming. I think it’s important we build and or remodel our schools with an accurate projected enrollment even if this means more bonding.

6. I would like to see part of the Fairfield Hills set aside for a corporate headquarters. This would help greatly in tax revenues as well as helping area retail businesses. Newtown schools would suffer no impact whatsoever. I would like this corporation to help with the development and financial responsibility of parks, ball fields, equestrian center and open spaces in the remaining majority of property.

7. I think the prevailing mood in Newtown is negative and much more so now than ever before in my years here. Everyone I talk to basically says the same thing. “Taxes are too high for the return, there’s one small pool for the entire town, ballfields are in short supply, schools are overcrowded, there’s mini malls with ugly architecture being built everywhere.” I think the people of Newtown are just tired of paying taxes with little return. If our town was a business, we wouldn’t offer the same old product year after year and charge more money for it. We would all agree that business would be out of business. We need to offer more for the tax dollar.

 

Barbara Bloom

25 Philo Curtis Road, Sandy Hook

270-7703

E-mail: bbloom4388@aol.com

Family: Husband, Dennis; son, Billy (age 13, 8th Grader at Newtown Middle School

Party affiliation: Republican

Newtown residency: 43 years (My entire life.)

Education: BS in mathematics, UConn, 1987

Occupation: PCA for the Danbury Nurse’s Registry for 17 years.

Question responses:

1. Taxes. When you look at the top issues facing our town now, whether it is Fairfield Hills or educational spending, for example, the primary concern is how much they affect our escalating property taxes (a big part of Newtown’s affordability).

2. With each decision I make, I will take into account the impact it will have on Newtown’s tax base, particularly when it comes to the budget. We have to get property taxes under control.

3. Common sense. I have a degree in mathematics, so I can get a handle on the budget and think logically. I am also very active in the community, so I know what is happening and how people feel. Common sense can bring those factors together to help guide us where we want to be.

4. The alcohol/drug use among the youth in our community is very disturbing. Although it is getting more attention than it has in the past, it is still not getting nearly enough. I am a member of the Newtown Prevention Council and a phone coordinator for the Parent Connection, so I am already taking steps to address this issue. If I am elected, I will certainly try to make sure the community has the proper tools in place to help combat this serious problem.

5. The first priority should be to dispel the notion that more money means better education. I believe that being fiscally responsible means more than spending money wisely and not wasting it. It also means that we shouldn’t spend money we don’t have and can’t afford. We have to come up with a reasonable budget each year, one that is in line with inflation, for example, and the Board of Education needs to spend it wisely. The school district can’t come up with a “wish list” of what they want and have the town determine how much we have to raise taxes to achieve that goal. That is irresponsible and a disservice to our community.

6. Fairfield Hills can be a gem for Newtown, but we can’t let it break us financially. We need enough commercial/economic development at Fairfield Hills or elsewhere in town to defer the cost of the municipal/recreational use of the property. It comes down to common sense. We can’t spend money we don’t have and can’t afford.

7. I am a life-long Newtown resident. My family has been here about 100 years, and I do think it is “nicer in Newtown,” but people are struggling to pay their property taxes. It is affecting our community. If we can ease that burden, people would have more time for families and more time to volunteer and get involved, and then we all win!

 

Timothy J. Holian

3 Wendover Road, Newtown

426-9885

Website: TheNewtownDemocrats.com

Pets: Dog – Charlie

Party Affiliation: Democrat

Newtown residency:  Lifelong Newtown resident

Education: St. Lawrence University, BS economics & BS biology;  John Marshall Law School, Chicago, JD.

Occupation:  Self – employed attorney in private practice for 24 years.

Question responses:

1. Yearly multiple budget referenda indicate that voters want elected officials to “reign in” spending. To do so, while still providing comparable services and accommodating education needs, is problematic at best.

2. I have always been a proponent of maintaining a debt service line item in the budget for municipal acquisition of land otherwise ripe for development. Acquisition of land for open space or passive or active recreation will, in the long term, lighten demand for services and favorably impact enrollment in the school system. In the short term, I will continue to be aware of the difference between wants and needs in both the town and education budgets.

3. I would have to say that my most valuable talent is born of ten years of service on the Legislative Council. Decisions should not be made in a vacuum. I am able to draw upon my experience and recollection of past successes and failures while making decisions going forward.

4. Apparently, the insidious and increasingly pervasive problem of substance abuse among our young is the “head in the sand” problem requiring more, and constant, attention. Unfortunately, as a member of the Legislative Council, there is little I can do to address the problem other than helping to enact enforcement-friendly ordinances.

5. It is imperative that the Board of Education be able to differentiate between what are “needs” and what are “wants”, and budget accordingly. It is also imperative that the Board of Education be able to differentiate within the subsets. It should fund the most important “needs” first, and aspire to a time when it can fund the most important “wants”.

6. The Fairfield Hills Authority should and must follow the master plan as approved by Planning and Zoning. The plan itself provides for a mix of commercial uses and active and passive recreation uses. It is a flexible plan which will accommodate change as circumstances and demands dictate.

7. While negative attitudes do exist, and there is, and always will be, dissatisfaction with municipal conditions, I cannot agree that those attitudes are “prevailing.” Recently, those in opposition to everything have been more vocal, more entrenched in positions frequently opposed among themselves, and more impassioned in their pleas. Squeaking wheels scream for grease everywhere. Frequently council members are bludgeoned with a demand to fund the school system no matter what the cost or impact on the mill rate and no matter what municipal sacrifices need be made. Multiple budget referenda then tell us to “reign in” spending. To accomplish both is problematic, if not impossible. All I can do to keep it “Nicer in Newtown” is continue to search for the middle ground.

Joe Hemingway

10 Overlook Knoll, Sandy Hook

270-7060

E-mail: jhshct@aol.com

Website: www.thenewtowndemocrats.com/JoeHemingway.html

Family: I have been married to Maribeth for 25 years.  We have two daughters: Sarah, 20, is a junior at Western CT State University, and Maggie, 18, is a freshman at High Point University.  We also have two golden retrievers, Sadie and Lucy.

Party affiliation: Democrat

Newtown residency: 18 years

Education: Graduated Rice Memorial High School, Burlington VT 1976. Wentworth Institute of Technology, 1979.

Occupation: Project Manager for The Fusco Corporation, 27 years.

Question responses:

1. Unity. I feel that for Newtown to move forward on any issue the town needs to be reunited. Right now the town is divided, and every issue becomes an “us vs. them” issue. We need to work together as a town toward common goals that will benefit everyone.

2. I feel that I can contribute to reuniting Newtown, because of the many ways I have been involved in our town.  I have worked on behalf of the Board of Education for many years, I served for two terms on the Legislative Council, I served twice on the Economic Development Commission, and twice on the Charter Revision Commission. I have looked at issues and dealt with issues from many different angles and can see different points of view. I also spend the majority of my professional life negotiating.  In order to get things done, you must look at things from both sides and find a position that works for everybody.

3. As mentioned in my previous answer the most valuable skills I can offer Newtown are experience and the ability to look at issues from different perspectives.  Everyone has an opinion and everybody has a right to that opinion.  I feel that I can listen to different opinions with an open mind and evaluate them.  Then, together, we can come up with workable solutions that may not make everyone happy but will develop a resolution that works.

4. Tax relief for seniors, veterans and volunteer firefighters. It does get attention, but I feel that there should be more. We as a town cannot afford to lose our seniors. We need to make sure that their taxes remain affordable, and that those of us who don’t mind our taxes increasing as much will need to pick up the slack. If we support tax increases to fund our excellent school system and these tax increases hurt our seniors, we need to take some of that burden away with increased tax credits.

5. The Board of Education must obviously make the students the priority. I know that this is easier said then done, but whenever a decision needs to be made between infrastructure concerns and direct curriculum or technology concerns, we need to err on the side of the students’ direct needs. With that being said, I think they also must make sure that each year some maintenance items are addressed to avoid major expenditures for re-pairs down the road.

6. I feel that there is plenty of room for reasonable economic development at Fairfield Hills without taking away any recreational uses. Obviously, the more economic development we can fit in, without taking away any of the space we need for town uses and recreational uses, the more the taxes and income will help all residents by reducing the tax burden placed on our personal property taxes.

