Let's Make Good Things Happen!
Thank you again to the League of Women Voters for organizing and hosting another great forum last night. It’s a great service to the public and a heartening display of civility and thoughtful solutions (though brief.)
If you missed the live action version last night, watch the replay on our Public Access TV, Channel 15 between now and election day, November 7th.
In addition to voting for candidates for Town Council, Board of Education, Planning & Zoning, ZBA and Constables, on November 7th Cheshire will also have eight referendum questions on the ballot as well. For me, it’s always a good idea to review and consider these well before the ”pressure” of the voting booth on election day.
Here’s a list of the questions and a brief explanation for each….
The appropriation and bond note authorizations and proposed revisions to the Town Charter to be voted on shall be placed on the ballots under the following ballot headings:
1. Shall the $400,000 appropriation and bond authorization for Cook Hill Pump Station rehabilitation be approved?
This appropriation is for rehabilitation of the Cook Hill Pump Station. It includes but is not limited to mechanical and electrical upgrades and acquisition and installation of a new generator and propane tank. This sewer pump station has exceeded its normal serviceable life span. This appropriation is inclusive of gifts and grants, and is in addition to a prior appropriation of $120,000.
2. Shall the $250,000 appropriation and bond authorization for lavatory improvements at Norton and Doolittle Schools be approved?
This appropriation is for lavatory improvements at Norton and Doolittle Schools. The improvements will make the lavatories ADA and code compliant and include replacement of tiles, fixtures, partitions, ventilation, plumbing and windows as needed. This appropriation is inclusive of gifts and grants, and is in addition to previous appropriations of $625,000.
3. Shall the $1,350,000 appropriation and bond authorization for infrastructure improvements for the Interchange Zone be approved?
This appropriation is for infrastructure improvements for the Interchange Zone including the extension of water service to facilitate the creation of “shovel ready” sites to attract future economic development. This appropriation is inclusive of gifts and grants.
4. Shall the $1,313,000 appropriation and bond authorization for upgrade and expansion of Town and Education public safety radio system be approved?
This appropriation is for the second phase of the upgrade and expansion of Town and Education public safety radio system. Phase 2 will be used for replacements in the dispatch center and replacements of mobile radios installed in police cars, firetrucks, and other Town vehicles, as well as portable radios carried by police officers, firefighters, school staff and other Town employees. Many radios have already failed and others are at the end of useful life. This appropriation is inclusive of gifts and grants, and is in addition to previous appropriations of $3,163,000.
5. Shall the $1,700,000 appropriation and bond authorization for the road repavement program be approved?
This appropriation will be used for the Town’s ongoing Road Repavement Program which is part of a comprehensive plan to annually upgrade the quality of our approximately 152 miles of roads to ensure the safety and comfort of the traveling public. It includes but is not limited to restoration; milling and paving; chip seal, microseal, crack seal and other surface treatments; and the concrete curb replacement program. This appropriation is inclusive of gifts and grants.
6. Shall the $250,000 appropriation and bond authorization for the window replacement at Cheshire High School be approved?
This appropriation is for window replacements at Cheshire High School. The windows being replaced are the original single pane windows on the south side of the building, many with failing sills, frames and mechanisms. This appropriation is inclusive of gifts and grants, and is in addition to a prior appropriation of $775,000.
7. Shall the proposed revised Town Charter be approved, exclusive of Town Clerk Sections 2-2(b) and 6-14?
The proposed Charter Revisions, as well as the final Charter Revision Commission Report, are available online at http://www.cheshirect.org and in the Town Clerk’s office and the Cheshire Public Library. This question includes all proposed Charter revisions with the exception of Sections 2-2(b) and 6-14, which are covered in Question 8. The Charter was last revised two decades ago. Most proposed changes are for clarification purposes, to address the current circumstances, or to provide flexibility for Cheshire’s municipal government to adapt to future conditions.
