Reporter Jackie Majerus' story about the treasurer's race:
In a stunning upset, Republican challenger Rose Parenti won the city treasurer’s office over incumbent Democrat Bill Veits.
“I'm quite humbled by the amount of support I received,” Parenti told the crowd at the GOP's victory party.
“What can I say?” said Veits. “The voters have spoken. I thank them for the last two years as city treasurer. I really enjoyed it. Good luck to Rose. May she have a great two years.”
Parenti, who has been active with local Republicans for years, owns Computer Development on Riverside Avenue.
As treasurer, she said, she will “fulfill the duties of the office to the best of my ability.”
The two candidates differed on a proposal to use excess city pension money to cover health care costs of municipal retirees, a move the unions vigorously opposed.
Parenti vowed to fight the proposal, while Veits sided with those who wanted to look into the possibility.
Veits said that vote “might have been” what cost him the election.
“I’m still in favor of it,” said Veits. “I don’t have any regrets.”
Mayor Art Ward called Veits' defeat “a great loss to the treasurer's office.”
Veits, who had thought absentee ballots might make a difference in a close treasurer’s race, learned from a reporter that unofficial final results showed Parenti with 4,199 votes to 3,974 for Veits in an unofficial tally.
“So she beat me,” he said.
Veits, who said he was “somewhat surprised” at the election results, didn’t rule out another run in the future.
A part-time post, the treasurer’s job pays $4,000 annually. The treasurer oversees a professional staff at City Hall and also serves as a trustee of the city’s retirement funds.
Veits, a self-employed tax preparer and the longtime chairman of the Bristol Planning Commission, won the treasurer’s office in 2007 after former Patti Ewen decided not to seek a ninth term.
Update: As an aside, there hasn't been a Republican treasurer since Phyllis Spooner held the post for a single term back in the 1980s.
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Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Showing posts with label treasurer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label treasurer. Show all posts
November 3, 2009
October 28, 2009
GOP treasurer hopeful bucks party on GASB 45
The Republican city treasurer candidate vowed “to fight tooth and nail” to stop proposals from tapping excess pension money to pay for the health care of municipal retirees -- a plan promoted most strongly by a GOP city councilor.
Treasurer hopeful Rose Parenti, who owns Computer Development Systems, is angling to knock out incumbent Democratic Treasurer Bill Veits, who has held the part-time office since 2007.
Veits bucked the city unions this year when he voted to look into the idea more deeply after a special panel examined the concept.
The treasurer, who earns $4,000 annually, oversees a professional staff at City Hall and serves as a trustee for the city’s retirement funds, which have $477 million socked away.
That’s about $100 million more than actuaries say the city will need to pay anticipated costs in the decades to come.
City Councilor Ken Cockayne, a first-term Republican, has been the loudest voice in favor of tapping the extra money to cover retiree health care, a potentially budget-busting item that the city has only begun to squirrel away money for.
City Comptroller Glenn Klocko has estimated that using excess pension cash for the health care instead of tapping taxpayers would save $1.8 million annually without risking anyone’s pension payments.
A special city panel created to investigate decided in March on a 4-3 vote not to pursue the idea, however, until the financial markets settled down and the risks could be figured more accurately.
Veits was one of the three members who sought to explore the idea more fully, along with Finance Chairman Rich Miecznikowski and T.J. Barnes, the chair of the city’s Retirement Board. Barnes is also the city Republican Party chair.
Four union-affiliated members appointed by Mayor Art Ward voted to kill the proposal.
Parenti said she believes it is “extremely important to keep the pension over-funded.”
“I would hate to see the burden of increased taxes passed onto” residents and future generations “should the fund be compromised,” Parenti said.
Supporters of the idea pointed out taxpayers are on the hook for retirees’ health care costs so they’ll pay one way or another.
They also argue that federal law requires the city leave a significant cushion if it does tap into excess pension cash in order to deal with any market reversals.
Though Parenti is a newcomer to running for office, she has been involved with the city GOP for years.
Veits is a self-employed enrolled agent and income tax specialist with a business in Southington who’s been helping people do taxes for 29 years.
He is also the long-time chairman of the city’s Planning Commission.
Veits took over the treasurer’s job after former Treasurer Patti Ewen opted not to seek a ninth term. He easily defeated Republican Mark Anderson to claim the post in 2007.
In 1981, Parenti started Computer Development with her late husband, Rick, in the basement of their Terryville home. She soon moved to Bristol, where the company has grown to occupy its own building on Riverside Avenue.
“I fully understand the importance of being custodian to all monies whether business or personal,” she said. “I know how to tighten the purse strings whenever necessary to remain fiscally responsible.”
Treasurers serve two-year terms. The election is Tuesday, November 3.
*******
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Treasurer hopeful Rose Parenti, who owns Computer Development Systems, is angling to knock out incumbent Democratic Treasurer Bill Veits, who has held the part-time office since 2007.
Veits bucked the city unions this year when he voted to look into the idea more deeply after a special panel examined the concept.
The treasurer, who earns $4,000 annually, oversees a professional staff at City Hall and serves as a trustee for the city’s retirement funds, which have $477 million socked away.
That’s about $100 million more than actuaries say the city will need to pay anticipated costs in the decades to come.
City Councilor Ken Cockayne, a first-term Republican, has been the loudest voice in favor of tapping the extra money to cover retiree health care, a potentially budget-busting item that the city has only begun to squirrel away money for.
City Comptroller Glenn Klocko has estimated that using excess pension cash for the health care instead of tapping taxpayers would save $1.8 million annually without risking anyone’s pension payments.
A special city panel created to investigate decided in March on a 4-3 vote not to pursue the idea, however, until the financial markets settled down and the risks could be figured more accurately.
