City Councilor Craig Minor said a few minutes ago that he will seek a new vote on the West Bristol school site at tonight's meeting.
Minor, who opposed the Scalia site last week, said he'll change sides and back the spot this time around, which should provide a majority for the Barlow Street sandpit site.
Minor said he prefers the Divinity Street locale, but there's nothing wrong with the Scalia site. He said it is his second choice.
And because he can't get the votes to approve the Divinity and Park streets site, Minor said he'll join the three councilors who backed the Scalia location for a new 900-student, K-8 school.
So it appears the council tonight will endorse the Scalia site four days after turning it down.
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
March 11, 2008
West Bristol School Committee flummoxed by City Council
Story by reporter Jackie Majerus:
After having their chosen location for a new K-8 school rejected twice by city councilors, members of the West End School Building Committee say they don't know what to do next.
"I'm obviously disappointed," said Don Soucy, a committee member who also serves on the city's finance board. "I don't know where the committee's going to go from here. We're back to square one."
Soucy said he'd been hoping that the committee would have been picking out colors of tile to use in the new school by now, instead of still searching for where to put it.
"I'm not happy about the decision," said committee member Gary Vontell of the council vote last week to reject the former Scalia sand pit on Barlow Street as the prime location for a new, 900-student, K-8 school.
"We'll have to meet again and discuss what our options are," said Chris Wilson, a school board member who serves on the committee. "I'm not really sure where we're going to go with this committee."
Vontell said he thinks city councilors want the committee to select the vacant IGA store and surrounding property at Park and Divinity streets – something Vontell said he could never support.
The site isn't big enough, said Vontell, isn't ready to build on, would cost more and possibly be contaminated. He also said it is "too busy" an area to place a school and would displace families from 36 homes that would naturally feed into the school.
Wilson, who preferred the downtown mall property for the school, said he thinks the Park and Divinity site is unsafe.
Soucy said he didn't think there were enough votes on the committee to support either the Park and Divinity street site or the former Roberts property as a location. He said he doesn't see much support on the committee for the other possible locations.
"The other sites have already been researched, studied, visited and ultimately rejected by not being selected," said Soucy. "I'd have to see an alternative site for me not to give 'em Scalia again."
Vontell said it's possible the committee will do just that.
"If it was entirely up to me, I definitely would" name the Scalia site – for the third time – as the best location for the school, said Vontell.
Soucy said he doesn't know if an alternate site exists, and he's concerned about delaying the project.
"The city could be building two schools at two different times," said Soucy, describing a potential disaster if elementary students have to change schools more than once. "You redistrict children twice in this city, it's a nightmare. It's not a pretty sight. You will have the wrath of these parents on you and they won't forget."
Soucy said he hopes a new site can be approved quickly to avoid a delay.
"We have to run side by side with Greene-Hills," Soucy said.
But Soucy said he doesn't like the idea, put forth by committee Chairman Michael Audette, to give city councilors a list of possible locations and see what they like.
The city ordinance says the committee is to select a location for the council to approve, said Soucy.
Committee members initially had scattered favorites, according to Soucy, who said he was the only one who preferred the Park and Divinity site.
"I thought it could work," said Soucy, from an economic and educational standpoint. "I didn't have a problem with the eminent domain issue."
In fact, said Soucy, he favored the Park and Divinity site because he wanted to keep the new school close to O'Connell School on Park Street and because he thought it would be good for the neighborhood, which he said has been "underserved for decades."
Though committee members all had their favorite locations, they compromised and selected the Scalia site.
"The leaning toward certain property was done in discussion," said Soucy, before a majority of the committee came together to recommend the Scalia site.
"Our job was to find the best site for a school that the board of education says we need," said Soucy.
Soucy said he was surprised that city councilors didn't accept the Scalia site the second time around.
"I thought I was a pretty good vote counter," said Soucy. "I thought there would be four votes for it."
Soucy said city councilors applied different standards to the Scalia site than they did to the Forestville site approved for the other planned K-8 school.
"I was upset because they played by different rules," said Soucy. "Their minds were made up and the deal was sealed."
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
After having their chosen location for a new K-8 school rejected twice by city councilors, members of the West End School Building Committee say they don't know what to do next.
"I'm obviously disappointed," said Don Soucy, a committee member who also serves on the city's finance board. "I don't know where the committee's going to go from here. We're back to square one."
Soucy said he'd been hoping that the committee would have been picking out colors of tile to use in the new school by now, instead of still searching for where to put it.