8. Shall Sections 2-2(b) and 6-14 changing the Town Clerk from an elected to an appointed position be approved?
The full text of the proposed Charter Revisions is available online at http://www.cheshirect.org and in the Town Clerk’s office and the Cheshire Public Library. This question covers only these specific Sections 2-2(b) and 6-14 which change the Town Clerk position from an elected position to a position appointed by the Town Manager based upon professional qualifications, education, and experience.
Here’s a short video about what I feel is our top priority in Cheshire and will be my main focus as a town councilor. After we figure out how to make ends meet, we should be spending nearly as much time on how to grow revenues. We’ll never get to local tax relief and be able to invest in our community without being much more aggressive in maximizing the revenue potential of our commercial and industrial zones.
“The last three or four Councils discouraged economic development. We have no growth in the Grand List to really address what, right now, is kind of a key issue for the town …”
— Democrat Michael Ecke
In this week’s Cheshire Herald several Town Council candidates weigh in on the state of our outdated schools.
Republican position can be summarized as something must be done but we’re not going to get serious about it.
Democrat position is that a cost-effective plan to renew our schools should be pursued and the first step is getting serious about economic development. Let’s stop sitting on our hands.
The Cheshire Herald
10/05/2017 – Page A01
Election 2017: Aging Schools And Tight Budgets Create Economic Headaches
by Michael Torelli
Herald Staff
It isn’t a secret that the majority of Town Councilors are not in favor of spending $106 million on a new middle school.
Earlier this year, Councilors voted 7-2 to deny sending the project—billed as the first phase of a $423 million Facility Master Plan—to referendum for a vote. Many Councilors cited uncertainty in the state budget as reasoning for their denial, while others simply believe that the project is too costly in its own right.
What is left is for the Council and Board of Education to carve ! out a new way forward when it comes to Cheshire’s aging school buildings, one that will likely result in a new multi-year plan. However, both current Councilors and candidates seeking to claim seats on the governing body for themselves
differ on how exactly to do it.
In the First District, Democratic incumbent Michael Ecke, controller of the Suzio York Hill Companies, is being challenged by Republican candidate David Veleber, a lawyer and current Planning and Zoning commissioner.
Both candidates believe that the Facility Master Plan—a roadmap to sweeping infra-
See RUOCCO, page 15
“The last thing you want to do! is talk about raising taxes on your existing businesses. ”
— Republican Dave Veleber
Ruocco, Gromko Differ On How To Best Serve Cheshire Residents
continued from page one
structure changes approved by the BOE last year—is too costly for the general public to stomach, and both agree that a committee comprised of Councilors, Board members, and town residents should be formed to review and address the current state of the schools.
Where they differ, however, is on the best ways to begin the process.
“One of the things I’m focused on is, how do we grow this Grand List?” asked Veleber. “The last thing you want to do is talk about raising taxes on your existing businesses. Not only do you run the risk of driving those businesses out—so! me of them are small businesses formed in Cheshire— but many of those businesses might say, ‘I like Cheshire, but I don’t have to do what I do (here). I can move this business to another town.’” Ecke, on the other hand, believes the lack of Grand List growth is the direct result of actions taken by past Councils.
“The last three or four Councils discouraged economic development,” stated Ecke. “We have no growth in the Grand List to really address what, right now, is kind of a key issue for the town because the schools have gotten older. We are kind of falling behind our neighbors because our buildings have not had big overhauls.”
Ecke said the last major upgrade at Cheshire High School was approximately 20 years ago. To complete such projects now would be costly, but Ecke believes that an initiative he implemented while previously servi! ng as the Council’s vice-chair an! d chairman of the Budget Committee could serve the Town well in addressing the aging infrastructure of the schools.
“We had set up a reserve fund the Board of Education could use for maintenance items, and we also set up a five-year plan where we committed $500,000 a year for Cheshire High School,” Ecke said, adding that those funds were used to upgrade science classrooms and other needed projects. “Was it a massive overhaul? No, but it was something we could afford and it was incremental … I think that should continue going forward.”
