As provided from the Wallingford Public Schools website
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
MY TAKE - Council rejects sale of Legion building
So here are the details from last night’s Town Council meeting on the subject.
The full story can be read from the article in the Record Journal.
Councilor John Le Tourneau put an item on the agenda – the proposed sale of the American Legion Building – up for another vote.
With three new members on the council there was some hope that the town could take some action on the property other than going to court.
The vote went down 5-4 to not endorse the sale of the building.
The motion was made to sell and the YES votes were
Vincent TestaJohn Sullivan
John LeTourneau
Jerry Farrell, Jr.
The remaining councilors below voted NO
Nichnolas Economopoulos
Robert Parisi
Rosemary Rascati
Vincent Cervoni
Craig Fishbein
So from here we will spend time and money to fight our stance in court that we should keep the property for an expansion of Town Hall that will never happen.
The Mayor will not put any money into the building so it will slowly become more of an eyesore as it falls into further disrepair. (By the way, if you or I owned this property and allowed it to become an eyesore we’d get hit with the blight ordinance.)
We may lose the court fight after spending the time and the money and have to put money into it to do something with it.
Or we might win and then we get the benefit of the expenditure to tear it down.
We already own the parking we sought to own with the original purchase of the building.
If we could sell the building and just the footprint that it sits on why wouldn’t we want to get some badly needed money AND put a building back onto the tax rolls?
We had two interested buyers in the past 12 months with the higher of the two offers in the $60,000.00 range. It might not seem like a big offer but all they would be getting is the building; there is no real property being transferred and no parking other than shared municipal parking to the rear of the building.
Additionally, there has been no heat in the building for the better part of the last decade and a ton of weather damage. Estimates to repair the building to a useful function would be two to four times the purchase offer price.
If we ever needed to expand Town Hall it would be backwards off the existing building into the parking area in the rear (when facing the building from the front) and not off to the right onto the American Legion property.
Well – the council is in charge of property matters and this one is now settled; we’re off to court on the 20th.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Should Wallingford consider a single high school solution?
On Sunday, the Record-Journal published an opinion column by former Board of Education member Len Suzio arguing that the city of Meriden should consider building a single high school on the vacant Hub site between Pratt and State streets downtown.
Suzio said Monday that a single high school holding the city’s 2,500 students would save money by consolidating resources and would free up the former Platt and Maloney parcels for economic development.
“I think it’s irresponsible not to take a serious look at this,” Suzio said.
So with all the discussion about the Board of Education budget in Wallingford lately I wonder what people in town think about a proposal like this?
Should we take a look at the potential savings of combining Lyman Hall and Sheehan into a single “Wallingford High School”?
It’s been discussed before and the idea dropped. I always wondered why.
Meriden is looking to potentially house 2,500 students under one roof – should Wallingford consider this too?
We have less total students in the two high schools than that. If they can come up with a plan that works we should be able to mirror that solution.
What about combining the two middle schools?
I would think that a single campus high school and a single campus middle school would save a ton of money for the town and potentially free up two pieces of property for other municipal use.
What do you think readers?
Sunday, January 10, 2010
WALLINGFORD PUBLIC SCHOOLS BOARD OF EDUCATION 2010-11 PROPOSED BUDGET
The Wallingford Public Schools Board of Education 2010-11 proposed budget is now online and available for download.
WALLINGFORD PUBLIC SCHOOLS BOARD OF EDUCATION 2010-11 PROPOSED BUDGET
The PDF file will require Adobe or similar application that can read the portable document format.
The file is about 130 pages long and about 7MB to download.
Elementary School Reconfiguration Plan
The Wallingford Elementary School Reconfiguration Plan is now online and available for download.
Elementary School Reconfiguration Plan
The PDF file will require Adobe or similar application that can read the portable document format.
MY TAKE – How the parents can address everything going on with the Board of Education and the School Budget
Full disclosure – My oldest son, Andrew, is in Kindergarten in Stevens School and will be affected by the proposed changes and I have three more kids yet to enter the school system.
Since the press release in the Record Journal of all the planned changes proposed as part of the budget for the Board of Education, there has been a frenzy to get more information and a rally among parents with respect to “what’s next" and "what can we do”.
I’ll probably write my next FROM WALLINGFORD article in next Sunday's Record Journal on the subject but here are some immediate thoughts.