7. I think the mood in town is definitely more negative than at any time I can remember in my 18 years in town.  I feel that as I answered in the very first question in this questionnaire it is the biggest issue facing our town. The reason I decided to run again for the Legislative Council this year is that I feel I can help reunite this town because of my experience in many different aspects of town government. I have always tried to teach my kids that everyone can make a difference. We need to listen to each other, work together and treat each other with respect. Everybody is entitled to an opinion.  We need to put those opinions together into a plan that works for everyone.

Chris McArdle

Bennetts Bridge Road, Sandy Hook

364.1611

E-mail: councilmanchris@gmail.com

Family: Married, one child.

Party affiliation:  Democrat

Newtown residency: 8 years.

Education: Cheshire HS ‘79; BS, business management, Lebanon Valley College ’83.

Occupation: Retail manager for a leading home improvement retailer for three years.  Prior to that I spent about 20 years building a small manufacturing and consulting business serving an international clientele.

Question responses:

1. The most critical issue we face is runaway growth in the student population, because that is what is driving budget growth and rising taxes, which hamstrings our ability to plan effectively and to respond to educational and other needs and opportunities in town.

2. I propose to make changes in our tax structure to remove the subsidies for residential development and the disincentives for people to stay in town once their children leave the school system. 

3. Newtown and Connecticut exist in an environment that is fundamentally different than the one we had 30 years ago. These days we must respond to complex forces and opportunities well beyond our individual and local control. I am offering my ability to analyze complex issues effectively, listen to different perspectives and divergent opinions, and help formulate and advocate proposals with the potential to place and keep our community on a strong trajectory in today’s dynamic political and economic environment – and to do it in a public forum.

4. What I call “gray flight”, meaning the reasons and rate at which our seniors are leaving town for calmer financial waters. Driven by rising taxes; the loss of open space and the threat to the character of the community; and a dearth of services; many people who have been in town for 20 or 30 years (and more) are leaving or are planning to leave.  If we do not address this, the rate of departure will only get higher.  This is a key driver in the expansion of the school-aged population. I advocate cutting property taxes on owner-occupied residences for people beginning at age 65 at the rate of  seven percent per year until the portion of the property tax paid by people 75 and older is equal to the percentage of the municipal side of the town budget.  In most years this will mean a real reduction in the cost of living in Newtown after inflation, and make staying in town a better choice. Keeping more of our seniors home in Newtown is key to arresting the growth in our student population; and the savings associated with that will pay for the cuts.

5. To secure my support as a Legislative Council representative for their budget proposal, I will ask the Board of Education and superintendent of schools for a five-year plan showing us how they intend to achieve goals in three key metrics: teacher mastery, curriculum, and class size. Newtown should be the employer of choice for Connecticut’s best teachers.  Our curriculum should enable our children to think for and educate themselves; to participate effectively in their community; and compete successfully in college admissions and the workplace.  Our class sizes should be small enough for our education professionals to deliver the high achievement they intend. I’ll want to know what the superintendent of schools and the BOE consider to be the means and measures for real gains toward meaningful goals in these three areas, not simple benchmarks; how the goals will be achieved, what the interim milestones are; and how the resources requested contribute to the realization of these goals. Given the central role it plays in property values, a top-flight school system is in everyone’s best interest.

6. The opportunity that Fairfield Hills represents is so complex and the conversation about it so emotionally charged that I am reluctant to attempt to address it in this confined space.  The consistent theme that emerges from the conversations I am having with my constituents is that the plan seems to be constantly changing; nobody really feels they have a good grasp of what we are doing there.

At the moment, I am willing to say a few things:

* I am opposed to any form of residential development in Fairfield Hills.

* Any building or development there must be primarily focused on addressing quality of life in town.  That is, the rationale for any development there cannot be primarily financial.  Fairfield Hills’ highest and best use is not as an industrial park.

* Expenditures should be carefully considered both for the debt service and for the ongoing operating expense of the facilities; since in point of fact it is the total annual cost of a course of action, not just the initial investment, that will have to be borne by the taxpayers.

7. As I go door to door – speaking with the voters and taxpayers of the Second District – I hear many particulars, and one large theme: our taxes keep going up, but the services we get for them do not.  Whether it is the long bus rides that our children are forced to endure, the almost complete lack of services for seniors, the closing of the Dickinson Park pool, or the overcrowding at the high school that threatens our accreditation – and with it our property values and our kids’ prospects of getting into the college of their choice – people are looking for solutions, not hand-wringing and recriminations. My proposal to reduce the rate of growth of the town budget is a serious attempt to address the runaway rise in the baseline cost of running the town and the schools.  By addressing the problem at its source, we can move in the direction of a sustainable set of services, keep our bond rating high, meet our obligations to our children, and take the pressure off our seniors. At this moment, the best thing I can do to help make it “nicer in Newtown” is to bring my perspective, skills, and experience, and serve on the Legislative Council.

 

Po Murray

38 Charter Ridge Drive, Sandy Hook

270-8774

E-mail: pomurray@charter.net

Website: www.independentpartyofnewtown.com

Family: I have been married to Tom for 15 years, and I have four children who attend the Newtown school system.

Party affiliation: I am a registered Democrat, but I am running as an Independent Party of Newtown candidate.

Newtown residency: 8 years

Education: Spaulding High School: Barre, Vermont; University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, BS in physical therapy

Occupation:  Stay-at-home mother, co-founder of WECAN (We Care About Newtown) and the Independent Party of Newtown.

Question responses:

1. Newtown is expected to grow by 50 percent in the next 25 years and we are not adequately prepared to handle this growth as we currently lack an integrated long-term plan.  While efforts have been made to create various agencies to plan for the long term, these efforts are not integrated in a meaningful way to achieve a long-term vision for our community.  Band-Aid approaches to dealing with failing schools and town infrastructure and disjointed approaches of developing methods to offset the residential tax base are evidence of poor integrated planning. It is difficult to understand the rationale for building a new town hall on FFH when, clearly, the community has other pressing infrastructure needs.  Our analysis and answers from the current administration demonstrate that other viable options for municipal needs were not fully considered or explored.  I believe the $21.9 million appropriated for FFH in 2001 is not being maximized to benefit the majority of Newtown residents.  Our Board of Finance has imposed a cap on spending for capital improvement projects therefore bonding the funds for the new town hall has delayed more pressing school and town capital projects.              

2. As a Legislative Council member, I will aggressively pursue establishing a long-term planning group tapping into our community resources by recruiting members from the private and public sector as well as representatives from various government boards/commissions/agencies.  This creative group will seek community input, create a mission statement, identify key issues to address, formulate an executable plan with a specific timeline to accomplish our goals and communicate these goals to the public to seek community support. I will also assist in developing a better communication system between the government and its citizens. I have developed a meaningful method of communication through my outreach efforts to We Care About Newtown. With improved communication with Newtown citizens, I plan to fairly represent them and I will work collaboratively with the long-term planning group and various bodies of town government to help establish a long-term vision and a strategic plan for the schools, recreation and municipal services for Newtown. For two years, I have advocated for a strategic long-term plan for our community.  As a council member, I will have an opportunity to be an active participant in the process. 

3. One of my main objectives of co-founding the WECAN public advocacy group was to engage the public about the critical issues facing Newtown by providing important and timely information to the members.  I believe our outreach efforts have been successful and I am interested in extending the outreach efforts to the larger segment of the Newtown population. 

Communication is vital if we are to be successful in leading Newtown into the 21st century.  Newtown has struggled to stay united due to numerous factors but I am interested in continuing to work diligently to learn, research, and educate Newtown citizens by providing timely information via newsletters, e-mail sign up, and finding other methods of outreach.  Improved understanding of the issues affecting our community will foster an environment of unity, which will benefit all of Newtown.

4. I believe Newtown must aggressively pursue increasing the state’s share of education funding.  The state’s share of education funding has decreased by 50 percent in the last 10 years therefore increasing the town’s tax burden. At one time, I offered the current administration to help work on a citizen’s task force to advocate for increased state education funding.  While the task force never materialized, I supported the town’s decision to join the Connecticut Coalition for Justice in Education Funding (CCJEF) to begin to advocate at the state level.  I encouraged WECAN members to join as parent advocates as well.  I believe the recent emphasis at the state level on revamping the Education Cost Sharing Grant is due to the efforts of CCJEF and other groups such as 1000 Friends of Connecticut who has been advocating for a smart growth approach of planning for municipalities. I am in favor of creating a task force to vigorously pursue change in the current property tax structure.  Newtown is not alone in the property tax revolt in Connecticut.  Newtown will continue to struggle to pass our operating budget without more commitment from the state to help us with the state’s obligation to ensure that public education is properly funded.