When it comes to the condition of Dodd Middle School—at the heart of the recent discussions about possibly building a new facility in Cheshire—Ecke admitted that the building “(is) in worse shape” than he had previously thought. Veleber, however, disagrees, stating that, based on descriptions some have recently offered, he expected to! see lockers falling apart and ceiling tiles crumbling when he attended an open house for parents earlier in the school year.
That, he said, was not the case.
What Veleber does believe is that the Town should be investing more in its schools than just what is needed for basic maintenance. Roofing, sidewalk repairs, and window replacements should be completed, but teachers must also be provided the means necessary to teach students in a 21st-century learning environment.
“I definitely don’t think we’re non-competitive,” reflected Veleber. “I think we have the opportunity to be more competitive than we are. I think we still have a great school system, a great reputation. I don’t think it’s just a reputation—it’s still a fact. I don’t think we’re resting on our laurels … (but) we do ha! ve to continue to make an investment in our school system in order to m! aintain that quality education system.
We can’t just let it go.”
The race for the Second District seat is a repeat from two years ago, as Republican incumbent Tom Ruocco is once again being challenged by Democrat Derek Gromko.
Gromko, a State Farm insurance agent and member of the Economic Development Commission, believes that, although the Board’s Facility Master Plan is costly, the first phase—the new middle school—should have been decided at referendum.
“I do think we owe it to our residents to make that decision,” stated Gromko. “I was a little surprised in the (costs) that came out. In hindsight, maybe if the opening message was ! more about just Dodd, it would’ve been digested a little bit differently, but I’m a big supporter of the schools … with cost-effective plans. It’s not an open checkbook. We have to be wise with what we spend.”
Ruocco, an employee in the Health Care Insurance industry, disagrees with his opponent, stating that the Board’s $423 million plan “is out of the question.” He cited other communities that have denied costly requests to build new schools, the most recent being the town of Madison, which voted down a $34 million school renovation plan.
“I’m not really (in favor) of programs that are going to cost tens of millions of dollars because I don’t think the public has a tolerance for it,” Ruocco said. “I think we have to get away from a focus on buildings and focus on curriculum, which I think is a lot cheaper than refurbishing building! s.”
As part of his pla! tform, Gromko agrees the Council and Board should work together to create a committee tasked with reviewing existing schools. He also would like to see the Board explore private funding opportunities to help offset some of the costs of renovations or new builds.
Ruocco said he would support the forming of a committee, but warned that he would likely not support any costly proposals that come before the Council.
“The only problem with that is, they’ll come up with a plan or a very large spending expenditure that I think puts the public at risk because there’s going to be some way of putting through a multimillion- dollar project because they’ll say it was formed by the committee,” Ruocco stated.
Instead, Ruocco said the Town and District need to be better at saving. If projects end with a surplus, he said the funds should be deposited and saved, rather than used for “something frivolous” that does not need to be completed.
Gromko, however, argues that Ruocco’s way of thinking is what is harming the town.
“I feel some of the decisions are short-sighted,” Gromko said. “They’re temporary. They’re today. Do I want to do this today? We make rash decisions on budgets and projects today. I just want to make sure that everybody who is elected, before they cast that vote, ask themselves, ‘If I vote no, what is it going to cost to do nothing?’”
“The last three or four Councils discouraged economic development. We have no growth in the Grand List to really address what, right now, is kind of a key issue for the town …”
— Democrat Michael Ecke
Great to see we have some consensus among some of the Town Council candidates on the need to be more aggressive in our economic development initiatives. This is progress!
Under the leadership of our Town Planner, Bill Voelker and our Planning & Zoning Chairman, E.J. Kurtz, we have made several reforms on PZC to help make Cheshire more business-friendly. We have been working toward more flexible and responsive zoning in select areas of town (including West Main Street and the north end.) We have also developed a ”pre-application review” process that aims to eliminate some of the uncertainty and lower some of the costs for a business in the initial and costly proposal and regulatory review phase.