Veits was one of the three members who sought to explore the idea more fully, along with Finance Chairman Rich Miecznikowski and T.J. Barnes, the chair of the city’s Retirement Board. Barnes is also the city Republican Party chair.
Four union-affiliated members appointed by Mayor Art Ward voted to kill the proposal.
Parenti said she believes it is “extremely important to keep the pension over-funded.”
“I would hate to see the burden of increased taxes passed onto” residents and future generations “should the fund be compromised,” Parenti said.
Supporters of the idea pointed out taxpayers are on the hook for retirees’ health care costs so they’ll pay one way or another.
They also argue that federal law requires the city leave a significant cushion if it does tap into excess pension cash in order to deal with any market reversals.
Though Parenti is a newcomer to running for office, she has been involved with the city GOP for years.
Veits is a self-employed enrolled agent and income tax specialist with a business in Southington who’s been helping people do taxes for 29 years.
He is also the long-time chairman of the city’s Planning Commission.
Veits took over the treasurer’s job after former Treasurer Patti Ewen opted not to seek a ninth term. He easily defeated Republican Mark Anderson to claim the post in 2007.
In 1981, Parenti started Computer Development with her late husband, Rick, in the basement of their Terryville home. She soon moved to Bristol, where the company has grown to occupy its own building on Riverside Avenue.
“I fully understand the importance of being custodian to all monies whether business or personal,” she said. “I know how to tighten the purse strings whenever necessary to remain fiscally responsible.”
Treasurers serve two-year terms. The election is Tuesday, November 3.
*******
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
October 9, 2009
Parenti eyes treasurer's office
Press release from GOP city Treasurer contender Rose Parenti:
I’d like to take this opportunity to introduce myself to the citizens of Bristol. I’m Rose Parenti, I am running for City Treasurer on the Republican Ticket.
I am the owner of Computer Development Systems, Inc., a local Computer company that my husband Rick and I started 28 years ago. We moved our business from Terryville to Bristol in 1984 because we felt Bristol was a tremendous city to operate our business in. When my husband passed away last year I made the decision to continue the business with the support of my employees to provide computer support to Bristol and the surrounding area.
I was born in Brooklyn, New York, moving to Terryville, CT after the company my father was employed by, the Accurate Forging company relocated from Brooklyn to Bristol. I have two sons, Bill & Tony, they along with their wives and children live in Bristol. My grandchildren attend school in Bristol.
Having lived in Bristol since 1992, I have been involved in many organizations including Quota International of Bristol of which I have been a member for 20 years, being its treasurer, vice president and president.
Bristol has been good to me and my family, I feel that with my business experience and knowledge, serving as your treasurer would be one way to repay you and help Bristol grow.
As treasurer I will do my utmost to safeguard our investments and to maximize the return on the investments. Although I will be limited by law, I will stay on top of all activities providing support and help to the city’s full time staff.
I hope I have given you enough information so that you feel comfortable voting for me on November 3. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call me at 860.583.5993.
Please remember Rose Parenti, 2A on the ballot on election day.
*******
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
I’d like to take this opportunity to introduce myself to the citizens of Bristol. I’m Rose Parenti, I am running for City Treasurer on the Republican Ticket.
I am the owner of Computer Development Systems, Inc., a local Computer company that my husband Rick and I started 28 years ago. We moved our business from Terryville to Bristol in 1984 because we felt Bristol was a tremendous city to operate our business in. When my husband passed away last year I made the decision to continue the business with the support of my employees to provide computer support to Bristol and the surrounding area.
I was born in Brooklyn, New York, moving to Terryville, CT after the company my father was employed by, the Accurate Forging company relocated from Brooklyn to Bristol. I have two sons, Bill & Tony, they along with their wives and children live in Bristol. My grandchildren attend school in Bristol.
Having lived in Bristol since 1992, I have been involved in many organizations including Quota International of Bristol of which I have been a member for 20 years, being its treasurer, vice president and president.
Bristol has been good to me and my family, I feel that with my business experience and knowledge, serving as your treasurer would be one way to repay you and help Bristol grow.
As treasurer I will do my utmost to safeguard our investments and to maximize the return on the investments. Although I will be limited by law, I will stay on top of all activities providing support and help to the city’s full time staff.
I hope I have given you enough information so that you feel comfortable voting for me on November 3. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call me at 860.583.5993.
Please remember Rose Parenti, 2A on the ballot on election day.
*******
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
June 4, 2008
Treasurer's job will remain an elected one
A proposal to dump the elected city treasurer’s position is dead.
The Charter Revision Commission opted this week not to challenge the City Council’s recommendation to leave the part-time elected post the way it’s always been instead of replacing it with an appointed professional.
Tim Furey, the chairman of the charter panel, said he was disappointed in the council’s lack of support for ensuring that only a qualified person could hold the treasurer’s post.
But, he said, he didn’t want “to pollute” the showdown over the proposed chief operating officer slot by including a plan to change the treasurer’s job as well. Charter commissioners unanimously agreed with him to drop the idea.
The final report of the charter commission will include three recommendations: to make the registrars of voters serve four-year terms instead of two, to have the appointed assistant clerk hold office for four years rather than two, and to create a chief operating officer at City Hall.
Councilors have already indicated they will back the changes in the terms of office so voters are virtually certain to be asked to vote on the revisions in the November 4 general election.The fate of the chief operating officer concept is less clear. It appears likely the council will vote it down this month and that supporters will launch a petition drive to try to get it on the ballot anyhow.
But the proposal to switch at an appointed treasurer cannot be revived this year.
One of the backers of the change, city Councilor Craig Minor, said that the treasurer’s post is “a technical and financial” one, not a policymaking role. He said it should be appointed so that those who hold it would have to possess the qualifications to do the job.
Minor, a Democrat, said it disturbed him that had voters picked the GOP’s treasurer candidate last year, the city could have had someone with no training for dealing with the position’s responsibilities.