5. I believe that the priorities of the Board of Education should be considered in totality with the town’s priorities. The question that needs to be answered is “Do we believe what is good for education is good for the town?” There is a reciprocal benefit of providing quality education and funding adequate town services.  We must prioritize the combined budget to maximize the return on investment of our tax dollars. This fiscal year, 63 percent of the town’s expenditure funds education operating budget, 27.6 percent funds the town operating budget and 9.4 percent funds the debt service for all capital projects.  This expenditure split in the operating budget is not unique to Newtown. Newtown is ranked at 33 out of 169 towns for wealth and 136 out of 166 school districts for per student spending.  With the resources available to the Board of Education and the district’s administration, I believe their priority has been to preserve services to make sure that direct student learning and achievement will not be compromised.  It is obvious from our $100 million school construction projects in the horizon that the school infrastructure has not received the attention it deserves. We have to understand the dynamics of why ~90 percent of education costs in Newtown are funded by local property taxes.  We have insufficient support from the state and an inadequate non-residential tax base. 

6. I believe the redevelopment of FFH must be integrated into a long-term plan to fulfill the vision for Newtown as a whole.  I would like the long-term planning group to identify how FFH can satisfy community needs and whether FFH is the most logical location for commercial development as 140 acres of the 186 acres has been designated as open space.  The most optimal parcel of land on FFH (22.5 acres) is designated for economic development. If we identify that Newtown lacks large parcel of land for future school and town needs for our growing population, I am an advocate of land-banking some of the useful property on FFH for future needs.  In addition, I am in favor of investigating whether a new middle school could be built on FFH rather than investing over $42 million to repair the antiquated middle school building.  It is unfortunate that the existing middle school was never fully explored as an alternative to building a new town hall on FFH. I am also in favor of more recreational opportunities at FFH.  There is a desperate need for more recreation and athletic fields in Newtown. 

7. I believe there is significant frustration with the current administration in our community.  There is a negative perception of the administration as residents do not see or feel the tangible benefit of paying taxes.  When the residents witness a new town hall being built while school buildings, fire stations, and ambulance facilities are in disrepair and there is a significant shortage of recreational opportunities for the young and the old, one questions whether their tax dollars are being spent wisely. Citizens of Newtown are also frustrated with the lack of responsiveness from our government.  Concerns of active citizens have been ignored.  The culture of divisiveness among the various town boards also perpetuates the feeling of frustration and confusion.  People are becoming more aware of the issues affecting Newtown and they are paying more attention to these issues.  We need to be respectful and mindful that government actions and their method of communication can impact the mood of the entire community.  I plan on making it “Nicer in Newtown” by fostering an environment of collaboration, fairly representing Newtown residents, and help prioritize the critical needs of our town so that people begin to feel that their government is accountable, responsive, and transparent in providing them with tangible benefits in return for paying their taxes.

Guy Howard

4 Main Street, Newtown

426-6188

E-mail: gwhoward@yahoo.com

Family: My wife Carol is a kindergarten teacher at Head o’ Meadow School in Newtown. We just celebrated our 31 year wedding anniversary this year. Children :    daughter Sarah, 29, married to Alex Worley, of  East Hartford,  grandson Tyler just turned 3; son David, 27, just moved back to Stamford from Chicago; daughter Laura, 24, lives in Newtown, works in Norwalk.

Party Affiliation: Unaffiliated voter running for Legislative Council District 2 on the Independent Party of Newtown ticket

Newtown residency:  17 years

Education: High School Worcester Academy, Worcester, MA;  Syracuse University, Syracuse New York; MBA Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana.

Occupation: Certified financial planner for 12 years. Self-employed, representing Ameriprise Financial.

Question responses:

1. Lack of transparency – Over the years local government officials have developed an attitude of arrogance and exclusion toward many citizens of Newtown. Inquiries by interested citizens regarding policies, procedures, and decision making are met with suspicion, evasion, and intimidation.  Interest in debate of different points of view is looked at as troublesome and to be avoided.  Projects and programs are selected as favorites of individuals and coaxed through the funding and approval process.  The current administration has been working hard in recent years to position agencies such as the FFHA outside of traditional town processes so as to avoid citizen meddling.

2. I plan to pursue all opportunities to make information that should be available under the Freedom of Information Act available to townspeople in a variety of formats.  The key is to want to make information available.

3. My analytical skills.

4.The current and future role of seniors is going to have a significant impact on our community in the future as the fastest growing demographic group.  As a start I would revise and expand the current program of property tax relief.  I believe it should be much more broadly available than it is today. Among other elements it should allow seniors the option of trading future property value appreciation for current and future property tax relief.  Investing heavily in schools and children’s programs may be the primary driver in appreciating property values and appeal to younger families.  But it doesn’t do much for the retiree that wants to remain in Newtown, in their current home, and is caught by property tax increases far greater than income can support.

5. The Board of Education should undertake a project of defining exactly what is required to meet the state’s legal requirement of providing free education and equal opportunity to the children of Newtown citizens.  We all should be able to see clearly what are the dollars required to provide the minimum requirement. These criteria should be quantified and tracked.  Citizens should be shown how this base level of requirement is not discretionary – that if the town fails to provide it, the state will step in, provide it, and sue the town for the cost of doing it – for which we as property owners in Newtown would be personally liable. Our Board of Education should help us to understand what this is so as a town we can make informed decisions about how to provide that minimum level of education to students and if, as a community, we should provide education opportunities to a higher standard.

6. First, the FFHA should slow down current activities to allow those engaged in long range planning to work with citizens and officials on the development of a town wide strategic long range plan.  Secondly, the first selectman and the FFHA officials should accept the fact of review and oversight by other town agencies and members of the public.  Third, The Legislative Council should revise the FFHA ordinance to specify how the FFHA duties and activities are to be formally reviewed and approved by an outside body.

7. Yes, I think the prevailing mood has grown more negative in recent years, and I believe it is not just one person or one thing driving it.  I believe there is a growing view among citizens that our tax dollars are taken for granted.  The goal and role of local government is decided by some small group of individuals that have an inordinate amount of influence on the decision making processes in town.  I believe resentment is growing that the structure and mechanics of our current town government allow those special interest groups to virtually attach themselves to the bank account of each individual property owner, by approving and voting for property tax increases that seem unrelated to the every day lives of individual citizens.  I will make it my business to stop that.  I will make it my business to show greater respect for our citizen’s tax dollars, to require those who spend those dollars to show how and where it will be spent, and what steps were taken to evaluate options so that those dollars don’t need to be spent.  I want each person that spends money for the town to feel as if each dollar is coming out of their own pocket.

Gary Davis

23 Charter Ridge Drive, Sandy Hook

203-270-3602

E-mail: gbdavis88@aol.com

Website: independentpartyofnewtown.com

Family: My wife and I will be married 20 years next spring.  We have three children who attend Newtown public schools.  We have two dogs and three cats.

Party affiliation: I am registered as a Republican, but I am running as a candidate for the Independent Party of Newtown.

Newtown residency: 18 years

Education: Roy C. Ketchum High School, Wappingers Falls, N.Y.; Dickinson College, bachelor of arts, English; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Masters, journalism.

Occupation: Public relations for 25 years, employed by World Wrestling Entertainment Inc.

Question responses:

1. The most critical issue facing our local government today is its inability to establish a clear vision for the future, and develop the long-range planning necessary to implement that vision.  Newtown planning is a hodge-podge of different ideas and agendas.  This has negatively affected our community’s schools, recreational resources, municipal infrastructure and affordability.  We need to bring these differing views together into a single, exciting, affordable vision for Newtown.  This is one of the reasons why I co-founded the local advocacy group We Care About Newtown (WECAN) and the Independent Party of Newtown. It’s also why I am running for a seat on the Legislative Council. 