Make sure you have all of the information that you can get your hands on with respect to this proposal; both what is being proposed by our Superintendent and the Board and what has been tried elsewhere. Not everything they are suggesting is bad or out of place especially in these tough financial times. We need to review everything and make sure we point out to them what has worked elsewhere and what didn't.
Grade Span Configuration Research Study at http://bit.ly/5VLjZq is one example; I am sure there are others.
A friend of mine recently commented “kudos to the BOE in Wallingford for trying to create a budget based on some fiscal responsibility... The budget process in government is (usually) based on the premise that there are unlimited resources.”
He’s right.
Government generally never bases its budgets on fiscal responsibility because there is the ability to just up taxes or levy fees on a captive audience - the Wallingford business owners and the Wallingford home owners.
If Main Street businesses ran their business like this, allowing their costs to spiral out of control and raised prices indiscriminately to meet these expanding costs, you the consumer would just take your dollars elsewhere and they would cease to exist. As a taxpayer to a given town and state you are captive to that environment and bound to pay the taxes and fees as levied. The only way to avoid that is to move and then you’re subject to a different set of taxes and fees.
Taxes and fees are all devised the same way from town to town and from state to state. Some may be more favorable elsewhere (better tax rate, lower fees, etc) but they all are the same – generally put together based on the premise that there are unlimited resources because of the captive audience that is the citizenry that MUST pay taxes.
Quite frankly too, it’s all our fault.
The same 12 people attend the town council meetings.
The same 30 people or so run for public office every two years. Once in a while there is a new name and a new face but they are coming out of the same pool.
The same 45% of the local registered voters turn out at local election time and the majority of them put the incumbents back into office. (One incumbent was voted out in 2009).
This last election in 2009 that registered voter turnout number was below 37% the lowest number in about twenty plus years.
Did you vote?
The definition of insanity is trying the same thing over and over and expecting different results. You cannot put an incumbent that goes a certain way back into office and expect them to suddenly do something different for you. If they already match your line of thinking – great. If not, you need to get to know the other candidates and support them at election time. That means not only voting for them but getting your friends out to vote for them too. You don't cheer for your favorite football team alone - you want to recruit other people to do the same. You need to get jazzed up over local candidates for office in the same manner. It sounds totally off the wall but shouldn't you be as much of a cheerleader for someone running for office that has the same heart and mind as you do? Some of you have a tremendous amount of distain when someone proposes something COUNTER to the way you think; turn that into a positive in 2011 and really push for the people that will get you what you want and need.
Most people claim they can’t afford the time to get involved so the government machine churns on with no one minding the store, save the politicians elected to the offices. Everyone needs oversight or they will follow human nature and do whatever they please. How can you afford NOT to get involved? Part of the reason you're so busy is you're working extra to pay the taxes and fees that your representatives are setting.
“We the people” are supposed to be that oversight but no one volunteers for duty. Oh a few claim they do every year at election time (again - locally less than 45%) but after the vote where are they for the next two years?
So I ask all of the parents specifically – after this issue is over – favorably to what you’re looking for or not, are you going to stay engaged so that it never happens again?
The sad part of is that most of the citizens will disengage and they will not come back to fight until the next time there is a major issue to address.
That is the mistake.
This fight never ends – it is always ongoing and you must be involved as part of the process or the elected individuals will go about doing their job the way they see fit because they are not getting a whole lot of input.
Some will try to do the best job they can.
Others will do the job the best they can while having it be most self serving to their career.
Some will only do the job in a way that is most self serving to them and that is it.
What can you do?
Make it a point to stay engaged; it is a lot of work but this is not a one issue thing. We are not suddenly where we are today by a single erroneous event from the last fiscal year. Some of this is years and years of not planning correctly and being reactive to issues rather than proactive. That is what has gotten us here and has required this sudden, drastic move by the Superintendent needed to try to steer us back onto the rails.
Attend the meetings and provide your input. Enough with the "I need to be careful of my job" and "I can't speak up because of my delicate position in the town / school system / social status in the sewing circle" - I know some of you, you're not that delicate and you usually don't allow people to walk all over you. This is your town and these are your tax dollars - make sure they are both handled the way you expect them to be.
Letter writing campaigns - write the Board of Education, write the Town Council, write the Superintendent and write to the Mayor. Tell them what you like and what you don't like about the proposals. Offer other suggestions that might be used as solutions. It's fine to say "this stinks" but unless you offer an alternate consideration for them to explore what do you expect them to do? They are presenting this and they are looking at it as the best solution they can come up with to the problem. If you have a better idea to save money offer it.