"I'm not happy about the decision," said committee member Gary Vontell of the council vote last week to reject the former Scalia sand pit on Barlow Street as the prime location for a new, 900-student, K-8 school.
"We'll have to meet again and discuss what our options are," said Chris Wilson, a school board member who serves on the committee. "I'm not really sure where we're going to go with this committee."
Vontell said he thinks city councilors want the committee to select the vacant IGA store and surrounding property at Park and Divinity streets – something Vontell said he could never support.
The site isn't big enough, said Vontell, isn't ready to build on, would cost more and possibly be contaminated. He also said it is "too busy" an area to place a school and would displace families from 36 homes that would naturally feed into the school.
Wilson, who preferred the downtown mall property for the school, said he thinks the Park and Divinity site is unsafe.
Soucy said he didn't think there were enough votes on the committee to support either the Park and Divinity street site or the former Roberts property as a location. He said he doesn't see much support on the committee for the other possible locations.
"The other sites have already been researched, studied, visited and ultimately rejected by not being selected," said Soucy. "I'd have to see an alternative site for me not to give 'em Scalia again."
Vontell said it's possible the committee will do just that.
"If it was entirely up to me, I definitely would" name the Scalia site – for the third time – as the best location for the school, said Vontell.
Soucy said he doesn't know if an alternate site exists, and he's concerned about delaying the project.
"The city could be building two schools at two different times," said Soucy, describing a potential disaster if elementary students have to change schools more than once. "You redistrict children twice in this city, it's a nightmare. It's not a pretty sight. You will have the wrath of these parents on you and they won't forget."
Soucy said he hopes a new site can be approved quickly to avoid a delay.
"We have to run side by side with Greene-Hills," Soucy said.
But Soucy said he doesn't like the idea, put forth by committee Chairman Michael Audette, to give city councilors a list of possible locations and see what they like.
The city ordinance says the committee is to select a location for the council to approve, said Soucy.
Committee members initially had scattered favorites, according to Soucy, who said he was the only one who preferred the Park and Divinity site.
"I thought it could work," said Soucy, from an economic and educational standpoint. "I didn't have a problem with the eminent domain issue."
In fact, said Soucy, he favored the Park and Divinity site because he wanted to keep the new school close to O'Connell School on Park Street and because he thought it would be good for the neighborhood, which he said has been "underserved for decades."
Though committee members all had their favorite locations, they compromised and selected the Scalia site.
"The leaning toward certain property was done in discussion," said Soucy, before a majority of the committee came together to recommend the Scalia site.
"Our job was to find the best site for a school that the board of education says we need," said Soucy.
Soucy said he was surprised that city councilors didn't accept the Scalia site the second time around.
"I thought I was a pretty good vote counter," said Soucy. "I thought there would be four votes for it."
Soucy said city councilors applied different standards to the Scalia site than they did to the Forestville site approved for the other planned K-8 school.
"I was upset because they played by different rules," said Soucy. "Their minds were made up and the deal was sealed."
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Ward has great view of mall coming down
By reporter Jackie Majerus
:
From his third floor office at City Hall, Mayor Art Ward can watch his favorite show – the demolition of the downtown mall.
The view, said Ward, is of the "rejuvenation of our downtown" and "an economic upturn for the community."
Ward said he monitors the progress of the wrecking crews from his office window.
"I can sit right here at my desk. I can look out and I can see the advancement of the demolition," said Ward.
As of midday Monday, the building was about halfway down.
"They're probably a couple days ahead of time," said Ward. "It'll be done by the end of the month. Hopefully, it'll be cleaned up immediately thereafter."
The mayor said he is anticipating the next phase to follow – seeing something new sprout up.
"That'll be the greatest part," said Ward.
Bristol Purchasing Agent Roger Rousseau said the work is on track for the mall to be demolished by the end of March. The site will be cleared after that, he said.
"Things are still progressing," said Rousseau.
According to Rousseau, the crews are having a problem with the hydraulic arm of one of the excavators, but he said it shouldn't delay the demolition at all.
It appears the country is headed for – or already in – a recession, and Ward said the economy could impact the downtown project.
"It is hard to ignore it," said Ward.
But the mayor said based on the inquiries that are coming to the city, he thinks the interest in developing the property is still strong.
It's even possible that a recession could work in Bristol's favor as far as the mall property goes, Ward said.
Developers may be looking for a project to get involved in, said Ward, if their normal business is slowed.
Rousseau said a request for a proposal was sent out to about 30 potential development firms by the Bristol Downtown Development Corp., the non-profit agency that is charged with overseeing the development of the 17-acre, city-owned mall property.
