Town Manager advocates a regional sales tax
I'm guessing that many of you missed this March 16 article in the NHR by Mary O'Leary on Mayors seeking a regional sales tax. I know that Cheshire has no Mayor, but we do have a chief executive who decided to opine on the possibility:
“It’s far better to share a tax, than to not have the benefit of a tax at all,” he said.
Personally, I'm strongly opposed to our unelected "leader" speaking about this topic. In fact, when I was elected to the Council six years ago I was very clear with him. I asked him to "make the trains run on time." In other words, I wanted an administrator - not a policymaker. Unfortunately, I have not yet been able to find four other Council members who are willing to challenge The Boss and direct him to do his job - nothing more, nothing less - and manage the town.
I wonder how Cheshire's current Town Council feels about him advocating a regional sales tax? My guess is that they are unaware of these recent comments advocating more taxes. So I'm not too concerned about their silence on the issue.
And while I believe the current Council is doing a good job on such issues as moving through the budget process in an open manner (h/t to Mr. Schrumm) and taking much needed action on the pool (h/t to Mr. Sima)... I don't understand why some Council members seem enamored with a TM who is at the heart of the problems at the CPD... particularly any Council member who loves to talk a good game about holding the line on taxes.
So on this particular topic, as it is with many other topics that involve the relationship between Cheshire's chief executive and the Council... as I was quoted in last week's Herald:
I think the Council is living in denial. They are protecting management, the Town Manager in particular, and I don't understand it.
Tim White
p.s. My concern isn't about the appropriateness of a particular tax. In fact, annually the Council votes to request the state renew the conveyance tax on houses. And I'm sure I've voted for that in the past. Nope. That's not my point. My point is that unelected officials shouldn't be advocating significant policy issues without the direction of elected officials.
44 comments:
Oh Tim! All that is going on, all the things to concentrate on (i.e. The Budget) and yet you still can not let go your quest to go after the Town Manager.
He voiced an opinion most likely because he was asked a question by a reporter. He isn't supposed to have an opinion, or he can not speak publicly? Does he say in the article that he is the Mayor? Does he say that this represents the beliefs of the Town Council? Does he state that Cheshire is taking this policy position?
He can't have an opinion or speak about what his opinion is? You don't seem to follow that mentality. Every single day on this blog you make your opinion known and go after whoever and whatever you please. As an elected representative of the town and, based on your statement, someone who can make policy statements you have indicated that the town had been involved in cover ups, bid rigging, mis use of funds and general incompetance. But that is acceptable and Mr. Milone answering a reporters question is not? Hmmmmmm
I am actually amazed he has kept his opinion to himself about a blog that has come very close to character assaination and slander....
Is this really what people elected you to do?
How did I know that same person would leave the first comment here.
Sometimes I think Tim puts these comments up there just to make that person happy.
By the way, when you are in a public office, whether elected or hired, you should develop a thick skin. You won't make everyone happy.
I don't recall seeing any comments close to "character assination or slander" here. Perhaps you should point them out (which I doubt you will find) and I am sure Tim will remove them.
Remember, Tim was elected by popular vote. Like it or not, you must deal with it.
Had included a bad link, fixed now.
To my friendly neighborhood troll at 12:50 who suggests an offhand comment to a reporter, the story lead reads:
HARTFORD — With municipal cuts looming in 2012, urban and suburban mayors and town leaders came together Monday to beg for more taxing tools to help them keep property taxes down.
Elected officials should talk about this stuff. Bureaucrats should do so only at the direction of their elected officials.
As for all your assertions, please post some links. You can skip the "general incompetance" though. I've made that assertion numerous times and stand by it... though I think it was normally directed at elected officials.
1:05 thanks.
Quoting the NHR "...“The road to Connecticut’s economic resurgence goes straight through our central cities,” DeStefano said.
Cheshire Town Manager Michael Milone said all towns are competing with each other to grow grand lists, with little success.
“It’s far better to share a tax, than to not have the benefit of a tax at all,” he said. ..."
Mr. Milone seems to be saying taxes are beneficial. Taxes are an expense. Taxes usually don't result in any investment which creates value. Taxes are needed but when they become a massive financial burden growth dwindles and grand lists begin to head south.
This town and this state are so over taxed already. It is just stupefying that town officials would be posturing to get more and more. How about for once figuring out how to cut our taxes before they get collected?
re: "mis use of funds"
You can skip that too. Just a week or so ago I explained how the TM made a decision to waste money by asking an hourly admin to explain the budget of the TMs office... this from a "finance" person.
what is going on with the police issue Tim?It seems that nothing is being done. At least from a public view.