Write letters to the editor at the Record Journal. As you make your thoughts known to others in town on such a wide scale with your letters in the paper you might encourage others to come out and get involved as well. Not everyone is an extrovert and not everyone feels confident to speak and be heard. Some people are slow self starters and need good peer leaders to help them find their footing to speak out. Be a leader and encourage others. It helps the cause and it helps them.
Finally, if you feel like you can't bring yourself to do these things for you then do it for your kids. They are in the school system and they will be impacted by these changes.
Some of you grew up with me; you never left town either (or you left and came back) - what are you leaving to their future if they decide to do the same and stay in Wallingford.
What is the Wallingford that you want them to inherit?
This is your town - get informed and get involved.
Technorati Tags: Wallingford,Board of Education,Council,election,expense,finances,opinion,schools,taxes
Saturday, January 9, 2010
FROM WALLINGFORD - Honesty and forthrightness
This edition of FROM WALLINGFORD is written by my counterpart on the column, Stephen Knight
As posted online at MyRecordJournal.com on Friday January 8, 2010 for publication in Sunday’s paper on January 10, 2010
Follow all the news directly on the Record Journal Website for the most up to date information. www.myrecordjournal.com
Write a letter to the editor letters@record-journal.com
"Necessity is the mother of invention." Yet another example of the accuracy of this trite phrase we all learned as children has come forth in the form of the proposed Wallingford school system budget unveiled last Tuesday night by Superintendent of Schools Sal Menzo. Another way it might be put is "innovation born of desperation."
Well, maybe desperation is too strong a word, but certainly there appears to be a realization on the part of the superintendent and his school administrators and central office staff that the state's financial problems are going to affect them - and affect them big-time. And also that this situation had to be addressed in the way that we chumps in the private sector have had to for some time - by finding new ways to do more with less - a lot less.
Now the public education bureaucracy in the United States is not exactly known for innovation. The sheer size of the bureaucracy and the machinations of the National Education Association have combined to stifle practically every innovative practice that has been attempted, from school vouchers to school choice to privatizing school administration.
So to see how creatively and substantively our school system is meeting the financial challenge is a really positive and exciting development. I am especially intrigued by two aspects of the superintendent's proposed budget: the realignment of the elementary schools and the budget process itself. Both are real departures from how business has been done here for many years.
Elementary School Realignment: in speaking with Board of Education Vice Chair Roxane McKay, I learned that having separate schools for kindergarten through second grade and third through fifth grade is not a new concept. Nevertheless, it represents new thinking here, and bringing this from just an idea to an actual plan has taken enormous effort from not only the superintendent, but also the principals of all eight schools and the central office staff. The result will not only be a saving of almost $2 million through regrettable but nonetheless necessary staff reductions, but also will markedly improve the schools themselves and the educational experience they deliver to the children. Other benefits include a better balance of class sizes between schools and more effective use of teachers in certain specialty areas.
Development of the school budget: For years and years, the budget for the school system has been built like this: A) Superintendent proposes budget with almost double-digit increase. B) Board of Education churns through massive document, nibbles around the edges and throws it to mayor still with most of huge increase intact. C) Mayor slashes proposed increase by 40 to 50 percent to an increase the town can digest. D) Town Council ruminates over it and essentially buys the mayor's number. E) Budget is adopted and school system "pre-buys" goods and services with "surplus" it has created over the previous year to offset impact of the reduction in original requested increase. Rinse. Repeat next year.
This year is radically different. The superintendent has done the heavy lifting already. The proposed increase is half what is usually requested, and his budget includes substantial reductions in staffing, not all a result of the realignment. I expect the BOE will largely agree with the proposal, and thus the mayor will receive a budget re-quest based in reality rather than one from which he must squeeze out the excess. This is a great step forward for all of town government. Sal Menzo has gone out on a limb with this and has done away with the "Hot Potato, Hot Potato" game that has characterized education budget creation for years and years.
It is hoped that the mayor and town council will show their support for his honesty and forthrightness by leaving this proposal largely intact. Thus would be born an opportunity to build the transparency and cooperation between the branches of town government that would be of lasting benefit to everyone involved.
Wallingford Public School Budget and the proposed changes – the ongoing story
I am sure everyone with a kid in the Wallingford School system is (or should be) tuned into what is going on with respect to the Wallingford Public School Budget and the proposed changes being presented for consideration.
