Nere’s deal is buyout, not firing by WHA

As published in the Record Journal Tuesday November 22, 2011

By Robert Cyr
Record-Journal staff
rcyr@record-journal.com
(203) 317-2224

WALLINGFORD — Attorneys for the Wallingford Housing Authority and housing director Stephen Nere say that Nere was not fired last week by the housing board, but is leaving voluntarily with a six-figure severance package agreed on with the authority.

Nere’s attorney, Jaime Mills, and Warren Holcomb, the housing board’s lawyer, said an article in Saturday’s Record-Journal inaccurately stated that Nere was fired by the board and offered a severance package of $130,000. His contract was set to expire Aug. 31, 2012.

“Mr. Nere was not terminated,” Mills said. “There has never been any claim that there was cause to terminate him. In fact, they’re buying out his entire contract, which I think any of us would agree to if offered by our employer the full amount that is owed to us.”

The resolution approved by the housing board Friday night states that “it is in the best interest of the Authority to terminate Executive Director Stephen Nere’s written employment agreement early on December 2, 2011, to accept his retirement effective December 2, 2011, and to approve the Separation Agreement and General Release submitted.”

Nere said Friday night, after the resolution, he was too young to retire and was concerned about ongoing health issues. Holcomb said poor health was the primary reason Nere and the board reached an agreement for him to end his contract 10 months early and retire. “He was not fired,” Holcomb said. “If you fire somebody, you fire them for cause and they don’t usually get anything. He (Nere) also indicated that he had some health issues, so it was a situation where the parties sat down and said it would be in their best interests if they went their separate ways.”

Nere and the Housing Authority have been immersed in controversy for more than a year amid allegations of mismanagement, with scrutiny from local, state and federal officials. Nere, 60, has been director for 26 years and earns about $100,000 a year. The cost of the settlement and the severance package will be covered by the roughly $200,000 remaining in the “Ridgeland” account, Misiti said. In 2003, the authority sold its housing units on Ridgeland Road to a New Haven company for $1.2 million.

The authority operates 317 low- to moderate-income and senior housing units with an annual budget of about $1.5 million.

Board Chairman Michael Misiti was not available for comment.

Fishbein broke from party line

As published in the Record Journal Monday November 21, 2011

By Robert Cyr
Record-Journal staff
rcyr@record-journal.com
(203) 317-2224

WALLINGFORD — One of the most high-profile opponents of a Republican-backed parking lot lease agreement was a Republican town councilor, Craig Fishbein.

Fishbein campaigned against the agreement despite the possibility of upsetting his fellow Republicans. He found himself on the winning side last Monday when residents rejected the deal in decisive fashion.

Elected to his second term on the council this month, Fishbein aspires to higher office.

Asked if he was considering a run for state representative next fall, Fishbein did not rule it out. He lives in the 85th House District and would be running for a seat Democrat Mary M. Mushinsky has held since 1980.

“At some point in my life, if the stars are aligned, I would have to say yes,” he said. “At this exact point, I have my role, as frustrating as it is to act it and stay in, I have my role. Six months from now is when I’ll start to actively think about it; that district is very tough.”

Mushinsky, 60, is a lifelong Wallingford resident who, like Fishbein, voted to repeal the controversial parking agreement.

“I was changing my mind even as I was walking up the driveway to the voting place,” she said. “I think it’s critical to have a lively downtown, and that was weighing in my mind, but so was the apparently one-sided nature of the deal.”

The 30-year arrangement between the town and commercial property owners on North Main Street stipulated that up to half a million dollars from an Electric Division fund for nonrecurring projects would be used to upgrade the privately owned lot with assurances that it would remain available for free public use for the life of the lease.

Fishbein and other lease opponents said it is inappropriate for the town to spend public money on private property. The one-issue referendum drew 28 percent of eligible voters to the polls. In comparison, 39.8 percent of voters turned out for the municipal election just a week earlier.

“I think we need to look at a differently structured deal, and find another way to make the parking happen that’s more acceptable to taxpayers and keep these downtown merchants satisfied,” Mushinsky said. “It would be really tragic if they started charging for parking.”

---

Bob Stern / Record-Journal
Craig Fishbein, carrying a sign opposing the parking lot lease agreement last Monday, talks with with voter Carole Koty outside the polling place at Lyman Hall High School. Fishbein is a Town Council Republican, but he broke with his party on the lease issue.

She said she had heard that Fishbein might run against her next year.

“No matter; I put my record out and I run on my record,” she said.

Fishbein and Democratic Town Councilor Nicholas Economopoulos voted against the agreement when it came before the council. Economopoulos announced at a Democratic Town Committee meeting last week that he plans to run for mayor in two years.

Fishbein said his position on the issue was not politically motivated. “I just thought it was the right thing to do,” he said.

“People have to understand that I am not a politician. That’s not my base,” he said. “I don’t usually do things with ulterior motives.

I usually tackle issues as they come to me. I wasn’t even on the Republican Town Committee when I was elected in 2009.”

Fishbein, 46, has been a lawyer since 2001, following in his father’s footsteps after a stint working in retail after college, he said. He became involved in politics in 2007 when he saw what he called the downward spiral of the U.S. economy. But he met resistance from his party at first, he said.

“I found myself yelling at the TV and I knew I had to stop doing that, so I started attending meetings,” he said. “I did have some very high up Republicans tell me I should not run because I had not done enough for the party. I had not been a good soldier.”

Republican Town Chairman Robert Prentice said he was not happy with Fishbein’s campaigning against the agreement. Fishbein handed out flyers and talked to voters outside polling places.

“I think he went a little too far, but that’s not the opinion of the party, it’s my opinion,” he said. “He took it a little too far with some of the things he did. But he’s still a Republican and still on the council, and hopefully he’ll make the right decision next time.”

Fishbein registered as a Republican in June 2003, a switch from his previous registration as a Democrat, according to Samuel Carmody, the Democratic registrar of voters.

Open Mike with Michael Cuomo Wednesday November 30, 2011

From the Open Mike with Michael Cuomo promo: “A very special reminder ladies and gentlemen, that this Wednesday’s guest on "Open Mike" with Michael Cuomo will be Jason Zandri! The show starts at 8PM Live on Comcast Ch18 and AT&T Uverse channel 99 and live on the web at wpaa.tv. Call in (203) 265-6310 to talk to myself and Jason Zandri! Thanks everybody.”

Wallingford board seeks parent input on school budget

By Russell Blair

Record-Journal staff 

rblair@record-journal.com

(203) 317-2225

WALLINGFORD - Parents who want their voices to be heard as the school budget is built for 2012-13 are encouraged to attend a forum next week.

On Wednesday at 6:30 p.m., a parent budget forum will be held at the Lyman Hall High School's vo-ag community room. Board of Education member Chet Miller said it's important to get parent input as the school board prepares its budget.

"They're more in touch with specific problems and issues they feel are in danger than we are at the board level," said Miller, a Republican. "We see things on a broader spectrum, whereas they might be in touch with a sport or an activity."