Rousseau said he has no way of knowing how many of them will respond with a formal proposal, but that a site walk for prospective developers will be held at the end of this month.
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
:From his third floor office at City Hall, Mayor Art Ward can watch his favorite show – the demolition of the downtown mall.
The view, said Ward, is of the "rejuvenation of our downtown" and "an economic upturn for the community."
Ward said he monitors the progress of the wrecking crews from his office window.
"I can sit right here at my desk. I can look out and I can see the advancement of the demolition," said Ward.
As of midday Monday, the building was about halfway down.
"They're probably a couple days ahead of time," said Ward. "It'll be done by the end of the month. Hopefully, it'll be cleaned up immediately thereafter."
The mayor said he is anticipating the next phase to follow – seeing something new sprout up.
"That'll be the greatest part," said Ward.
Bristol Purchasing Agent Roger Rousseau said the work is on track for the mall to be demolished by the end of March. The site will be cleared after that, he said.
"Things are still progressing," said Rousseau.
According to Rousseau, the crews are having a problem with the hydraulic arm of one of the excavators, but he said it shouldn't delay the demolition at all.
It appears the country is headed for – or already in – a recession, and Ward said the economy could impact the downtown project.
"It is hard to ignore it," said Ward.
But the mayor said based on the inquiries that are coming to the city, he thinks the interest in developing the property is still strong.
It's even possible that a recession could work in Bristol's favor as far as the mall property goes, Ward said.
Developers may be looking for a project to get involved in, said Ward, if their normal business is slowed.
Rousseau said a request for a proposal was sent out to about 30 potential development firms by the Bristol Downtown Development Corp., the non-profit agency that is charged with overseeing the development of the 17-acre, city-owned mall property.
Rousseau said he has no way of knowing how many of them will respond with a formal proposal, but that a site walk for prospective developers will be held at the end of this month.
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
March 10, 2008
Murder victim's family and friends speak out for bill in Hartford
Press release from state Rep. Bill Hamzy, just issued:
Family members, in-laws and friends of Jennifer Magnano of Terryville, who was murdered by her husband last August, testified today in favor of a bill that would allow family violence victims who fear for their safety to offer court testimony via teleconference rather than being forced to appear in person.
The legislation (House Bill 5875) which was developed by state Representative William A. Hamzy, R-78th District, was considered at a public hearing today before the state legislature’s Judiciary Committee.
Mrs. Magnano had left Terryville on April 14, 2007 with her son and two daughters and fled to California to escape an abusive relationship with her husband Scott Magnano. Forced by a court order to return to Connecticut to testify in person in her divorce and child custody battle with her husband, she was murdered by Scott Magnano in the front yard of their Terryville home at about 11 p.m. August 23, 2007.
Jennifer Magnano and two of her children, who had been staying with friends, had returned to the home to pick up some belongings, when her husband, who was under a court order to stay away from her, forced her into the front yard and shot her. A few hours later, police found Scott Magnano a short distance from the house, dead of an apparent self-inflicted gun shot wound.
“We had to come back to Connecticut,” Jessica Rosenbeck, 22, Jennifer Magnano’s daughter, testified. “Scott had somehow gotten custody of my siblings, and my mom had to fight him in court. She considered just running away with us, but she always tried to do the right thing. We went to lawyers, court hearings, did everything we were told, but it wasn’t enough. No one took us seriously and my mother paid the price. No other family should know the pain we feel each day, and I hope with the passing of a bill like this, that can be possible.”
“I am here today to testify in support of H. B. 5875 because the court system failed us,” said David Magnano, 16, Jennifer and Scott Magnano’s son. “”We relied on and followed the current system and it failed us. And because of that, my sisters and I are now without our mother. My nine-year-old sister now lives on the other side of the country; the other side of the continent. And for the rest of her childhood and the rest of my childhood, we will get to see each other maybe five or six times a year. [My mother] was an honest woman who always followed the rules, and she was a good mother, and she paid the price for it. The courts, the police, every government agency involved, did nothing to protect my mom.”
Saying his mother had told him: “I do not want to be just another statistic,” David Magnano added: “We are here today to make sure that my mother is NOT just another statistic.”
Lisa Magnano, Jennifer Magnano’s sister-in-law, testified that a police officer had told Jen that after reading the court order requiring Scott Magnano to come no closer than 300 feet from his wife, “that because it was a civil order, he would not have been able to arrest Scott [if he violated the order].”