There are meetings that started today Saturday the 9th of January and will carry on over the remainder of the month with a culmination with a meeting with the Town Council.
I have a list of recent articles published at the Record Journal on my other blog “From the Mind of Jason Zandri”
I have the current budget and I will work to get this scanned and online.
If you cannot attend all the meetings they will be on public access to view at a later time and I am working to get the recorded DVDs of the meetings to get them posted online.
Your input here as part of this process, whether you are “just” a resident taxpayer or have a child or children in the school system, is critically important.
Your elected officials are here to represent you; only you can make sure they do that.
If you do not offer your constructive input to them they can only take action on the best of their own ability.
It’s your town – get informed, get involved.
Friday, January 8, 2010
Wallingford BOE Budget Meeting Schedule and PowerPoint Link
Here is a link to the BOE Budget PowerPoint as a PDF http://bit.ly/5toPpZ
- 55.6 FTE Certified Staff Cuts
- 117.1 Non-Certified Staff Cuts (Part Time/Full Time)
- Loss of Neighborhood Based Elementary Schools
- Pay to Play in the High Schools
| Date | Time | Location | Topic |
| Tuesday, 1/5/10 | 7:00 p.m. | Sheehan Auditorium | Board of Education Operations Meeting – including2010 Budget Overview |
| Saturday, 1/9/10 | 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. | Sheehan Auditorium | Budget Workshop #1: Ø Food Services ( 8 – 8:30) Ø Elementary (8:30 – 9:30) Ø Middle School (9:30 – 10:00) Ø High School (10:00 – 10:30) Ø Adult Ed/ School to Career (10:30 – 11:00) Ø Special Education (11:00 – 11:30) Ø Maintenance (11:30 – 12:00) Ø Lunch Ø Information Technology (12:30 – 1:00) Ø Central Office/Business Office (1:00 – 1:30) Ø Final Review (1:30 – 2:00) |
| Tuesday, 1/12/10 | 6:00 p.m. | Sheehan Drama Lecture Hall | Budget Workshop #2 |
| Wednesday, 1/13/10 | 6:00 p.m | Sheehan Drama Lecture Hall | Budget Workshop #3 (if necessary) |
| Tuesday, 1/19/10 | 6:00 p.m. | Sheehan Drama Lecture Hall | Budget Workshop #4 (if necessary) |
| Wednesday, 1/20/10 | 6:00 p.m. | Sheehan Drama Lecture Hall | Budget Workshop #5 (if necessary) |
| Monday, 1/25/10 | 7:00 p.m. | Sheehan Drama Lecture Hall | Monthly Board of Education Meeting – including Budget Approval |
Record Journal Wallingford parents rally against school budget cuts
Facebook Event http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=235022279115&ref=nf#
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Wallingford Board of Education Workshop Session Schedule
All meetings are to be held in the Sheehan High School auditorium
Saturday January 9, 2010 from 8AM to 2PM
Tuesday January 12, 2010 beginning at 6PM
Wednesday January 13, 2010 beginning at 6PM
Tuesday January 19, 2010 beginning at 6PM (if needed)
Wednesday January 20, 2010 beginning at 6PM (if needed)
Meeting to approve Board of Education Budget
Monday January 25, 2010 Sheehan High School auditorium beginning at 7PM
All meetings are open to the public and will be recorded and shown on public access at a later date.
Monday, January 4, 2010
WALLINGFORD - Rob Simmons Says Linda McMahon Is Using Donations To Try To Buy Support
By DANIELA ALTIMARI
Courant.com
January 1, 2010
In the run-up to last fall's municipal election, Wallingford Republicans needed money for ads and all the other costs associated with a competitive campaign.
So when Linda McMahon, a multimillionaire running for U.S. Senate, came in with her checkbook, the Republican town committee didn't turn her away.
"She said 'here's some money for your candidates' and I said 'thank you very much' and that was it," said Bob Prentice, Wallingford's Republican town chairman. "It was a nice gesture on her part."
To Rob Simmons, another Republican running for Senate, that $500 donation was more than a nice gesture; it was an effort to buy support.
Prentice, the Wallingford chairman, said McMahon's unsolicited donation didn't come with any strings attached. "Five hundred bucks is certainly not going to buy our vote," he said. "If she gets our vote, it's going to be because she is the best candidate."
Read the full story at the Courant.com
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Municipalities Tackling Pension Costs ; how will Wallingford move into the future?
