1st Democrats an odd pair in race with Rimcoski

BRISTOL - Both challengers running for City Council in the 1st District appear to have more in common with Republican city Councilor Mike Rimcoski than they do with each other.
While Democratic hopeful Cliff Block strongly supports the $115 million plan to build two new schools in town, the other Democrat in the race, Rich Kilby, said it is not needed and is too costly.
Rimcoski, who is seeking another term representing the northeastern corner of the city, said the Bristol won't solve its problems by throwing money at them.
"The decision on the schools will be made largely on economic development because of the scale and money," he said.
He said the problem is that people want neighborhood schools, but they cost too much.
Block said smaller peer groups and more parental involvement would help bolster student achievement. That can be done, he said, by closing four older schools and opening two new ones in their place.
He said that the 900-student K-8 schools sought by the Board of Education are really "two separate schools on one campus."
He said renovating older schools "would cost far more" and couldn't be done while students are in them.
Kilby, however, said he is scared thinking about his fourth-grader going to a K-8 school.
"They're going to be bullying the little kids around," Kilby warned. "I am totally against the K-8. I am against building a new school."
"Our school system is adequate as it is currently for another couple of years," Kilby said. He said there are too many projects in the works that are going to burden taxpayers if they all move ahead.
Kilby and Block disagree on the prospect of hiring a city manager.
"It might be time for Bristol to have a city manager," Kilby said. The manager could oversee city operations while the mayor serves as its public face, he said.
Rimcoski said he "would have to be convinced" of the need. He said he would vote against it unless someone makes a better case than he's heard yet.
"I agree with Mike," Block said. He said he is undecided about having a manager.
"It's adding another layer of government I'm not convinced we need," Block said.
Rimcoski and Kilby said that holding down taxes is a top priority for them. Block cautioned that some spending is necessary.
"We have to walk that fine line" between keeping taxes down and providing for crucial services, Block said. "I think we can keep taxes to a livable level."
Rimcoski said he'll ask the new administration to freeze the budget or reduce it by three percent.
"One of our problems is that some of our departments are kingdoms in themselves," he said. "The administration and the council needs to go in and take control."
"Enough is enough of spending," Kilby said. "Everything is going up except our paychecks."
"We have to be solid and firm" and allow "no extra spending," Kilby said.
Block said revitalizing the city-owned mall site "should not cost us anything" but the 17-acre property "is going to add millions and millions of dollars to our tax base" and so is the industrial park.
Block said the city has to provide for parks, safety, education and other quality-of-life issues or "we're dead."
Kilby and Block share common ground on the mall site. Both said it's the most pressing issue the city faces.
The mall is "issue number one" because private investment there will push revitalization of downtown, Block said. "Downtown can be revitalized," Block said, if the city can connect the dots, talk with the state and finish a municipal development plan.
"The mall site is going to the number one agenda for the new administration," Kilby said, adding that extending Route 72 is crucial for its success.
"Once we have a main store" for the mall site, he said, improvements will happen.
When good things come in, bad things will go, Kilby said adding "that is our goal for the downtown mall."
Block said the Memorial Boulevard School's auditorium will be "great for a performing arts center" that will bring people downtown. He said it can assist in boosting downtown.
Once the school closes, he said, the rest of the building could be rented out or turned into City Hall if it isn't too costly.
Kilby said the building might be a good City Hall "if it's feasible."
He said he would like a performing arts center there if it's not turned into City Hall, but the issue needs more study.
Rimcoski said he needs more information before he would support making a theater there.
He said the mall site could be in competition with it. He said there are too many unanswered questions before he'll back a theater at the school.
Democratic city Councilor Art Ward, who has represented the district for 14 years, is seeking to move up to the mayor's office this year, opening a council seat for a newcomer.
Block ran with Ward two years ago, but he fell short when Rimcoski surprised even himself by winning one of the two council seats in the district.
Councilors serve two-year terms for about $10,000 annually. The election is Nov. 6.

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Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com