VIDEO - Wallingford Town Council Meeting - SEPT 28, 2010

Since the mayor has given the order to stop providing the Town Council and other meetings online, I have decided that in light of fact that there are other towns coming online to do this that I will provide the meetings as I am able to.

It’s your town – get informed and get involved

Wallingford Town Council Meeting - SEPT 28, 2010 - PART 1

Wallingford Town Council Meeting - SEPT 28, 2010 - PART 2

Wallingford Town Council Meeting - SEPT 28, 2010 - PART 3

Wallingford Town Council Meeting - SEPT 28, 2010 - PART 4

VIDEO - Wallingford Town Council Meeting - SEPT 14, 2010

Since the mayor has given the order to stop providing the Town Council and other meetings online, I have decided that in light of fact that there are other towns coming online to do this that I will provide the meetings as I am able to.

It’s your town – get informed and get involved

Wallingford Town Council Meeting - SEPT 14, 2010 - PART 1

Wallingford Town Council Meeting - SEPT 14, 2010 – PART 2

Wallingford Town Council Meeting - SEPT 14, 2010 - PART 3

VIDEO - Wallingford Town Council Meeting - AUG 17, 2010

Since the mayor has given the order to stop providing the Town Council and other meetings online, I have decided that in light of fact that there are other towns coming online to do this that I will provide the meetings as I am able to.

It’s your town – get informed and get involved

Wallingford Town Council Meeting - AUG 17, 2010

VIDEO - Wallingford Town Council Meeting - JUL 13, 2010

Since the mayor has given the order to stop providing the Town Council and other meetings online, I have decided that in light of fact that there are other towns coming online to do this that I will provide the meetings as I am able to.

It’s your town – get informed and get involved

Wallingford Town Council Meeting - JUL 13, 2010

FROM WALLINGFORD - Managing ability to pay

As published in the Record Journal on Sunday November 21, 2010

Jason Zandri

In last week’s From Wallingford, my counterpart, Steve Knight, reviewed recent election outcomes. He said across the nation’s “free-spending pols were shown the door,” but that here in Connecticut, the “Land of Steady Habits,” it would be more of the same with respect to spending money we don’t have.

I am willing to give the newly elected officials an opportunity to put their best effort forward before I assert that same conclusion.

As long as we’re on this subject — the “Land of Steady Habits” — I’d like to focus on Wallingford, because to claim that only Hartford and Washington are guilty is like the pot calling the kettle black.

Mayor Dickinson, true to his word, carried out his administrative decision to cut services if unions won their arbitration case. He is the Mayor and that is his prerogative.

Judgment in arbitration cases against the town comes as no surprise to most. One factor, for better or worse, when it comes to rendering a decision in these instances is a town’s ability to pay. Wallingford has solid ability to pay with (as of the end of the 2008-09 fiscal year) $20.4 million in its fund balance plus $11.8 million in undesignated funds that are not allocated to any one time capital purchases or expenditures. That doesn’t include an additional $7.2 million payment received from the Connecticut Resources Recovery Authority when Covanta took over the trash plant.

Having ability to pay is a double edged sword. It means our reserves are bountiful and we only have gotten there through conservative management which I do appreciate. One consideration of this of course is that in order to build up a reserve like that you need to be overtaxing. Municipalities can build up reserves when they have excess tax dollars remaining at the end of an annual budget cycle. Taxes and mill rates are set to correspond so that money coming in matches money going out to pay for these services. If you overspend you go into an operating deficit which generally becomes a debt that is mortgaged into future tax payments.

Not a good thing.

Building up some reserve makes sense. If there is a small gap from something unexpected it can be covered with savings. If enough money can be put aside then tax payers reap the benefit of excellent interest rates like Wallingford has when it does need to go out and borrow money.

Once you cross a certain threshold of money in the bank all that additional excess is not going to further improve your bond rating. If your largest single contingency without bonding can be covered by the difference then all monies saved past that combined point are of minimal additional positive impact.

When met with a situation of funding a critical service like EMTs I think the last choice which a town with a surplus should be taking is cutting that service back. One percent interest on $20 million dollars is $200,000.00 — twice what is needed to fund the arbitration award. With interest only and as a stop gap measure we could solve this problem; that would keep present levels of EMT service in place and leave the principal balance untouched. When the economy recovers and the grand list grows you can cut that stop gap measure.