“This is why [this legislation] would be important in helping victims in these situations – because the perpetrators of these crimes do not have respect for the court system and feel they are above the law or any order from the courts. Because of Scott’s disregard for the court system, we now have two children who are not being raised with the tender love and guidance of their dear mother,” Lisa Magnano told the committee.
“Jennifer Magnano had good reason to fear for her life when she returned to Connecticut to fight for the custody of her children,’ said Representative Hamzy. “If Connecticut law had allowed her to teleconference her testimony from a safe location unknown to her husband Scott, she would be alive and her children would be living with her today. Instead, she was ordered to return to Terryville, where she clearly was in danger, and paid a horrible price because she obeyed the law. This legislation, which Jennifer’s family and friends hope will become known as ‘Jen’s Law’ if it passes, could save the lives of hundreds of women in her situation for years to come.”
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Family members, in-laws and friends of Jennifer Magnano of Terryville, who was murdered by her husband last August, testified today in favor of a bill that would allow family violence victims who fear for their safety to offer court testimony via teleconference rather than being forced to appear in person.
The legislation (House Bill 5875) which was developed by state Representative William A. Hamzy, R-78th District, was considered at a public hearing today before the state legislature’s Judiciary Committee.
Mrs. Magnano had left Terryville on April 14, 2007 with her son and two daughters and fled to California to escape an abusive relationship with her husband Scott Magnano. Forced by a court order to return to Connecticut to testify in person in her divorce and child custody battle with her husband, she was murdered by Scott Magnano in the front yard of their Terryville home at about 11 p.m. August 23, 2007.
Jennifer Magnano and two of her children, who had been staying with friends, had returned to the home to pick up some belongings, when her husband, who was under a court order to stay away from her, forced her into the front yard and shot her. A few hours later, police found Scott Magnano a short distance from the house, dead of an apparent self-inflicted gun shot wound.
“We had to come back to Connecticut,” Jessica Rosenbeck, 22, Jennifer Magnano’s daughter, testified. “Scott had somehow gotten custody of my siblings, and my mom had to fight him in court. She considered just running away with us, but she always tried to do the right thing. We went to lawyers, court hearings, did everything we were told, but it wasn’t enough. No one took us seriously and my mother paid the price. No other family should know the pain we feel each day, and I hope with the passing of a bill like this, that can be possible.”
“I am here today to testify in support of H. B. 5875 because the court system failed us,” said David Magnano, 16, Jennifer and Scott Magnano’s son. “”We relied on and followed the current system and it failed us. And because of that, my sisters and I are now without our mother. My nine-year-old sister now lives on the other side of the country; the other side of the continent. And for the rest of her childhood and the rest of my childhood, we will get to see each other maybe five or six times a year. [My mother] was an honest woman who always followed the rules, and she was a good mother, and she paid the price for it. The courts, the police, every government agency involved, did nothing to protect my mom.”
Saying his mother had told him: “I do not want to be just another statistic,” David Magnano added: “We are here today to make sure that my mother is NOT just another statistic.”
Lisa Magnano, Jennifer Magnano’s sister-in-law, testified that a police officer had told Jen that after reading the court order requiring Scott Magnano to come no closer than 300 feet from his wife, “that because it was a civil order, he would not have been able to arrest Scott [if he violated the order].”
“This is why [this legislation] would be important in helping victims in these situations – because the perpetrators of these crimes do not have respect for the court system and feel they are above the law or any order from the courts. Because of Scott’s disregard for the court system, we now have two children who are not being raised with the tender love and guidance of their dear mother,” Lisa Magnano told the committee.
“Jennifer Magnano had good reason to fear for her life when she returned to Connecticut to fight for the custody of her children,’ said Representative Hamzy. “If Connecticut law had allowed her to teleconference her testimony from a safe location unknown to her husband Scott, she would be alive and her children would be living with her today. Instead, she was ordered to return to Terryville, where she clearly was in danger, and paid a horrible price because she obeyed the law. This legislation, which Jennifer’s family and friends hope will become known as ‘Jen’s Law’ if it passes, could save the lives of hundreds of women in her situation for years to come.”
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
What's shaking this week at City Hall?
I'm off today because I need to cover Saturday's Academic Bowl (or at least that's what I think I'm doing Saturday!) so, kind and not-so-kind readers, it's up to you to bring up some issues and tales until tomorrow night's City Council session.
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Review of haunting "Bluest Eye" at Hartford Stage
HARTFORD – "The Bluest Eye," a tragic tale of shattered dreams now playing at Hartford Stage, is a poignant and revealing look inside the troubled heart and mind of a young black girl.