But on economic development, going forward, much more leadership and initiative should come from the Council on this issue. We can make Cheshire much more competitive and grow our tax base. Despite all the naysayers, there is growth happening in Connecticut that Cheshire can and should access.
Let’s make good things happen!
The Cheshire Herald
09/28/2017 – Page A01
| Election 2017: Candidates Sound Off About North End
by Michael Torelli Herald Staff When it comes to developing the north end of town, several proposals have been put forth over the years, none of which have ever come to fruition. What remains is a heavily wooded parcel of privately owned land, prime for the “picking.” The questions, however, are who will ultimately decide to “pick” and what will it mean for Cheshire? At-large candidates seeking seats on the Town Council have several different ideas as to what could eventually be developed in the north end, as well as the reasons why the Town has experienced overall stagnation in terms of economic growth. Democratic at-large candidate Jim Jinks, vice-president of business development for Media Bids and a current alternate for the Planning and Zoning Commission, commended the Town Council for approving changes to the Town’s economic incentive policy, but believes that more could be done to show that the Town is interested in bringing new businesses to Cheshire. Jinks suggested taking a “bold approach” by promising not to tax up to 60 percent of a new structure’s value for up to six years, calling the idea his “Six and Sixty Program.” “We just seem to be reluctant to really be aggressive and be more bold in our approach, for whatever reason,” stated Jinks. In regard to the north end of town, Jinks believes a mixed-use plan, complete with multi-family homes and commercial businesses, may be feasible. While the area is not yet zoned for such a development, Jinks imagines a scenario similar to ones playing out in large urban communities, where businesses can serve as a central hub for people living in close proximity, who can then walk to work or use public transportation. Jinks suggested a portion of the north end could be designed similarly. “I think we should also be trying to get some state help, some See MULTI-USE, page 5 Multi-Use Complex P opular Choice Amongst Candidates continued from page one federal help, and having some kind of a transportation hub in the north end and 691 where people in that area can hop on a shuttle bus and go to the rail line in Meriden or Wallingford, or have it be a stop on the expanding busway in Connecticut,” explained Jinks. “That would encourage more development in that area.” Sylvia Nichols, a current at-large Republican Councilor and former business owner, also believes a multi-use development in the north end would benefit the community. Unlike Jinks, however, she hopes to see more affordable, single-family homes, as well as smaller businesses such as a UPS store, a satellite site for the post office, and others that could turn the area into something resembling a town center. “I’d like to be able to see more affordable housing opportunities,” stated Nichols. “Not low income housing, not Section 8, but affordable options that are small complexes. That may not be feasible financially and that’s why it’s not built, (but) I would not be in favor of high rise apartments with low-income housing.” Nichols reflected on the fact that Cheshire’s permitting process can be time consuming for both new businesses and existing ones looking to expand, whereas neighboring towns and cities have smoother processes. She contends, however, that having a strict process might not necessarily be a bad thing. “We have the reputation of being hard to get through, (that) it’s quicker to go through other surrounding towns,” she said. “On the other hand, if you look at both sides, sometimes when you go through an application too quickly, it’s not in the best interest of th e town, the residents, or the tax base. Clearly there needs to be some regulation and control, but I think there’s some places where we can improve (the process).” Democratic Councilor Patti Flynn-Harris, a senior business operations analyst at NEC Corporation of America, believes the opposite, stating that she does not think surrounding communities’ permitting processes “are that much more streamlined.” “I don’t think we’re unfriendly at all. I think we have a very good planning office with our Economic Development Coordinator (Jerry Sitko) looking for and trying to bring customers in and talking to businesses about coming to Cheshire,” Flynn-Harris stated, noting that Cheshire could review some of its regulations regarding permit applications. ” … There are some things (we could change), but unfriendly? I don’t think so. I don’t think we’re unfriendly. If we’re unfriendly, it’s been limited because, especially