October 20, 2009

City Council debate, part 4 (District 2)


The candidates are Democrats Allen Marko, Kevin McCauley and Republicans Ken Cockayne and Richard Scarola.
The questions, written by the chamber, are standard....

Route 72 question....
Cockayne said the project has "been going on, I believe, longer than I've been alive."
He said the road will provide easier access to downtown. "This is going to be a great thing for Bristol," he said.
McCauley said one of the principal hindrances to development has been the lack of highway access. Now it's time to coordinate between the chamber and BDA "to capitalize and promote" opportunities.
Scarola said the street "is a great change for Bristol," but "it's only a great change if we act on it."
He said the studies have been shelved. But if Riverside Avenue is going to be a gateway, the city needs to take the good ideas off the shelf and act.
Marko said Route 72 "was a solution for the 70s."
"It will be a great plus for Forestville. It will help some of the traffic problems there," Marko said.
But the long-term solution is going to be rail, he said. Marko said the busway s "very much like a light rail system" and if it is built, the city needs to make sure its buses "tie into that busway" as an intermediate solution.
Marko called for better bus service.
"It's time to look to the future," he said.

Q re rail...
McCauley said the chamber is pushing rail to remove traffic from the roads.
He said the city has been looking at rail options. He poined out there was once a train depot near Depot Square, the new name for the former mall site.
McCauley said the city needs to focus on getting rail and tying that into the neighborhood like lower Summer Street. That has to be a piece of revitalization effort, he said.
"It is the future of this city," McCauley said.
Scarola said that the train "can be the gateway to Depot Square."
He said everyone agrees on need to go forward with the train. He said the city needs to cosnider exstending to Clinton and Essex, as well as bringing historic trains, Thomas the Train, night trains to the riverboat and more. "It wil bring thousands and thousands and thousands of people back to Bristol," he said, urging a state of the art station.
He said it can be part of a safe, pedestrian-friendly downtown.
Marko said that light rail is the future, with federal money heading toward it rather than highways.
He said there is "a very strong proposal" for high speed rail from Springfield to New Haven. Commuter rail lines can feed in to that system.
"Trains run two ways," Marko said, bringing customers to Depot Square as well as sending commuters to Hartford.
Marko said the tracks also connect Bristol to Waterbury, where the fastest growing line on the Metro North system ends. "This rail system improvement is the way of the future," he said.
Cockayne said that officials rode on the rail. "It was very interesting," he said.
Cockayne said that he will keep pushing the line. He said the city has to work with other towns along the line "or this doesn't fly."
They need to be on board, Cockayne said.

Q -- Bristol Hospital...

Marko said Bristol Hospital "has already done some wonderful things to position itself," including partnering with St. Francis Hospital and creating niches where it can offer quality care.
Marko said that the hospital can work with others to find a way to make the new UConn plan "a win-win" for everone.
Cockayne said he has spoken with Kurt Barwis and Bill Hamzy. "This would have a drastic effect if this merger were to go through, " he said, referring to the proposal to have Hartford Hospital run the hospital at UConn.
He said that the plan on the table woujld undermine Bristol Hospital. He vowed "to block this from happening and to protect our city hospital."
McCauley said the city needs to stay involved and to ensure legislators keep advocating for Bristol Hospital.
"Closing Bristol Hospital for me is absolutely wrong," Scarola said.
He said the city is aging and needs access to immediate care. He said government shouldn't legislate "how you get your health care."
Scarola said he will work to make sure the proposed merger "does not happen" at UConn.
He said it's crucial to have a hospital so close "for our seniors, for our community, for our wel-being."

Q - courthouse and how to win more assets...

Marko said Bristol is one of the city's Top 15 cities. "For years, we've been kind of a backwater. We've been forgotten," he said.
Marko said Depot Square is a key to putting Bristol on the map. He said the city has to address problems on Federal Hill and in the West End. It also needs to highlight the city's best features, from the carousel museum to community theater.
He said that "a wonderful community theater program" is one key element.
"It all comes down to marketing," Cockayne said, adding that Depot Square is crucial.
Picking the right developer "will revitalize downtown" and give people a reason to come to Bristol, Cockayne said.
McCauley said he's seen the state threaten to remove state agencies out. He pointed out that DMV is gone along with more.
"I will work and pressure our state delegation... to increase access to these vital agencies," McCauley said.
He said there is a need to keep the focus on Bristol on any local and regional planning.
Scarola said the courthouse choice "is out of our hands," though he promised to fight to keep the courthouse in town. He poined out it helps the city financially.
He said the city needs a backup plan, which might expand the police headquarters or City Hall so it doesn't become "just another abandoned building."