The story Municipalities Tackling Pension Costs was online at the Courant.com at http://bit.ly/6189IO written by reporter BILL LEUKHARDT
It is an interesting read and I would recommend it to folks.
Below are some highlights but I do recommend that you follow the link above and read Mr. Leukhardt’s entire story.
- Ten years ago West Hartford's pending pension obligations were $13 million. Now, officials say, the figure is closer to $25 million.
- Local government is playing catch up to the changes that were made by “Main Street” businesses in the 80s.
- In 2006, almost 80 percent of state and local workers nationwide aged 25 to 64 were covered by a pension, compared with only 45 percent in the private sector, according to data from Boston College
- 80 percent of those public sector workers with retirement coverage had a defined benefit plan. In private industry, "more than 60 percent of [pension] participants [are in a] defined contribution plan," according to the Center for Retirement Research.
- 28 of the state's 169 municipalities have some version of less-expensive 401(k)-type plans for workers in place of traditional pensions
- Avon made the jump in 1997
- Currently, 25 percent of the town's workforce is on the old system, and 75 percent is in the new plan
- Avon’s contribution into the 401(k) plans is a third of the cost of the defined benefit system they were in.
It is something that I believe Wallingford is going to have to look at more closely in the near term and take action on it.
I am not sure if we even engage in this at all presently – phasing out pensions in favor of 401(k) plans that have employees putting in their own salary where the municipality matches it up to a certain percentage.
With all the talk that I hear and the conversations discussed about the pension, it not being fully funded, and the pension commission itself and so forth I assume “no” but I’ll stand corrected if I am in error on that.
The main issue with pensions in general is that they increase over time as workers retire at higher levels of pay and this is reaching a level that Wallingford is going to find additional difficulty in sustaining going forward.
The only way that they can is by raising taxes; that is given. At what point the taxpayers choke on this is anyone’s guess.
When you couple the cost of all the other services in town with this added and increasing burden you just know progressive planning and action must be taken now.
Wallingford and her taxpayers are going to need to put more and more money into the pension plan year over year for the workers going forward so that the fund is fully funded. This needs to occur so that the plan can pay out to retirees as it should.
And those promised benefits SHOULD be paid; a deal is a deal and a promise is a promise.
Considering moving new hires to a 401(k) system has at least one major benefit – once you know what you’re going to pay out (e.g. match the first 5% of the employees’ investments dollar for dollar). Your expenses become much more predictable year over year.
Yes, this will have to be negotiated with the labor unions but it can be done, especially in this economy.
“Avon’s contribution into the 401(k) plans is a third of the cost of the defined benefit system they were in.”
If we could just save 50% let alone 67% we MUST take a look at it.
It will take many years to change everyone over by attrition so the initial savings is going to be minimal and it will slowly grow.
The savings will come and those of us that stay in Wallingford into our older years will get some benefit of this lower cost and through the need of less taxes due to the change from the current obligation.
Future residents and businesses will reap the larger rewards.
None of it will happen until we start work today.
FROM WALLINGFORD - It’s your town
As originially published online at MyRecordJournal.com and in the Sunday Record Journal print edition on January 3, 2010
There was a lot of activity in Wallingford over the course of 2009.
There was a lot of activity in Wallingford over the course of 2009.Updating the town website in compliance with House Bill No. 6502, parking issues on Center and Main streets and downtown in general, dredging project at Mackenzie Reservoir, to name just a few - there was a lot on Wallingford's plate at the beginning of the year.
The 2009 budget came along with work on the Reskin Drive bridge (which is still not completed, much to the chagrin of the residents in the area).
There was the cease-and-desist order given regarding the publishing to the web of the Government TV-produced-programs in April which included Town Council and other public meetings, despite the purchase of brand new remote-controlled cameras in the Town Council Chambers.
Charter Revision hearings were held and the finished topics were given some input from the council and the people. The final questions were delivered to the electorate where they were effectively summarily dismissed by the voters that turned out.
While it was one of the lowest voter turnouts in recent history for a local election, the ones that did come out spoke loudly - "steady as she goes on the charter; we are content with the governing playbook for the town."
Regardless of whether it was low turnout, charter revision questions, lack of a Democrat candidate for mayor or the fact that it was partly cloudy - voters changed the makeup of both the Town Council and the Board of Education for the next two years.
So, where are we headed for 2010?