Miller said that parent input is crucial because the budget process will be beginning shortly.

"We like to know going in if there are areas that need attention," he said. "It's harder to change things after the fact."

School Superintendent Salvatore Menzo said he hopes to hear specific areas of the budget that parents would like to be examined.

"We want them to share with us areas they'd like us to consider in the process," he said.

Menzo said that the district uses its strategic plan to help build the budget. The six areas covered by the Wallingford plan include community outreach, curriculum and instruction, district climate, facilities, finance and technology.

"We're taking each one, and want to see things that they want continued and possible changes," he said. "We use that as another piece of information."

Menzo said last year's budget forum for parents was the first, and while only about a dozen parents attended they all came with ideas and questions.

"It's so important to hear from parents," Menzo said. "This is not my budget, it's not the Board of Education's budget, it's the town's budget for the children."

The 2011-12 education budget was $4,779,296 less than the $91,573,029 the board had proposed to the mayor. Mayor William W. Dickinson Jr.'s budget represented a 0.42 percent increase over the 2010-11 budget; the board has sought a 5.95 percent increase.

School officials have said that if the district receives no increase in its budget for the next year, it could face a shortfall of several million dollars.

FROM WALLINGFORD - Town Council closes the door

As published in the Record Journal, Sunday November 20, 2011

This week’s FROM WALLINGFORD was written by Mike Brodinsky a former town councilor from Wallingford, chairman of the School Roof Building Committee, and host of public access show “Citizen Mike”

The Citizen Mike show airs on cable Channel 18 at 9 p.m. every night, except Sunday. It can also be viewed on demand at wpaa.tv. Comments or suggestions can be sent to citizenmiketv@gmail.com.

If you can’t catch the show on TV you can catch it online on their Video On Demand page.

After spending more than an hour behind closed doors on Tuesday night, the Town Council summarily considered a very big collective bargaining agreement between the Board of Education and the teachers’ union. Unfortunately, the Council did not follow an open and transparent process.

One of the precepts of a democracy is that people have the right to watch their government in action and learn how and why their officials make decisions. Usually, that is done through a free press which reports on the doings of government.

If too much is done behind closed doors, however, voters cannot know how thorough and thoughtful their representatives have been. Were the public officials acting honestly and reasonably under the circumstances? Was the public interest protected? Were the outcomes scripted and orchestrated?

It’s not that easy to be a public official. The decision-making process can make a legislator/councilor uncomfortable, in part because the public search for information, logic, and wisdom can appear clumsy. An unguarded comment made, or question asked in good faith in the course of the legislative process, can be seized upon, taken out of context, and published. In tackling an issue, as new data develops, positions can change. An approach that seemed very reasonable one hour, may look embarrassing the next. And unfortunately, some in politics use the public arena to make themselves look good by making another look bad. A politician, therefore, can be made to pay a price unfairly. Yes, democracy is sloppy.

I understand why some public officials may want to keep their work as private as possible. It’s a matter of self protection. They may want a more comfortable venue for decision making. On occasion there could be more sinister reasons for wanting privacy. But no one wants the perception that the real work of legislators is done in a “smoke filled room.”

To address abuses, years ago, the Federal government and state legislatures enacted “open meeting laws” that require the public’s business be done in public except in very narrow circumstances that have nothing to do with the comfort level of the public officials. In Connecticut, these rules are collected in the Freedom of Information Act. It states that meetings of a public body, like a Town Council, generally speaking are to be open to the public.

The Act lists exceptions to this rule which are intended to be in the public’s interest, too. One of the exceptions is that if a Town is engaged in labor negotiations it shouldn’t be required to publicly talk about the negotiations and give away its strategy to the other side. That talk can be done in private, in what we call an “executive session.”

By Tuesday night, however, the Board Of Education’s negotiation strategy on the collective bargaining agreements had already run its course. The Wallingford Board of Education and the teachers’ union already had a signed agreement. It called for an increase in salaries of 6.21 percent over three years, costing $2.75 million, and lots of other complicated terms. Having placed the matter on the agenda for consideration, the Council’s job was to debate and decide in public whether the labor contract was good enough to accept or bad enough to reject. I would have expected a rigorous questioning and some public debate airing all sides of the issue.

Instead, the Council and representatives of the Board of Education spent more than an hour behind closed doors. Maybe they spent the entire time talking strategy. But if they had a full and frank discussion about what the agreement provided and what it didn’t provide, and the costs and savings associated with various provisions, that conversation should have been in an open meeting. The public needed to hear it all. Obviously, the Council disagreed.

Just one week after the election, I am looking for a public official who will champion open government. Better luck next time.

Economopoulos: A strong, active political voice

As published in the Record Journal, Sunday November 20, 2011

By Robert Cyr
Record-Journal staff
rcyr@record-journal.com
(203) 317-2224

WALLINGFORD — He’s one of the most vocal members of the Town Council and can often be heard at council meetings sharply criticizing the mayor and long-standing town practices. Recently elected to a third term, Democrat Nicholas Economopoulos last week announced he’s going to run for mayor in two years.

It’s been little more than a week since Democratic Councilor Vincent Testa Jr. lost his second bid for the office, and Mayor William W. Dickinson Jr., the second-longest-serving chief elected official in the state, won his 15th consecutive term.

Voters have had little reason to oust Dickinson, who presides over a $141 million budget that saw a less than one percent tax increase this year. Municipal cash reserves are healthy and the town’s credit rating is the highest possible. Those assets can be kept and improved on, Economopoulos said.

While many say Dickinson can’t be beat, Economopoulos says the mayor can be matched and the town can be modernized and run more efficiently and intelligently.

“He’s very humble and that’s one of the things I love about him and the public loves about him,” Economopoulos said. “But as far as running the town, I’ll have people helping me; he tends to do things on his own and that’s where he has a problem.”

Economopoulos said if he wins he’ll institute a series of commissions to research and help plan town projects, an idea he floated at a council meeting earlier this year that councilors overwhelmingly disapproved of.

“I want to stress that our weakness right now is that we don’t have plans,” he said. “Consequently, we get caught in the short straws. If a committee brings the mayor some choices, then he can make a decision.”

An example of a committee would be a group to research possible uses for the town owned Wooding-Caplan property, a 3.5-acre space the town bought in 1992 for $1.5 million that has been vacant ever since. While talk has circulated of the site being a possible home for a new police station, nothing definite has ever formed for the parcel.

Economopoulos, 62, retired in 2006 after teaching accounting at Sheehan High School for 34 years. He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Central Connecticut State University and moved to Connecticut from Westbury, Long Island, for good when he was hired at Sheehan in 1971.

Since then, he’s made a large family with his wife of 34 years, Susan. He has five children, including one foster child, now 21, who he said was a homeless seventh-grader when they took her in. His children are now grown and are either in college or teaching, he said.

With famed Long Island politician Robert Moses as something of an inspiration, Economopoulos served two years on the Board of Education in 2006 and 2007 before being elected to the council. His greatest inspiration in life, however, has been his father, James, a short-order cook turned real estate salesman who died in 2000 at the age of 75.