Based on the Toni Morrison novel "The Bluest Eye," the story of 11-year-old Pecola Breedlove's childhood is filled with racism, incest and poverty.
The play, adapted by Lydia Diamond, is almost devoid of hope, save for the thought that the story is set in the 1940s and that life has to be better now for a girl like Pecola.
Though she lives in poverty and is abused by her own father, possibly the saddest fact about Pecola's life comes from within. She doesn't believe in herself or see her own beauty.
Instead, brainwashed by culture, society, maybe even her own family, she believes that she must have blue eyes to be pretty. Naturally, she supposes that all good things come from being pretty, so she prays for blue eyes.
In her simple, heartbreaking prayer, Pecola asks God to change her brown eyes to blue "so that my mama loves me and I have friends and they think I'm pretty."
It's a painful thing to hear a child say, and it hurts to watch the story unfold.
The all-adult cast does a terrific job with the story, but it's important to recognize the outstanding performance by Adepero Oduye, who plays Pecola.
Other notables were Miche Braden, who played Mama and also brought her wonderful voice to the music in the show, and Ellis Foster, who delivered some of the play's most humorous moments with a delightfully dry wit in the character of Daddy, a hardworking and loving father who sharply contrasted the abuser.
The set, typical for Hartford Stage, is intriguing and well thought-out.
Sheets hung on a series of clotheslines all around the set give the feel of an old-fashioned city neighborhood, and the story is unveiled in increments that parallel when the bedclothes are removed one by one from the line.
"The Bluest Eye" is a co-production of Hartford Stage and the Long Wharf Theater in New Haven.
The show runs at Hartford Stage through March 23. The production then moves to the Long Wharf Theater from March 28 through April 20.
Eric Ting, Long Wharf's associate artistic director, directs "The Bluest Eye" at both theaters.
Tickets for the Hartford Stage production are $23 to $64, but discounts for groups, last-minute purchases and some $10 "Ten Spot" tickets may be available. Contact the theater box office at (860)527-5151 or go to www.hartfordstage.org for more information.
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Based on the Toni Morrison novel "The Bluest Eye," the story of 11-year-old Pecola Breedlove's childhood is filled with racism, incest and poverty.
The play, adapted by Lydia Diamond, is almost devoid of hope, save for the thought that the story is set in the 1940s and that life has to be better now for a girl like Pecola.
Though she lives in poverty and is abused by her own father, possibly the saddest fact about Pecola's life comes from within. She doesn't believe in herself or see her own beauty.
Instead, brainwashed by culture, society, maybe even her own family, she believes that she must have blue eyes to be pretty. Naturally, she supposes that all good things come from being pretty, so she prays for blue eyes.
In her simple, heartbreaking prayer, Pecola asks God to change her brown eyes to blue "so that my mama loves me and I have friends and they think I'm pretty."
It's a painful thing to hear a child say, and it hurts to watch the story unfold.
The all-adult cast does a terrific job with the story, but it's important to recognize the outstanding performance by Adepero Oduye, who plays Pecola.
Other notables were Miche Braden, who played Mama and also brought her wonderful voice to the music in the show, and Ellis Foster, who delivered some of the play's most humorous moments with a delightfully dry wit in the character of Daddy, a hardworking and loving father who sharply contrasted the abuser.
The set, typical for Hartford Stage, is intriguing and well thought-out.
Sheets hung on a series of clotheslines all around the set give the feel of an old-fashioned city neighborhood, and the story is unveiled in increments that parallel when the bedclothes are removed one by one from the line.
"The Bluest Eye" is a co-production of Hartford Stage and the Long Wharf Theater in New Haven.
The show runs at Hartford Stage through March 23. The production then moves to the Long Wharf Theater from March 28 through April 20.
Eric Ting, Long Wharf's associate artistic director, directs "The Bluest Eye" at both theaters.
Tickets for the Hartford Stage production are $23 to $64, but discounts for groups, last-minute purchases and some $10 "Ten Spot" tickets may be available. Contact the theater box office at (860)527-5151 or go to www.hartfordstage.org for more information.
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
March 8, 2008
Green Party to nominate Larson critic on Wednesday
Green Party activist Steve Fournier plans to make his race against U. S. Rep. John Larson formal when the party holds its nominating convention at this home in Hartford, according to his blog post here.
Larson, an East Hartford Democrat whose 1st District includes Bristol, is also expected to face opposition from Republican Joe Visconti, a West Hartford town councilor.
Fournier writes that "over the coming months, voters will be surveying the damage done to the country by the two parties. If ever there was an opportune year for third-party candidates, this is it."