Unfinished issues, such as the Choate proposal to build the Environmental Center and asking for the closure of Old Durham Road, will likely resurface.
Issues with downtown are still open for discussion and action - from the parking situation which hasn't gotten any better to the new overlay district being proposed.
There is the issue with the Police Department's needs for expansion. This will not occur this year; it needs further discussion because actions need to take place ahead of any proposed work.
Is the Wooding-Caplan property to be used for this cause, or another piece of property elsewhere?
If another property is chosen, you still have to address "what do we do with Wooding-Caplan"?
Budget season will be on us a lot faster than most would like, and with the education portion of the budget greater than 60 percent of the entire budget, it is going to be a difficult pill to swallow.
Wallingford will have to deal with local taxes in conjunction with less available state funding for prior programs.
How the upcoming revaluation will affect the mill rate and whether it impacts homeowners or businesses equally or throws one out of the current alignment with the other remains to be seen.
Wallingford has famously worked to budget to a certain degree the expected spend for the year and tries to hold that line, sometimes cutting back or out something to keep from going into the red.
The taxes need to be collected in order for spend to occur; this is going to be a big challenge this upcoming year, unlike anything Wallingford has seen in recent memory.
There are a lot of other things that are going to be coming up over the course of the year that I don't have the space to present.
Your say of what is to happen with your town didn't end at the voting booth this past November - it was just the start.
Make sure you stay informed and engaged all year. Make it a point to have your voice heard either to your representatives or through them. Have them base decisions which are representative of what you want. Do not have them make the decisions for you.
It's your town - get informed, get involved.
Technorati Tags: FROM WALLINGFORD,charter revision,election,taxes,revenue,Wallingford,Wooding-Caplan
Democrat and Republican caucus information for Wednesday January 6, 2010
This is a follow up to my post http://bit.ly/5iQ7Rr regarding the notice of caucus to endorse candidates for election to the Democratic Town Committee of Wallingford which is to take place on January 6, 2010, at 7:00 p.m. at
Dag Hammarskjold Middle School, 106 Pond Hill Road, (Districts 1, 2, 3, 4, 8 & 9)
and
James Moran Middle School, 141 Hope Hill Road, (Districts 5, 6 & 7)
to endorse candidates for election to the Democratic Town Committee and to transact such other business as may be proper to come before said caucus.
An article titled Routine caucuses expected was published in the Sunday January 3, 2010 edition of the Record Journal which included information regarding the Republican caucus which I did not have.
According to the article the Republicans will hold their town-wide caucus at Brothers Restaurant, 33 North Cherry St., at 8PM. on January 6, 2010.
My big thing is for people to get informed and get involved and that applies to everyone – Democrat, Republican and all of the smaller parties and independent and unaffiliated voters as well.
I wanted to make sure that now that I have this additional information for the Republican caucus that I post it up.
I personally do not have any other information regarding the details of the Republican caucus other than what was posted in the paper but I am certain that if you have questions you can reach any of the the Republican councilors or councilor-elect members and they would be sure to assist.
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Town clerk changes as council shifts
By Dave Moran
Record-Journal staff
dmoran@record-journal.com
(203) 317-2224
As published in the Record Journal Saturday January 2, 2010
Follow all the news directly on the Record Journal Website for the most up to date information. www.myrecordjournal.com
Write a letter to the editor letters@record-journal.com
WALLINGFORD — Monday will mark the end of Barbara Kapi’s two years as town clerk. On Tuesday, Barbara Thompson, who served as clerk for two years before Kapi, will assume the position again after the new Republican controlled Town Council appoints her at its swearing in ceremony Monday evening.
Under the Town Charter, the Town Council is responsible for appointing a clerk. Typically, if control of the council shifts, the majority party appoints a clerk who is a member of the same party. On Monday, the Republicans gain a 6-3 advantage.
Since the charter was adopted in 1961, the position has changed hands 11 times (Monday’s switch will be the 12th), but three of those switches have occurred in the last six years. In January 2004, Rosemary Rascati, who served 12 years as clerk, was replaced by Katherine Zandri, a Democrat. Thompson, a Republican, succeeded Zandri in January 2006, and Kapi, a Democrat, replaced Thompson in 2008.
“It’s difficult,” Sue Colberg, who has worked in the office for 14 years, said Thursday. “It’s just repetitive that we have to go through it every two years, all the same things.”