2. As a member of the Legislative Council, I will take a leadership role to create a clear vision of Newtown for the 21st century.  I will work with my fellow council members and other town leaders to develop a meaningful, effective and inclusive long-range planning process. Our goal will be to complete a focused integrated long-range plan for our town that will be supported by an ongoing process to keep it current with the needs of our community. As we undertake this effort, I will work to create a climate in which citizens feel open to engage their government.  I plan on applying new perspectives, ingenuity, and compromise to fix the problems with our schools, recreation, and lack of communication between town government and its citizens. The Legislative Council has the ability to take a leadership role in this effort, and I intend to make the council more active and relevant in addressing the issue of long-range planning and other problems in our community.

3. I am a strong advocate of creating a government that encourages public participation. That can only happen if the public truly believes its participation is welcome. I will encourage all government agencies to hold their discussions and make their decisions in public forums in full compliance with the Freedom Of Information Act.  Our citizens need to see our government in action, seeing town boards and agencies debating the issues. I want to see a system of communication that ensures that the citizens who “pay the bills” through their tax dollars are kept as informed as possible on important town issues. I have been a professional communicator for more than 25 years.  My extensive public relations experience provides me with insights as to how we can best establish a more effective communication system between the government and its citizens. My management style is to challenge the status quo, engage in proactive discussions, encourage diverse views, and then build consensus to an appropriate solution.  It’s the style I will use if elected to the Legislative Council to identify the most effective solutions to deal with the many issues and challenges we are facing in Newtown. 

4. We must do a better job of finding ways to improve our tax base through a coordinated effort to expand commercial and economic development.  We should not have both the Economic Development Commission and the Fairfield Hills Authority doing the job of economic development.  We need one agency looking aggressively at all of the commercial properties in our community and coordinating how we can best utilize them to bring new business into Newtown. So many of us travel outside of Newtown to find services and spend our money elsewhere.  We should not be discouraging businesses that will provide our community with new sources of tax revenue and needed services, like the recently proposed sports complex at Mt. Pleasant Road. As we try to improve our tax base, we need to maximize the efficiency of our tax dollars.  I will push to create a government ethic that requires government agencies to justify every nickel of taxpayer money they plan to spend, and to explain how the expenditure improves our community today and tomorrow.  Each of the town’s departments and the Board of Education should submit an annual budget that is not simply extrapolated from the previous year’s expenditures, but that is justified individually each year. 

5. Our tax dollars for education should be focused on providing our youth with the best education possible.  However, it is difficult to have the best educational experience when you are learning in substandard facilities.  The failure of the current administration to maintain our school facilities and to plan ahead to keep those facilities current with changing educational and technology needs must be addressed. We need to make fixing our schools a priority.  We can accomplish this by reallocating funds in the five-year Capital Improvement Plan to accelerate school repairs with the goal of completing them as soon as possible.  We only need the will and the leadership to get it done.  The Board of Education and the Legislative Council have critical roles to play in that regard along with the Board of Finance.  I plan to challenge the current way of thinking in our government in order to find ways to more aggressively address this issue.

6. We are treating Fairfield Hills as if it were an island rather than a wonderful community hub that can be used for community purposes, primarily recreational, and to attract tourism. In consort with the efforts of the Economic Development Commission, we can decide if there are appropriate opportunities for commercial development that cannot first be accommodated by other commercially zoned properties in town. There have been some interesting ideas put forth for the Fairfield Hills campus, but few of them have been made a priority in the current Master Plan.  We need to infuse a new vision and long-range planning process for our community. Part of that effort will be to work with the community to review and reassess the Master Plan for Fairfield Hills.  The current administration has taken a pedestrian outlook on this wonderful resource. Its decision to do an end-around of the community by creating the stand-alone Fairfield Hills Authority has further insulated our government from accountability to the community. We need to replace the Fairfield Hills Authority with a new organization that has greater oversight from the Legislative Council and is more accountable to the people and the changing needs of the community.

7. Invariably everyone in Newtown has the same question: “My taxes keep increasing, but how is that making our community better?”  Our taxes have increased over the past 10 years as our school, recreation and community infrastructure has been allowed to deteriorate. The current administration and the two major political parties in our community have been more focused on trying to hold on to power and maintaining the status quo than addressing the changing needs of our community and bringing greater value to our tax dollars. If the job was being done right, there would be no need for an Independent Party of Newtown.  Rather than try to understand and address the changing needs of the community, the traditional political parties have tried to shut out people who have questioned priorities at Fairfield Hills, opposed building a new town hall instead of fixing our schools or addressing recreational needs, and called for better long-range planning.  We must reach out to all sectors of the community and welcome them into the dialogue.  That is what I will do if elected. It is the key to creating a much friendlier and productive political climate as we address our community’s many significant problems. 

District 3

Will Rodgers

208 Hattertown Road, Newtown

426-1941

E-mail: Sugrbrk@aol.com

Family:  Spouse, Moira; daughter, Amelia

Party Affiliation: Republican

Newtown Residency: 15 years

Education: Phillips Academy, University of Pennsylvania (BA and AM), Boston University, J.D.

Occupation: Attorney for 22 years, employed, Sugarbrook Law Center.

Question responses:

1. Preserving Newtown’s quality of life.

      

2.  I would attempt to do so in three ways.  First, keep control of municipal spending, particularly capital improvement projects and resulting debt service, by carefully reviewing both the annual operating budgets of the Boards of Selectmen and Education as well as separate Capital Improvement Projects presented for the council’s approval.  Second, encourage “clean” commercial growth in existing commercial areas and as a continuing facet of Fairfield Hills’ development.  Third, slow residential growth by aggressively pursuing open space acquisitions in a creative fashion as done recently, for example, by acquiring conservation and anti-development easements in addition to outright purchases. 

3. As chair of the council, the skill I have found most useful is my ability to bring parties to consensus or compromise.  More generally, I believe that through my two “careers”, as an attorney and as a Marine Corps officer, I have developed the right mixture of education, experience, common sense, fairness and a willingness to listen with an open mind, all of which support my ability to bring people to consensus or compromise.

4. Yes, I believe too often in the budget process municipal costs are identified as “fixed” without any further examination.  It must be remembered that many fixed costs, such as salaries, for instance, are fixed by the town itself, and, while there are undeniably often factors that are beyond the town’s control, many times there is simply a disconnect in the process between those decisions and their operational budget consequences.  I will make it a point to impress upon relevant officials that connection in hopes of linking the two, and the Legislative Council actually has some power in this regard in that it has to be consulted and/or approve a few such expenditures outside of the budget context.

5.  The Board of Ed and the district administration should give priority to the expenditures that most directly influence the student body’s quality of education.  Favor teacher salaries and hiring over administrator’s salaries and hiring, for instance, and favor operational necessities over questionable capital expenses exceeding foreseeable needs.

6. There are two presumptions in this question.  First, there is a presumption that I believe is a correct one, to wit, that the best use of the property is mixed use.  That was the consistent finding of all the various volunteer appointed bodies investigating Fairfield Hills over more than a decade.  Second, there is the implication that the present Fairfield Hills Authority has more discretion than it does.  The authority merely implements the master plan.  That plan is the product of a much larger political process and while the authority can and indeed has recommended changes to that plan, such changes are not unilaterally made.  Therefore, all players in the process need to strike the proper balance between recreational and commercial uses by looking to the plan’s purposes behind those uses, to wit, expanding recreational opportunities that Fairfield Hills uniquely affords while promoting commercial development to both lessen residential growth and the rate of future tax increases.

7. I do not feel the prevailing mood is more negative of late; rather, I believe the prevailing mood is one of dissatisfaction with a minority expressing its negativity in personal and vitriolic ways.  Simply put, the majority of people I hear from don’t like the personal attacks launched by a vocal minority.  There are several things I can do to help alleviate this situation.  First, I can and do urge everyone not to reward at the polls those exhibiting such behavior and tactics.  Second, while I certainly welcome public input and dissent, even spirited in nature, as I run or influence public proceedings, I will continue to insist that everyone proceed from a premise that we all have the best interests of the town at heart and are therefore entitled to a level of mutual respect. Finally, I will attempt to improve communications from the official side by explaining and providing background to discussions where appropriate and urging paid officials to improve the town’s website and other means of communication to citizens.