But Cliff Block, a rookie Democratic councilor, said it’s impossible to set educational standards for an elected position.
“Shame on the Democrats or shame on the Republicans,” Block said, if they put up a candidate who doesn’t have the background to do the job.
Furey said he would prefer to have elected councilors choose a treasurer rather than having it done “in the back room of party politics.”
Republican city Councilor Mike Rimcoski said, though, that if councilors got to make the choice “it’s really going to throw it into the back rooms.”
He said he trusts voters to pick someone qualified for the $4,600-a-year job.
“The people will see the qualifications,” Block said.
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
The Charter Revision Commission opted this week not to challenge the City Council’s recommendation to leave the part-time elected post the way it’s always been instead of replacing it with an appointed professional.
Tim Furey, the chairman of the charter panel, said he was disappointed in the council’s lack of support for ensuring that only a qualified person could hold the treasurer’s post.
But, he said, he didn’t want “to pollute” the showdown over the proposed chief operating officer slot by including a plan to change the treasurer’s job as well. Charter commissioners unanimously agreed with him to drop the idea.
The final report of the charter commission will include three recommendations: to make the registrars of voters serve four-year terms instead of two, to have the appointed assistant clerk hold office for four years rather than two, and to create a chief operating officer at City Hall.
Councilors have already indicated they will back the changes in the terms of office so voters are virtually certain to be asked to vote on the revisions in the November 4 general election.The fate of the chief operating officer concept is less clear. It appears likely the council will vote it down this month and that supporters will launch a petition drive to try to get it on the ballot anyhow.
But the proposal to switch at an appointed treasurer cannot be revived this year.
One of the backers of the change, city Councilor Craig Minor, said that the treasurer’s post is “a technical and financial” one, not a policymaking role. He said it should be appointed so that those who hold it would have to possess the qualifications to do the job.
Minor, a Democrat, said it disturbed him that had voters picked the GOP’s treasurer candidate last year, the city could have had someone with no training for dealing with the position’s responsibilities.
But Cliff Block, a rookie Democratic councilor, said it’s impossible to set educational standards for an elected position.
“Shame on the Democrats or shame on the Republicans,” Block said, if they put up a candidate who doesn’t have the background to do the job.
Furey said he would prefer to have elected councilors choose a treasurer rather than having it done “in the back room of party politics.”
Republican city Councilor Mike Rimcoski said, though, that if councilors got to make the choice “it’s really going to throw it into the back rooms.”
He said he trusts voters to pick someone qualified for the $4,600-a-year job.
“The people will see the qualifications,” Block said.
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
May 9, 2008
Chief operating officer idea could still survive
City councilors solidly rejected a proposal Friday to create a chief operating officer to oversee the administration of City Hall.
“We have a perfect form of checks and balances now,” said city Councilor Frank Nicastro, a former mayor who opposed the suggested charter change.
Though the vote isn’t the last word on the idea, it makes it much less likely that the fundamental shift in the city government blueprint recommended by the Charter Revision Commission will eventually win approval.
The council, on a 5-2 vote, recommended the charter panel drop the idea from its final report, which will likely be submitted in early June. But whether or not charter commissioners agree to drop the proposal, it is clear that the council won’t back it in the end.
However, there is another route to passage that even some opponents said they’re interested in.
The council also gunned down another charter panel recommendation that would shift the part-time treasurer from an elected to an appointed post. Only two councilors, Democrat Craig Minor and Republican Ken Cockayne, backed the change.
The two councilors who backed the chief operating position, Minor and Cockayne, said they would help gather signatures to force the city to put the recommended charter change on the ballot so voters could decide if they want it or not.
“Let’s let the people vote,” Cockayne said. Minor said the decision is “too big” for the council alone to make.
To pull that off, they’d have to collect signatures from 10 percent of the city’s approximately 31,000 voters within 45 days of the final council vote on the charter commission’s report, probably in late June and July.
City Councilor Cliff Block, who voted against the chief operating officer concept, said he’s interested to see if a groundswell of support for the idea really exists.
Mayor Art Ward, who also voted against the position, said he will support the petition process.
The council has the power to put the suggested change on the ballot even if its members don’t agree with the proposal. But there doesn’t appear to be support for doing so.
City Councilor Mike Rimcoski called the proposed chief operating officer “another layer of bureaucracy” that would cost taxpayers too much.
Nicastro said that the strong mayor form of government in Bristol has served the city well for nearly a century and there’s no reason to revise it. He said that arguments that department heads are out of control is “garbage.”
“People seem to be living in the past,” Cockayne said. “We have to be looking to the future.”
Ward said he doesn’t see a need for someone to manage the departments more directly than the mayor can.
“I don’t really believe the COO is going to be contribute anything positive,” Ward said.
Minor said he favors a city manager, but the new post is “a step in the right direction” toward bringing more professionalism to city government.
Minor changes that would double the registrars’ terms of office to four years and revise some wording in the charter section on the city clerk were supported by councilors. They are likely to appear on the November general election ballot.
I'll try to add some more details later about what each of the councilors said Friday so check back over the weekend if you're interested. I'll add them below this story.
Here's what Craig Minor had to say during the meeting:
I am in favor of the council-manager form of government. While the COO is not a true “town manager”, I believe it is a step in the right direction and is long overdue.
I listened carefully to the comments that were made in these chambers earlier this week. I have read my emails, listened to my phone messages, and read the blogs and newspaper articles and letters. Clearly this is an issue that people feel strongly about, and I think the people should be given the chance to vote on it in November.
A number of thoughts occurred to me as I was listening to Bristol citizens express their hopes, and their fears, about the COO, and I would like to share them with you.