“I had a strong Greek upbringing, and the way he treated people was unbelievable,” Economopoulos said. “He was big-hearted and I just saw how much he was looked up to, and I thought that was the way I should be.”

Economopoulos, a well known local basketball coach, has a specific list of things he’d like to improve in town and has spent the past year scrutinizing members of the housing authority, requesting financial documents and even calling for the resignations of the housing director and board of commissioners over allegations of mismanagement. On Friday the authority’s board of commissioners voted to fire Executive Director Stephen Nere.

“What has happened at the housing authority is an absolute blemish on our town,” Economopoulos said. “Technology- wise, we’re an embarrassment to the state. Our priorities are all messed up. I don’t want to invest a dime until we have a plan as to what we’re going to do.”

Economopoulos announced his bid for mayor at last week’s Democratic Town Committee meeting. Dickinson, 64, said he has no plans to even start thinking about running for mayor again, but would welcome any challenger.

“I need to enjoy a little while the election that just ended a week ago,” he said. “But the office is a natural focal point for a lot of decision making and in most circumstances it’s unavoidable.”

In the meantime, Economopoulos said he’ll be keeping watch on the council and speaking his mind about Dickinson’s decisions.

“Even if I don’t win it’s going to be a good two years of making sure he’s on the right path,” he said. Vincent Avallone, chairman of the Democratic committee, said this week he was surprised but glad Economopoulos has announced his run so early. It’s the earliest he’s seen anyone declare a run, but an early start might just be what it takes to unseat Dickinson, he said.

“Nick (Economopoulos) is a respected councilor and a respected person in the community,” he said. “And he’s going to need an early start to raise enough money.”

But Economopoulos isn’t the only outspoken member of the council. Republican Craig Fishbein has often found himself on the same side as Economopoulos, and the two were the only councilors to vote against a controversial parking lot deal that was overturned by a referendum last week.

“I hope that he faces issues as a good councilor and not with future aspirations in mind,” Fishbein said. “If that’s what he wants to spend the next couple of years working on, more power to him.”

Busy month for Wallingford Politico

You can click on the image below to get a better view at all the details but November, specifically the 8th, was a really big traffic day for the site (as one might expect).

We are not a huge site (yet) but we usually average about 100 plus visits a day.

Election day was over the top at nearly 700.

As time goes on I am sure we’ll grow some more.

Thanks for all the support to date.

Avallone: Economopoulos wants to run for mayor

As published in the Record Journal, Saturday November 19, 2011

By Robert Cyr
Record-Journal staff
rcyr@record-journal.com
(203) 317-2224

WALLINGFORD — Just a week after municipal elections, Town Council Democrat Nicholas Economopoulos, a retired schoolteacher, has announced his intention to run against longtime Republican Mayor William W. Dickinson Jr. — and he’ll need the two years to build a strong campaign, said Democratic Town Committee Chairman Vincent Avallone Jr.

“It’s nice to see someone realize that in order to run a good campaign, you have to start early,” he said. “Whoever is going to challenge (William) Dickinson has to raise a significant amount of money to get the message out, and get an organization going very early.”

Town Councilor Vincent Testa Jr., also a Democrat, lost his second run at the office last week against Dickinson, the second-longest serving mayor in the state, but the defeat doesn’t have him ruling out another try for the office, he said. Testa said he was surprised to hear of Economopoulos’ intentions.

“No one has asked me what my intentions are; I knew it could require consecutive efforts to be successful,” Testa said. “It will be long time before the party decides, but I haven’t taken myself out of it.”

Republican Town Chairman Robert Prentice was not available for comment.

In his 16 years on the Democratic committee, with the past two as chairman, Avallone said it’s the earliest he’s ever seen anyone announce a run for any office, and it might be what is needed to defeat Dickinson, a 64-year-old lawyer.

“Testa started later; I would think that Eco learned from that,” he said.
Robert Parisi, council chairman, said he was surprised by the early announcement and expected it might mean more verbal sparring between Economopoulos and Dickinson during council meetings.

“He’s always been pretty outspoken anyway, but I imagine it could increase,” he said. “But I didn’t expect anyone to be running for mayor right after an election. If he wants to run for mayor, he can run for mayor. He must have his own timetable.”

WHA board fires Nere, offers him $130,000

As published in the Record Journal, Saturday November 19, 2011

By Robert Cyr
Record-Journal staff
rcyr@record-journal.com
(203) 317-2224

WALLINGFORD — The Wallingford Housing Authority board of commissioners voted Friday at a special meeting to fire longtime Executive Director Stephen Nere and offer him a separation package of $130,000. Board Chairman Michael Misiti said the decision was made to avoid costly legal proceedings to remove Nere.

Nere and the Housing Authority have been immersed in controversy for more than a year amid allegations of mismanagement, with scrutiny from local, state and federal officials. Nere, 60, has been director for 26 years and earns about $100,000 a year. His contract is set to expire next year.

The board rejected two offers from Nere earlier this year to have the Housing Authority buy out the remainder of his contract. Misiti said the draft report of a recent forensic audit had nothing to do with Friday’s decision. The draft report found large holes in financial records at the authority and auditors were unable to complete their investigation.

“After a lot of meetings with lawyers, this was the best solution for the Housing Authority,” Misiti said. He added that attempting to fire Nere without a severance package could have led to hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees if Nere decided to fight termination.

Nere has 21 days to sign the resolution, Misiti said.

Nere said he was “surprised yet pleased” when the board asked him “out of the clear blue” last week if he would work on a separation agreement. He said he was more concerned now with improving his poor physical health.

“I’d say that this is something the board and I have reached a mutual accord on,” he said. “I’ve had some serious health issues, and I’m going to try to move forward with making myself feeling better. I’m way too young to retire, and I think it’s really sad that I have to leave my position now. I sincerely hope that things go well for the authority and its tenants. I’m sure I’ll look for something else.”

Nere said the terms of the severance package were reached between his lawyer and attorneys for the Housing Authority. His last day will be Dec. 2.

Board member Thomas Mezzei, who cast the only vote against the resolution, suggested his own language for Nere’s separation agreement and proposed $75,000 as a severance package. The motion was not seconded.

“I don’t think he should get a dime,” he said. “But if we’re going to have to give him something, it should have been a lot less than what we voted on.”

A separate resolution at the meeting approved settling a lawsuit with Nere out of court, paying him $15,000 to withdraw the claim. The suit, brought by Nere last year against Mezzei and board members Patricia Hogan and former Chairman William Fischer, alleged that they violated his contact when they disallowed him use of a Housing Authority vehicle to travel between work and his home in Guilford. While the board has since reinstated the vehicle privilege, Nere claimed the loss of the vehicle cost him thousands of dollars in travel expenses.

Town Councilors Nicholas Economopoulos, a Democrat, and Craig Fishbein, a Republican, who have been investigating allegations of mismanagement at the authority for more than a year, attended the meeting.

Economopoulos, who recently announced his intention to run for mayor, has called publicly for Nere’s resignation and called the resolutions “sad.”

