Hot off the presses, a new press release from Republican mayoral candidate Ken Johnson:
Ken Johnson, the Republican nominee for Mayor of the City of Bristol, answered his opponent’s call for a Route 72 ombudsman. Johnson described the need for a dedicated ombudsman as “unnecessary.”
Johnson stated, now that Route 72 construction is underway as of the Governor’s groundbreaking ceremony last week, regular meetings will be held with the city and the State Department of Transportation. The Republican nominee stated that as Mayor he would see that the two Councilmen from the 3rd district, as well as our State Representative and State Senator, are included in all project meetings between the city and DOT.
“I believe communication is critically important on this project.” Johnson added, “I’m sure many Bristol residents will want to be informed as questions and inconveniences due to construction arise. Getting everyone at the table, up front, is the right way to go.”
The candidate believes that his opponent’s proposal is a “feel good” position, and one that is not needed. He suggested that the two Councilmen from the 3rd district would serve as “ombudsmen” because that is their job as members of the City Council. “On November 6th the people of the third district will decide who they want as their ombudsmen,” said Johnson.
“My expectation is that one of those Councilmen will be Bob Merrick -- he has a good feel for what the city needs to do to better communicate with its residents.” Johnson concluded, “After 14 years as a member of the city council, my opponent is fully aware that the people of our community feel ‘left out of the loop’ and that communication is part of our elected leaders’ job description.”
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Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
31 comments:
Great Idea Ken..Make Frank (Nicastro) and Bob (Merrick) the next City Councilmen from the 3rd district do thier job.
It's time that we stop rewarding campaign supporters with "feel Good" positions.
Regardless of who becomes Mayor, it will be a bad next 2 years because both candidates are terrible.
maybe Mr. Johnson can communicate how he shammed the citizens of Bristol with his sell-out of his piece of the firm that was supposed to get us all kinds of money from his old boss - C L & P.
left the city high and dry to run for mayor, where is he going to go if something better comes along?
I don't see how anyone can claim that Johnson "shammed the citizens of Bristol" in trying to secure a larger payment from CL&P for overcharges on streetlighting bills. The firm that Johnson used to own, Municipal Energy, is still working on the issue. There is no reason at this point to suppose it won't collect more money than CL&P offered the city originally.
In any case, Johnson was willing to do the work strictly for a higher percentage of whatever extra earnings the city got. It was the City Council that opted to pay his firm $10,000 in return for it getting a lower percentage of the earnings.
Whether that was wise or not won't be known until the final check gets cut from the utility to the city. I don't see that Johnson or the firm he used to own failed the city. Municipal Energy is still working on the job.
If somebody has some proof that Johnson "scammed" anyone, I'd sure love to see it.
Thank you Steve..finally someone is putting these liberal Democrats who have done nothing over the past 14 years in thier place.
I for one am sick and tired of people making $10,000 out to be a million.
Ward and his fellow councilers spent much more than that throwing the Bugryns off thier land and buying the Centre Mall property.
The average Bristol resident could live on the attorney fees for both these Democratic debacles.
My advice to both parties this election is too knock this crap off. You wonder why people don't vote and only 33% of the residents show up at the polls, well its because of all this nonsense.
Its time to give New people with fesh ideas a chance. The experience has only gotten us deeper into debt as a municipality.
I wish the poster at 4:04 pm would explain to the people of Bristol how he or she would getus more money back. the Dems were ready to settle for $60K.
There are several other municipalities who are doing exactly what Bristol is doing with CL&P why is it that Bristol is the only Town that can't get it?
Maybe its time we got our heads out of our rearends and stop acting like a collective group of illiterate morons.
Please remember that it was Democratic Mayoral candidate Art Ward who voted to give Johnson the 10K.
and what the heck does this have to do with the Route 72 ombudsman.
This is rediculous. It is not a feel good position. It is important that such a major project that will affect so many residents, their daily travel and many people's property areas have ONE GO TO PERSON that can help them.
This proves that Johnson has no regard for how major issues can affect the citizens of this town on a daily basis because it isn't happening in his front yard.
To the first poster on this thread I think you have it exactly right. These kinds of questions should be fielded by the city council members. That said, the council as a whole should convene a committee that can put together an FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) document that could be posted on the Bristol web site as well as mailed to the residences in the affected area. Such a document would help mitigate the number of calls to the council members and would help expedite pointing people in the right direction.
As far as this particular role being a "reward" or "feel good" position I doubt that would be the case. Most of the people seeking help on Route 72 issues will be doing so because of problems and inconveniences. Construction is a long and dirty process and most of the calls will not be "happy" calls. If I was a campaign supporter and this was my reward (especially as a volunteer) I'd hate to see what happens to campaign enemies.
Johnson only NOW takes an interest in the city? He can't even make board meetings and storms out when he doesn't get his way - same for Hot head Joe. No thanks this city had enough Republicans to last us a while. Rember Stortz promised us and what did he deliver? NOTHING!!
