Town to assist in Irene cleanup

Tom Ruocco suggested I post this:

The Town of Cheshire will be assisting residents with removal of branches downed on their properties by Hurricane Irene.

Residents are asked to leave the branches curbside, without obstructing the roadway, by the morning of September 6, 2011. Branches less than five inches in diameter will be chipped and the chips will be removed. Branches and logs over five inches in diameter will be cut into approximately 18 inch logs and left at curbside for firewood for use by residents. Town staff will not go onto private property to retrieve or cut branches. Public Works crews will make only one pass through town, and will not return for debris that were not place curbside prior to their collection. This program is expected to take at least ten days. Residents can also dispose of this storm-related brush and tree material at the designated drop off areas at Mixville Park parking lot on Notch Road and the Quinnipiac Park parking lot on Cheshire Street at any time until September 14, 2011. This program is restricted to storm-related woody debris only. The Town will not accept loose leaves, yard clippings or trimmings, or any other lumber, garbage, non-woody storm debris or bulky items for collection or drop off.

Along with his ongoing outreach efforts, Tom is a fiscal conservative. Despite being in the minority, he voted in favor of avoiding long-term liabilities more than once this year. When it came to both the pool bubble and turf, Tom voted to avoid future expenses. If I could I would definitely vote for Tom Ruocco in November.

Tim White

Pursuant to Chapter 2, section 7...

As I handed my absentee ballot to the Town Clerk's office this week, I also handed them this:Thank you for all the support over the past seven years on the Council and five years on the blog... TWL was born on January 17, 2006.

As I've said, a blog is a diary. So I'm sure I'll continue posting, but not so much about local politics. Plus, I start Chem 101 on Monday with Charter Oak U.

I'm logging off now for at least a few days... or perhaps a few weeks. If I have my internet connection fully sorted by Wednesday, I may post then. I sent a letter to the Herald and they said they'll try to run it.

But if I don't do much blogging, feel free to friend me on FB. It's easy enough to stay in touch there.

And if you're curious about who will represent the 4th district, join the club... I don't know either.

Tim White

The source of "special knowledge"

The MRJs Jesse Buchanan wrote a piece last week on Cheshire's use of a program named "Fish" to improve employee morale. The linked piece is abbreviated, but I read the full article at the library this week.

Highlighted in the article were comments from me, the TM and Chairman Slocum.

Town Councilor Tim White, a Republican, disagreed, calling the Town Hall a 'hostile work environment' where new ideas were not welcome by (the TM)....

(The TM) denied the existence of a hostile work environment...

Shocking! The TM denies it.

Chairman Slocum was then quoted:

"I think people are accustomed to whining and bellyaching," Slocum said. "I don't understand how Tim White has special knowledge of how it's a hostile work environment... I've never heard of anything pervasive.

Ok, I'll elaborate.

The source of my "special knowledge" is fairly simple. From the day I was elected in 2003, I refused to follow this school of thought in which a Council member defers exclusively to Management for insight on town government operations. I find that school of thought to be absurd. It'd be akin to only asking Liz Birnbaum if MMS has been doing a good job monitoring BP.

As a result, I consistently solicit / obtain feedback from residents, including all levels of staff.

It is town residents who have given me this "special knowledge."

Keep in mind that in August of 2009 - two months before the 'no-confidence' vote - when there was nary a public word from any of the 18 people running for Council, I voiced concerns:



So I'm confident that my "special knowledge" is a fair assessment of the current work environment.

Furthermore, I think it's human nature that some people control their anger well... while others do not.

Several times - in public meetings, though never televised - the TM has lost his temper with me... raising his voice and making it quite clear that my input was not relevant to him. Again, these have been public meetings.

So I wonder... if he loses his temper with me, then when he's behind closed doors and speaking with a subordinate... what are the chances he'll control his temper?

Coupling the numerous employees stories of a hostile work environment with my own personal experiences, I think it's a perfectly logical conclusion that a hostile work environment has proliferated under the current Administration.

And I don't think that the "Fish" program is going to "fix" the interpersonal relations that have already been damaged beyond repair with the incumbent.

Tim White

Pool goes to PZC

My understanding is that the pool structure is now headed to PZC for an 8-24 vote. I'm not sure what would happen if they rejected it. I'm assuming the project would die.

Tim White

Pension Board election for Chairman

I understand that Gary Gombar is the new Retirement Board Chairman. Other members include Tom Denne, William Freytag, Michael Caron and Mike Evans.

Tim White

Pension Board meeting agenda - May 5, 2010

The agenda for Wednesday's meeting of the Pension Board:

Cheshire Retirement Board Agenda
May 5, 2010
Cheshire Town Hall
84 South Main Street
Cheshire, Connecticut 06410
Room 210; 6:00 p.m.
AGENDA:

1. Call to Order.

2. Roll Call and Determination of a Quorum.

3. Pledge of Allegiance.

4. Approval of Minutes for February 3rd 2010 meeting.

5. New Business:

a. May Investments Action Items Only
b. May Investment Manager Presentation: Neuberger Berman 45 minutes
c. May Market Review 15 minutes
d. Election of Officers

6. Old Business:

a. Pension Disbursements – Informational Only
b. Summary of Bills - For Review Only

7. Public Comment.

8. Adjournment.

I believe the current membership of the Retirement Board is:

Tom Denne - Chairman
Mike Evans - Vice Chairman
Michael Caron
Gary Gombar
William Freitag

Along with several police and fire representatives who are able to vote on issues exclusive to their respective bodies.