If we don’t want to do that for whatever reason then I suggest the choice of cutting other non-critical services back before cutting EMTs.

Coming in as last choice is a resort to raising taxes. The median household tax bill would go up about three dollars to fund the arbitration award. Any of these choices are better than cutting any critical service that could put people at unnecessary risk in times of dire need.

Certain scenarios could place Wallingford at a higher risk of possible liability if it can be shown the reduction of this critical service was directly responsible for additional injury or loss of life.

Juries will find Wallingford has ability to pay out in a lawsuit just as easily.

It’s official – The Wallingford Fireworks Fund is 501 (C) (3) tax exempt.

Craig Fishbein got the email off to me this week – The Wallingford Fireworks Fund is  501 (C) (3) tax exempt as of May 10, 2010.

Thanks Craig for all the foot work on this behind the scenes – you rock.

If you donated to the cause this past year you CAN take a deduction on your taxes as it IS effective as of this PAST May 10th of 2010.

Thank you for your support in 2010 and we hope you can support us again in 2011

School budget talks under way in Wallingford

As published in the Record Journal Tuesday November 9, 2010

By Jaclyn Hirsch
Record-Journal staff
jhirsch@record-journal.com  
(203) 317-2234

WALLINGFORD — The first of many discussions about next school year’s budget started Monday night during the Board of Education Operations Committee’s meeting.

“There’s a lot on our plate. I’m not going to deny that fact,” School Superintendent Salvatore Menzo said.

The board invited Mayor William W. Dickinson Jr. and Patrice McCarthy, deputy director and general counsel for the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education, to talk about budget projections and get an idea of what next fiscal year could look like for the district.

Dickinson and McCarthy had little good news to report, but offered advice on how to look for money in this tough economic climate.

Dickinson said unless the state or federal government pumps money into the economy, town officials are not expecting any new money or increase in existing revenues.

About 85 percent of the town’s money comes from local taxpayers, which surprised many board members.

“We are tremendously dependent on what’s happening to the local tax base,” board member Jay Cei said. “I never realized it was that concentrated in local sources.

”McCarthy urged Board of Education members and educators at Monday’s meeting to continue pushing for state money from the legislature.

“The advocacy role is critical,” she said. “Advocacy does matter.”

She said the government is moving to more competitive grants with strings attached, which are more difficult for smaller school districts to win because of the manpower and time it takes to apply for grants.

“That’s sort of something that every community has to weigh,” she said.

Menzo said administrators still plan to hold onto the $1.2 million in federal money earmarked for job saving or creation, which Dickinson applauded. The money must be used by September 2012.

Menzo said he and his staff have started to look at budget numbers and are in the beginning stages of the conversation. He plans to meet parents in an open forum Wednesday night at Sheehan High School, and see teachers and principals at other schools next week to continue the budget conversation.

AGENDA – WALLINGFORD TOWN COUNCIL MEETING

TOWN OF WALLINGFORD, CONNECTICUT

TOWN COUNCIL MEETING

Town Council Chambers

November 9, 2010

6:30 P.M

AGENDA

1. Opening Prayer – The Reverend Margaret Jay, First Congregational Church

Pledge of Allegiance

Roll Call

2. Consider and Approve Appointment of James D. McManus to Pension Commission for a term effective immediately and expiring December 31, 2011 - Mayor

3. Consider and Approve the Appointment of Debra Buckman to the Wallingford Housing Authority as Tenant Commissioner for a five-year term effective immediately and expiring October 31, 2015 – Robert F. Parisi, Chairman

4. Consent Agenda

4a. Consider and Approve Tax Refunds (#428 - #458) totaling $2,422.85 Acct. # 001-1000-010-1170 - Tax Collector

4b. Acceptance of Donation from Jason Michael, Wallingford resident and local businessman, for Disc Gold course, removable targets valued at $2,893 for use at Lufbery Park – Parks and Recreation

4c. Consider and Approve a Resolution authorizing the Mayor to make application to the Department of Social Services in such amounts as may be made available for undertaking a Hispanic Human Resource Development Program – Program Planning