1. People have asked, how much will the COO cost? That’s a fair question. I personally think that in the long run the COO will save us a lot more than he costs, but a better way to look at it is to think back to when desktop computers were just starting to become common in the workplace. Everyone wanted to know how much money would they save. Well, as it turned out, they probably didn’t save a penny. But they made it possible for us to provide much better service to our customers, and to do many things we never thought possible. They make us more productive. That’s what the COO provides.
2. Several times the other night I heard people say, “we don’t need another bureaucrat” as if the department heads are all the same and interchangeable. Were you referring to the Chief of Police and the Building Official? Or the Park Superintendent and the Public Works Director? These positions are all required by charter and the city could not function without them. Since the COO will help these departments function more efficiently, wouldn’t we want one now as we enter tough financial times?
3. A lot has been made of the council’s supposed inability to ever fire the COO. First of all, his contract would almost certainly contain a “buyout” provision in case the relationship between the COO and the Mayor and council completely breaks down. But this is an extremely pessimistic attitude. A city manager is someone who wants to do good, and if he finds he is not able to do good in Bristol, he will probably very much want to move on to a place where he is appreciated.
4. In a big corporation, the CEO at some point in his career has usually held one or more of the jobs that he now supervises. To the best of my knowledge no Bristol mayor has ever been a Finance Director, a Personnel Director, or a Public Works Director. I don't think any Bristol mayor has ever worked in any other town, so they’ve never had any first hand knowledge of best management practices used elsewhere. They have no way of knowing the right departmental goals and objectives, and they have no benchmarks to evaluate the performance of the department head. All they know is "the way we've always done it".
5. If we vote tonight to keep this proposal in the Final Report, we are sending a strong message that the Bristol City Council takes the business of governing seriously. This is the message that we want to send to companies and families who are thinking about relocating to Bristol, and especially to developers who are right now deciding whether or not to propose investing their time and money in the Depot Square parcel.
6. But more important than my opinion is the opinion of the people of Bristol. I think this issue to too big to leave up to the seven people sitting on the City Council.
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
“We have a perfect form of checks and balances now,” said city Councilor Frank Nicastro, a former mayor who opposed the suggested charter change.
Though the vote isn’t the last word on the idea, it makes it much less likely that the fundamental shift in the city government blueprint recommended by the Charter Revision Commission will eventually win approval.
The council, on a 5-2 vote, recommended the charter panel drop the idea from its final report, which will likely be submitted in early June. But whether or not charter commissioners agree to drop the proposal, it is clear that the council won’t back it in the end.
However, there is another route to passage that even some opponents said they’re interested in.
The council also gunned down another charter panel recommendation that would shift the part-time treasurer from an elected to an appointed post. Only two councilors, Democrat Craig Minor and Republican Ken Cockayne, backed the change.
The two councilors who backed the chief operating position, Minor and Cockayne, said they would help gather signatures to force the city to put the recommended charter change on the ballot so voters could decide if they want it or not.
“Let’s let the people vote,” Cockayne said. Minor said the decision is “too big” for the council alone to make.
To pull that off, they’d have to collect signatures from 10 percent of the city’s approximately 31,000 voters within 45 days of the final council vote on the charter commission’s report, probably in late June and July.
City Councilor Cliff Block, who voted against the chief operating officer concept, said he’s interested to see if a groundswell of support for the idea really exists.
Mayor Art Ward, who also voted against the position, said he will support the petition process.
The council has the power to put the suggested change on the ballot even if its members don’t agree with the proposal. But there doesn’t appear to be support for doing so.
City Councilor Mike Rimcoski called the proposed chief operating officer “another layer of bureaucracy” that would cost taxpayers too much.
Nicastro said that the strong mayor form of government in Bristol has served the city well for nearly a century and there’s no reason to revise it. He said that arguments that department heads are out of control is “garbage.”
“People seem to be living in the past,” Cockayne said. “We have to be looking to the future.”
Ward said he doesn’t see a need for someone to manage the departments more directly than the mayor can.
“I don’t really believe the COO is going to be contribute anything positive,” Ward said.
Minor said he favors a city manager, but the new post is “a step in the right direction” toward bringing more professionalism to city government.
Minor changes that would double the registrars’ terms of office to four years and revise some wording in the charter section on the city clerk were supported by councilors. They are likely to appear on the November general election ballot.
I'll try to add some more details later about what each of the councilors said Friday so check back over the weekend if you're interested. I'll add them below this story.
Here's what Craig Minor had to say during the meeting:
I am in favor of the council-manager form of government. While the COO is not a true “town manager”, I believe it is a step in the right direction and is long overdue.
I listened carefully to the comments that were made in these chambers earlier this week. I have read my emails, listened to my phone messages, and read the blogs and newspaper articles and letters. Clearly this is an issue that people feel strongly about, and I think the people should be given the chance to vote on it in November.
A number of thoughts occurred to me as I was listening to Bristol citizens express their hopes, and their fears, about the COO, and I would like to share them with you.
1. People have asked, how much will the COO cost? That’s a fair question. I personally think that in the long run the COO will save us a lot more than he costs, but a better way to look at it is to think back to when desktop computers were just starting to become common in the workplace. Everyone wanted to know how much money would they save. Well, as it turned out, they probably didn’t save a penny. But they made it possible for us to provide much better service to our customers, and to do many things we never thought possible. They make us more productive. That’s what the COO provides.
2. Several times the other night I heard people say, “we don’t need another bureaucrat” as if the department heads are all the same and interchangeable. Were you referring to the Chief of Police and the Building Official? Or the Park Superintendent and the Public Works Director? These positions are all required by charter and the city could not function without them. Since the COO will help these departments function more efficiently, wouldn’t we want one now as we enter tough financial times?