“It is the Town Council and (housing) commissioners of the past that let it get to this level,” he said.

Fishbein was recently elected to a second term on the council and said he had spent about half of his time in his two years as a councilor looking into issues at the Housing Authority. “I think it looks like a proper resolution to a long battle between a lot of different people,” he said.

The cost of the settlement and the severance package will be covered by the roughly $200,000 remaining in the “Ridgeland” account, Misiti said. In 2003, the authority sold its Ridgeland housing units to a New Haven based company for $1.2 million.

The authority operates 317 low- to moderate income and senior housing on an annual budget of about $1.5 million.

Letter to the Editor of the Record Journal by Christopher Rourke

The following is a letter to the editor, published on Thursday November 17, 2011 as written by Christopher Rourke

Editor: In the referendum this past Monday, I could not help but notice in the days and weeks preceding it a huge temporary sign in front of what used to be the library saying “Vote No.”

My understanding is that the building is now owned by one of the people who would profit from the referendum being turned down by voters.

It was allowed to stand, even though a very similar sign was erected in the same spot a few years ago in reference to the Wooding-Caplan property referendum.

This sign was ordered torn down by Mayor Dickinson (citing town ordinance).

Is it just coincidence that the sign ordered torn down and the one allowed to stand is based on whether Mayor Dickinson agrees with what is on it, or not? I think so. Cronyism and the “good old boys” need to end in Wallingford!

Letter to the Editor of the Record Journal by Michael Gagne

The following is a letter to the editor, published on Thursday November 17, 2011 as written by Michael Gagne

Editor: In my travels in Wallingford the other day, I noticed a huge sign in front of the former library building currently owned by Fred Ulbrich. This sign urged voters to vote “no” on overturning the parking deal — a deal which I believe would financially benefit Ulbrich. The last time there was a referendum in town, it concerned the Wooding-Caplan deal. At that time there was also a sign posted on that site.

The sign was opposed to the mayor’s position on the deal. At that time, public works employees were sent there to take down that sign as it was erected on town property.

This time, Ulbrich’s sign was untouched and unquestioned. The only difference this time was that the sign was in support of the mayor’s position. It seems that there is a different set of standards, and you can ignore the town ordinances if you agree with the powers that be.

Letter to the Editor of the Record Journal by Chet Miller

The following is a letter to the editor, published on Thursday November 17, 2011 as written by Chet Miller the Republican Registrar of Voters in Wallingford.

Editor: The registrars of voters would like to thank all poll workers for their work on Election Day and also to those who also worked the referendum just six days later. For the benefit of those people upset that this could not be on the election ballot and saw none of the explanations elsewhere, here is the true explanation. State Statute 9-369a prevented its being on the ballot. A second polling place on the same day as election was not feasible because SS9-289 requires one privacy booth for every 250 voters eligible to vote at a poll, which we don’t have (they cost $175 to $200 each and we were 80 short).

We also were lacking space, trained and certified poll workers to staff the second poll, and lacked the required number of scanner machines to operate legally. The old machines could not be used due to SS9-240a.

While I was personally attacked and blamed for this, understand that there are two registrars who work together and must agree on all decisions. There was no “clandestine meeting” as charged. Our job is to administer elections to comply with the law. We do not set dates or decide arbitrarily who can and can’t vote. We follow the law and our town charter, even if it may sound silly to some. We work with the school system and Senior Center to minimize disruption of programs. We kept traffic out of the elementary schools, which were in session, for safety’s sake. It never was a matter of what was convenient for us, but what was economically prudent and what complied with the law.

If law allowed things to be eliminated, combined or staff reduced, it was done.

Consolidation of polls saved $14,000, offset by the cost of $5,100 for the notification postcard.

Original parking pact still in place - Any changes will require notice

As published in the Record Journal, Thursday November 17, 2011

By Russell Blair
Record-Journal staff
rblair@record-journal.com
(203) 317-2225

WALLINGFORD — The future of a parking lot off Center Street remains unclear after voters overturned the town’s decision to enter into a 30-year lease agreement with property owners to upgrade the lot in exchange for continued free public parking.

Town Attorney Janis Small said a year-to-year lease agreement to keep the lot behind the buildings on Simpson Court public in exchange for plowing and other maintenance from the town remains in place, and that only one property owner, John McGuire, has given the required one-year notice to quit the arrangement. For any of the other property owners to consider charging or limiting access, they would have to file similar notice.

McGuire , who owns two of the four buildings involved, filed his notice to quit in 2009. Shortly after that, he withdrew his notice orally, but not in writing. He has said he would consider restricting access to his lots and possibly charging for parking if the 30-year agreement fell through. He was not available for comment Wednesday.

But Ernest Frattini , treasurer of the Masonic Temple Corp. and one of three principal owners of the building that houses the Half Moon Cafe, said he doesn’t think charging for parking is feasible.

“You’d have to pay someone to work there, and it would hurt the businesses in the area,” he said.

Councilor John LeTourneau, a Republican who owns Wallingford Lamp and Shade on Center Street and supported the lease agreement, said that it’s possible a new lease could be negotiated.

“There are always alternatives,” he said. “It can be renegotiated, the term of the lease, the amount of the improvements.”

LeTourneau said that despite the outcome of the referendum Monday, he wasn’t afraid to re-enter negotiations with the property owners.

Craig Fishbein, a Republican councilor who opposed the lease agreement, said that future negotiations would require “all parties to come to the table.” Fishbein said he didn’t think it was fair for the town to foot the entire bill for repairs.

“I’d like to see fair, open and frank discussions,” he said.

Fishbein said there was still some anger over the referendum, and that he would “wait for the smoke to clear” before bringing up any alternatives for the lot.

Frattini, however, said he believes opponents of the council’s earlier decision would be against any spending by the town on the lot.

“No matter what we do, it’s still tax dollars being spent on private property,” he said. “How can we negotiate?”

But Robert Gross, the local resident who started the petition drive that forced Monday’s referendum, said he didn’t want to comment about any future lease agreements for the parking lot.

“It’s tough to speculate when it’s not on paper,” Gross said.

Gross said that any future lease agreements were something that the town and the property owners would have to work on.

The referendum, Gross said, simply puts the situation “back at square one.”

“That’s all it does,” he said.

Mayor William W. Dickinson Jr. said he felt the council’s lease agreement “had the best prospect of success.” The agreement overturned by the referendum was negotiated for nearly 10 years, he said.

While opponents of the lease agreement said the money could be spent to improve the Wooding-Caplan property and make a parking lot there, Dickinson said that does nothing to help the Simpson Court area.

“I don’t see Caplan-Wooding as replacing Simpson Court,” he said. “I don’t think one lot is adequate or convenient enough to be a solution for the loss of any parking.”

3rd Annual Wallingford Emergency Shelter FUNraising Banquet

Dear friends of the Shelter,

Since this time last year, the Shelter Board and various committees have been working non-stop toward making the dream of emergency housing for families a reality.