Karen C.
While I won't comment on who should or shouldn't be the Councilors for District 3 in an effort to stay ON TOPIC.
I DO agree that Johnson has the correct idea on this topic.
I do not believe that adding yet another person into the loop as an ombudsman is needed or warranted for the 72 construction.
Art Ward is completely off base in suggesting that we need an ombudsman for the 72 project.
It is a much better idea, as Ken Johnson has suggested that the elected officials (councilors) be the people tasked with dealing with concerns from the citizens in THEIR districts.
Isn't that why we have District Councilors Art? District Councilors are elected to represent and deal with the concerns of the citizens in their districts.
An "appointed" ombudsman has no responsibility to the Voters and Citizens of Bristol. They serve under the leadership of their anointer.
Removing elected councilors from the mix and "appointing" someone as Ombudsman just smells like Art is trying to start the a"ward"ing process to his followers.
Thats it Kennny, open the process up by restricting it to the politicians.
Are you for real???
Poster at 4:48:
Did you know that Ken Johnson made BIG BUCKS for helping throw the Bugryns off their land?
Does anyone know how he got the job?
Is he that friendly with Rosenthal?
If you doubt it, the information is available from BDA.
Which hat will Frank wear?
Councilman??
Representative?
Omsbudsman?
I'm for Frank??
Just give the job to Art Ward's upcoming Corporation Counsel, Kosta Dimanitis. If you vote for Art Ward you get Kosta as City Attorney.
WRONG! Kosta is not part of the picture, has not been, nor will be. Grow up and get past the Kosta thing!!
STeve,
Why do you bother with this? All the children can't seem to stay on focus and comment on the post that is relevant.
I agree with one of your posters that one dedicated GO TO person would be a huge help to the citizens during construction. The council members have enough on their plates.
I agree. If the plate is to full, something falls by the wayside. A project manager (ombudsman) makes a great deal of sense. I think Johnson has a control issue just as Stortz.
I don't understand why Johnson would deny the residents of someone that would be a dedicated help to them during such a large project. This isn't a parking lot being put in, it's a major road being constructed in a heavily traveled area that also has a heavy amount of residents - and a school!
Art's right on track with this one. Very proactive thinking.
im not sure if a "go to guy" is a good idea but i think if the city decides to go that way they the new council should be the ones to appoint this "go to guy" and he/she should answer directly to the council not to the mayor. also i think the appointee should have to be appointed only if the council all agree on the person, it should not be based on a majority vote.
Why doesn’t this fall under Publics Works Dept? Who would know better than them?
Why add yet another layer between the people and their elected officials?
Appointing an ombudsman just puts the citizens further away from their elected officials.
What is wrong with whoever is elected the Councilors from District 3 representing THEIR constiuents on the matter of Route 72?
Maybe Steve Collins could ask Craig Minor, Frank Nicastro and Bob Merrick how they each feel about their ability to handle the concerns of the residents within their districts concerning Route 72?
Again, you Democrats need to grow up. Ken Johnson or "A Buyers Market" was hired by the City of Bristol under Mayor Nicastro to find properties for 4 Bugryn family members. Understand it...it was 4 Bugryn family members.
After your Democrats voted to throw them off thier land for an industrial park that has yet to be developed in the five years that the city has owned the property, the City had to help the Bugryns find homes so they hired "A Buyers Market."
Are you clowns saying that Ken Johnson should have done the work for nothing?
Maybe you are too stupid to understand a business deal or concept because none of you know how to run a business.
Unless you are Ward or Kosta, how do you know Kosta is not part of the picture for Ward's administration?
a previous poster is probably correct. Kosta will be there only if Ward gets busted for DWI again.
Give us a break!
Did Art Ward approve Ken Johnsons contract for $30,000?
Was it put out to bid?
I'm not Ward or Kosta! I am on the campaign helping, not once has Kosta called, nor Couture.
Ward does not want Kosta or Coutures help now or in the future.
Unless you have hard facts I suggest you grow up and get out of the dark ages and move forward with the rest of us.
"L.P."
Here's an idea .... I challenge the incoming Mayor that, within the first 100 days of taking office, he file the necessary legislation to change our form government over to a City Manager.
At that point in time, there'd be nothing impeding ANY of our elected officials from being the appropriate ombudsman we feel we are electing every two years.
The challenge is yours, gentlemen.
Couture and Kosta did not call Ward? Why should they, when Ward is probably calling them!
You can't pretend that Ward is not connected to those two. Mayor Couture, Mayor's assistant Kosta, and Deputy Mayor Ward. It's very simple.
The only "simple" factor in this concern is that posters continue to spread erroroneous information on subjects which they have no clue about, in their own self-interest, without regard to the facts or the truth.
To the anonymous who badmouthed the democrats. You can sure tell they are Republican cause number one is "Money"
Get your head out of your A**, Ward has not been calling couture or Kosta - check his phone records, any of them. Talk about a loser, with statements such as yours.
"L.P."
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