3. A lot has been made of the council’s supposed inability to ever fire the COO. First of all, his contract would almost certainly contain a “buyout” provision in case the relationship between the COO and the Mayor and council completely breaks down. But this is an extremely pessimistic attitude. A city manager is someone who wants to do good, and if he finds he is not able to do good in Bristol, he will probably very much want to move on to a place where he is appreciated.
4. In a big corporation, the CEO at some point in his career has usually held one or more of the jobs that he now supervises. To the best of my knowledge no Bristol mayor has ever been a Finance Director, a Personnel Director, or a Public Works Director. I don't think any Bristol mayor has ever worked in any other town, so they’ve never had any first hand knowledge of best management practices used elsewhere. They have no way of knowing the right departmental goals and objectives, and they have no benchmarks to evaluate the performance of the department head. All they know is "the way we've always done it".
5. If we vote tonight to keep this proposal in the Final Report, we are sending a strong message that the Bristol City Council takes the business of governing seriously. This is the message that we want to send to companies and families who are thinking about relocating to Bristol, and especially to developers who are right now deciding whether or not to propose investing their time and money in the Depot Square parcel.
6. But more important than my opinion is the opinion of the people of Bristol. I think this issue to too big to leave up to the seven people sitting on the City Council.
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Chief operating officer post rejected
In a 5-2 vote, the City Council Friday urged the Charter Revision Commission to kill its proposal to create a chief operating officer position.
Only two councilors, Craig Minor and Ken Cockayne, backed the new position.
It appears likely, though, that a petition drive will take place in June and early July to try to get the suggested change on the ballot anyway.
To pull it off, supporters will need to convince about 3,100 registered voters to sign petitions calling for the public vote.
The council also rejected a proposal to make the part-time city treasurer an appointed position rather than an elected one.
Details to follow.
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Only two councilors, Craig Minor and Ken Cockayne, backed the new position.
It appears likely, though, that a petition drive will take place in June and early July to try to get the suggested change on the ballot anyway.
To pull it off, supporters will need to convince about 3,100 registered voters to sign petitions calling for the public vote.
The council also rejected a proposal to make the part-time city treasurer an appointed position rather than an elected one.
Details to follow.
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
March 17, 2008
Charter hearing on Tuesday night
A proposal to add a chief operating officer to the city government’s permanent structure is among a handful of issues on the agenda for what may be the final public hearing of the Charter Revision Commission Tuesday.
The panel’s chairman, Tim Furey, said Monday that he expects to hear from residents and city officials who want to weigh in a four primary issues where the commission is eyeing changes to the city government’s blueprint.
The most controversial suggestion is to add a chief operating officer who would take over many of the administrative duties that are currently handled by the city’s full-time elected mayor.
The city manager-lite proposal dodges the need to overhaul the entire structure of Bristol’s government while providing what some see as a need for more oversight and continuity in municipal affairs.
“It is clear the current design of the mayor/council form of government is lacking in administrative consistency there is value to having an elected municipal leader. We felt strongly as a group that the duties of the mayor are too demanding and leave little time for appropriate strategic planning and promotion of the City,” according to the panel’s draft report.
Another controversial measure the commission plans to recommend to city councilors that they support changing the part-time treasurer’s post from an elected to appointed one.
Furey said the commission will review the suggestions it hears at tonight’s hearing next week before preparing the final report it has to submit to the City Council by April 4.
The hearing is slated for 7 p.m. Tuesday in the meeting room at City Hall.
Thanks to Furey's willingness to send me copies, I have PDFs of several draft documents that the commission is looking at that detail its findings and recommendations. They may well be changed before they are submitted to the City Council, but here they are in current form:
Draft report - Final report of the Charter Revision Commission
Draft report - Citing major changes eyed by the commission
Draft Report - Showing entire charter with changes indicated throughout
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
The panel’s chairman, Tim Furey, said Monday that he expects to hear from residents and city officials who want to weigh in a four primary issues where the commission is eyeing changes to the city government’s blueprint.
The most controversial suggestion is to add a chief operating officer who would take over many of the administrative duties that are currently handled by the city’s full-time elected mayor.
The city manager-lite proposal dodges the need to overhaul the entire structure of Bristol’s government while providing what some see as a need for more oversight and continuity in municipal affairs.
“It is clear the current design of the mayor/council form of government is lacking in administrative consistency there is value to having an elected municipal leader. We felt strongly as a group that the duties of the mayor are too demanding and leave little time for appropriate strategic planning and promotion of the City,” according to the panel’s draft report.
Another controversial measure the commission plans to recommend to city councilors that they support changing the part-time treasurer’s post from an elected to appointed one.
Furey said the commission will review the suggestions it hears at tonight’s hearing next week before preparing the final report it has to submit to the City Council by April 4.
The hearing is slated for 7 p.m. Tuesday in the meeting room at City Hall.
Thanks to Furey's willingness to send me copies, I have PDFs of several draft documents that the commission is looking at that detail its findings and recommendations. They may well be changed before they are submitted to the City Council, but here they are in current form:
Draft report - Final report of the Charter Revision Commission
Draft report - Citing major changes eyed by the commission
Draft Report - Showing entire charter with changes indicated throughout
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
February 26, 2008
Appoint the city treasurer?
The Charter Revision Commission is eyeing a possible change to dump the elected, part-time treasurer.
Instead, it would establish an appointed treasurer's post with explicit qualifications laid out for the job.
The mayor and City Council would make the appointment.
Though I've listened to the discussions on this issue for several charter meetings, I still don't understand why the panel wants to make the change. I'm sure it will offer a detailed explanation at some point.
"I like the idea of still having the independent treasurer," Furey said. "I like the idea of not making a much bigger position than it needs to be."
The treasurer makes something like $5,000 annually and basically oversees a small treasurer's office, though the full-time deputy treasurer does that job admirably, by all accounts.
Do voters want to lose the right to elect the treasurer? I'll be curious to see if that happens.