Q - Downtown...
Scarola said he envisions "thinking outside the box" instead of trying to match West Hartford, Simsbury or Avon.
"I want to be Bristol. I want Bristol to have its own identity," Scarola said.
He said retail is not the whole answer. He said something sports related or education might creae a destination. There should be a way to capitalize on ESPN's marketing.
"Everybody on this planet knows ESPN is in Bristol," he said.
Marko said the project "is one of the keys to making us what we should be."
Marko said an ice skating rink is another crucial element. He pointed out there is a focal point of a rink in Charlotte, N.C. and would like to try to something similiar.
Cockayne said the BDDC has looked at many ideas for the mall site.
Two great presentations offered by potential developers, Cockayne said. He said picking the right one is crucial, with retail, housing and offices.
He urged the city to take its time and deliberate on the choice.
McCauley said the developers' interest shows the model has potential. He said integrating in the West End and Federal Hill is important.

Closing statements...
Scarola said he can help make Bristol "what we woudl all like Bristol to be."
He said he's watched "in anger and frustration" as Bristol has done little to improve itself. He said he has no ties to city and no family or friends who work for the city "so your voice will be heard loud and clear.
He called those connections "a severe conflict" -- clearly aiming at McCauley, a firefighter.
Marko said he's running because the decisions the council will make in the next few years will shape the city for the next 50 years.
"When we make those decisions," he said, the city has to ensure it keeps vital community services.
The city has to provide services. He said it's important "that we don't cripple vital service" in ques to save money.
"We also have to be careful not to fall for solutions that are gimmicks" like spending caps or budget referenda, Marko said. He said turnouts for referenda are low so "a small group of dedicated people who would oppose anything" can control the agenda.
Marko said what works "is strong leadership, people who are willing to make the tough decisions."
Cockayne said it has been "a very civil debate."
"Some say I like to argue. Maybe it's the Italian in me," Cockayne said.
He said he's worked hard to be an advocate for taxpayers and has no relatives working for the city "and am not beholden to anyone."
"I have proven I'm not a yes man. I will ask the tough questions, even if it means standing alone," Cockayne said.
McCauley said that he wants to continue "the successful work I've done" in the past two terms.
He said he fought for funding for critical road repairs. He pushed for returning part of salary. He pushed code enforcement, "a cost-effective way of improving quality of life."
McCauley said he got council to agree to task force to review projects of more than $100,000.
"The city has taken a hard look at its spending and has tightened its belt," McCauley said.

*******
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

Let's put Marko, McCauley, Parker and Block on a one way train out of here.

Anonymous said...

For what reason is Marko a school teacher now and not a lawyer? It's commonly known that the practice of law is more lucrative than teaching school. If Marko couldn't handle public law how will he be able to handle the public in this setting? Is radical Marko a ticking time bomb?

Anonymous said...

Hopefully people actually watched the debates on tv instead of relying on just your version of what was said. No offense, Steve, but there were important things left out of your commentary. You did cover most of what was said of importance, and I know a lot was said, but I clearly see certain people's comments being showcased more than others and there were some things that were said that should have been written.
For the most part they all pretty much agree except things were said in slightly different ways. I mean, with questions like that what else can you say?
These were questions for Hamzy and Colapietro and wright on the state level. Any incoming council really has no control over what happens with regard to the railroad or the courthouse or Bristol Hospital, for that matter. All they can do is advocate for them and Bristol's voice seems to always fall on deaf ears at the state level.

Anonymous said...

I thought that Marco did a bang up job and will be a real good councilman!

Anonymous said...

I think Scarola needs to stop making promises that he probably won't be able to keep. Making a statement like "I will NEVER abstain from a vote because I am not related to anyone who works for the city or I do not work for the city or know anyone who does" is not the only reason why you would abstain. Did he ever think that he may have a neighbor, a relative, a friend who, if he ever became a councilman, needed something done with their property or had a problem with the city that he would have to abstain because that would be a conflict of interest? Perhaps he wouldn't abstain in which case I would be concerned about his integrity. Anyone who promises they will or will not do something is obviously suspect and clearly knows nothing about what goes on with regard to the city. Mccauley has been able to get the job done even with the very few times he has had to abstain and he has been honest about having to abstain from day one. I've been to most of those council meetings and I can tell you it's rarely happened and has made no difference with regard to the outcome of an issue.

Anonymous said...

I liked Mills, McCauley, Matthews, Fuller, Rimcowski and Cockayne. In this economy it's important to have people who have already been on the council and i think the incumbents i have listed are people who can continue to do what is right for the city and teach the other three the ropes.

Anonymous said...

Cockayne was a huge dissapointment.

Anonymous said...