We are preparing to break ground this November on the Martin B. Rubin Family Center

Please consider joining us on November 18th for our third annual “fun” raising event at Zandri’s Stillwood Inn, located at 1074 South Colony Road from 6PM to 10PM

This year’s program will be more relaxed and casual and will include a wide variety of activities including a DJ for great music and dancing, fun and exciting games, a tea cup raffle and silent auction. And of course there is the full dinner at Zandri’s which is guaranteed to be great.

Tickets are $45.00 each.

Checks should be made out to Wallingford Emergency Shelter Inc.

Additional information is available online via http://www.wallingfordshelter.org

You can also email for more details to matt@wallingfordshelter.org

Townwide vote overturns Wallingford parking deal

Mayor sees ‘negative effect,’ with parking ‘not replaceable’

As originally published in the Record Journal, Tuesday November 15, 2011
By Robert Cyr
Record-Journal staff
rcyr@record-journal.com
(203) 317-2224

WALLINGFORD — Voters turned out in near-record numbers Monday night and overturned the Town Council’s controversial decision to enter into a 30-year lease with downtown property owners to upgrade their common parking lot behind Simpson Court in return for free parking.

The referendum, just six days after the municipal election, drew 6,888 voters, with 2,768 in favor of the lease and 4,120 against. To make the process binding, 20 percent, or 4,956 people, needed to vote. More than half that number had already voted by 1 p.m., with polls closing at 8 p.m.

The referendum drew almost 28 percent of the 24,780 registered voters in town; the Nov. 8 election drew 39.8 percent.

Supporters of the lease, including Mayor William W. Dickinson Jr. and the owners of four buildings along North Main Street, fronting Simpson Court, considered the defeat a loss for Wallingford.

Dickinson said it was a major setback for economic development and he didn’t know what would be next for the parking lot or the continuation of free parking at the lot, which the public has used since 1961.

That year, the town entered into a year-to-year lease with the owners of the properties that stipulated that the town would maintain the lot. Five years ago, when owners said the town was not holding up its end of the agreement, the town began working on contract language that went into the current lease agreement: The town would spend up to $500,000 in set aside Electric Department revenues to repave and install lighting and landscaping at the lot between Church and Center streets, in return for continued free parking.

“There will be a decided negative effect and it will be difficult to move in any direction,” Dickinson said. “I know people have lots of other suggestions for use of the money, but if we should lose those parking places, that’s not replaceable by anything else.”

But lease opponents, including two members of the Town Council, said it was inappropriate to invest town money in private property. Robert Gross, a resident who has run unsuccessfully for the council, started a petition drive a day after the council’s decision, raising the 2,491 signatures needed to force a referendum.

Lease opponents have also said that the money should be used to repair the Wooding-Caplan property, a town-owned lot sitting vacant behind the Police Department and St. Paul’s Episcopal Church on North Main Street, close to the shops on Simpson Court. The parcel has been a proposed site of a new police station.

At least one property owner threatened to pull out of the year-to-year lease if the 30year agreement were to be overturned. John McGuire, who owns two of the four buildings involved, has said he’d consider restricting access to his lots and possibly charging for parking. He was not available for comment Monday.

The opposing camps set up large gatherings on opposite sides of town Monday night to await the final count. Christopher Diorio, vice chairman of the Republican Town Committee and head of the political action committee supporting the lease, reserved the lounge of Michael’s Trattoria on Center Street.

Diorio was joined by several town councilors, including Jerry Farrell Jr. and John Le-Tourneau, who owns Wallingford Lamp and Shade, down the street from the restaurant. LeTourneau said he knew voter turnout had been high early in the day.

“I guess it was steady all day,” LeTourneau said.

Diorio said he was disappointed by the results but glad so many had shown up for the vote. He has spent the past several weeks trying to garner support for the leases and getting people to the polls, he said.

“The other side definitely got their vote out and the townspeople spoke,” he said. “Life’s going to go on, and the town of Wallingford will move forward. This will go on to the town government and property owners, and we’ll see what happens.”

Inside the bar and lounge of the Italian restaurant, local business owners — including some who were part of the lease agreement — talked of a vague future.

Fred Ulbrich is chairman of the board of Ulbrich Steel and owner of the former library building at 60 N. Main St., one of the four buildings with a lease agreement. He said he did not know what he would do with the 22 parking spaces allotted him in the nullified lease but said he would consider charging for parking. The leases outlined 130 parking spaces with 90 passes for the buildings’ owners to give to businesses and employees.

“If I have to charge, yes,” he said.

The town has had an easement through the parking lot to connect Church and Center streets since 1961, and that may have to change now, he said.

“There’s going to be a real push to take away that right-of-way. It served its purpose,” he said.

Across town, at the Gross residence on Long Hill Road, the street was packed with cars and a party was in full swing to celebrate the win. It isn’t the first time Gross has teamed up with Geno Zandri, owner of the Zandri’s Stillwood Inn, on a referendum.

The pair successfully petitioned and forced a referendum on the Wooding-Caplan property five years ago. And although they lost their push to have a local developer build in the lot, more than 7,000 people went to the polls, Gross said.

“I had anxiety going into today — you never know how the voter’s going to vote,” he said.

Zandri, chairman of the PAC that fought the leases, said he was glad the referendum was over.

“We put a lot of hard work into this, and we’re happy with the results,” he said.

Wallingford votes today on 30-year lease agreements

As published in the Record Journal, Monday November 14, 2011

By Robert Cyr
Record-Journal staff
rcyr@record-journal.com
(203) 317-2224

WALLINGFORD — As voters head to the polls today to decide whether or not to support the town’s 30-year lease agreements for a municipal parking area behind Simpson Court, groups that back either side of the issue will make their final push to sway residents to cast their ballots in favor of their viewpoint.

The Town Council in August approved the lease agreements, which say the town will supply up to $500,000 in upgrades and maintenance to the parking area owned by four building owners in exchange for municipal use of the lot. A successful petition drive forced today’s referendum.

The Simpson Court parking deal has been a hot-button issue since the council’s action, and signs from two political action committees far outnumbered campaign signs for candidates in last week’s municipal elections.

Republican Councilor Craig Fishbein, one of two councilors who voted against the lease, said he would be handing out leaflets to en­courage people to vote “yes,” which would repeal the lease agreements.

“I’ll be out there telling people what they need to know about this — there seems to be a lot of confusion,” he said.

Christopher Diorio, vice chairman of the Republican Town Committee and head of the political action committee Support Our Downtown, said more than 400 signs have gone up at homes and businesses and a staff of a half-dozen volunteers would spend the last days calling up registered voters. Support Our Downtown is in favor of the 30-year lease and improvements to the parking area. A final effort will be made today to hand out flyers at post offices and grocery stores, in addition to ads in local newspapers, Diorio said Friday.

“It’s certainly been a challenge because people are very confused, and they want to know why it’s not on Election Day, and they’re confused about the yes and no situation,” he said. “It’s less of a challenge than a process.”

A “No” vote keeps the leases in place.

Council members voted to hold the referendum on a separate day after the Republican Registrar of Voters Chester Miller told them it would be a strain on the voting system due to the limited number of ballot machines and minimum space needed.