Furey said the change would take effect after the current term is up so Bill Veits, who just won the office, won't get booted mid-term.
Al Marko, a charter commissioner, said he'd like to see a four-year term for the appointed post, which the rest of the panel is fine with.
Update at 9:35 p.m. - Furey just said the reason for the proposal is "to try to ensure somebody considered has basic qualifications. We want to have people with a business background in that position."
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Instead, it would establish an appointed treasurer's post with explicit qualifications laid out for the job.
The mayor and City Council would make the appointment.
Though I've listened to the discussions on this issue for several charter meetings, I still don't understand why the panel wants to make the change. I'm sure it will offer a detailed explanation at some point.
"I like the idea of still having the independent treasurer," Furey said. "I like the idea of not making a much bigger position than it needs to be."
The treasurer makes something like $5,000 annually and basically oversees a small treasurer's office, though the full-time deputy treasurer does that job admirably, by all accounts.
Do voters want to lose the right to elect the treasurer? I'll be curious to see if that happens.
Furey said the change would take effect after the current term is up so Bill Veits, who just won the office, won't get booted mid-term.
Al Marko, a charter commissioner, said he'd like to see a four-year term for the appointed post, which the rest of the panel is fine with.
Update at 9:35 p.m. - Furey just said the reason for the proposal is "to try to ensure somebody considered has basic qualifications. We want to have people with a business background in that position."
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
November 6, 2007
Veits wins treasurer's race
Democrat Bill Veits easily defeated his Republican challenger Tuesday to become the city’s new treasurer.
Veits gathered 5,652 votes compared to 4,371 for Mark Anderson, the GOP hopeful, according to unofficial results.
Viets will replace longtime city Treasurer Patti Ewen, a Democrat who served eight terms. She opted to step down so she could spend more time traveling and other activities.
Veits said during the race he was ready to take the part-time post.
He said he's been attending meetings of the city retirement board for three months now to learn about the job. He's also shown up at special meetings of the police and fire benefit funds that the treasurer would normally attend, he said.
Veits, 57, has lived in Bristol for 34 years. He's a self-employed enrolled agent and income tax specialist with a business in Southington.
The treasurer serves a two-year term for a salary of about $4,000. A professional staff handles most of the work in the treasurer's office at City Hall.
*******
Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Veits gathered 5,652 votes compared to 4,371 for Mark Anderson, the GOP hopeful, according to unofficial results.
Viets will replace longtime city Treasurer Patti Ewen, a Democrat who served eight terms. She opted to step down so she could spend more time traveling and other activities.
Veits said during the race he was ready to take the part-time post.
He said he's been attending meetings of the city retirement board for three months now to learn about the job. He's also shown up at special meetings of the police and fire benefit funds that the treasurer would normally attend, he said.
Veits, 57, has lived in Bristol for 34 years. He's a self-employed enrolled agent and income tax specialist with a business in Southington.
The treasurer serves a two-year term for a salary of about $4,000. A professional staff handles most of the work in the treasurer's office at City Hall.
*******
Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
November 5, 2007
Treasurer's race story
I don't think reporter Jackie Majerus' story about the city treasurer's race ever made it onto this blog, so here it is:
Neither of the two men running for city treasurer has grand plans for changing the way the office runs.
"If it's not broken, don't fix it," said Mark Anderson, the Republican candidate for the job. "From what I understand, the retirement fund is pretty well managed."
Anderson will face Democrat Bill Veits in the election on Tuesday, Nov. 6.
Veits said he's been attending meetings of the city retirement board for three months now to learn about the job. He's also shown up at special meetings of the police and fire benefit funds that the treasurer would normally attend, he said, and so far hasn't thought of anything that needs to change.
Democrat Patti Ewen, who served eight terms as city treasurer, decided not to run again this year. After 16 years on the job, Ewen said, she wants more time for travel and other things.
Ewen's decision left the race wide open.
Veits, 57, has lived in Bristol for 34 years. He's a self-employed enrolled agent and income tax specialist with a business in Southington.
"I represent a lot of people in front of the IRS," said Veits, who said he's got more than 1,300 clients. He's done taxes for 27 years, said Veits, and 15 years ago started doing it full time.
Anderson, 63, has lived in Bristol for 25 years. He works as press secretary for the House Republicans at the Capitol in Hartford.
The treasurer's job, Anderson said, is to "ensure the sanctity of the retirement system and the investments that are made in it."
If elected, Anderson said, he'd want to make sure that the city's funds are invested wisely and safely.
"I'm an investor," said Anderson, adding that he covered the city comptroller's office when he covered City Hall for the Bristol Press in the 1980s. "I'm pretty good at spotting what I think is a risky investment. I'm familiar with the way markets work."
Anderson said the treasurer's post has nothing to do with tax forms. He said Veits "should have applied to be the controller" if he wants to tout his tax experience.
"This is not rocket science, what the treasurer does," said Anderson. "You don't really need to have a degree in accounting."
Veits, who has served on the Bristol Planning Commission for 15 years, has been chairman for the last nine years. He said he would not resign his position on the planning board if elected treasurer.
"I don't see a conflict of interest," said Veits, who said Ewen spent years on the Bristol Development Authority.
His integrity and honesty, said Veits, are why he deserves to win.
"My 27 years as a tax preparer and registered rep dealing with mutual funds has given me an experience to step into the treasurer's position with a wealth of knowledge that I can possibly share with others," said Veits.
The treasurer serves a two-year term for a salary of about $4,000. A professional staff handles most of the work in the treasurer's office at City Hall.
*******
Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Neither of the two men running for city treasurer has grand plans for changing the way the office runs.
"If it's not broken, don't fix it," said Mark Anderson, the Republican candidate for the job. "From what I understand, the retirement fund is pretty well managed."
Anderson will face Democrat Bill Veits in the election on Tuesday, Nov. 6.