To poster 9:50. Hasn't Minor abstained from voting and he's not a city employee nor does he work for our city. I can't remember what the conflict was but there's one exampel of where someone had a conflict that had nothing to do with relations or city job or anything like that.

Anonymous said...

It was good to see Zoppo coaching McCauley last night. Nice to see some things never change.

Puppet = McCauley

Anonymous said...

Cockayne seemed lost up there.

Certainly won't get my vote!

Anonymous said...

Why are we electing a city employee to represent us when he has to abstain from many votes because of conflict of interest? Isn't the idea to elect a person who can represent us by voting on almost every issue? You are elected to represent your district and when you can't many people lose their voice. District 2 has lost their voice for too long now. Sure they will all face conflicts of interest once in a while but it is better to do so out of integrity than because you have to.

Anonymous said...

If it wassn't for Scarola, Cockayne would have come in last.

Anonymous said...

I guess poster 2:55 would love to portray McCauley as someone who abstains frequently when that is far from the truth and they know is. McCauley has been upfront from the beginning that he would have to abstain from votes concerning the fire department which has come up only a few times out of hundreds of votes during his tenure as councilman. This is old news. I would hardly call that earth shattering. District 2 has certainly not suffered because of it. In fact, McCauley has done a great job with code enforcement and is a great asset to this city. He has abstained about as many times as other councilors on the council have abstained.

It's unfortunate that all the republicans can come up with is the few times he has abstained from a vote. The other comment made by Cockayne, another clueless republican, is that he is not "beholden" to anyone. Neither is McCauley. If you check his record, you will see he has not voted to do anything untoward with regard to the unions. Being a union member does not make you beholden to the unions. Again, his record speaks loud and clear.

As has been stated many times before, he is not a union negotiator thus he has no control over any agreements the city and the union may make at the bargaining table.

Anonymous said...

As bad as the candidates are portrayed, great city we have here. This is the level at which our representation effects us most concerning taxes and the majority or things we are unhappy or happy about and yet what there were maybe 45 people tops at the debate? Specifically, there will propbably be a 30% turnout tops if we are lucky. It's been 24 hours since the debate and there are 20 blogs about it. Good, bad or indifferent at least these men and woman believe they are doing the right thing and putting their money where their mouth is. So, Mr. and Mrs. Voter, before you open your pie hole about the state of this city, I hope you voted. If you don't vote, you get the government you deserve. How is that change working out?

Anonymous said...

I imagine the thinking of a candidate that says that he will not abstain frm any vote, but should a conflict arise (in this case it was given as a neighbor etc, needing help). First off, what are the obscure chances that that would happen concerned to the chief complaints on this blog about city employees running city government.? If it were me and that situation the arose that a friend, neighbor or relative needed help, I would vote no and cite my reason on record. Therefore, you still are being represented. Plain and simple.

Anonymous said...

I don't agree with you, poster 7:53. You're painting the picture as black and white and not every situation is different. It's easy to sit there and say I would do this or that because you're not an elected official. I have chosen to see both sides of the issue and we all know reality is totally different. It's always on a case-by-case basis. That's the reason for abstaining and it hardly ever comes up. most councilmen have to abstain at some point due to a conflict of interest.
I hardly believe you would say no to a close relative if there was an issue with them, because we all know that almost all of us would do anything to not anger any of our relatives hence the need to abstain.
again, this is a ridiculous point since it happens very rarely.

Anonymous said...

I just read with interest the poster who would say no regardless so he wouldn't abstain and supposedly "do his job" as a councilman because he obviously feels that abstaining is not doing his job, which I really don't understand.

You would not be doing your job if you voted no regardless. What if your neighbor or relative had a legitimate case? You would vote no regardless because you don't believe in abstaining? Now that's not doing your job and that is unfair to the constituent that you swore to fairly represent.

It's a fact of life that abstentions do happen and every one of them has had to abstain for one reason or another. It's very isolated and it's the proper and right thing to do in case there is a conflict of interest, whatever that may be, and you don't have to be a city employee to have a conflict of interest.

Anonymous said...

Steve, when you plan on showing up who donated to the people running for council? I think it's important that we know.

Anonymous said...

steve,

no response from the last poster? you're usually good about these things. I looked at the list myself and found it very telling. it's important that the public see who has contributed and some of the unscrupulous stuff that's been going on.

Steve Collins said...

I couldn't find which post that comment got placed under!
I didn't have time this week to get the council donors. Assuming my editor doesn't have me chasing down something else, I'll do my best to get them next week.
I do my best but I don't have control over my schedule sometimes and there are only so many hours in the week.
I'm a big believer in making sure people know where campaign cash is coming from so I do try to get that in.

Anonymous said...

Tick tock, tick tock...

If Marko gets elected who will he blow-up on first?