VOTING LOCATIONS listed incorrectly in the Sunday Edition of the Record Journal

The polling locations as listed in the Sunday edition of the paper were incorrectly listed.

The proper locations can be found via http://wallingfordpolitico.blogspot.com/2011/11/wallingford-parking-lot-referendum.html and / or http://www.500kparkingdeal.com/html/voting_locations.html

WALLINGFORD NOTICE OF REFERENDUM

http://town.wallingford.ct.us/images/customer-files//RefPollPlaces111411.pdf

OFFICIAL BALLOT Referendum WALLINGFORD, Connecticut November 14, 2011

http://town.wallingford.ct.us/images/customer-files//RefBallot111411.pdf

Wallingford to hold referendum on lease agreements Monday

As published in the Record Journal, Sunday November 13, 2011

By Robert Cyr
Record-Journal staff
rcyr@record-journal.com
(203) 317-2224

WALLINGFORD — A referendum on the lease agreements for a series of adjacent parking lots in the center of town is set for Monday, just five days after the municipal election.

In August, the Town Council agreed to enter into 30-year lease agreements with the owners of four commercial buildings along North Main Street. The leases stipulate that the town will spend up to a half-million dollars to repave and refurbish the parking area behind the buildings with the guarantee that the property will remain open for free municipal parking.

A group of residents collected enough signatures to force a referendum on repeal of the council resolution. While the signatures of only 10 percent of registered voters were needed to force Monday’s referendum, the Town Charter requires voter turnout of at least 20 percent for the referendum to be successful. On Election Day, 39.8 percent of registered voters went to the polls.

Two political action committees have formed over the issue — one supporting the lease agreements and one against the plan — and the opposing signs quickly became common throughout town. The town had been in a similar, year-to-year lease with property owners there since 1961.

Town Councilor Nicholas Economopoulos, a Democrat who opposes the deal, says it’s inappropriate to spend town money on private property and supports using eminent domain to secure a section of the parking area and void any lease agreements. It’s the latest idea in a cauldron of talk between residents.

“It’s a heck of a word and I don’t like to use it,” he said of eminent domain, “but if you’re just taking a piece of land and you’re going to use it for what it was used for in the first place, it’s not as bad.”

Mayor William W. Dickinson Jr. and lease supporters have called the parking deal vital to the attractiveness and business health of the downtown area. The money for the improvements would come out of a fund given to the town by the Wallingford Electric Division every year for capital non-recurring projects.
One property owner in the lease, John McGuire, has said he would bar public parking if the referendum overturns the agreements. McGuire, who headed a push for the agreements after he said the town was not maintaining the lots properly, said the town is really spreading up to $500,000 over the years since 1961 until 30 years from now.

The lease stipulates that business owners will be able to give out up to 90 parking passes to their employees to use any of the planned 130 parking spaces for more than four hours. Public parking will be restricted to four hours.

Republican Town Councilor John LeTourneau, who owns Wallingford Lamp and Shade on Center Street, supports the lease agreements.

“We have to have a clean, vibrant, well-lit area to attract businesses,” he said. “How can we ever think of wooing a business when our downtown doesn’t look good? It’s our front yard.”

But Republican Town Councilor Craig Fishbein said last week that the money from the Electric Division should be put toward repairing the town-owned Wooding-Caplan property for use as a municipal parking lot.

Polling places for the referendum will be open Monday at the Lyman Hall High School Vo-Ag Center, Moran Middle School and the Wallingford Senior Center from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Wallingford Final election results as published in the Record Journal

Click on the image to enlarge

Thank you again for the support!

Wallingford Parking Lot Referendum November 14, 2011 VOTING LOCATIONS

Thank you

I wanted to thank everyone who came out to vote yesterday, first and foremost. Whether you supported me or not, you decided it was important enough to invest the time to come out and be part of the process.

And it is very important.

Beyond that, I want to thank everyone who offered their encouragement, support and who gave me their vote.

Those votes I received, unofficially 5,542 in all, landed me in the #2 spot within my party, just 29 votes behind #1 John Sullivan and and 5th overall.

Those votes were based entirely on faith and goodwill as I have no formal prior record of service to the Town of Wallingford.

Now that the campaigning is over, I will spend the next few weeks prior to being sworn in further preparing to take office and serve the town and all her people to the best of my ability – just as I had promised prior as part of my campaign.

My first pledge now formally as a Wallingford Town Councilor (elect) will be to work hard enough to earn each of those votes I received this past November 8th.

Thank you again.

2011 Election Results from Wallingford

Click on the image to enlarge.

Winners are highlighted in yellow.

Totals at this point are unconfirmed.

The unofficial counts from Democrat Headquarters

BOLD denotes the winner

MAYOR
Dickinson (R)    6,213
Testa (D)                  3,558

TOWN COUNCIL
DEMOCRAT
Sullivan              5,571
Hettrick                      4,095
Harwood                    4,878
Zandri                  5,542
Reynolds                    4,687
Eco                      5,370

REPUBLICAN
Fishbein             5,642
LeTourneau       5,728
Parisi                  5,809
Rascati               5,270
Cervoni              5,531
Laffin                  5,195

BOARD OF EDUCATION
DEMOCRAT
Cei                      5,632
Castelli               4,985
Reynolds           4,790
Leonardo                  4,304
Ford                           4,667
Votto                   5,277

REPUBLICAN
Bachand                    4,600
Miller                   5,094
Brooder              5,094
Mansfield            5,297
Mckay                  5,237
Marrone               5,065

 

Election totals are coming in…

I am at headquarters and collecting totals on the fly.

If the Record Journal has them first I’ll let you know.

You can check in there via http://www.myrecordjournal.com/election/2011/wallingford/

Record Journal Voter Guide - Wallingford polling places

As published in the Record Journal, Sunday October 30, 2011

WALLINGFORD — Here is the list of polling places for the Nov. 8 election.

District 1: Pond Hill School gym, 297 Pond Hill Road.
District 2: Stevens School gym, 18 Kondracki Lane.
District 3: Moses Y. Beach School gym, 340 N. Main St.
District 4: Dag Hammarskjold Middle School gym, 106 Pond Hill Road.
District 5: Cook Hill School gym, 57 Hall Road.
District 6: Parker Farms School cafeteria, 30 Parker Farms Road.
District 7: Yalesville School cafeteria, 415 Church St. (Route 68).
District 8: Senior Center, 38 Washington St.
District 9: Rock Hill School cafeteria, 911 Durham Road.

Voter information: (203) 294-2125

From the Editorial Page of the Record Journal: Vote with confidence

As published in the Record Journal on Election Day, Tuesday November 8, 2011

Voting is Democracy’s bedrock — a truly American activity which should not be taken for granted.

Elsewhere on this planet other societies don’t have it so well. In recent Arab Spring uprisings, thousands risked lives to demonstrate in favor of ballot-based elections, rather than further remain subjects beneath despotic leaders who abuse authority and employ violence to retain power. For centuries we have enjoyed what these modern protestors fight for. Today we can celebrate their efforts, and our first-world freedoms, by exercising one of a U.S. citizen’s most important rights — voting.