Because the clerk is a prominent position, there has been a recent effort to find a way to stabilize the job. The clerk heads the office that keeps the town’s permanent records and vital statistics, such as birth and death certificates, and issues licenses.
One of the seven proposed revisions to the Town Charter that voters rejected in November would have changed the clerk’s position to a merit job — hired, supervised and, if need be, dismissed by the mayor.
Thompson, a real estate agent, said the potential for volatility could be detrimental to the town.
“The drawback is there’s a lack of consistency of the head person in the department to move the department forward,” she said. “I think we’ve been very lucky to have very good clerks through the appointment process, but at some point that is not going to happen.”
Thompson said she supported the amendment that would have made the clerk a permanent position. Kapi, who said she is looking forward to some time off before looking for a new job, said the uncertainty did not influence her decision to accept the post two years ago.
“You have to be wary of that,” Kapi said. “It just comes with the territory.”
She favors making the clerk an elected position, for a minimum term of four years, because it took her more than a year to learn the job.
“The job is so involved,” Kapi said. “And there’s always changes. There’s been so many changes in the two years that I’ve been here.”
Despite having to learn a new computer system, Thompson said she does not expect the transition to be too difficult the second time around. “I figure about 10 days to two weeks and I should be up to speed,” she said.
The council sets the clerk’s salary when it makes the appointment, but Thompson said Thursday that the council had already told her the salary would be the same as the last time she served — $60,900 a year.
MY TAKE - Mayor: Wallingford’s finances are ‘solid’
I have an article from the Record Journal posted on my other blog that was published on Friday January 1st regarding the state of Wallingford and the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report from fiscal year 2008-09.
The full article can be found at http://bit.ly/4r2fic
The summary points are:
- The town released its Comprehensive Annual Financial Report on Thursday December 31, 2009
- It was an audit of the 2008-09 fiscal year
- It showed an increase in overall revenue of more than $300,000 when compared to expenditures
- It showed a decrease in the town’s debt by more than $7 million.
- Our revenue exceeded our expenditures by $335,000
- Wallingford’s reserve accounts or the “budget balance” decreased this fiscal year from $5,880,000 to $5,801,000
- That $80,000 difference was used and not transferred back into the various reserve accounts at the end of the budget year.
- $500,000 was collected in delinquent taxes.
- The town’s net assets increased from $322,156,000 to $344,196,000.
- Wallingford’s debt / other financial obligations decreased from $70.71 million in the 2007-08 fiscal year to $63.28 million in 2008-09 because the town paid off several of its long-term bonds.
As usual, Wallingford is in a great place to start the budget process for 2009-10 and that kudos has to go to the Mayor for keeping a tight lid on increases and the Town departments for doing what they can to keep the costs down.
Where I am personally concerned this upcoming year is the tax collection part.
If the recession has hampered the ability for businesses and homeowners to pay their taxes then this might be a very tricky budget year.
Additionally, with costs rising despite the recession, I would expect to see some increase in taxes in the neighborhood of 2 to 3 percent.
The only way that can be avoided is by cutting services.
But what are your thoughts?
Do you think it will be more difficult this upcoming year for people to pay their tax bills or do you think it will be no worse than any other year?
Do you think the upcoming revaluation is going to cause your taxes to go up more than the increase of the costs of running the town?
Let the readers know – the comment section is open.
Monday, December 28, 2009
NOTICE OF CAUCUS TO ENDORSE CANDIDATES FOR ELECTION TO THE DEMOCRATIC TOWN COMMITTEE OF WALLINGFORD, CONNECTICUT
To: Enrolled Members of the Democratic Party of the Town of Wallingford, Connecticut:
Pursuant to the Rules of the Democratic Party and the state election laws, you are hereby notified that District caucuses will be held on January 6, 2010, at 7:00 p.m. at
Dag Hammarskjold Middle School, 106 Pond Hill Road, (Districts 1, 2, 3, 4, 8 & 9) and
James Moran Middle School, 141 Hope Hill Road, (Districts 5, 6 & 7)
to endorse candidates for election to the Democratic Town Committee and to transact such other business as may be proper to come before said caucus.
Any resident of this Voting District whose name appears on the last completed Democratic Enrollment list may have his or her name placed on the ballot at this caucus by filing with the Democratic Registrar of Voters not less than five days prior to the caucus a signed statement that he or she desires to have his or her name appear on the ballot. Any such resident may also have his or her name placed in nomination from the floor at the caucus itself.