Connie Widmann

74 Hattertown Road      

270-7547

E-mail: widmannc@raveisre.com

Family: My husband is Jim Widmann, owner of Sono Woodworks located in Sandy Hook. I have two children Sarah who is currently attending Head O Meadow and my son Jimmy who is at the Reed School

Party affiliation: Republican

Newtown residency: 5 years

Education: I went to Wykeham Rise is Washington, Conn for prep school and attended Dean Junior College for two years.

Occupation:  Real estate agent with William Raveis Real Estate for five years. 

Question responses:

1. I think that the need for strategic long term planning is most critical. There are also many other important issues that Newtown faces with regard to the schools, seniors, a community center, and Fairfield Hills to name a few.  We need to be sure that we continue to develop our community so that we protect its natural beauty and open space, while working to develop our economic base.  But a long term plan is what I think is needed most.

 

2. To work closely with the Long Term Planning Committee and the Economic Development Committee to ensure that a good road map is put in place to address the many issues Newtown faces in the wake of the tremendous growth we have experienced over the last 10 years.

3. I believe that my most valuable skill is my ability to communicate effectively.  I will listen carefully and respond thoughtfully based on the information provided.  This will best serve the community as I will be willing to listen to the issues that are brought forth and respond in a timely and considered manner.

4. I think the community services are often overlooked.  We have a desperate need to increase the services that are available to our town.  When speaking to people I often hear complaints about needing another pool, a hockey rink, and more activities for the kids and seniors.  I will work to ensure that these issues do become part of the agenda when specifically looking at the Long Term Strategic Plan.

5. I think that more focus should be spent on technology, math and science.  It is critical that our children have the best resources available in these areas. As we move forward as a society these will be the skills that will be most sought after when our children enter into the work force.

6. I believe that Fairfield Hills should have a good balance of commercial and recreational facilities that will allow residents of Newtown to enjoy all the amenities and re-tail advantages that our neighboring towns currently offer.

7. I have lived here in Newtown for the past five years so it is hard for me to address mood changes in the town.  From my perspective this is a wonderful town to live in that has growing pains.  Once again I will refer to good long term planning.  It is critical that a good road map is put in place to ensure that the town has a balance between community services and commercial development.  This can be done effectively and without negative impact if a good plan is put in place.  

Jeffrey Capeci

52 Bear Hills Road, Newtown

270-0468

E-mail: Jeff@theCapecis.com

Family: Married 11 years to Tanya; two children, Bradley 8, Greta 7, both attend Middle Gate Elementary School.  Our family was not complete before we found our two-year-old Jack Russell-Pug mix (Jug) named Clover.

Party affiliation: Republican

Newtown residency: 10 years

Education: BS electrical engineering / MS computer science

Occupation: business analyst/software developer for 12 years, currently with ASML Lithography Systems, Inc.

Question responses:

1. Newtown has primarily a residential tax base.  State and federal reimbursement rates are shrinking placing a greater burden on the local taxpayer.  Capital projects over the next five years including the high school expansion, school building repair and maintenance, and town needs such as a Senior Center, Recreation Center and Fairfield Hills will all require large capital investments.  Finding ways to fund these needs while maintaining affordability for all residents is the most critical challenge facing Newtown today.

2. Fiscal management. Town resources must be carefully managed to satisfy the entire community.  New revenue sources must be sought and spending must be kept in check.  I will continue to exercise my influence on the council to see that high quality education and town services such as public safety, senior services and recreational opportunities for all residents are provided.  I will also see that investments into the future of our town are made and that reasonable and affordable annual budgets are developed that meet the needs of all the constituencies within our community.

3. The skill I have found to be most useful in my career is my systematic approach to problem resolution.  My education has taught me how to reason.  Experience has taught me to carefully weigh the risks and benefits of making difficult decisions.  I can look at all sides of an argument and evaluate the positives and negatives of each.  I will then work with my fellow council members to formulate a solution that is best for all town residents.

4. I believe there is too little communication between town officials and the public.  Any concern raised by a town resident is a valid concern.  Many issues have solutions that have not been effectively communicated to the taxpayers.  I will do my part by engaging more with members of other town departments and agencies as issues arise.  I will work to see that when decisions are made, the public is made aware of both the decision and the decision making process.  It is better to have an open process that everyone may not agree with than a process no one understands.

5. I am the father of two children in the Newtown school system.  Quality education is extremely important to me.  I also know that sound fiscal management will educate more minds.  A priority of the Board of Education should be to spend as many of the tax dollars it receives on the directly on the children in the classrooms as possible.  I also believe that all budget line items should be reviewed annually.  If no empirical evidence exists that an item is meeting its intended purpose that item should be eliminated.  In a budget as large as Newtown’s, it is also possible to fund new programs in part through efficiencies gained in other areas.

6. Fairfield Hills is a diamond in the rough at the center of our beautiful town.  After many years, it is beginning to take shape.  A mix of recreational uses including walking trails, playing fields, a recreational center and senior center should co-exist with municipal and commercial interests. The wrong type of commercial development could have undesirable affects on our infrastructure.  I believe businesses that could tap our highly skilled labor pool could offer a choice between working locally and commuting to lower Fairfield County while helping to stabilize our taxes.  I also believe that a portion of this land must be reserved to satisfy future school and municipal needs.  The cost of acquiring such a parcel of land 10 or 15 years from now will be prohibitively expensive.

7. The mood in town has definitely changed.  One needs only to look to our last budget season for evidence of this.  Voters rejected the budget three times prior to passage; each had his or her own reason(s) for doing so.  Concerns not only include tax escalation and dissatisfaction with the current leadership but also, I believe, a sentiment that the public’s voice is not being heard. This feeling has fostered distrust between town residents and their public officials. It is the duty of the Legislative Council to give final approval to a responsible budget prior to presenting it to the voters at referendum. It is all the responsibility of all of town government to express how it arrived at the budget, what aspects of the long term plan are being funded and how the immediate needs of the town are being addressed.  I will see that this information is better communicated through a well organized, more detailed town website.  I will encourage more voters to participate in public meetings and to contact their public officials via email or phone to get answers to the questions they have.  The best way to maintain a positive public discourse is to keep communications open.

 

Daniel Amaral

41 Elm Drive, Newtown

426-6038

E-mail: AmaralPoggy@aol.com

Family: Carol Amaral, wife; two daughters and their families living in Newtown (one other daughter resides in California), and four grandchildren attending Newtown schools.

Party affiliation: Democrat

Newtown residency: 66 years

Education:  Newtown High School, New Haven College

Occupation: Automobile sales and service for 46 years. Owner of Amaral Motors, Inc.

Question responses:

1. Economic growth. We need to develop a stronger commercial base to bring in more tax revenue to relieve the burden on homeowners. Other critical issues include the organization of our local government — whether we should have a mayor or the Board of Selectmen; getting a larger portion of state aid; and looking at changing regulations of various boards to spur economic development.

2. Work with the Economic Development Commission as well as other land-use agencies such as zoning or wetlands to help attract businesses to Newtown.

3. Listening to the customers and serving them is a critical part of owning a small business. As a past Legislative Council member, I’ve listened to the citizens of Newtown and made sure their feelings were represented, as with the last budget referendum. For example, many residents made it known to me that they were unhappy with the last budget. At the first meeting, I recommended a three percent increase, which was turned down. However, the budget ultimately failed and needed four referendums to pass.

4. We need to make all the boards accountable for all spending. All budgets including the school budget should have line items, and there needs to be greater transparency in the school budget so that residents can see exactly where the funds are going. If changes are made to spending items in the school budget, dollars can be reallocated, but these decisions should be presented to the legislative council and finance board. Everyone in town wants the best education possible for the town’s students, but some decisions must be made as to what can be afforded by the town.

5.  We need to manage the High School expansion carefully; a larger school will not only bring increased building costs, it will also bring higher maintenance and staffing costs. While there is great growth in Newtown, we need to be sure the residents are prepared for this investment.

6. Although we need recreational space, we absolutely need to encourage commercial development at Fairfield Hills to increase the tax base of our town. We could combine some of these things—for example, a golf course with other amenities could bring in significant revenue and provide recreational space.

7.  I think there’s a divergence between longtime residents that may now be living on low or fixed incomes, but own property which is subject to an increasing tax burden, and more recent residents with school-age children that want to improve the Newtown Schools and can afford the tax increases to do so. While many people do not want commercial development in town, increased commercial development is one of the few ways we can cushion the tax burden for older residents while still aiding the schools.