At last, Election Day has dawned. Local political clamor will soon yield to results. In copious political opinion letters to the Record-Journal, readers have expressed preferences for individual candidates and thoughts on pertinent issues in oft-times unequivocal terms. But mistake not the numerous political-letter- writers as enough interested individuals to decide an election. Every vote counts, and it is your responsibility — not someone else’s — to register your opinion.

As our country continues preparations for next year’s presidential race, municipal voting comes to have its own unique flavor in comparison. People familiar with one another in the same community get to express support, or lack thereof, for local candidates who are neighbors, and not TV personalities or names in a newspaper. It’s a chance for civic leaders to see what sits well with voters — issues and allegiances come into political alignment.

Campaign season is a long haul, and even though many candidates enjoy getting out and meeting people, it’s just possible some have rung enough doorbells by now. Nevertheless, let’s not forget that extensive efforts by political hopefuls and their supporters add impetus to the fullness of Election Day’s turnout and significance. Underscore this point: voting — it’s part of a great American tradition and the exercise of a powerful right in democracy — a freedom not to be wasted or squandered.

And before exercising such rights, residents should fulfill their responsibility to make informed, confident decisions. Do research. Learn not only about candidates as community members but also where they stand on important issues. For instance: in today’s entrenched fiscal stagnation, those running for municipal office have by now expounded personal financial and economic development policies of all sorts. Citizens should identify which proposed monetary measures they believe as best suited to propel more expeditious economic recovery, and vote accordingly.

In coming days, supportive signs will swiftly dwindle from front lawns and political ads will disappear from television air time. Election Day will fade into tomorrow. But the results — candidates authorized to take office, some replacing incumbents while others gaining additional terms — will last for two or more years. Thus, we hope that all voters participating in today’s election have done reasonable, if not thorough, homework. Make that vote count — know your mind. Vote with pride.

ELECTION DAY Locations to vote in Wallingford

District 1: Pond Hill School gym, 297 Pond Hill Road.
District 2: Stevens School gym, 18 Kondracki Lane.
District 3: Moses Y. Beach School gym, 340 N. Main St.
District 4: Dag Middle School gym, 106 Pond Hill Road.
District 5: Cook Hill School gym, 57 Hall Road.
District 6: Parker Farms School cafeteria, 30 Parker Farms Road.
District 7: Yalesville School cafeteria, 415 Church St. (Route 68).
District 8: Senior Center, 38 Washington St.
District 9: Rock Hill School cafeteria, 911 Durham Road.

If you need additional information:

Registrar of Voters

45 South Main Street, Room #211
(203) 294-2125

Registrars:
Samuel Carmody
Chester Miller

http://www.town.wallingford.ct.us/Content/Registrar_of_Voters.asp

Jason Zandri Candidate for Wallingford Town Council

VOTE TODAY – TUESDAY NOVEMBER 8, 2011

 

Goals as your Town Councilor:

If elected, I will listen to town residents first before I make a decision and I will execute to the best of my ability the responsibilities of the office for the good of Wallingford and her citizens.
Background:
- Born and raised in Wallingford; attended Pond Hill Elementary, Moran Middle School and Mark T. Sheehan High School
- Married father of four children; two are in the public school system
- President of the Wallingford Fireworks Fund
- Auction Manager for Wallingford’s annual MDA Party for a Cure
- Information Technology Professional - Senior Systems Engineer with 13 years experience in the field; responsible for operational support, service management, and technical planning
- Avid writer, wrote the FROM WALLINGFORD column for the Record Journal for three years through spring of 2011
- Involved with the local political scene since the late 1980s
- District 4 leader, Wallingford Democratic Town Committee

Record Journal Voter Guide - Wallingford polling places

As published in the Record Journal, Sunday October 30, 2011

WALLINGFORD — Here is the list of polling places for the Nov. 8 election.

District 1: Pond Hill School gym, 297 Pond Hill Road.
District 2: Stevens School gym, 18 Kondracki Lane.
District 3: Moses Y. Beach School gym, 340 N. Main St.
District 4: Dag Hammarskjold Middle School gym, 106 Pond Hill Road.
District 5: Cook Hill School gym, 57 Hall Road.
District 6: Parker Farms School cafeteria, 30 Parker Farms Road.
District 7: Yalesville School cafeteria, 415 Church St. (Route 68).
District 8: Senior Center, 38 Washington St.
District 9: Rock Hill School cafeteria, 911 Durham Road.

Voter information: (203) 294-2125

Vinnie Testa Candidate for Mayor of Wallingford

VOTE TODAY – TUESDAY NOVEMBER 8, 2011

About Vinnie Testa

Vinnie Testa for Mayor - http://videoalive.com/vinnietesta/  
https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Vinnie-Testa-for-Mayor/118934548181765  
vtesta@comcast.net

Born in Wallingford; / Wallingford Public Schools;
B.S. Fairfield University;
1 son in college, 1 teaching in Washington, D.C.
Current Minority Leader, Wallingford Town Council
Wallingford Town Council – 8 years, 1 term as Vice-Chairman
Wallingford Board of Education – 8 years
Wallingford Wetlands Commission – 2 years
CCD Teacher and Lector Most Holy Trinity Church
Wallingford Symphony Orchestra Board of Directors
Child Guidance Clinic Board of Directors
Yalesville Little League Executive Board
Baseball, basketball, soccer coach, founding coach of Wallingford Lacrosse
Cub Scout Leader
Wallingford Dream Foundation (Founding member)
Wallingford Education Foundation
Golf Tournament Committee
Business Network International Development Ambassador


Modernizing Government

With 20 years experience in local government, Vinnie knows how we can save money by:

• Reducing costs and creating efficiencies through the smart use of technology
• Sharing services between Town and the Board of Education
• Eliminating wasteful spending to ease the burden on taxpayers

Leading Economic Development and Creating Jobs

Based on 25 years of success in corporate business development, Vinnie has a specific plan for bringing new businesses to Wallingford by:

• Establishing our industrial parks as a clean energy research and development hub
• Recruiting new corporate taxpayers that are essential to rebuilding our diminishing grand list

Ensuring Public Safety

• Restoring critical paramedic services
• Strengthening our police force by retaining those we train

Providing a Great Education for Our Kids

Vinnie served on the Board of Education, helped develop the long-term strategic plan for our schools, and he teaches in the Wallingford school system. He understands the challenges we face in preparing our children for success in the 21st Century.

“I am proud of my service and commitment to our community. It would be an honor to serve you further as your mayor. It’s time we moved forward, together, to make this town we love an even better place to live and raise our families.

Sincerely,
Vinnie Testa

Tomorrow, Tuesday November 8, 2011, is Election Day

It’s not often that you get your chance to have your say, really have the opportunity to voice your mind and thoughts.

You do get an optimum chance on Election Day more so than any other time of the year.

There is no body of government that can affect you as much and that you have as much effect on as your municipal government.