4d. Consider and Approve an Agreement that requires S.C.O.W. as our subcontractor to fulfill all terms and conditions of the Hispanic Human Resources Development Program Grant – Program Planning

4e. Consider and Approve Job Description for Stockperson - Electric Division – Personnel

4f. Consider and Approve Job Description for Drafting Technician - Electric Division – Personnel

4g. Consider and Approve a Resolution Authorizing the Mayor to enter into and amend Contractual Instruments in the Name of and on Behalf of the Wallingford Community Day Care Center Inc. with the Department of Social Services of the State of Connecticut for a Child Day Care Program – Mayor

4h. Consider and Approve an Agreement between the Town of Wallingford and the Wallingford Community Day Care Center, Inc. recognizing that the Town has executed a contract with the State of Connecticut Commissioner of Social Services for Funding Programs to be carried out by said Day Care Center Acting of Behalf of the Town – Mayor

4i. Consider and Approve a Resolution permitting the Wallingford Community Day Care Center Inc. to borrow from the Town of Wallingford amounts necessary to meet the essential operation expenses of said Day Care Center prior to the time its program is approved for funding from the state of Connecticut - Mayor

4j. Consider and approve a Transfer in the Amount of $22,000 to Tools, Shop and Garage Equipment Acct # 394 from Distribution Plant-Station Equipment Acct # 362 - Electric division

4k. Approve minutes of Special Town Council meeting of November 1, 2010

5. Items Removed from the Consent Agenda

6. PUBLIC QUESTION & ANSWER

7. Consider and Approve a Transfer in the Amount of $8,200 to Purchased Professional Services - Negotiations Acct # 001-1300-901-9002-00 from Contingency General Purpose Acct # 001-7060-800-3190-00 - Mayor

8. Report regarding implementation of arbitration awards for IAFF, Local 1326 and AFSCME, Council 4, Local 1183 - Mayor

9. Consider and Approve Bid Waiver to utilize process other than public bidding for consideration and selection of pension portfolio investment managers – Pension Commission

10. Executive Session pursuant to §1-200 (6) (D) of the Connecticut General Statutes with respect to the purchase, sale and/or leasing of property – Mayor

VIDEO - 90th Assembly District - Voter Forum - Wallingford

GET INFORMED - GET INVOLVED - VOTE

VIDEO - 103rd Assembly District - Voter Forum - Wallingford

GET INFORMED - GET INVOLVED - VOTE

VIDEO - 85th Assembly District - Voter Forum - Wallingford

GET INFORMED - GET INVOLVED - VOTE

VIDEO - 86th Assembly District - Voter Forum - Wallingford

GET INFORMED - GET INVOLVED - VOTE

VIDEO - 34th State Senate District - Voter Forum - Wallingford

GET INFORMED - GET INVOLVED - VOTE

Secretary Bysiewicz Clarifies Law Prohibiting Campaigning Within 75 Feet of Polling Place on Election Day

- Statement -

Secretary Bysiewicz Clarifies Law Prohibiting Campaigning Within 75 Feet of Polling Place on Election Day

Hartford: Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz today issued the following memo to Registrars of Voters and Town Clerks in Connecticut regarding the Connecticut General Statutes Section 9-236 that prohibits campaigning within 75 feet of any polling place on Election Day.

TO:      All Registrars of Voters and Town Clerks

RE:       STATE LAW PROHIBITING CAMPAIGNING WITHIN 75 FEET OF POLLING PLACE ON ELECTION DAY

Over the past few days, there have been several media reports suggesting that this office issued a directive to local election officials that voters who wear World Wrestling Entertainment (“WWE”)  t-shirts, hats or other apparel to the polls should be turned away from the polls.  These reports misstate the law and misconstrue the statements from this office. 

Section 9-236(a) of the Connecticut General Statutes states: “On the day of any primary, referendum or election, no person shall solicit in behalf of or in opposition to the candidacy of another or himself or in behalf of or in opposition to any question being submitted at the election or referendum, or loiter or peddle or offer any advertising matter, ballot or circular to another person within a radius of seventy-five feet of any outside entrance in use as an entry to any polling place or in any corridor, passageway or other approach leading from any such outside entrance to such polling place or in any room opening upon any such corridor, passageway or approach….”