Jan Lee Brookes

38 Hundred Acres Road

426-9889

E-mail: jbrookes222@yahoo.com

Family: Bill, my husband of 38 years; three grown sons – Rob, David and Stephen; two grandsons – Will and Chris

Party affiliation:  Democrat

Newtown residency:  37 years

Education:  BA from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst; asters in arts and teaching from Wesleyan University

Occupation:  Retired social studies teacher. Taught for  20 years in Newtown; four years in Westport

Question responses:

1. Taxes.  When I told a friend I was running for Legislative Council he replied, “You’re not going to raise my taxes, are you?”   Most Newtowners think their taxes are too high and increasing at too fast a rate. While some aspects of town and school budgets must be accomplished in more cost-effective ways, the cost of government services has increased. A driving force is the rapid increase in oil prices that raises many other costs and drives taxes higher. In addition, because the population increased by 6,000 in the last seven years, Newtown had to construct and staff one new school, and will have to build a high school addition.  Both are large capital and expenses. However, an additional factor is that 90 percent of Newtown’s tax base is the individual property owner. Since property taxes are regressive, they take a higher percentage from lower incomes, hurting those with reduced incomes such as senior citizens and the unemployed. While some believe that reducing government expenses is the solution, property values are driven by quality of life issues such as the superiority of schools and a low crime rate.  Cutting town services will hurt the resale value of homes.

2. If taxpayers are serious about containing taxes, town leaders must carefully expand the tax base.  I support:

* the expansion of  business and commercial use in areas that are adjacent to Exits 9 and 10 on I-84, and on Commerce Road.  In addition, once the Department of Transportation redesigns traffic flow at Exit 11, property there can be rezoned for commercial and industrial use.

* expanding tax relief for senior citizens and town volunteer firefighters and EMT’s.

However, any expansion of the tax base to additional and commercial and industrial use must protect and maintain the character of the town we love.

3. I listen well, ask questions, examine controversial issues from multiple perspectives before arriving at a conclusion and am not afraid to make hard choices.   Taken as a whole, this set of skills is critical for elected officials,

4. The tenor of public, political discussions is a serious issue.  Little is accomplished when debates are acrimonious, personal, and confrontational.  While several letters to the editor have focused on this issue, those chosen on November 6 must make a commitment to civil discourse after the election. The root of the problem is in three distinct visions of Newtown.  Some want New-town to stay as it is.  Others think more money should be spent on education.  A third group believes in controlled, managed growth with a balance between town and school expenditures.  Each side argues that its position is right.  However, the great majority of Newtowners haven’t spoken.  If enough residents fill out the survey on The Bee website, town leaders will have more information about the direction in which residents want Newtown to go.

5. As a retired Newtown teacher and mother of three adult sons who were educated in Newtown schools, I strongly support education.

The two top priorities are:

1.  Build the high school addition, and make timely repairs to other school buildings. Rational:  Most town residents don’t realize that if over-crowding isn’t relieved, Newtown High School will lose its accreditation, and many colleges and universities won’t accept the NHS diploma as valid.  In addition, since making small repairs is more cost effective, all buildings must be maintained. 

2. Hire and keep committed well-trained staff. Rational:  As important as well maintained facilities are, the heart of education is the interaction between teachers and students.  Quality teachers create superior educational experiences.

Two additional priorities are:

1.  Hire and keep leaders with educational vision.  Rational:  By their nature, most teachers are idealists.  When they feel part of a larger vision, classroom instruction improves.

2. Continue to train teachers in innovative classroom practices. Rational:  Organizations that don’t invest in the continued improvement of their employees will stagnate.

6. Because it combines commercial and recreational use with town government and school administration offices, I support the present plan developed by the Fairfield Hills Authority.  Several bipartisan committees have studied the site.  Each has recommended the construction of a new town hall at Fairfield Hills that will finally unite all town offices under one roof and become the axis on which further development of the Fairfield Hill campus will rotate. 

Hiking paths and a new field have already been constructed.  Soon ground will be broken on a non-profit, indoor sports complex.  Town officials are contracting with several private businesses to move to Fairfield Hills.  With thoughtful, careful planning, this campus will become the heart of the town, instead of what is now is – empty and crumbling.

7. Recent letters to the editor reflect a more positive tone than was seen in the spring series of budget referendums.  I’m hopeful that if those who criticized the process and decisions of town leaders become part of helping to resolve the issues, Newtown will regain its ability to discuss divisive issues without excoriating individuals. Taxes are a real problem.  However, town leaders can work to limit the rate of tax increases by expanding the tax base.  In addition, tax relief to senior citizens and those who work as volunteer firefighters and EMT’s can be expanded. For ten years Newtown has been capably and responsibly led by Herb Rosenthal.  When asked a question, Herb answers clearly, knowledgeably, and fully.  Contrary to charges that his administration is closed and secretive, most discover that he is approachable and open; he’ll talk with anyone until all questions are answered.  Herb is a genuine teacher, and that’s one of the highest compliments I give. 

Ann Ziluck

61 Aunt Park Lane, Newtown

426-4001

E-mail: annziluck@aol.com

Website: www.independentpartyofnewtown.com

Family: I have one son who is a student at Reed School, a long-time significant other Tom, a Springer Spaniel named Katie, and two tuxedo cats, Benjamin and Stacey.

Party affiliation: I am lifetime registered Republican running with the Independent Party of Newtown. 

Newtown residency:  15 years

Education: Rippowam High School, Stamford, Computer Processing Institute three year business information systems certification, candidate June 2008 for Microsoft Certified Application Developer (MCAD) – these credentials provide software developers with industry-wide recognition of their Microsoft .NET development skills and experience.

Occupation:  Software Developer/IT Manager.  I telecommute full-time as the Information Technology Manager for the National Marine Manufacturers Association supporting a staff of 150 in 12 offices worldwide.  NMMA associations represent and certify manufacturers of marine products in the US and Canada, and produce 25 annual boat shows internationally including the 106th New York, Norwalk, and Miami boat shows. I’ve worked 10 years with NMMA, 24 years in the software development field.

Question responses:

1. Lack of communication is prevalent in Newtown.  The boards and committees in Newtown do not communicate well, to each other or to the citizens.  There is antagonism between various boards, which staggers their ability to work together collaboratively to benefit all of Newtown.  Our boards and committees need to work proactively as teams to move projects forward, research new opportunities, gain input from the citizens, and effect long-term planning. The lack of adequate communication from town government to/from its constituents results in our government being out of touch with their constituency; therefore, they are not able to accurately or fairly represent the people who elected them. This election requires advanced citizenship from the voters in Newtown – its time to get involved, be informed, get out to vote, and work with the IPN team to make it Nicer in Newtown.

                            

2. I have always worked as a team player in accomplishing goals for my business.  I plan on working collaboratively with other boards and commissions by fostering a positive working environment.  I also plan to assist Newtown in formulating a better communication system to/from the government and its citizens. Technology can play a vital role in the revitalization of our local communications.  My position as IT Manager for NMMA requires accurate, rapid and consistent communication.  I believe the Legislative Council members are elected to fairly represent the citizens and I can assist by first helping Newtown improve the channel of communication between the government with its citizens by using my technology skills. I will assist the town to develop improved professional computer training, website enhancements, creation of two-way communication using web-based community forums, and finding other creative methods to improve communication.

3. As the information technology manager of a large association and trade show company, I am continuously responsible for the development and budgetary management of large projects, many of which happen simultaneously.  I understand how to plan, employ zero-based budgeting, manage the staff and details of a multi-faceted project, engage the assistance of experts, and get the job done. As a Legislative Council member, I will apply my business skills to diligently manage projects from inception to successful completion on time and under budget.  I will be able to accomplish this with open communication with other town officials and the citizens of Newtown. I will also use my strategic planning business skills to assist in developing a process to establish a strategic long-term plan for Newtown. 

4. The issues and concerns raised by the community are not adequately or fairly addressed.  For example, the WECAN group has been advocating for a long-term planning group to be formed for almost two years.  Four weeks before the election, a Long-Term Planning Group appointed by Mr. Rosenthal met for the first time with a charge to ascertain if a long-term plan is even necessary.  The Legislative Council continuing to pursue the question of whether year-round schooling would be an option to address our high school overcrowding, despite the Board of Education and the former and interim superintendent’s recommendation that year-round schooling will not benefit Newtown, is an example of how our current administration spends considerable time on issues that are not important to this community.  The last Legislative Council meeting was devoted al-most entirely to the discussion of year-round schooling.  Newtown clearly has business that is more important.

