Open forum - July 16, 2010
It's been a crazy week for me... didn't even get to the Council meeting -- for which I apologize -- but beyond work I've had some personal stuff to which I had to attend. Anyway...
The MRJs Joe Adinolfi is reporting that the Police Chief search will include candidates outside the department:
"In order to ensure that I have the best, most qualified person for the position, it makes sense to open it up," Milone said.
I agree and have encouraged the TM to do this.
Also in relation to the search, I understand that the TMs candidate search team will include two former Council Chairs -- one R and one D.
And for those of you who are unaware of the TMs typical search process for a department head... in recent years he's assembled a team of similar department heads from area towns and asked them to help winnow down the field. Then the TM makes the choice from the final three candidates.
As for other stuff...
I was recently surprised when I was told by a local Republican that we ought to get out of Afghanistan and station our troops on our southern border. Personally, I don't understand why we're in Afghanistan at this point. It's not as though we're ever going to "win." And we can only maintain our presence there by running up our Chinese credit card.
And there was a debate for the GOP nomination for Governor last night. I didn't see it, but do intend to learn more about the candidates. At this point though, I'd still prefer to see a Dan Malloy (D) vs. Oz Griebel (R) matchup.
Doubt I'll be posting this weekend, but intend to post more often in the next week or two.
Anything else happening?
Tim White
16 comments:
Griebel has a snowball's chance in hell - he has just over zero name recognition. And Lt. Gov. Fedele is not in much better shape! It doesn't really matter - Lamont will beat any of them!
Why the heck would anyone be happy with Ned Lamont?...we recognize his name?
His latest commercial has several testomonial remarks hip-hipping-harrahs about how the folks like what they hear. Well I must ask...What has he said???
We need a Christie-like candidate (NJ governor)who knows they are going to accomplish a longterm fix in a single 4 year term. Everything is on the table starting with reducing state programs, the number of state employees and curtailing unending increase to legacy costs killing all of us. And while he/she is at it they must kill the unfunded mandates thrust upon our cities and towns that are overburdening our school budgets, etc.
Sadly there is no one running from either party that has the will to do this.
If we don't get ahead of this monster soon any comments by any candidate about keeping jobs here is little more than lip service for dopes.
Tim Slocum
Tim Slocum,
Will you comment if you voted for or against the 7 million dollar pool enclosure?
Thanks,
Let's explore building a new pool, smaller in size inside a brick building similar to the Cheshire Academy. I bet you could do it for about 2-3 million dollars. Make the old pool summer only. We could somehow attach the new pool to the older pool locker rooms and you wouldn't have to build lockers or restrooms/ showers etc.
Does know the delegates from Cheshire who voted against Matt Jalowiec for Probate Judge. I would think that one would support the candidate from Cheshire. I think we would get better treatment from someone from our own town.
Doesn't Matt have a lot better qualifications and experience?
Justin Adinolfi had another letter in the Herald this week regarding the pool. Since he is adamant that he has found the silver bullet to the pool cover problem why not let him give a presentation to the TC/Public about "his" idea? Squeaky wheel needs grease, and a lot of it.
"Does know the delegates from Cheshire who voted against Matt Jalowiec for Probate Judge. I would think that one would support the candidate from Cheshire. I think we would get better treatment from someone from our own town.
Doesn't Matt have a lot better qualifications and experience?"
Isn't Matt part of the mason cult? No thank you. I'll vote for Peter.
It's time to get realistic about any package offered to a new police chief. Let's not be taken to the cleaners again.
One thing that must be in the contract is that if the new chief screws up, he can be fired without any further benefits or pay. Also, they must pass heart and hypertension physical exams so that we don't ever have to pay for any previous condition and the contract should state that maintaining an average weight is a lasting requiement of the job.
If one hires from the outside, they will no have a little file on people in town.
Also, the town council should be deeply involved with this hiring.
6:50 PM
I supported the the permenant enclosure. I will have a very hard time personally supporting a replacement bubble unless it is somehow "a silver bullet" as yet to be conceived & designed.
The majority of town residents may approve the lower cost to replace the bubble every 8 - 10 years since on a bonded cost basis the annual cost will be less. A new bubble is yet to be tested with a referendum either but that is a possible next step.