Tim White

Charter revision in 2010?

I doubt it. And whether or not some things could / should be changed... with the pool, police and other issues facing the Council... I don't see a Charter revision happening anytime soon. And that's fine with me.

Tim White

Organizational meeting of the 20th Council

Sworn in yesterday, the 20th Town Council had its organizational meeting tonight.

In a vote called by the Town Clerk, Carolyn Soltis, Council member Tim Slocum was unanimously elected Chairman. And with our Chairman in place, we elected a Vice Chair.

David Schrumm will be Tim Slocum's #2.

We also voted on meeting dates for the next twelve months and adopted rules of procedure.

In relation to the rules of procedure, I voiced two concerns with Cheshire's new Honorary Mayor:

1) I'd like to see stricter enforcement of the three-minute speaking rule... at least when there are other people who want to speak. IMO, it's a matter of being respectful to all the other residents who wish to speak.

2) All questions from the lecturn should go to the Chair. This relates to open-ended questions to all nine Council members. Council meetings will take forever if all nine Council members respond to open-ended questions.

Then after the votes, Council members were introduced to the TMs direct reports. This is my fourth Council and the first time that this introduction has happened.

Tim White

Taking the oath of office - December 6, 2009

Members of the 20th Council:Members of the Board of Education:Members of the Planning & Zoning Commission (including alternates):Members of the Zoning Board of Appeals (including alternates):
Tim White

Likely committee liaison assignments

This is probably a pretty good idea of what to expect when the "unofficial" Chairman of the 20th Council announces his liaison assignments to the various boards / commissions / committees:

Beautification - Michael Ecke
BOE - Andy Falvey
Cable Advisory - Tom Ruocco
Economic Development - David Schrumm
Energy - Tim White
Environment - Anne Giddings
Hist. District Commission - Anne Giddings
Housing Authority - Anne Giddings
Human Services - Justin Adinolfi
Inland Wetlands - Justin Adinolfi
Library Board - Andy Falvey
Park & Rec - Tom Ruocco
Performing Arts - Michael Ecke
Public Building Commission - Jim Sima
Public Safety - Andy Falvey
Prison Advisory - Jim Sima
PZC - Jim Sima
Retirement Board - Tim White
WPCA - David Schrumm
Youth Services - Justin Adinolfi

Tim White

Likely Council Committee assignments

Here's an idea of what you can expect for the Council committees:

Audit - Michael Ecke*, Andy Falvey, Tim White

Budget - David Schrumm*, Tom Ruocco, Michael Ecke

Ordinance - Anne Giddings*, Jim Sima, Justin Adinolfi

Personnel - Tom Ruocco*, Anne Giddings, Michael Ecke

Planning - Jim Sima*, David Schrumm, Justin Adinolfi

Solid Waste - Andy Falvey*, Tim White, Justin Adinolfi

* Chairperson

Tim White

Dailies on the ongoing "no confidence" vote

The NHRs Luther Turmelle reported on the continuing developments of Friday's vote of "no confidence" by the Cheshire Police Union. Most interesting to me was the last paragraph:

Democratic Councilman Matt Altieri, chairman of the personnel committee, said the council “will do whatever it takes to resolve this problem.”

If so, then why hasn't this already happened? As far as I'm concerned, there are only two ways of looking at this... either the Council members did know or should have known.

The MRJs Jesse Buchanan also has an online followup piece.

Tim White

Personnel Committee agenda for October 7

AMENDED
JOINT PERSONNEL COMMITTEE AND SPECIAL TOWN COUNCIL MEETING
7:30 P.M., WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2009
ROOM 207, TOWN HALL, 84 SOUTH MAIN STREET, CHESHIRE CT 06410

AGENDA:

1. Roll Call.
2. Pledge of Allegiance.
3. Possible executive session to discuss police union action of October 2, 2009 regarding Chief of Police.
4. Status of union grievances, possible executive session.
5. Status of collective bargaining negotiations, possible executive session.
6. Adjournment.

I find the wording of #3 interesting. While the rest of the world talks about a "vote of no confidence," The Boss deems this a "police union action." As I said yesterday, I guess this is NBD. Whewww... that's a load off!

FWIW, I'm guessing the grievances are on the agenda at my request. At this point, it will probably surprise no one why I've been asking about grievances for the past two years. But hey...



And so you know, I unfortunately will not be able to attend tomorrow's special meeting. I had plans to be out of town two months ago and was unable to change those plans even after I learned of the Personnel Committee meeting.

Tim White

Town mismanagement = no sewer fee?