 

5. Great schools are directly tied to high property values.  If we do not resolve the issue of the New-town High School overcrowding and resultant accreditation warning status, our town will not be a desirable town to live in and our property values may decrease. We need to regain our Blue Ribbon school status by providing a safe, top quality education with adequate space and facilities for our children.  This can only be accomplished by having an integrated long-term plan that includes realistic estimates for expected growth in a fiscally responsible way. Newtown teachers have done an amazing job of maintaining the quality of education despite multiple years of budget defeats.  Once we have a better understanding of the budget by applying the zero-budget principles, it is my hope that the residents will better understand the value of their tax dollars being spent on education.

 

6. Given that there may be minimal tax relief provided by economic development on FFH, I would like to see the long-range planning group identify how FFH can be best used to benefit all residents of Newtown.  If any beneficial economic development is identified, I would like to see the Economic Development Commission playing a role in the redevelopment on FFH.  It does not make sense that our Economic Development Commission is not involved in decisions regarding Fairfield Hills.

 

7. The prevailing mood in Newtown is that it is time for a change.  It is a time for a change because people feel things are not going well in so many areas.  Our high school is overcrowded and on warning status, our middle school is falling apart, we have one town pool for a population of 27,000, and our operating budget rarely passes on the first try while a new town hall is being designed.  People feel our top elected officials are prioritizing projects that are important to them and not the citizens of Newtown.  On February 7th, 400 citizens tried to share their concern with our elected leaders but their concerns were ignored. I plan on being responsive to the concerns of Newtown citizens.  I will prioritize projects based on what is best for Newtown and focus on creating a better vision for Newtown.  I will support the long-term planning group and their efforts.

Robert Murray

19 Farm Meadow Road, Newtown

426-9228

E-mail: rmurray245@earthlink.net

Website: www.independentpartyofnewtown.com

Family: I have been married to Suzanne for nine years and I have two children, one of whom attends Head O’ Meadow and the other, Trinity Day School

Party affiliation: I am a registered Republican but I am running as an Independent Party of Newtown candidate.

Newtown residency: 5 years

Education:  Weston High School, Weston; University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Mass., BA in political science; University of Connecticut School of Law,  JD.

Occupation:  Attorney (commercial real estate partner) for  23 years. Employed by Diserio Martin O’Connor & Castiglioni, Stamford.

Question responses:

1. The lack of a comprehensive and integrated long-range plan. The current Capital Improvement Plan and those that have preceded it have become nothing more than “wish lists” to placate voters. In choosing a “Band-Aid” approach to fixing our schools, failing to rigorously oversee the growth of the budget and squandering money on expenditures and debt service for Fairfield Hills, many of the proposals for school repairs and recreational facilities in the CIP are each yard abandoned and moved into later years, which ultimately will result in higher costs to the town. The lack of a long-range plan is no more starkly evident than in the development of Fairfield Hills. A $21 million dollar appropriation and all we have to show for it is the commencement of construction of a town hall nobody wants. It is an unacceptable mismanagement of funds that could be used for more pressing needs.     

 

2. As a Legislative Council member, I will insist that all town departments be subject to “zero-based” budgeting and will have to justify every dollar of their budget requests.  A long-range plan is only as effective as the individual budgets that comprise it and it is time to start removing the “fluff” and waste in budgets that occurs when the municipal authorities in charge of reviewing such requests worry more about reaching an artificial cap than in critically assessing the town’s needs and prioritizing expenses. I will also require more public input into the process of creating a long-range plan. Harnessing the skills and expertise of townspeople from both the private and public sector to create, in conjunction with the Legislative Council, a workable and realistic long range plan will result in a plan that is more a true expression of the priorities of the voters than the advancement of certain elected officials’ individual agendas.  

3. The ability to lead a group of people to accomplish an objective.  As a commercial real estate attorney, I have been actively involved in the development and financing of commercial property. I recognize the importance of proper planning, due diligence, budget constraints and of reconciling and integrating numerous possible solutions to a problem into one coherent plan that is acceptable to all parties involved. These skills will serve me as a member of the Legislative Council whether reviewing a town budget, overseeing the development of Fairfield Hills or developing a long-range plan for our town.  

4. Respect for the taxpayers by our elected officials. In February, over 400 townspeople attended a Legislative Council meeting and expressed their concerns about the condition of our schools and their objections to the construction of a new town hall. When they were finished, our first selectman characterized these concerns as “so much drama.” Elected officials who spend much of their careers  essentially running unopposed develop an arrogance about the power they wield. Voters, in turn, become apathetic when it comes time to vote because they feel their vote will have no real impact. Bringing our townspeople back into the political process, giving them a stake in the future of our town, is essential if we are to address the important issues we face. 

5. There is nothing more important to the long-term stability of our property values than the quality of our schools. But spending 68.3 percent on education does not necessarily mean that it is being spent wisely. We have not maximized our return on those dollars because we lack an integrated long-range plan that addresses both the deteriorating high school and middle school physical plants and the types of advanced placement and special needs programs we will need to integrate into the school curriculum to enable our school system to remain competitive with those in other towns. Ten years ago, we were a “blue ribbon” school system; now our high school is on warning status.  This would not have occurred had the current administration and the Legislative Council addressed these needs as they arose.

6. The issue of Fairfield Hills goes well beyond balancing commercial and recreational uses. Much of the dissatisfaction in this town with the current administration is the direct result of its attempts to effectively remove the taxpayers from any real input into the development of and expenditure of funds for Fairfield Hills. Fairfield Hills Authority should be disbanded and replaced by a board of managers comprised of townspeople from the public and private sectors. A master plan, created by this board, with input from all of our citizens and oversight by the Legislative Council, will insure that the balance of commercial and recreational uses will be a reflection of the voters’, and not our elected officials’, priorities. 

7. When budgets require three or four votes to pass, voters are clearly upset at the way their money is being spent. This is a failure of leadership. The current administration and the Legislative Council have lost the trust of the voters by suggesting how we should spend our tax dollars when at the same time they are approving expenditures for the construction of a new town hall that nobody wants. Making it “nicer in Newtown” starts at the top; with elected officials who respect the voters, who engage them in the political process and who try to create consensus by implementing budgets and long-range plans that reflect the goals and priorities of the townspeople they serve. When voters believe they are truly part of the process and are listened to, they are more likely to be optimistic about the future and willing to invest their skills and expertise to help improve our town.        

 

Brendan Duffy

4 Chestnut Knoll Drive, Sandy Hook

426-2960

E-mail:               bkrmd93@hotmail.com

Family: Married to my wife, Kim, two children, Ryanne (11), Madison (9).

Party affiliation: Independent

Newtown residency:  4+ years

Education: Stamford Catholic HS 1977, University of Connecticut, 1983, B.S.M.E.

Occupation: Construction Manager for four years with Olympic Construction, LLC

Question responses:

1. Newtown desperately needs to develop and implement short and long term integrated strategic plans (3-5 year and 10 year plans) to manage the future of this growing community. These plans should broadly address many areas including economic development, education, land use, budget structure, parks and recreation and environmental development. Specifically, plans are needed to address three critical issues on Newtown’s immediate horizon: A) Schools exhibiting current trends of overcrowding and delayed repairs which are contributing to stagnant academic performance; B) Demographic forecasts indicating significant population growth over the next 15 years, and C) Inefficient use of its annual budget and capital expenditures. By implementing zero based budgeting, reassigning priorities for the CIP and halting development at Fairfield Hills while a fresh review of town priorities and needs is performed, Newtown can far better plan for its short term and long term future. 

2. As a legislative council member, my contribution will be in voicing these needs to the Board of Selectmen and to the community. I will work with the first selectman and other Legislative Council members to insure our needs for long range strategic planning and better establishing of town priorities are addressed. I will insist on continually providing improved transparency in town government and encourage in-creased participation of the citizenry. I will encourage and actively solicit input from my constituents, question the need and value of budgetary and CIP expenditures, and urge the responsible boards and departments to build in accountability on financial decisions. I will strongly encourage and vote accordingly that we take a long deep breath on the development plans at Fairfield Hills, revise or scrap the present master plan as necessary, and insure that a revised master plan is appropriate for the short and long term needs of 2007 Newtown.