In applying this statute, this office has never issued a blanket prohibition or declaration prohibiting any particular type of apparel.  The only clothing, items or apparel prohibited by Section 9-236(a) are those that “solicit” for or against a candidate or ballot question.  Each local moderator must assess each situation on a case-by-case basis.  In past elections, this office has consistently recommended that voters wearing t-shirts bearing the likeness or campaign logo of candidates, be asked to button their jackets when other voters have complained. 

In preparing for this election, be advised that it is the position of this office that simply wearing WWE apparel at the polls, including apparel with the trade name or logo of the WWE or the name or photograph of any WWE entertainer that does not display the name or photograph of Linda McMahon, U.S. Senate candidate, or the name or logo of Ms. McMahon’s campaign does not trigger a violation of Section 9-236.   

Further, even when an individual is found to be wearing campaign material in violation of the 75 foot restrictions, they should never be told to leave the polls.  They should be simply asked to remove or cover the item or apparel in question.  Once this is accomplished, the individual should be allowed to vote.  Once the individual leaves the polls and is outside 75 feet, they are free to display their support for the candidate of their choice.

We hope that you find this helpful.  Of course, please call us if you’d like to discuss this further, and as always, we are available for consultation on Election Day.

Av Harris
Communications Director
Connecticut Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz
(860) 509-6255 ofc
(860) 463-5939 cell
av.harris@ct.gov

Vince McMahon Sues Bysiewicz Over WWE Garb At Polls

World Wrestling Entertainment CEO Vince McMahon, the husband of U.S. Senate candidate Linda McMahon, on Tuesday filed a federal lawsuit seeking to stop local election workers from asking WWE fans to cover up their wrestling garb at the polls.

Vince McMahon, also president of the Connecticut-based wrestling empire, said he filed motions for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction to prevent Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz from violating voters' free speech rights.

Bysiewicz, concerned the apparel could be considered political advertising because Linda McMahon was the company's CEO until last fall, has advised local registrars that they can ask people wearing WWE items to cover them up or return wearing something else if they feel it has become an issue.

State election law prevents political advertising within 75 feet of the polls.

Bysiewicz's spokesman, Av Harris, said last week that the secretary's directive does not mean voters wearing WWE items will be stopped from voting. He said the clothing issue will be handled on a case-by-case basis

Read the full story online on the Channel 3 Eyewitness News website Vince McMahon Sues Bysiewicz Over WWE Garb At Polls

FROM WALLINGFORD - November 2 is Election Day

As published in the Record Journal on Sunday October 24, 2010

Jason Zandri

Faithful readers have come to know that my big slant every election season is to get people out to vote. They know that the times in between I push the message “get informed, get involved.”

Is it enough to at least go out and “just vote”? Some might say that the mostly or totally uninformed should just stay home with those that are unwilling to vote as they cause more harm than good.

While I would much rather have an informed electorate, at the minimum I want an involved and interactive one. If the most you can do is go into the booth and “pull” your party line at least you’ve taken some action for yourself.

Get over the notion that your vote doesn’t matter.

Everything you do matters and that includes casting your vote on Election Day. It’s unfortunate that most of the people running for office for this election have leveraged heavily on the negative advertising tactics. While I cannot say I have seen all the ads, I can say I’ve seen many. I have only seen one to date that was straightforward and spoke of skill, ability, plan and direction and that didn’t tear down the other people running for that office.

I think that is something that most of our candidates misunderstand and it’s a lost opportunity to connect with their constituents.

Especially in times like these, where the economy is still in rough shape and the recovery is slow to take hold across all sectors, an opportunity presents itself to the candidates who wish to serve to reconnect with “Joe the Plummer” and offer some hope and positive direction.

Why did we as children look up to the likes of Superman and Joe DiMaggio? Because they were all we could hope to be and they were positive influences. In many cases they were all that we could never be but they were positive influences all the same.

Why do we as adults fixate on Hollywood and the rich and famous more so than on our neighbors down the street? Some of it is because of the allure of what we can’t have and for the most part could never hope to obtain (but we dream we could anyway). The rest of the reason why is because the rich and famous have prosperity and that is another of those positive things.

It’s true that folks enjoy nothing more than when some famous person of the day is caught up in a divorce, scandal or some other downfall because that makes them as human and every day as everyone else.

