The Bristol Blog features news and information about Bristol, Connecticut.
August 11, 2007
Mayoral candidates stake out positions on holding referenda on major projects
Which of the mayoral candidates is right in the Big-spending debate story in Sunday's Herald Press?
******* Copyright 2007. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
14 comments:
Anonymous
said...
Reasonable referrendums should be the right of the voting population for large projects. I don't believe in voting on annual budgets - we see how it has hurt so many other towns when a budget doesn't get passed. But large amounts of money for non-budgeted items should be up for a community vote. We should also have the right to vote on large changes being proposed such as the K-8 school reorganization.
Ellen's opinion combined with her history of promoting large spending projects without getting the public on board is not the kind of government I would like to see Bristol led by.
I am a little confused by Mrs Zoppo's position on this issue. If you were to look back and reread the Robert's Property articles and minutes, which she chaired for 7 years and accomplished nothing, you would see how upset she has become with the Board of Finance, and specifically it's chairman, who did not think we could afford it, and vetoed the spending. Now she is apparently saying that she loves the Board of Finance's ability to have oversight and the final say on capital expenditures. I am so confused. We do have a representative form of goverment, but beware of politicians who take away the power of the people.
She doesn't want anyone in her nest as it is, why would she want the board of finance? Is it easier to compromise the finance board than it is to get the voters to go along with the spending?
Could you start to give us something to chew on with regards to the rest of Ellen's slate or team. Prior to this blog, not being a party insider, I had no idea who was aligned with who. The voters need to see how the dots are connected prior to the election. Who is in whose camp?
Like I said in another post on this blog, the DTC endorsement may not carry the weight and prestige it once did. It very well may be a curse. I believe Democrats in this town are fed up with the antics being played inside the party. I wouldn't be surprised if everyone is an unaffiliated voter after this election. Time will tell.
I think Ken Johnson hit the "nail on the head" on this issue. Good for him for being pro-active and thoughtful. The government is supposed to be by the people and for the people. It's time to stop letting insiders and consultants spend the tax payer's money without public consent.
If one pays attention to the workings of Bristol politics, they would remember that Ward brought this very issue to the public months ago; prior to election/Primary time.
More hypocritical nonsense about Ward's wisdom. Where was Ward's dedication to public input when he was Deputy Mayor and wanted to push through Kosta's Downtown gym without giving the public any meaningful role in the decision making process.
Wrong. The citizens of Bristol brought up the referendum idea when Ward and Kosta and Couture were pushing their extravagant downtown project. In fact Ward even refused to sign the petition to give the public a vote on the project.
Art Ward was a late comer to the referendum idea, so stop distorting the truth.
The RTC hasn't pushed for a vote b/c there is no longer a Couture/Ward/Dimantis plan on the table...Thank God.
The fact of the matter is that Ken Johnson has shown leadership on this issue, leadership in the top spot that has been lacking for two terms.
Where I disagree with Ward is that the people of Bristol should set the threshold for a referendum vote and not the Mayor, Council and the Board of Finance.
It's easy to say let's have a referendum...Leadership, real leadership puts the plan on the Table....
First of all, I don't think the City of Bristol has a full - time web designer. I think the city should hire a web guru first. With that said, I think all of Steve ideas are very achievable. But with the on-line ideas there should be a hot-line that folks can call that dont have computers.
14 comments:
Reasonable referrendums should be the right of the voting population for large projects. I don't believe in voting on annual budgets - we see how it has hurt so many other towns when a budget doesn't get passed. But large amounts of money for non-budgeted items should be up for a community vote. We should also have the right to vote on large changes being proposed such as the K-8 school reorganization.
Ellen's opinion combined with her history of promoting large spending projects without getting the public on board is not the kind of government I would like to see Bristol led by.
I feel sorry for the other DTC endorsed candidates. They will be judged by Ellen's words and actions simply because she has put them on her TEAM.
When will we hear from the other endorsed candidates and will they have the opportunity to speak their opinions without Ellen's editing and coaching?
When I do hear them speak on issues (which has been very very little) I listen and wonder if that is their words or Ellen's words written for them?
It's too bad. I think a couple of the new candidates would be decent if they were able to show that they can stand on their own two feet.
I am a little confused by Mrs Zoppo's position on this issue. If you were to look back and reread the Robert's Property articles and minutes, which she chaired for 7 years and accomplished nothing, you would see how upset she has become with the Board of Finance, and specifically it's chairman, who did not think we could afford it, and vetoed the spending. Now she is apparently saying that she loves the Board of Finance's ability to have oversight and the final say on capital expenditures. I am so confused. We do have a representative form of goverment, but beware of politicians who take away the power of the people.
She doesn't want anyone in her nest as it is, why would she want the board of finance? Is it easier to compromise the finance board than it is to get the voters to go along with the spending?
Steve...
Could you start to give us something to chew on with regards to the rest of Ellen's slate or team. Prior to this blog, not being a party insider, I had no idea who was aligned with who. The voters need to see how the dots are connected prior to the election. Who is in whose camp?
Like I said in another post on this blog, the DTC endorsement may not carry the weight and prestige it once did. It very well may be a curse. I believe Democrats in this town are fed up with the antics being played inside the party. I wouldn't be surprised if everyone is an unaffiliated voter after this election. Time will tell.
I think Ken Johnson hit the "nail on the head" on this issue. Good for him for being pro-active and thoughtful.
The government is supposed to be by the people and for the people. It's time to stop letting insiders and consultants spend the tax payer's money without public consent.
If one pays attention to the workings of Bristol politics, they would remember that Ward brought this very issue to the public months ago; prior to election/Primary time.
More hypocritical nonsense about Ward's wisdom. Where was Ward's dedication to public input when he was Deputy Mayor and wanted to push through Kosta's Downtown gym without giving the public any meaningful role in the decision making process.
fact remains that ward brought up the referendum issue months ago, long before it became a political focus.
Wrong. The citizens of Bristol brought up the referendum idea when Ward and Kosta and Couture were pushing their extravagant downtown project. In fact Ward even refused to sign the petition to give the public a vote on the project.
Art Ward was a late comer to the referendum idea, so stop distorting the truth.
Now now tell the truth.
He refused to sign the petition during the Council Meeting when it was presented to all of the members of the council at the time.
It's been 2 years. Why hasn't the RTC pushed for a downtown referrendum during the Stortz administration?
The RTC hasn't pushed for a vote b/c there is no longer a Couture/Ward/Dimantis plan on the table...Thank God.
The fact of the matter is that Ken Johnson has shown leadership on this issue, leadership in the top spot that has been lacking for two terms.
Where I disagree with Ward is that the people of Bristol should set the threshold for a referendum vote and not the Mayor, Council and the Board of Finance.
It's easy to say let's have a referendum...Leadership, real leadership puts the plan on the Table....
First of all, I don't think the City of Bristol has a full - time web designer. I think the city should hire a web guru first. With that said, I think all of Steve ideas are very achievable. But with the on-line ideas there should be a hot-line that folks can call that dont have computers.
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