3. I believe my budgetary and scheduling experience in managing construction and engineering development projects for the past 23 years will be the asset I am best suited to contributing to Newtown, and the skill set of mine from which Newtown will most readily benefit. In my business career, I’ve long held the simple belief that customers want quality product delivered at agreed upon pricing within agreed upon schedules. In this case, the customers are voters, pricing is our mill rate and tax base, and schedules need to be determined and maintained. Newtown residents want their children well educated and their property values maintained by insuring schools remain of the highest quality. They want open spaces wisely utilized and managed. And they want their tax dollars disbursed using the same diligence and care as that with which those dollars were created. I will be a diligent watchdog of our valuable tax dollars and a vocal participant in town government. With other Legislative Council members from the Independent Party of Newtown and other parties, I will provide the Accountability, Checks and Balances and Transparency that is needed in Newtown.

4. The plans in place at Fairfield Hills get not nearly enough attention. That is not to say that FFH is not covered in The Bee often enough…it most certainly is. What is missing from the coverage however is what is not being done in town, and could be done were the resources dedicated to FFH being allocated elsewhere. And what of the revenue generated at FFH….where will that money end up and who will control it? How about a front page, above the fold story by The Bee about the creation of FFHA under Public Act 05-33, and its financial powers and oversight structure? How much money is anticipated to be generated by the FFHA over the next five years, and what portion of those funds will be utilized by the townspeople of Newtown? Why was the FFHA structured the way it was? Why is the FFHA accountable to only the first selectman? Accountability and oversight of the FFHA must be insured, and a review of the FFHA structure and its powers should be performed to determine whether re-sources are being utilized in the best interests of Newtown.

5. The 63.4 percent share of our budget allocated to education deserves very close scrutiny commensurate with so large a budgetary component. We have various metrics which should be prioritized (NCLB, SATs, CAPTs, CMTs) for insuring we optimize return on this investment by way of continually improving performance. These test scores determine in large part the opportunities our students will have available to them in future education and careers. Technology (including technical staffing, computer hardware and software as well as peripheral devices like SMARTBoards) must be planned for and budgeted for as they are an integral part of today’s educational environment. Adequate staffing to insure manageable class sizes are maintained must be prioritized. Non-mainstream curricula components like art, music, and industrial trades must be funded to insure these opportunities are presented to our students as some will pursue those paths. And most important of all, we must plan and maintain our school facilities for the future and be prepared to accept lar-ger class sizes when they occur as they inevitably will in Newtown’s future.

6. Utilization of this land should not be limited to commercial and recreational uses. There are municipal uses that should also be considered as well, including schools and municipal offices. Newtown needs to evaluate FFH as one resource among many, and determine what role it can play in Newtown’s short and long term future. Recreation facilities, a senior center, additional school facilities, a new town hall and commercial development should all be on the table for evaluation. Partnering with local business for economic develop-ment is clearly an opportunity available through FFH. Employing any of these uses may serve Newtown well, but it must be done following an exercise that determines and prioritizes Newtown’s wants and desires, and assigns resources to address them. FFH must be one of the resources available to Newtown to address the town’s financial needs. It has great potential in revenue generation. Revenue generated from any activities at FFH must be made available to the town for use in whatever way is needed.

7. I’ve resided in Newtown for only three years. I can’t lay claim to personal experience of adequate duration to comment on behavioral patterns in town growing more negative. I have been advised of a great deal of frustration with the present administration and its seeming indifference to concerns about schools, budgets and taxes. Right out of the gate, the 2008 Legislative Council can vastly improve atmosphere in the town by requesting the first selectmen inform the public that the plans for a new town hall will be immediately halted. We will establish the present priorities of the townspeople and we will act to address them. The present Lundquist survey results should be drawn into the equation, and open and frequent dialogue with the Newtown public will be needed. If we can streamline the budgeting process, finding where funds are over allocated by requiring justification of each and every line item, department by department, we can surely bring a higher quality product to the taxpayers of Newtown. When the townspeople believe their government is listening and responding, things will be “nicer in Newtown”.

Ruby Johnson

16 Chestnut Hill Road, Sandy Hook

Family:  No response

Party affiliation: No response

Newtown residency:  No response

Education: No response.

Occupation: No response

Question responses:

1. The most critical issue facing Newtown is the challenge to provide highly professional municipal services and excellent school services for a growing population with the limited funds available to the town.

2. Presently, government is too slow and cumbersome to act in a timely manner without ignoring the wishes of its citizens.  Instead of one study committee after the other, I would support a website that explains each municipal or school issue, provides a feedback mechanism for voters, shares the feedback comments, explains how a final decision is reached, and provides a clear analysis of the resulting financial burden. Time is money. 

3. I am a skilled researcher and I have provided town officials with numerous studies such as the good and the bad of economic development in Newtown, the projected US and world population growth, and the history of school enrollment in Newtown since 1950.  Unfortunately, most of my reports have been ignored by town officials since they often don’t support actions these leaders which to take.

4. When I first moved to Newtown 41 years ago, most of out citizens could find a great viewing spot for the Fourth of July fireworks held at Dickinson Park. We no longer have an area where hundreds of citizens can congregate, exchange greetings, chat, and mingle.  I had hoped Fairfield Hills would become that Central Park and center of our social activities like the Dickinson Park of old.  During the Bicentennial Celebration, FFH was allowed to serve briefly as a center of activity and pride.  Once, this beautiful land is converted into a business center, the trees destroyed, the lawns paved over, that opportunity will be lost, and that special feeling that It’s Nicer in Newtown will die with it. I strongly support a re-evaluation of plans now unfolding for FFH and revisit the issue of preserving FFH for the people of Newtown.

5. The culprit causing such a large percentage of tax dollars to go to education in Newtown is the State of Connecticut.  Reimbursing Newtown only $700 plus per pupil is a ridiculously, small amount. The largest portion of the Board of Education budget is wages paid to teachers and staff that are market driven, or stated another way, supply and demand rules. If the town wants to cut the budget, it must cut the staff and that means cutting programs. Research validates the value of smaller class sizes over the old “30 in a class” many of us experienced.  Only the staff can tell us the importance of a sport or musical experience to a child, a tutorial program, hands on math and science projects, gifted programs, etc.  Our educators must communicate constantly to let us know the most successful programs that must be funded and why. 

6. The town should never have considered becoming a “developer.”  Citizens should not have been asked to spend $20 million to act as a landlord or developer at FFH.  Men without vision cut down trees, blacktop 15 acres of beautiful grassland, and create unmanageable traffic situations.  The bond issue allocated $6 million for the renovation of Shelton House for town offices. In their Resolution, dated 8/4/03, the Board of Selectmen “Resolved…the design architect…will compare new construction (of a town hall) to renovating Shelton House.”  They have ignored their own Resolution.  Similarly, they resolved the same for Plymouth Hall as a community center.  They promised seven new playing fields.  They have broken every promise.  After they fulfill these obligations and designate land for a future police station, fire station, and a new high school, then the town could consider economic development.

7. Yes, the prevailing mood is decidedly more negative.  Taxes are an issue, but the greater concern is that government leaders ignore citizens and do as they wish when they wish.  In 1999, the architectural firm, Kaestle-Boos, studied existing municipal needs.  Their report recommended a 328 percent increase in sq. ft. for the Police Department.  Nothing happened.  In 1999, state school enrollment projections predicted over-crowding at the high school by 2002. It took three years (2002 to 2/05) to appropriate $400,000 to convert the shop areas into four classrooms for temporary relief, six years to replace unhealthy well water at Middle Gate School with a public water supply (1998 to 2/05), and four years to negotiate Peter D’Amico’s Newtown Youth Academy at FFH.  Newtown took possession of FFH in 2003. The first improvement step taken was to construct a baseball diamond in 2007. Town leaders delay action in order to manipulate for outcomes they want, often ignoring the expressed wishes of our citizens. I would strive to plan, explain, and seek ways for government to execute the wishes of our citizens i­n a timely manner.  Newtown belongs to the people.  Only they can make it “Nicer in Newtown.”