Your municipal leaders regulate your ordinances, set the local budget for the town and the schools, as well as maintain and manage the tax base of the town.

If you voted in the federal election in 2008 you were one voice in 169 million registered. (About 133 million showed up to cast a vote).

86 million democrat - 55 million republican - 28 million others registered.

Of those voters there were 132,645,504 total voters out of an eligible voting age population of 212,702,354, which gives you a 62.4% participation rate.

For the elections held at the state level here in Connecticut as of 2010 the total number of registered voters is a hair over 2 million.

The largest group of registered voters in Connecticut is unaffiliated, accounting for 831,962 voters. There are 743,580 registered Democrats and 413,854 registered Republicans.

So when 73 percent of the state voters turnout, your voice is one in 1.46 million.

You as the voter in Wallingford during a municipal election are one of about 25,000 registered. During our last municipal election only 35.6 percent of the registered voters turned out.

Your voice there is one of about 8,900.

Where do you think your voice is the loudest?

Where do you think your voice is best heard among all the noise?

Wallingford is your town – get informed, get involved and VOTE on Tuesday November 8th

Wallingford Ballot for the November 8th municipal election

For the office of Mayor you may choose only one of the two candidates.

For the seats on Town Council you can vote for any nine of the twelve running. You may vote for people that are one above the other – it is for ANY nine regardless of position on the ballot.

For the seats on the Board of Education you can vote for any nine of the twelve running. You may vote for people that are one above the other – it is for ANY nine regardless of position on the ballot.

The Secretary of the State website contains additional information  which will provide you with important election details.

Wallingford Democratic Candidate for Mayor Vincent Testa

About Vinnie Testa

Vinnie Testa for Mayor - http://videoalive.com/vinnietesta/

https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Vinnie-Testa-for-Mayor/118934548181765 

vtesta@comcast.net

Born in Wallingford; / Wallingford Public Schools;
B.S. Fairfield University;
1 son in college, 1 teaching in Washington, D.C.
Current Minority Leader, Wallingford Town Council
Wallingford Town Council – 8 years, 1 term as Vice-Chairman
Wallingford Board of Education – 8 years
Wallingford Wetlands Commission – 2 years
CCD Teacher and Lector Most Holy Trinity Church
Wallingford Symphony Orchestra Board of Directors
Child Guidance Clinic Board of Directors
Yalesville Little League Executive Board
Baseball, basketball, soccer coach, founding coach of Wallingford Lacrosse
Cub Scout Leader
Wallingford Dream Foundation (Founding member)
Wallingford Education Foundation
Golf Tournament Committee
Business Network International Development Ambassador

Modernizing Government

With 20 years experience in local government, Vinnie knows how we can save money by:

Reducing costs and creating efficiencies through the smart use of technology

Sharing services between Town and the Board of Education

Eliminating wasteful spending to ease the burden on taxpayers

Leading Economic Development and Creating Jobs

Based on 25 years of success in corporate business development, Vinnie has a specific plan for bringing new businesses to Wallingford by:

Establishing our industrial parks as a clean energy research and development hub

Recruiting new corporate taxpayers that are essential to rebuilding our diminishing grand list

Ensuring Public Safety

Restoring critical paramedic services

Strengthening our police force by retaining those we train

Providing a Great Education for Our Kids

Vinnie served on the Board of Education, helped develop the long-term strategic plan for our schools, and he teaches in the Wallingford school system. He understands the challenges we face in preparing our children for success in the 21st Century.

“I am proud of my service and commitment to our community. It would be an honor to serve you further as your mayor. It’s time we moved forward, together, to make this town we love an even better place to live and raise our families.

Sincerely,

Vinnie Testa

Wallingford’s Possible Mission (a little fun with this local election)

GoAnimate.com: Wallingford's Possible Mission by gunderstone

Like it? Create your own at GoAnimate.com. It's free and fun!

Running for office has been a lot of work so I decided to have a little fun with it.

FROM WALLINGFORD – Hey kids, it’s time to show up

As originally published in the Record Journal Sunday, September 27th, 2009

It was also cross posted to my personal blog – From the Mind of Jason Zandri

The item regarding the Charter Revision vote is out of date and no longer relevant but the rest of it as timely as it ever was.

 

According to some research I have done recently, in the 2008 Presidential election the number of Wallingford peo­ple registered to vote aged 18 to 30 that came out and voted was about 2,800.

For people aged 60 to 72 that number was a little more than 4,000.

Both age sets encompass a span of 12 years.

In 2008, 22,000 of the nearly 26,000 reg­istered voters in Wallingford generated an 85 percent voter turnout rate.

In the 2007 local election the number of people aged 18 to 30 that came out to vote in Wallingford was about 500.

Of the nearly 4,200 people aged 18 to 30 that were registered to vote only 500 showed up—that is a paltry 12 percent.

For people aged 60 to 72 that number was about 2,800 out of 4,700 or 60 per­cent.

When we talk about the impact for bet­ter or worse of the largest voting block the discussion always focuses around the older folks but it is not just because they are larger in size (as they are so by only about 500 voters) but rather due to the fact that they show up in greater numbers. In order to get to 2,800 voters showing up in a voter block for the 2007 local elec­tion you have to include everyone aged 18 to 47 — a bracket of 29 years.

That is a total of 11,400 registered vot­ers to yield the same 2,800 turnouts.

Let me say it again— you have to lever­age 11,400 registered voters from the 18 to 47 demographic to get the same turn out number of people aged 60 to 72 where 2,800 out of 4,700 showed up.

2,800 people aged 60 to 72 out of 4,700 is 60 percent.

2,800 people aged 18 to 47 out of 11,400 is 25 percent.

I understand that the numbers in total drop below 50 percent for local elections; in 2007 voter turnout was 46 percent.

The reason for this is mainly due to the younger generation of people not show­ing up.

This is especially concerning tome as a parent of four little children. At 40 years old I am in with a group of people that seem not to be willing to take control of their own destiny for themselves or their families.

Say whatever you want about how you can’t change things, politics is all dirty and it caters only to this group or that group or whatever— it becomes a self ful­filling prophecy when you don’t show up to vote.

I feel that local elections impact you more than any other election you could participate in. All the voters are from Wallingford, there is no other election that you could have a greater impact on by just voting.

In a Presidential election you are cast­ing your important vote among millions of others; in Wallingford it is one vote of about 12,000 or so.

Your locally elected officials directly af­fect everything from what you are charged in taxes by way of the budget and what allocations get handed off to support the schools that your children are attend­ing and so on. They provide the platform and funding for or removing it from all the local services you may use.

There are many changes offered to the voters in the 2009 election from the in­cumbents that are running for office again to all the newcomers throwing their hats into the ring.

There are changes being proposed to the Town Charter. This document dic­tates the guidelines of how elected offi­cials are to discharge their duties in serv­ice to you and the town and it is the first time any changes are being offered in 18 years.

You as a voter directly get your say as you get the opportunity to vote “yes” or “no” to each of the proposed changes.

Democracy at its best— all you need to do is show up.