in the north end—I think that’s where that comment has been targeted— it’s because we haven’t had the infrastructure there.” The infrastructure could be changing as the Council has approved a request to extend water lines to the north end of town. The project, totaling $1.35 million, will be put to voters this November at referendum, and Flynn-Harris believes it is a critical step to enticing developers or corporations to come to town, as most organizations do not have the financial backing that WS Development—the company that proposed the construction of The Outlets at Cheshire—had. That proposal was ultimately terminated in 2015. “I was so supportive of (WS) because of the … facilities that they wanted to bring in,” reflected Flynn-Harris, on The Outlets. “I (don’t) believe that, to be a viable part of the town’s structure, it should just be commercial and/or retail (plan). I like the residential component because then it ties back into the town, as opposed to just being set aside.” Democratic at-large candidate Kim Cangiano, a literacy support specialist at Highland School, also favors extending water lines to the north end, as long there are commitments from developers in place. She said the project cannot be “water to nowhere.” “I think it’s irresponsible of the town to have the residential property owner shoulder the burden of our economy,” Cangiano said. “It’s not good business. A town is a business, and the people are the heart and soul of that business … The first thing you learn in Business 101 is diversify … If that water main is going to bring in business, then that’s what we have to do.” Cangiano said she would support a development similar to the West Hartford’s Blue Back Square, which she believes would help to retain Cheshire’s charm while providing a walkable area for residents. Having something similar to Blue Back Square may also energize local entrepreneurs, who Cangiano believes are reluctant to open new businesses in Cheshire due to high rent costs and challenging permit processes. “I think there’s an opportunity for restaurants and craft beer kind of places … that type of thing where you could walk the area— not necessarily clothing store after clothing store, if people are concerned about the charm,” Cangiano said. “We need to market ourselves not just outside of Cheshire but (inside) and make the people who live here want to be entrepreneurial again.” Republican Rob Oris, a commercial real estate developer who serves as Council Chairman, believes that, historically, the Town and Council have done “a good job of advancing a positive economic development message,” but said that pursuing zone text changes and other zoning adjustments are “costly and not efficient for developers.” “I think we do need to step it up and more aggressively pursue quality economic development,” stated Oris. “When I say quality economic development, I mean quality economic development. I believe we can grow the grand list in a proper manner so we do get an increase in tax dollars that benefits our community while still protecting the character (and) aesthetics (of Cheshire).” Oris listed residential, commercial, retail, offices, including medical offices, hotels, and distribution centers as viable options for the north end of town. He supports the recommendations presented in architectural firm Arnett Muldrow & Associates’s economic development plan for the Town, such as adopting a floating zone in the north end—allowing developers more flexibility in a pre-determined area while still giving the Town final say on what is constructed. “I would love to see something that allows for more flexibility in terms of what’s allowed up there so we could allow a broader base of developers to bring potential developments to the Town for review and determine if they’re good for us,” Oris said. |
There are over 1.5 million Americans in Puerto Rico currently without water.
The situation is dire and requires an immediate and full-scale response from all of us.
Please join me in giving to this local New Haven organization raising funds for the relief effort. Thank you!
In Cheshire our lower education spending relative to other high-performing districts (our ”peers”) means larger classes and much higher student/teacher ratios. These are key stats for parents shopping for school districts. We’re not competitive. We also generally get more funding from state/federal sources than our peers and yet we still spend less per student. Going forward our ECS share is currently unknown but it’ll be important to keep in mind, as we look at priorities, we’re already at a competitive disadvantage in Cheshire.
Cheshire Education Funding in Context
My Letter to the Editor at the Herald in April 2017….
Please read my letter to the editor at the Herald…
Cheshire_Herald Sept, 21 2017 (short term thinking)
For Cheshire town council 