If voters approve a bubble they will be accepting what we now have...higher operational costs due to the energy costs associated with keeping the bubble inflated. Not a pretty picture and I suspect a referendum on a bubble is doomed to failure. Ergo...the potential for a seasonal pool. No one has told me if the pool we have is designed to be an year round outdoor pool. We are also still paying for the pool and suddenly reducing revenue, since the Y and swim teams will not be able to use it, will make for a very expensive annual pool budget.
The notion of exploring a second pool associated with CHS is folly and it won't happen on my watch...fire me first. Two pools is crazy...The town hates having one and certainly cannot afford two.
Back to the heart of your question. I supported the pool enclosure and the vast majority of the voting public did not. My support was built around the evidence presented by PBC. I hoped voters would accept the alternative so the town could go forward with an excellent community facility that would protect the investment taxpayers had already made in the pool.
We do have very serious budget concerns locally and statewide. The voters may ultimately decide a pool is too much cost for this community in the face of other cuts that are coming. As with the last referendum this will be the public's call. And believe me closing the pool is an option.
Tim Slocum
Anonymous July 18, 2010 7:02 PM said...
"It's time to get realistic about any package offered to a new police chief. Let's not be taken to the cleaners again.
One thing that must be in the contract is that if the new chief screws up, he can be fired without any further benefits or pay. Also, they must pass heart and hypertension physical exams so that we don't ever have to pay for any previous condition and the contract should state that maintaining an average weight is a lasting requiement of the job.
If one hires from the outside, they will no have a little file on people in town.
Also, the town council should be deeply involved with this hiring."
-----
Last point first, read the Town Charter - the Town Manager is the hiring authority, NOT the Town Council.
Sworn officers hired before the cutoff date for changes to H&H are grandfathered and are still eligible. Contract items that are questionable are trumped by applicable state and federal law. Further, the Police Officer Standards and Training Council has requirements to be met as well. The chief of police is still a sworn police officer who has to maintain his/her certification with the State of Connecticut.
The firing without benifits or pay clause is borderline illegal. The state of Connecticut has laws that protect the chief from influence or threat of job loss. A chief is the most protected person from a mayor, council, or manager. The chief needs to remain impartial and able to enforce all laws regardless of who is breaking them.
Tim Slocum said, "Why the heck would anyone be happy with Ned Lamont?...we recognize his name?"
I didn't say that. My comment reflected what the polls say. Although, sad to say, some will vote based on name recognition, rather than qualifications.
Wasn't Matt J the guy who would get up and blabber on about the North End developement? He shoyuld stick to lawyering....
when did the chief not enforce the laws no matter who was breaking them. who was breaking a law he gave a break to? could you elaborate?
"As with the last referendum this will be the public's call. And believe me closing the pool is an option."
So tell us Mr. Chairman why won't you allow Justin Adinolfi an opportunity to present his proposal on a pool cover solution? It seems he has done his homework on the matter, rallied his supporters and is spanking you and the rest of the TC Republicans every other week in the Cheshire Herald.
It seems to me that it would only be logical to have Mr. Adinolfi present his solution to the TC/Public at this point. What are you afraid of by allowing Mr. Adinolfi this privilege?
He can either fall on his own sword or perhaps present something that may in the best interests of the town. Worst-case he gives you more political fodder to use against him.
What say you?
7/19-3:00
I don't want Justin to fall on his own sword. Town Council works for the town...we don't fall on swords over an issue. Voters pull out their swords every other November.
I gave a rather detailed explanation of why I supported a new permenant enclosure. I also said a bubble is a possible alternative the public will get to approve or disapprove. My other comments were predictive of the likely outcome on a bubble referendum and I could be mistaken.
I'm one of nine and 1 of a majority of 7. Justin doesn't have a silver bullet...he has suggested 4 possibilities to the public vis a vis the Cheshire Herald and not in any other forum. He has not necessarily endorsed one of the four but he did leave out another option which is closure.
The TC will once again address the pool but the public just won't be voting on a referendum item regarding the pool this November.
Regarding Justin's suggestion/consideration for a pool attached to CHS I stand by my comment...utter folly and won't happen on my watch. And despite what some have said we can't have survey referendums to figure out what people want with the pool. Council must come to a conclusion, price it and put it out there for a vote.
I am glad Justin is actively working with the Council. I look forward to his best efforts during next years budget cycle when swords may really have to be unshiethed.
Tim Slocum
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