I agree with Tim on this. It's up to the elected council to make recommendations to legislators, which they do every year.
The TM's personal views on this issue likely do not reflect the views of the town or the council. When asked about something as significant as a new sales tax, the TM should have definitely deferred to the council chair.
Sure add a tax onto the Rt 10 traffic and the already high "Cheshire" prices on everything....
If Milone said the sky were blue, tim would argue that it is more of a shade of grey with a hint of blue. There is nothing that Milone can say that tim will agree with. If the ever agreed, the town would probably collapse into a black hole
As far as tim being elected by majority vote, he is a district rep. 1/6 of the town was able to vote for him. I think that he should be limited to issues directly affecting his district and leave town wide issues alone. District reps should be concerned with their districts and at large reps should handle townwide issues.
1:12,
The districts are each 1/4 of the town, not 1/6. And town-wide issues very much affect the districts; there is no neat distinction.
Notwithstanding Tim's frequent criticisms of the TM, he is right on this. It was inappropriate for the TM to publicly support a new tax which would require state approval. I agree with a previous poster: Milone should have deferred to the council chairman on this one.
I don't know what Milone thought when he said that it's better to share a tax than not have the benefit of it.
I don't think he thought this through. Everyone is aware of DeStefano's desire to have the suburbs providing revenue for New Haven. Anything that New Haven is for will suck money out of Cheshire. So how could it benefit Cheshire.
I think DeStefano and Milone would be better off spending their time on how to reduce expenses by cutting back on the cost of delivering services.
DeStefano could save a lot by reducing the number of high paid bureaucrats and eliminating corruption.
I think any new tax should have the approval of the voters and be on the ballot.
You may have missed out on what goes on here. You said "...I think the Council is living in denial. They are protecting management, the Town Manager in particular, and I don't understand it...."
The Council is not living in denial. Many times over the past several years it appears the Council has been living in THE TWILIGHT ZONE! If they lived in denial maybe things would be better. In The Twilight Zone all sorts of strange things, like locals who just can't pay enough of other peoples money in taxes always seem to pop up behind every stray bush and tree.
And now a suburban town manager sucking up to the New Haven Mayor who has one heck of a track record when it comes to spending other peoples money. It has to be The Twilight Zone or maybe even the far northwest edge of the Bermuda Triangle - - -
Question; If it wasn't for this blog where would this discussion be happening? In a cigar filled room? I wish all the elected officials would comment here so we would really know where they stand. Mr Milone, care to comment?
10:42... I wish all the elected officials would comment here so we would really know where they stand.
hahaha... Who says they don't? I know a few Council members almost never visit. And I also know a few who regularly deny visiting (and commenting on) this blog. Yet somehow they always know what I'm blogging about and what comments are being left.
I'm also confident that members of Town Hall's Inner Circle frequent the blog.
And if you're keeping score on the number of unique daily visitors to this blog... daily unique visits have exceeded 300 per day (avg about 250, including Sat & Sun). So I'm guessing the number of unique Cheshire visitors at TWL on a daily basis is probably around 150 or at this point. Not bad IMO.
the town had been involved in cover ups
Almost forgot about hotWatergate and the coverup of The Corruption Memo for eleven days before it was buried in a stack of papers and given to the Council. So I have made that assertion as well... because it happened. Sorry about that.
I think Michael Milone gave a real politicians answer that neither advocates for nor dismisses an opportunity to benefit should a tax of this sort be enabled by the State. What administrator wouldn't want a piece of any tax that would support their budget?
That cities and towns fight over ECS money from the state and always complain they don't get their fair share is the annual whining at budget time. And the greedy Destefano, defacto Mayor for life in New Haven is advocating for more and more taxation by raping his neighbors is not unexpected...he's run every tax paying industry out of town. This is the guy that sued Milford because his city malls failed.
And for unelected Michael Milone to say he would like a piece of any new regional tax is fine. He can't vote for it nor can he advocate for it unless the Town Council asks him. And to be sure if such a tax was ever enacted he better be directed by the town council to get every bit he could.
The real message in all of this is that no tax is enough. Its like heroine for gov't.
"Sharing a rax" with John DeStefano is going to be good for Cheshire.
Milone is either naive or a true believer in income redistribution to think this could possibly benefit the citizens of Cheshire.
Earth to loca citizens. Any "broad-based" tax redistribute funds from raxpayers with above -average incomes (i.e. almost everyone in Cheshire) to those with lesser income.
It is also likely to redistribute income from politically weak groups (i.e. small towns and small businesses) to politically strong groups (big cities and big business)
If Mr. Milone agrees with this principle than he ought to quit and go to work with an organization that would be rewarded by this approach
Not appropriate for Milone to speak out in favor of this new tax, unless this reflects the sentiment of the Council. Did he first clear this with Tim Slocum or anyone else on the Council?