I was told tonight that the WPCA meeting was quite interesting. Apparently the Authority actually discussed the possibility of having no sewer fee this year. That's right... it wasn't about having no increase in the fee... they were discussing the elimination of the fee.

Why?

(drumroll, please)

Inattention by Town Hall... shocking! Of course, anyone who follows this blog knows that I've been saying several members of the Town's senior management need to be held accountable. That's partly due to the existence of a hostile work environment. But in the case of the WPCA, it's the inability of staff to do their job which creates long-term problems for the town and the taxpayers.

So over the course of the next 40 days, I strongly encourage you to try to identify five Council candidates who are willing to hold the Town's senior management accountable.

While the pool gets the headlines, it's the mismanagement of the Town that is IMHO the single biggest issue facing Cheshire.

Tim White

Cheshire Plan of Conservation & Development update from Town Hall

From Town Hall:

The Town of Wallingford recently applied to the State Office of Policy and Management (OPM) for amendments to the State Plan of Conservation and Development, one of which concerns a location on the Wallingford/Cheshire line that could impact Cheshire. As such, the Town was notified by OPM on September 8, 2009 of the opportunity to host a public hearing on said amendment if we responded within 20 days. The Planning and Zoning Commission at their meeting on September 14, 2009 voted to request a public hearing, and to invite the Town Council as well. Town Planner Bill Voelker and his staff are working on an analysis of the potential impact to Cheshire. I will forward the date of the public hearing once set, and the impact analysis when completed.

Tim White

Thoughts on last night's TM contract vote

My comments from the vote on the TMs contract:



Some additional thoughts:

With regard to driving policy through inaction... add Mixville as another glaring example... steering people to the pool to increase revenue there, while neglecting Mixville, was wrong. And that had happened for years. Hopefully that practice had ended.

My overall concern though is judgment. And excluding the members of Cheshire's Political Class, including some residents of The Gated Castle, what Cheshire residents actually believe giving a 6% or 7% payraise after the recession had started shows good judgment?

How some Council members could speak with a straight face last night... after some of the comments they made off camera... is amazing to me. It reminds me of a comment made by the Council Chairman a few years ago. He recalled a comment made to him by Councilman Altieri. Basically, Altieri said to Hall that politicians were actors who couldn't succeed in Hollywood.

Based on last night's performance, I think several people sitting behind the dais could do quite well in Hollywood.

And I'd still love for someone to get Councilman Ecke on the record, responding to my concerns about the work environment at the CPD.

Tim White

09/10 Capital Budget: Library

The Public Library wants to move to an automated checkout that would enable you to walk out with your books and not need to get checked out by a librarian. It done with a system called Radio Frequency Identification (RFID). The Library wants to combine the RFID with the removal of the checkout desk... allowing for additional space for books, etc.Tim White

Pool updates from The Gated Castle

1) The Community Pool will be re-opening at 6:00 a.m. tomorrow.

2) We received seven proposals in response to the RFP for the Pool. The proposals are complex, and we are working on a matrix to break out the cost components and provide an analysis. The gross numbers quoted are at least as much or more than the original cost of the Pool. However, please remember that this is preliminary, and I would expect that the dollar amounts quoted can be somewhat disaggregated. Matt Altieri is scheduling a Pool Subcommittee meeting in early July to review these proposals.

What are the chances that Councilman Turf requests the $525,000 for turf be redirected to the pool? Ha.

November can't come soon enough.

Tim White

Promises made from within The Gated Castle

The MRJs Jesse Buchanan and the Herald's Josh Morgan have reported that Superintendent of Schools Greg Florio is staying in Cheshire. I wished him well when I heard he may get a new job - and I meant it. There is a downside to him staying though.

I recall being told a story by a friend. The story really has little to do with the Sptd, but is troubling nonetheless... in relation to others in Town Government.

A friend once told me of a desire to work in the schools. My friend also mentioned that desire to someone who resides in The Gated Castle. The resident of The Gated Castle then made some comment about how a job would be found quite easily in the Cheshire schools... for this person who was a friend of this resident of The Gated Castle.

It made me sick. And yes, I realize this stuff happens all the time. But when you understand all the relationships... and the influence... and power involved. The whole situation was extremely troubling. And sorry for being somewhat cryptic. I want to protect the innocent, so I'm not giving any further details. But rest assured, the residents of The Gated Castle will understand my concern exactly.

Anyway, my point is that the relationship that Town Hall speaks to having with the schools is troubling on many, many levels. A change in leadership on at least one side would be healthy for the Town.

Tim White

Florio is on the short list

As many of you probably saw, Superintendent of Schools Greg Florio may very well be leaving. The NHRs Luther Turmelle also had the story today.

I've been thinking about this and while this would obviously be a trying time for the all-volunteer Board of Ed, this could be a real positive for the Town. Maybe I'll elaborate on that this weekend, but not right now.

Again, I wish Greg the best of luck! And for the BOE, you may not need to look very far for a great Superintendent. We have the perfect candidate living here in Cheshire. I'm not sure if she'd want it, but she's absolutely qualified. I'm certain she'd do a fantastic job.

Anyone happen to know to whom I refer?

Tim White