Veits said he's been attending meetings of the city retirement board for three months now to learn about the job. He's also shown up at special meetings of the police and fire benefit funds that the treasurer would normally attend, he said, and so far hasn't thought of anything that needs to change.
Democrat Patti Ewen, who served eight terms as city treasurer, decided not to run again this year. After 16 years on the job, Ewen said, she wants more time for travel and other things.
Ewen's decision left the race wide open.
Veits, 57, has lived in Bristol for 34 years. He's a self-employed enrolled agent and income tax specialist with a business in Southington.
"I represent a lot of people in front of the IRS," said Veits, who said he's got more than 1,300 clients. He's done taxes for 27 years, said Veits, and 15 years ago started doing it full time.
Anderson, 63, has lived in Bristol for 25 years. He works as press secretary for the House Republicans at the Capitol in Hartford.
The treasurer's job, Anderson said, is to "ensure the sanctity of the retirement system and the investments that are made in it."
If elected, Anderson said, he'd want to make sure that the city's funds are invested wisely and safely.
"I'm an investor," said Anderson, adding that he covered the city comptroller's office when he covered City Hall for the Bristol Press in the 1980s. "I'm pretty good at spotting what I think is a risky investment. I'm familiar with the way markets work."
Anderson said the treasurer's post has nothing to do with tax forms. He said Veits "should have applied to be the controller" if he wants to tout his tax experience.
"This is not rocket science, what the treasurer does," said Anderson. "You don't really need to have a degree in accounting."
Veits, who has served on the Bristol Planning Commission for 15 years, has been chairman for the last nine years. He said he would not resign his position on the planning board if elected treasurer.
"I don't see a conflict of interest," said Veits, who said Ewen spent years on the Bristol Development Authority.
His integrity and honesty, said Veits, are why he deserves to win.
"My 27 years as a tax preparer and registered rep dealing with mutual funds has given me an experience to step into the treasurer's position with a wealth of knowledge that I can possibly share with others," said Veits.
The treasurer serves a two-year term for a salary of about $4,000. A professional staff handles most of the work in the treasurer's office at City Hall.
*******
Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
July 19, 2007
Veits asks Democrats for treasurer nod
To: Democratic Town Committee Members
From: Bill Veits
Date: July 16, 2007
Re: Bristol, CT City Treasurer
Please accept this as my formal request to run for the position of Bristol’s City Treasurer. My experience as a registered mutual fund and investment representative qualifies me as a viable candidate. My daily experiences as an income tax specialist further enhance my skills for this position.
Upon hearing that Patti Ewen, our current highly respected City Treasurer, announced that she would not seek re-election, I have given this position careful consideration.
I am asking for your support on endorsement night. [...]
Biographical information:
William J Veits, EA
Enrolled Agent – licensed to practice before the Internal Revenue Service
Self-employed income tax specialist for over 25 years
57 years old and have been married for 34 years to former Patricia Dallaire
Graduated from New Britain High School in 1968 and from Quinnipiac University in 1972 with a BS in accounting
A resident of Bristol for the past 34 years.
Worked in Corporate America for 20 years
Registered representative (Mutual Funds & IRA’s) thru Commonwealth Financial Network 9 years
Commissioner of the Bristol Planning Commission 15 years (chairman past 9 years)
Secretary & member of the Board of Directors for Bristol ARC
Trustee for Bristol Elks Lodge #1010
Campaign Treasurer for various Democratic candidates
Member of the Bristol Democratic Town Committee
Member Bristol Chamber of Commerce
Member of National Association of Tax Professionals (NATP) past President CT. Chapter
Member of New York/Connecticut Association of Tax Professionals (NY/CT ATP)
Member of National Association of Enrolled Agents (NAEA)
Usher at St. Gregory’s Church
Justice of the Peace
*******
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
From: Bill Veits
Date: July 16, 2007
Re: Bristol, CT City Treasurer
Please accept this as my formal request to run for the position of Bristol’s City Treasurer. My experience as a registered mutual fund and investment representative qualifies me as a viable candidate. My daily experiences as an income tax specialist further enhance my skills for this position.
Upon hearing that Patti Ewen, our current highly respected City Treasurer, announced that she would not seek re-election, I have given this position careful consideration.
I am asking for your support on endorsement night. [...]
Biographical information:
William J Veits, EA
Enrolled Agent – licensed to practice before the Internal Revenue Service
Self-employed income tax specialist for over 25 years
57 years old and have been married for 34 years to former Patricia Dallaire
Graduated from New Britain High School in 1968 and from Quinnipiac University in 1972 with a BS in accounting
A resident of Bristol for the past 34 years.
Worked in Corporate America for 20 years
Registered representative (Mutual Funds & IRA’s) thru Commonwealth Financial Network 9 years
Commissioner of the Bristol Planning Commission 15 years (chairman past 9 years)
Secretary & member of the Board of Directors for Bristol ARC
Trustee for Bristol Elks Lodge #1010
Campaign Treasurer for various Democratic candidates
Member of the Bristol Democratic Town Committee
Member Bristol Chamber of Commerce
Member of National Association of Tax Professionals (NATP) past President CT. Chapter
Member of New York/Connecticut Association of Tax Professionals (NY/CT ATP)
Member of National Association of Enrolled Agents (NAEA)
Usher at St. Gregory’s Church
Justice of the Peace
*******
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
July 18, 2007
Letizia in reserve?
Something interesting is going on in the city treasurer's race.
The only announced candidate to replace retiring city Treasurer Patti Ewen is John Letizia, a Democrat with a solid accounting reputation and a long stint on the city's Board of Finance in his past.
But Letizia may not get his own party's backing Monday, according to many political insiders.
Instead, the Democrats are likely to turn to Bill Veits, another experienced hand.