Anonymous April 08, 2010 11:53 AM said...
"Not appropriate for Milone to speak out in favor of this new tax, unless this reflects the sentiment of the Council. Did he first clear this with Tim Slocum or anyone else on the Council?"
Are you for real??? Last I knew, this is America and the man is entitled to an opinion.
Town Councils come and go, but Cheshire is in good shape, thanks mostly to the continuity, consistancy and steadiness provided by the Town Manager and the professional staff of the Town. Look at the towns around us where the power shifts every two years. The taxpayers have to bear the burden of wrong policies and the costs to reverse them. It's like shoveling up after the elephants came through.
12:56, well maybe we should appoint Mr. Milone manager-for-life, and just dispense with the council and elections.
The man is entitled to his opinion, but not on his employer's time and dime. His public support for a new state tax does NOT reflect the views of his employers, the council and the town.
"I think Michael Milone gave a real politicians answer that neither advocates for nor dismisses an opportunity to benefit"
I don't think Mr Milone is a politician and therefore does not represent Cheshire as a representative of the residents.
Anonymous April 08, 2010 3:31 PM said...
"The man is entitled to his opinion, but not on his employer's time and dime. His public support for a new state tax does NOT reflect the views of his employers, the council and the town."
Who are you - and you know this - how???
this political dem vs rep bullshit is antiquated thinking. It dosent work. Washington is filled with ancients still living in yesteryear. The parties are just a feel good club to make people feel like they belong to something that makes change. If you look at all the us vs them fighting that has gone on over the years, the republicants and republibrats have accomplished nothing other that create programs that dont work and are too expensive. look at this town alone. we have a painter on the boe threatening to close a school. we have one party saying no more consultants then hire one immediately after taking office. one man(person), one vote, that is what needs to happen abolish the parties and vote your conscious, not what the party line is. mr. milone has an opinion. Call in the militia. he is an educated, intelligent, manager that has been effective here for years. just because he may advocate something dosent mean its going to happen. ITS AN OPINION. I see alot of arguments on this page but NEVER an answer. its time to stop with the bullshit and move this town forward (or back) to the great town it was.
Mr. Milone was speaking in his capacity as the TM, not as a private citizen. As such he should have deferred to his boss, the council, or at least cleared it with the council chair. A professional would have understood this even without a formal policy.
This has nothing to do with political parties. It's just the right protocol in any organization, including in private business. You check with your boss first. The council now needs to clarify policy on this.
Milone's entitled to his opinion. But his opinion is the people he works for should be hosed if he can get a few nickles to spend on another assistant bottlewasher; while DeStefano sends his bill for political patronage to the burbs.
My opinion is Milone should go work for DeStefano
Everyone is entitled to his/her opinion. But most companies would sack someone if s/he used company letterhead to write a letter to the editor.
It is simply wrong to use your position in an organization to publicly opine on significant issues without having cleared it thru your boss first.
But then, for years our TM has thought he reports to no one. And from a political perspective, he's been right.
Look, I'm not a huge fan of Milone but his relationship with the town council is not exactly the equivalent of employee-employer. It's more like a CEO and board of directors - or like a schools superintendent and board of education. If Tim Slocum as "mayor" of Cheshire can attend all the events that municipal leaders go to or take all the press inquiries, then he should do so. But I've never been under the impression that that was the council chairman's job. Again, I'm not defending Milone as much as pointing out that as a practical matter, our governmental structure is going to result in this kind of thing happening.
9:40
By virtue of being the council chairman, Tim is the "honorary" mayor and attends these functions. That is the role of the chairman of the council.
The Town Manager answers to the Town Council.
In the real world, the manager of a store or a department should not speak for the owner or CEO.
But here in Cheshire, some people don't think we are in the real world.
10:16 Your logic escapes me. A town manager's relationship to a town council is nothing like a store manager's relationship to the owner of the store. In fact, the town council is not the "owner" of Cheshire. The residents/taxpayers are the owners. The TC is the equivalent of the board of directors. The TM is the equivalent of the CEO. Now, you're not suggesting that CEOs always clear what they say publicly with their boards, are you? I know Slocum is "honorary" mayor. That's the point. He doesn't function as a traditional mayor. If we wanted a strong mayor form of government, we should get rid of the TM position and we would avoid these types of situations. But, as a practical matter, the TM can't always get the approval from the entire council before answered press inquiries or speaking on matters of public policy. It's illogical to suggest any TM can.
Before the grammar police pounce - I should have said "answering."
10:24
I'm not sure if your logic is making sense.