Much of what draws us to them in the first place is the potential of being successful and “having it good,” something sorely lacking with the current state of things for most everyday people.

When it comes time for us everyday people to consider our choices of who will govern for us for the next term it’s unfortunate that most of what is presented to us is negative information on the other candidate.

I am foolishly hoping that perhaps next year will be a better year for campaigns and that people running for office would focus their efforts on the positive side of things, things they believe they could accomplish in office rather than deciding how to showcase how their opponent is lacking the ability to do something.

Running for office is like applying for a job; if any of these folks went in to an employer “selling” themselves by saying what the other people for the position cannot do I doubt any of the lot would be hired.

Nothing important is easy and voting is important — we are going to have to wade through all the negative information and try to make informed choices.

We owe it to ourselves and to our families.

Get informed, get involved and vote on Election Day.

So what is the Citizen Mike show?

"Citizen Mike" is a locally produced new news and commentary television show that is available on Wallingford's public access Channel 18.

The show’s host is none other than former Democratic town councilor Michael Brodinsky.

Mike is planning to produce the show on a regular basis – each week at this point – and the show will be repeated each night at 9PM on WPAA on Comcast and on channel 99 on AT&T U-verse.

It is also available on demand, online on the WPAA Video Alive webpage titled - Wallingford Public Access Association
Community Media for those of you without cable or with satellite TV.

I will also be cross posting links here on the blog as they are made available.

Citizen Mike Show -- Episode 1 – NOW ONLINE

Episode 1 - Citizen Mike Show. A local, public access production covering National, State and local issues. Local topics discussed in the episode include the recap of the September 14th Town Council review of the dioxin release from the Covnata Energy Plant in Wallingford.

There were some additional topics related to the statewide elections here in Connecticut as well as some races around the country. The repeal of "Don't Ask, don't tell" was also commented on.

Special Guests for this episode include Democrat candidate Denise Merrill and Republican Candidate Jerry Ferrell who are both running for Secretary of State in Connecticut . The visits were separately recorded so this was not a debate between the two but individual discussions on the issues as they saw them and their own platforms of how they are looking to address things and carry out their responsibilities to the office if elected.

See Episode 1 - Citizen Mike Show online

Get informed – get involved

AGENDA – WALLINGFORD TOWN COUNCIL MEETING

TOWN OF WALLINGFORD, CONNECTICUT

TOWN COUNCIL MEETING

Town Council Chambers

October 26, 2010

6:30 P.M

AGENDA

1. Opening Prayer – Father Gary Simone, Most Holy Trinity Church

Pledge of Allegiance

Roll Call

2. Consider and Approve Appointment of James D. McManus to Pension Commission for a term effective immediately and expiring 12/31/2011 - Mayor

3. Consider and Approve the Appointment of Debra Buckman to the Wallingford Housing Authority as Tenant Commissioner for a five-year term effective immediately and expiring 10/31/15 – Robert F. Parisi, Chairman

4. Consent Agenda

4a. Consider and Approve Tax Refunds (#326 - #427) totaling $16,380.45 Acct. # 001-1000-010-1170 - Tax Collector

4b. Acceptance of Donation to Youth & Social Services Special Fund from Operation Fuel and Appropriation in the Amount of $147 to Donations Acct # 213-1042-070-7010 and to Expenditures Acct # 213-3070-600-6000 - Youth & Social Services

4c. Consider and Approve a Budget Amendment in the Amount of $188,000 to Outside Contractors Acct # 001-2005-101-1800 and to Charges for Current Services (Revenue) Acct # 001-1065-060-6020 – Police Chief

4d. Acceptance of 2010 Comprehensive DUI Enforcement Program Safety Grant and Appropriation in the Amount of $1,476 to Revenue Highway Safety Acct # 001-1050-050-5883 and to Police Overtime Acct # 001-2005-101-1400 – Police Chief

4e. Consider and Approve adding Hedge & Mattheis Company and W. H. Rose to 2010-2011 Bid Waiver list – Public Works

4f. Approve Adopting the Town Council Calendar of Meetings for 2011

5. Items Removed from the Consent Agenda

6. PUBLIC QUESTION & ANSWER

7. Executive Session pursuant to §1-200 (6)(D) of the Connecticut General Statutes with respect to the purchase, sale and/or leasing of property – Mayor