If that happens, some say, the GOP will toss aside Mark Anderson, its nominated treasurer candidate, and name Letizia instead, a move that would bring extra heft to the Republican ticket.
Anderson is a party loyalist -- and former Press reporter -- who almost certainly has no thought of getting elected as treasurer.
But if the scenario spins out as some anticipate, it could get quite interesting.
*******
Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
The only announced candidate to replace retiring city Treasurer Patti Ewen is John Letizia, a Democrat with a solid accounting reputation and a long stint on the city's Board of Finance in his past.
But Letizia may not get his own party's backing Monday, according to many political insiders.
Instead, the Democrats are likely to turn to Bill Veits, another experienced hand.
If that happens, some say, the GOP will toss aside Mark Anderson, its nominated treasurer candidate, and name Letizia instead, a move that would bring extra heft to the Republican ticket.
Anderson is a party loyalist -- and former Press reporter -- who almost certainly has no thought of getting elected as treasurer.
But if the scenario spins out as some anticipate, it could get quite interesting.
*******
Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
June 7, 2007
Couture: No to Letizia
Former Mayor Gerard Couture said he's not sorry he threatened to punch ex-city Finance Chairman John Letizia nine years ago, an event that precipitated Letizia to leave the the panel.
At the time, Letizia said the only reason he did not pursue criminal charges against Couture was because of "the love and respect I have for my sister and brother‑in‑law."
Couture said Thursday that his brother married Letizia's sister "so I'm not a relative" of the former finance chief, who is eyeing a run for treasurer.
But he scoffed at Letizia's talk of "love and respect" for his sister and brother-in-law.
"He hasn't spoken to his sister or my brother since then," Couture said. "If he loves his sister so much, he should visit her once in awhile."
He said that Letizia hasn't spoken to another of his sisters in 20 years.
"The only person John Letizia loves is himself," Couture said.
I don't think I'm going out on a limb to guess that Letizia won't be breaking his long silence with Couture anytime soon.
At the time, Letizia said the only reason he did not pursue criminal charges against Couture was because of "the love and respect I have for my sister and brother‑in‑law."
Couture said Thursday that his brother married Letizia's sister "so I'm not a relative" of the former finance chief, who is eyeing a run for treasurer.
But he scoffed at Letizia's talk of "love and respect" for his sister and brother-in-law.
"He hasn't spoken to his sister or my brother since then," Couture said. "If he loves his sister so much, he should visit her once in awhile."
He said that Letizia hasn't spoken to another of his sisters in 20 years.
"The only person John Letizia loves is himself," Couture said.
I don't think I'm going out on a limb to guess that Letizia won't be breaking his long silence with Couture anytime soon.
June 5, 2007
June 4, 2007
Letizia eyeing treasurer's position
The tight-fisted former chairman of the city's powerful Board of Finance, John Letizia, said Monday he's interested in running for city treasurer this year.
I phoned Letizia this afternoon to find out if the rumors were true -- going to the source is almost always the best avenue -- and found, a bit to my surprise, that they were.
Letizia said he told city Democratic Party Chairman Dean Kilbourne on Thursday that he's interested in the party's backing to take over the part-time treasurer's slot that Patti Ewen is giving up this year.
"I've always had an interest in it," said Letizia, one of the most prominent accountants in the area.
Letizia led the finance board for about five years in the 1990s, and served on it much longer, guiding the panel with a passion for holding down spending and a wariness of the new projects and programs that various politicians pursued.
He stepped down after then-city Councilor Gerard Couture threatened to punch him in the midst of some long-forgotten funding battle. Letizia said he didn't like the personal attacks he suffered during his stint on the finance panel.
But he's remained community-minded, holding the Greater Bristol Chamber of Commerce's top volunteer position and helping the Bristol Boys and Girls Club for many years, among others.
Letizia is well-known by the political community and at this point is the only candidate from either party to express interest in succeeding Ewen.
I phoned Letizia this afternoon to find out if the rumors were true -- going to the source is almost always the best avenue -- and found, a bit to my surprise, that they were.
Letizia said he told city Democratic Party Chairman Dean Kilbourne on Thursday that he's interested in the party's backing to take over the part-time treasurer's slot that Patti Ewen is giving up this year.
"I've always had an interest in it," said Letizia, one of the most prominent accountants in the area.
Letizia led the finance board for about five years in the 1990s, and served on it much longer, guiding the panel with a passion for holding down spending and a wariness of the new projects and programs that various politicians pursued.
He stepped down after then-city Councilor Gerard Couture threatened to punch him in the midst of some long-forgotten funding battle. Letizia said he didn't like the personal attacks he suffered during his stint on the finance panel.
But he's remained community-minded, holding the Greater Bristol Chamber of Commerce's top volunteer position and helping the Bristol Boys and Girls Club for many years, among others.
Letizia is well-known by the political community and at this point is the only candidate from either party to express interest in succeeding Ewen.
May 22, 2007
Patti Ewen is NOT running again
Honestly, I can't remember if I mentioned in my story for Tuesday's paper that City Treasurer Patti Ewen was seeking re-election. But I certainly thought she was.
I heard her start talking as I bolted from the Democratic meeting to reach the Republicans.
And I committed a journalistic sin: I assumed she was running for re-election.
It turns out, though, that Ewen is not going to run for another term as the city's part-time treasurer. I hope my mistake didn't get in print.
In any case, Ewen's held the post for a long time, generally garnering high marks. Her absence at City Hall will make a difference.
I heard her start talking as I bolted from the Democratic meeting to reach the Republicans.
And I committed a journalistic sin: I assumed she was running for re-election.
It turns out, though, that Ewen is not going to run for another term as the city's part-time treasurer. I hope my mistake didn't get in print.
In any case, Ewen's held the post for a long time, generally garnering high marks. Her absence at City Hall will make a difference.
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