Larson has represented the heavily Democratic district since 1998.
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Larson, an East Hartford Democrat whose 1st District includes Bristol, is also expected to face opposition from Republican Joe Visconti, a West Hartford town councilor.
Fournier writes that "over the coming months, voters will be surveying the damage done to the country by the two parties. If ever there was an opportune year for third-party candidates, this is it."
Larson has represented the heavily Democratic district since 1998.
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
March 7, 2008
Don't hit taxpayers up for cash the city already has in its pension fund, Cockayne urges
With city pension funds bulging, a Republican city councilor says it doesn’t make sense to sock taxpayers to fill a new trust account to cover the future health care of municipal retirees who won’t ever need all the cash that’s already piled up in City Hall’s retirement funds.
Shifting the excess retirement money into the health care account would create “a huge savings for the taxpayers,” said city Councilor Ken Cockayne.
He said he asked the city’s Ethics Board about whether three council colleagues who might collect from the account whether the trio should be allowed to participate in the decision about whether to make the change in large part to push the whole issue onto the front burner again.
The city needs to sock away about $77 million to pay health benefits for its workers when they retire, said city Comptroller Glenn Klocko. It has only $1.1 million in the account so far and plans to add $200,000 more this year, a figure that’s slated to rise 25 percent annually for the next three decades, he said.
Cockayne said that in the long run, the new fund would cost taxpayers about $2 million annually, and for no good reason.
The consultant from Merrill Lynch who has overseen the stunningly successful investments that have led city pension funds to be so flush is among those who have advocated taking money from the more than $500 million in pension accounts and paying what’s needed into the new health benefits account, an idea that Klocko has also supported.
But Mayor Art Ward said he’s not sure it would be the right move.
“Are we in essence robbing Peter to pay Paul?” the mayor asked.
He said the city needs to “proceed cautiously” because the funds have the potential to make such a difference to taxpayers, city workers and retirees, particularly if the pension funds were to take a big financial hit someday.
“We need to make sure we make a qualified decision and it’s not an emotional one,” Ward said.
Cockayne said that all of the experts who look after the city’s money – actuarial professionals, consultants, labor lawyers and others – have told him that shifting the excess pension money into the new account is the best move.
“The opposition is coming from the unions. The unions are bucking it, saying this needs to be negotiated,” said Cockayne, who points to federal and state rulings that say the city can make the change without union consent.
City union officials have said they’re not necessarily opposed to the idea pushed by Cockayne, but they believe that it can’t be done without the union’s consent. They concede that getting a green light from the unions almost certainly means the city would have to offer something in return.
Among the possibilities, they said, are guaranteed cost-of-living increases in pensions or an extension of the 10-year period in which retirees get municipal health care. But nobody’s locked into anything in particular.
Cockayne said he doesn’t think the unions should get anything. He said it’s up to the city alone to decide whether to pump retirement cash into the new health benefits fund required to meet the GASB 45 accounting standard.
“I have every intention of forcing this issue,” Cockayne said. “This is an issue we need to address.”
Cockayne said that families in Bristol are living paycheck to paycheck, struggling to cope with rising utility costs and tax bills that keep rising. This is one way, he said, to ease their burden a bit without hurting anyone.
The unions “are trying to hold the city hostage,” Cockayne said, with their demands to get something in return for their agreement.
“It’s time for them to give back a little and do what’s right for the taxpayers of this town, the taxpayers who are paying their salaries,” Cockayne said.
Ethics ruling sought
A freshman city councilor said he fears “there may be conflicts of interest” for three of his more senior City Council colleagues to vote on issues related to the transfer of money from municipal pension accounts into a new health benefits fund.
Republican Ken Cockayne said the trio – Mayor Art Ward and Democrats Kevin McCauley and Frank Nicastro – are “directly affected by the outcome” of the issue because they or family members are set to collect some of the money.
McCauley is a city firefighter. Ward’s wife works for the Board of Education. And Nicastro, a retired mayor and truant officer, collects a city pension.
While McCauley denied that he has a conflict, Ward sidestepped the question.
“I’ll await the decision of the ethics board and I’ll abide by that decision,” the mayor said.
Nicastro, who collects a city pension, has avoided for years voting on issues that might raise questions about a conflict.
The other three councilors, including Republican Mike Rimcoski, said they don’t see a problem.
“I don’t know where Kenny’s going with this, but it has nothing to do with benefitting any of us,” said freshman city Councilor Cliff Block.
Block said the new trust fund is a mandate the city has to obey. But it doesn’t change any benefits that anyone, including councilors, will receive.