8. Executive Session to discuss strategy and negotiation with respect to Collective Bargaining pursuant to Connecticut General Statutes §1-200(2), §1-200(6)(B) and §1-225 (f) regarding Town of Wallingford and Local 1326, IAFF Interest Arbitration Award – Personnel

9. Executive Session to discuss strategy and negotiation with respect to Collective Bargaining pursuant to Connecticut General Statutes §1-200(2), §1-200(6)(B) and §1-225 (f) regarding Town of Wallingford and Local AFSCME, Council 4, Local 1183 Interest Arbitration Award - Personnel

10. Discussion and Possible Action with regard to the Town of Wallingford and Local 1326, IAFF Interest Arbitration Award as discussed in Executive Session – Personnel

11. Discussion and Possible Action with regard to the Town of Wallingford and Local AFSCME, Council 4, Local 1183 Interest Arbitration Award as discussed in Executive Session – Personnel

12. Discussion and Possible Action regarding purchase of a site for the North Farms Volunteer Fire Station:

a. Approval of contract to purchase 864-866 North Farms Road

b. Approval of acquisition of the reversionary interest of Barnes Road Firehouse property – Mayor

13. Continuation of Housing Authority Discussion – Councilor Nick Economopoulos

14. Consider and Approve a Budget Amendment in the Amount of $2,120,000 to Structures & Improvements Acct # 433-9012-390 and to Appropriations from Major Capital Replacement Fund – Water Division

FROM WALLINGFORD - Cost higher but choice is right

As published in the Record Journal on Sunday October 10, 2010

Jason Zandri

Wallingford hired an architectural firm that specializes in public safety designs to do a feasibility study regarding the volunteer fire station on North Farms Road which is at its maximum functional capacity.

Should Wallingford utilize the property that it already has to address the current capacity issues but not necessarily address additional future growth? The town could do this and it would save some tax dollars currently in a tough economy but is it the best plan overall? Does it make sense to address additional expansion needs someday down the road when property and construction costs will be more expensive?

Should the town purchase the 11.2-acre Cichowski property at 866 North Farms Road and put the volunteer fire station there? This would be more costly but it does address current AND future expansion needs. The Town Council approved purchasing that property last September for $850,000, with an additional $154,000 budgeted for site cleanup. Building on North Farms Road would cost $6.6 million compared to about $5.2 million for building a new station on the current Barnes Road site.

Wallingford should purchase the Cichowski property and use it for this effort. There is plenty of housing stock in town right now for people that desire to buy an established home. I do not think we necessarily need more residential property developed for the type of housing that would go in that area. It would not be affordable housing; it would most likely be larger type homes.

I am not opposed to building more homes or trying to discourage further construction. On the contrary, I think that land owners should be allowed to do what they want with their land within the zoning regulations. I simply feel that as of right now there is adequate supply to meet the current demand.

Specific concerns of the residents in the area regarding this project should be taken into consideration as they will be directly affected. Any decisions then should be made after weighing that input and what is the best thing for the town in total.

Going the North Farms route will cost more. Wallingford is in a very good financial situation with a healthy budget balance and an excellent credit rating to bond out for this if that should be desired. Some people will point out that it makes sense to use the 1.78-acre Barnes Road site or another area in the industrial zone. That requires moving the Fire Department while new building is under construction and it doesn’t allow for future growth. That’s additional cost now and when expansion is again needed it will cost much more as costs will rise and we will not have planned properly for future growth.

Industrial land should be leveraged by private entities rather than the town. We talk about the concerns of taking residential property off the tax rolls for municipal use. Commercial and industrial properties bring in more tax revenue to the town than what residential properties do. They tend not to add additional burden to the tax base in the same ways. As an example, new residential construction tends to add net new families that can add to the costs of the education budget which is two thirds the total town budget.

A new firehouse is needed — the case for this has already been made and has been agreed upon; this will happen.

Decisions and actions on it call for smart planning and should allow for future Fire Department growth.

The Town Council and the administration needs to decide what’s the best total strategy and what is going to be the best return on investment for Wallingford taxpayers in the long run.

We should not be looking to save a dime today to only spend a dollar down the road. We need to make careful decisions that will minimize that future cost as much as possible while balancing the cost burden for today.