Who hires the TM?
Who reviews the TM?
As far as I know, the TC is responsible for that,not the residents.
The TC members are elected by the residents and are responsible for making sure the town is run efficiently.
I am not saying that the TM has to ask the TC permission before he speaks to the press on every issue, but when being questioned about a regional tax, he should defer to the TC.
We can go back and forth on who is the CEO and who is the board of directors, but bottom line, the TM needs to be careful before he makes comments regarding this sort of topic. Yes, he is entitled to his opinion, but he should keep them to himself if it pertains to issues that he can't make the sole decisions on.
By the way, Tim Slocum, as the honorary mayor, can speak for the council.
I am not saying that the TM has to ask the TC permission before he speaks to the press on every issue, but when being questioned about a regional tax, he should defer to the TC.
Agreed. And I add that the article certainly leaves me with the impression that this wasn't a response to a reporter's question. Rather, this was a group of municipal chief executives (incl. Destefano and Milone) testifying before the legislature AS representatives of their towns.
Also consider the Council's annual legislative request. Traditionally, this request begins with the TM. Then the Council changes it, votes and sends it to our five legislators.
Did The Boss include a regional sales tax in his request.
No.
Why?
Just a guess, but ummm... he knew it wouldn't fly with this Council... or heck... prior Councils... so he just goes off and does his own thing using the prestige of his office to do a favor for Destefano.
And he's been doing this for years. I know in the past he's gone to Hartford to testify in favor of an additional income tax. I never saw the headlines though and knew the prior Council would never dare question their boss... so I let it slide.
But this is ridiculous. And it raises another point for me... if the town of Cheshire is going to appear in the newspapers, then the TM should give the Council a head's up. But he's convinced no one will force him to do this... so he continues to do as he pleases.
Time for a change.
"And it raises another point for me... if the town of Cheshire is going to appear in the newspapers, then the TM should give the Council a head's up."
Tim, you're starting to lose me. I agree Milone overstepped his role on the tax issue. But don't get crazy with how far you want him to bend over.
You can't have a robot in that job. The more I think about this, the more I think we should scrap the TM position and elect a strong mayor.
4:26 It's a separate point, but one that I recently raised on the cover of the Herald.
I've told the TM several times, if it's going to appear in the newspapers, then let the Council know first.
As for putting too much on his plate, I offer an alternative. He stop using his office to push his redistributionist agenda.
I don't mind paying taxes that benefit others. But I don't need my tax dollars supporting a bureaucrat who thinks he is allowed to use a town title to support his personal policy views.
Regardless, I don't see a need to change the form of government. I think starting over with a new TM would be just fine.
Most chief executives start well. But over time, they lose their way and it comes time for a change.
Ten years is long enough for Cheshire's chief executive.
"I know in the past he's gone to Hartford to testify in favor of an additional income tax."
To the full Town Council:
You definitely need to spell out a policy requiring the TM, and all town employees under your jurisdiction, to first clear any testimonies or public comments on legislation and taxes with the Council chair.
We cannot have them acting as lose cannons at odds with positions of the Council on these matters, but need to keep them on a tight leash.
It's not uncommon for ee's to testify. But I've always thought it was at least arguably in support of recent Council votes, discussions, etc.
The Council has never even remotely discussed a regional sales tax in the past six years. But that doesn't matter to the current TM. He thinks he can do whatever he wants. And frankly, he has good reason to think that.
cedar lane said...
"We cannot have them acting as lose cannons at odds with positions of the Council on these matters, but need to keep them on a tight leash."
Yes, comrade, whatever the Politburo wants!
Anon 2:50: Your comment is specious nonsense. No employer will allow his paid employees to run off their mouths counter to the employer’s interests. If Mr. Milone wants to advocate for state tax increases or new taxes, let him clear it with the Council, or let him get another job. The Council should establish a policy on this.
I'd rather just have a TM with the good judgment to recognize such advocacy without prior approval / direction / guidance should be avoided.
6:34 This notion that the town manager is the equivalent of an employee and the town council the equivalent of an employer is too simplistic. The charter recognizes that the relationship is more of a CEO and board of directors. There are going to be times when a person who runs a company -- or a town -- will provide opinions related to the running of that entity without clearing it with the board of directors. If this were a traditional employee/employer relationship, why does the town manager make six figures and the town council members make nothing? Who shows up at town hall every day to run the town? Why do some members of the town council only represent some taxpayers and not all? Just as a board of directors can get rid of the CEO, the council can get rid of the town manager. But that does not equate to an employee/employer relationship. I'm not saying Milone was absolutely correct in this case, I'm just cautioning against this continued wrong-headed analogy.
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