Block said that Cockayne received “a little bit of bad information on this one.”
City Councilor Craig Minor said the city “has a contractual obligation to provide certain post-employment health benefits to its employees. How it manages the cost of meeting that obligation is mere bookkeeping. I don’t think Ken understands this.”
“I’m sure all the council members know when to excuse themselves,” said veteran Republican Councilman Mike Rimcoski. “I really don’t see a problem.”
McCauley said his 2nd District colleague “has not done his due diligence on this issue and is confusing the facts.”
He said that because the fire and police retirement funds are separate and “not under consideration,” he doesn’t have a conflict.“ This is a taxpayer issue, however not the way he is presenting it,” McCauley said.
“The policy under consideration is to evaluate setting up a mechanism to allow for the funding of future liability of retirement health benefits in a way that can benefit the taxpayers,” said McCauley, a second-term Democrat. “Whether the city decides to negotiate down the road concerning the fire and police retirement funds is a whole other subject.”
Cockayne said that McCauley’s statement “is absolutely incorrect” because money would also come out of the police and fire retirement accounts, an assertion that city financial officials confirmed.
Cockayne said he figures he’s going to wind up getting yelled at again.
“I’m wondering if I’m going to get called into the principal’s office. I’ve already been called in twice” to talk with Ward, Cockayne said.
“He’s yelled at me like a 5-year-old kid because I do things in public,” Cockayne said.
Shifting the excess retirement money into the health care account would create “a huge savings for the taxpayers,” said city Councilor Ken Cockayne.
He said he asked the city’s Ethics Board about whether three council colleagues who might collect from the account whether the trio should be allowed to participate in the decision about whether to make the change in large part to push the whole issue onto the front burner again.
The city needs to sock away about $77 million to pay health benefits for its workers when they retire, said city Comptroller Glenn Klocko. It has only $1.1 million in the account so far and plans to add $200,000 more this year, a figure that’s slated to rise 25 percent annually for the next three decades, he said.
Cockayne said that in the long run, the new fund would cost taxpayers about $2 million annually, and for no good reason.
The consultant from Merrill Lynch who has overseen the stunningly successful investments that have led city pension funds to be so flush is among those who have advocated taking money from the more than $500 million in pension accounts and paying what’s needed into the new health benefits account, an idea that Klocko has also supported.
But Mayor Art Ward said he’s not sure it would be the right move.
“Are we in essence robbing Peter to pay Paul?” the mayor asked.
He said the city needs to “proceed cautiously” because the funds have the potential to make such a difference to taxpayers, city workers and retirees, particularly if the pension funds were to take a big financial hit someday.
“We need to make sure we make a qualified decision and it’s not an emotional one,” Ward said.
Cockayne said that all of the experts who look after the city’s money – actuarial professionals, consultants, labor lawyers and others – have told him that shifting the excess pension money into the new account is the best move.
“The opposition is coming from the unions. The unions are bucking it, saying this needs to be negotiated,” said Cockayne, who points to federal and state rulings that say the city can make the change without union consent.
City union officials have said they’re not necessarily opposed to the idea pushed by Cockayne, but they believe that it can’t be done without the union’s consent. They concede that getting a green light from the unions almost certainly means the city would have to offer something in return.
Among the possibilities, they said, are guaranteed cost-of-living increases in pensions or an extension of the 10-year period in which retirees get municipal health care. But nobody’s locked into anything in particular.
Cockayne said he doesn’t think the unions should get anything. He said it’s up to the city alone to decide whether to pump retirement cash into the new health benefits fund required to meet the GASB 45 accounting standard.
“I have every intention of forcing this issue,” Cockayne said. “This is an issue we need to address.”
Cockayne said that families in Bristol are living paycheck to paycheck, struggling to cope with rising utility costs and tax bills that keep rising. This is one way, he said, to ease their burden a bit without hurting anyone.
The unions “are trying to hold the city hostage,” Cockayne said, with their demands to get something in return for their agreement.
“It’s time for them to give back a little and do what’s right for the taxpayers of this town, the taxpayers who are paying their salaries,” Cockayne said.
Ethics ruling sought
A freshman city councilor said he fears “there may be conflicts of interest” for three of his more senior City Council colleagues to vote on issues related to the transfer of money from municipal pension accounts into a new health benefits fund.
Republican Ken Cockayne said the trio – Mayor Art Ward and Democrats Kevin McCauley and Frank Nicastro – are “directly affected by the outcome” of the issue because they or family members are set to collect some of the money.