Article III Section 3. Calculation of Membership:
Each voting district shall have one (1) member for every seventy-five (75) registered Democrats residing in the district as of the last printed list in the month of December prior to the Town Committee caucus for the election of a new Town Committee.
Number of Members for Each Voting District
District 1: 5 Members
District 2: 14 Members
District 3: 12 Members
District 4: 14 Members
District 5: 14 Members
District 6: 12 Members
District 7: 13 Members
District 8: 8 Members
District 9: 8 Members
NOTE: It is recommended that those interested in running for a seat on the Democratic Town Committee contact their District Leader prior to the caucus to express their intent.
Agenda For Nominating Caucus
1. Call Convention to Order by Temporary Chair
2. Temporary Char Appoints Temporary Secretary
3. Temporary Secretary Reads Call of Caucus Notice
4. Temporary Secretary Makes Credential Report
5. Election of a Permanent Chair
6. Election of a Permanent Secretary
7. Nominations
8. Updated Report on Credentials / Attendance
9. Election
10. Announcement of Winners
11. Other Business
12. Adjourn
Rules and Guidelines on Town Committee Caucus Procedures
The below rules and guidelines are in response to frequently asked questions regarding the Town Committee Caucus Elections. Additional questions or clarification may be obtained by calling Democratic Town Committee Chairman Vincent Avallone at (203) 605-2716.
1. Caucuses for Town Committee are required by state law and are open to all town registered Democrats in accordance with local Registrar of Voters’ records.
2. Caucuses must be advertised in a local newspaper at least five full days before the caucus. Five full days does not include the date of the actual caucus. The time, date, location, and purpose of the meeting must be stated within the advertisement.
3. Caucuses must be held between January 5th and 12th 2010. Results of the caucus must be certified by the Town Clerk by January 13, 2010 at 4:00pm
4. Any registered Democrat may observe, vote, speak, or participate in the caucus.
5. According to state party rules, nominations the night of the caucus shall be taken by slate and by individual nominations from the floor.
6. After all nominations have been closed (slate and individual), voting may proceed.
7. Since the caucus is a local election, paper ballots and/or secret ballots are permitted. It is recommended that ballots be kept on file for at least sixty days after the election.
8. It is permissible on a paper ballot to identify “Town Committee Endorsed Candidates” if local Town Committee By-Laws allow for such a process.
9. Voters may not vote for more Town Committee members than slots available. If a voter votes for more members than available, the ballot should not be counted.
10. Voters may vote for as many or as few Town Committee members as desired in accordance with the slots available. For example, a voter may vote for only one Town Committee member on their ballot even if twenty are running.
11. DTC members must be elected by a majority of those present and voting. For example, if there are more people nominated than there are slots available, and there are fifty people voting at the caucus, only those who receive twenty-six votes or more are elected on any given ballot. If the full slate of party-endorsed candidates is not chosen on the first ballot, then the names of those who did not receive at least twenty-six votes should be voted on a second ballot, and so on until a full slate is chosen.
12. If a slate wishes to file for a primary, petitions and information on the number of signatures required on the petition may be obtained from the Registrar of Voters.
13. To obtain primary petitions, the challenge slate must consist of at least 25% of the total number of DTC members permitted on a Town Committee. For example, X town has twenty Town Committee members on its Town Committee. A primary slate must have at least five candidates on its petition. These candidates need not be members of the caucus-endorsed Town Committee or of the existing Town Committee.
14. New DTC members take office on the day after the day scheduled for the primary. Town Committee Primaries are scheduled for March 2, 2010. Even in towns where no primary is being held, members do not take office until March 2, 2010. Town Committee Officers are elected after the March primary date.
MP3 AUDIO – Wallingford Town Council Meeting – December 15, 2009 is now online
The regular meeting of the Wallingford Town Council from December 15, 2009 is now online and available in MP3 audio format.
You can now download the MP3 files and listen to the council meeting in your car on the way to work or while going for a walk or whenever you have the free time to listen in.
There is no need to be a slave to the schedule of the actual meetings every 2nd and 4th Tuesday or the broadcast schedule on Government Access TV (if you get it), nor do you need to sit in front of the computer and stare at the screen for 3+ hours Click the links and let the file download and SAVE AS to put it on any MP3 device.
If you decide to open it directly and begin streaming (or if your audio player does this by default) it may need to wait for one to two minutes for the download to reach a point where it will begin to play on its own.
It’s your town – get informed and get involved.
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