February 17, 2010

Charter revision panel needs overhaul

Mayor Art Ward said this morning he goofed on the makeup of the newly appointed Charter Revision Commission, accidentally installing one Democrat too many.
Though the law allows for only four of the seven members to hail from one party, the City Council approved a panel that has five Democrats.
Ward said he's asked for the resignation of the last person picked for the commission -- Bruce Suchinski -- and intends to replace him with an independent woman chosen by city Councilor Kate Matthews.
A special council session will likely be called next week to ratify the change.

Update: Here's a link to the story.
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Copyright 2010. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com

36 comments:

Billie said...

Gee what else have you goofed on Mayor? 14 years on the council doesn't prove your smarts.

Anonymous said...

Ward's easy way of getting rid of Bruce Suchinski . Nice have some back bone and tell everyone you don't want someone that was charged with a crime on the board. Matthews should do a better job of vetting her choices.
http://www.hartfordadvocate.com/article.cfm?aid=4092

Take This Job and Shove it

Assuming the allegations are true, Bruce Suchinski lived the American dream. Sort of. According to media reports, the 57-year-old Bristol resident quit his job as a state marshal four years ago, but figured out a way to keep getting paid for it. According to media reports, while Suchinski handed over his resignation in 2004, police say, he never stopped collecting money for court-ordered debts. Reports say he never actually paid the debts, and instead allegedly accrued a not-entirely-insignificant sum of $6,000. He was hit with second-degree larceny, impersonation and other charges in New Britain on Friday, Nov. 2, and could possibly be sentenced to a decade in prison.

Anonymous said...

Will Ellen change to an ind. and be appointed by Katty!

Anonymous said...

Kate is way in over her head. First the Charter panel was delayed because she never provided a name. Then she gives someone with a record. Great job Kate.

Anonymous said...

Billie, making stupid comments on the blog doesn't exactly prove your smarts either. ;0)

Anonymous said...

Ward should of known better - you tell me he didn't know the rules? Yeah and I have a bridge in Brooklyn for sale.

Anonymous said...

Art/Eddy screwed up by not understaning the rules.They want to pick on the "girl", but she is
givng BS a chance that both of the
other two criminals recieved.Both
Art and Ed were forgiven for their
transgressions. I think Kate should
require Art to give up his pick,
and not let Art/Eddy bully her!!

Anonymous said...

WARD GOT CAUGHT FOR DUI - IS THAT NOT A CRIME? HECK HE LEAVES THE LEGION BAR ON WEEKENDS 1/2 IN THE BAG, JUST BECAUSE HE DOESN'T GET CAUGHT, DOESN' MEAN HE ISN'T A CRIMINAL.

Anonymous said...

Mayor Ward:

Thank you for fixing the screw up by Ms. Matthews.

You have done Bristol, our city government and the concept of democracy (small "d" always) a good deed.

Anonymous said...

Sorry February 17, 2010 11:16 AM:

The "ethical violation" Krawiecki made in the Legislature and Ward's DWI pale in comparison to Second-Degree Larceny and Impersonation (such was the case with Matthews' appointed hack).

Improve your prioritization skills or better yet get a brain.

woe is u said...

that pond that everyone is walking on must have a lot of stones in it.

Anonymous said...

Kate didn't screw up, Art did!

He is responsible for making sure that all the requirements are met BEFORE he presented the slate.

How was she to know who was nominating whom?

Or, was he setting her up?

Since she was the last to submit, did he alert her to the restriction, since HE knew who the others were?

It is about time he was held accountable!

Anonymous said...

What the hell is bristol made of. Now i see why we have a major mess. What does ED AND HIS WIFE MAKE THANKS TO ART. BIG MONEY

Anonymous said...

5:52

And benefits too!

Anonymous said...

Bristol GOP: right wing of "Team Ward"

Bristol GOP: bought off by appointments...case in point, Casar, Schaffrick, Joe G-what's his face (actually he's even too stupid for even Ward to appoint), Krawiecki, TJ etc...all in the Democrat Mayor's pocket. Hey kudos to Ward. He's better than what the GOP's been offering for a decade anyway (except for Stortz maybe).

Anonymous said...

Did Suchinski get sworn in?
Did everyone else get sworn in?
Was he the last to get sworn in?

Seems like a big mess because Mr. Ward wasn't on top of things.

Anonymous said...

5:25 PM, Kate screwed up all by her big self. Stop trying to point fingers elsewhere.

Anonymous said...

Blame it all on Stortz.

Anonymous said...

February 17, 2010 11:16 AM
A.K.A Suchinski:

Suck it up. You're lucky you're not in jail.

Anonymous said...

the fact that the mayor is actually taking responsibility for something is the big story here. It took 2 + years and yeah, he is using Kate Matthews as his punching bag, but it worked so well with his other favorite female Democrat that who is surprised he would use this stratagy again? Not me.

Anonymous said...

Another Special Meeting??

Wasn't Ward the big critic of Special Meetings?


Oh, now says that this shows he is flexible.

Anonymous said...

No one had to lift a finger to make Kate Matthews look bad. She seems more than capable of doing that all by herself. Quite a pro at it actually!

Anonymous said...

Steve, why didn't you tell your readers that th "short window" is being imposed by Ward? State law gives them until next June to deliver their report. But he expects the Commission to recommend changing his term from 2 to 4 years, and he wants be be able to run for 4 years in 2011. That can only happen if they get this change on the ballot in 2010.

Steve Collins said...

The short window was imposed by Ward AND the City Council. As for the reason, well, your speculation doesn't sound unreasonable.

Phil said...

new slogan for Ward - "VOTE FOR ME IT'S AL ABOUT ME"

Anonymous said...

12:28

If it is approved by the voters.

And IF, IF, he gets reeelected

Anonymous said...

Another special meeting??

Anonymous said...

This is fanticy politics in bristol.

Anonymous said...

8:34, "fanticy"???

You thinking you're intelligent enough to make a coherent comment...now that's a FANTASY!

Anonymous said...

There was an oversight with the balance of the committee.

It was caught and rectified.

Get over it. There are plenty of other things we, as citizens can complain about. Stop wasting your effort on the little things.

Anonymous said...

7:58

You are absolutely correct!

That are many, many, additional things to complain about.

Art's failure to pay attention is just the tip of the iceberg!

Anonymous said...

It will be ironic and fitting that we end up with the bad idea of a four year term and Ward gets defeated in 2011.

Anonymous said...

AKA7:24 is bill stortz the biggest jerk going the man with out a party.

Anonymous said...

Steve, what's the deal with the replacement that is being appointed at yet another special Council meeting? Isn't that seat supposed to be a non-Democrat? I heard she is clearly a Democrat even if she isn't currently registered as one. Seems fishy.

Steve Collins said...

If she's not a registered Democrat, she can serve. There's no test to determine if somebody's not really unaffiliated. It's just a matter of how someone is registered.
I think we all understand that can be abused.

Steve Collins said...

By the way, Suchinski has resigned. I'm not sure when the special meeting is going to be held.