McCauley is a city firefighter. Ward’s wife works for the Board of Education. And Nicastro, a retired mayor and truant officer, collects a city pension.
While McCauley denied that he has a conflict, Ward sidestepped the question.
“I’ll await the decision of the ethics board and I’ll abide by that decision,” the mayor said.
Nicastro, who collects a city pension, has avoided for years voting on issues that might raise questions about a conflict.
The other three councilors, including Republican Mike Rimcoski, said they don’t see a problem.
“I don’t know where Kenny’s going with this, but it has nothing to do with benefitting any of us,” said freshman city Councilor Cliff Block.
Block said the new trust fund is a mandate the city has to obey. But it doesn’t change any benefits that anyone, including councilors, will receive.
Block said that Cockayne received “a little bit of bad information on this one.”
City Councilor Craig Minor said the city “has a contractual obligation to provide certain post-employment health benefits to its employees. How it manages the cost of meeting that obligation is mere bookkeeping. I don’t think Ken understands this.”
“I’m sure all the council members know when to excuse themselves,” said veteran Republican Councilman Mike Rimcoski. “I really don’t see a problem.”
McCauley said his 2nd District colleague “has not done his due diligence on this issue and is confusing the facts.”
He said that because the fire and police retirement funds are separate and “not under consideration,” he doesn’t have a conflict.“ This is a taxpayer issue, however not the way he is presenting it,” McCauley said.
“The policy under consideration is to evaluate setting up a mechanism to allow for the funding of future liability of retirement health benefits in a way that can benefit the taxpayers,” said McCauley, a second-term Democrat. “Whether the city decides to negotiate down the road concerning the fire and police retirement funds is a whole other subject.”
Cockayne said that McCauley’s statement “is absolutely incorrect” because money would also come out of the police and fire retirement accounts, an assertion that city financial officials confirmed.
Cockayne said he figures he’s going to wind up getting yelled at again.
“I’m wondering if I’m going to get called into the principal’s office. I’ve already been called in twice” to talk with Ward, Cockayne said.
“He’s yelled at me like a 5-year-old kid because I do things in public,” Cockayne said.
Cockayne's letter to the Ethics Board
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
March 6, 2008
Councilors say 'no' to Scalia site
I'll post reporter Jackie Majerus' story when it's done, but the City Council tonight voted down by a 4-3 margin the proposal to put a new K-8 school at the Scalia site on Barlow Street. I don't think there's any real consensus for a different site.
Update at 10:25 p.m. - Here is the promised story:
In a 4-3 vote Thursday, city councilors shot down a plan to build a 900-student, K-8 school on a former Scalia sand pit, sending the location problem back to the West End School Building Committee.
"The options are limited," said Mayor Art Ward, who cast the deciding vote against the Scalia site. "There's not a lot of alternatives."
"I honestly believe that this is the wrong site for the wrong reason at the wrong time," said Councilor Mike Rimcoski.
Ward, Rimcoski and Councilor Frank Nicastro, who also voted against the site, all said they were concerned about the price of the property if the Scalia family claimed they could still mine the land.
Rimcoski said he spoke with a member of the Scalia family who said she didn't want to see a school there and mentioned mining rights.
"As soon as she said that, the first thing I saw was dollar signs," Rimcoski said.
Nicastro said, "If their mining rights are still there, that cost could skyrocket."
The other councilor who voted against the Scalia site, Craig Minor, tried to push the council into making a clear decision Thursday, saying the residents of the Park and Divinity neighborhood have been in "purgatory" ever since the plan to put a school there – and take about 35 properties in the process – came to light.
"We need to make a decision tonight," said Minor. "This just can't go on forever."
Several residents spoke against putting a new school on the sand pit, but others came to tell the council that the Park and Divinity location was the wrong spot.
"We'd lose our home by eminent domain," said Debra Gagnon, a Divinity Street resident who said property owners can't sell their homes and are even afraid to invest in repairs while the question hangs over them.
Still others cheered the idea of the Scalia site.
Jeff Merrow said he grew up on Park Street and knows the contamination in the neighborhood from junkyards. It wouldn't be a good place for a school, according to Merrow.
Putting a school on the old Scalia sand pit site, said Merrow, is "a fantastic idea."
Minor said the council should try to steer the West End committee to the Park and Divinity street location and after the Scalia site was voted down, he made a motion to that effect, but no one seconded it and it died.
Nicastro said he doesn't like the Scalia site, but isn't in favor of the Park and Divinity location, either.
"I never felt that either place was the right place," said Nicastro.
Ward said a problem with rejecting the Scalia site was that the Park and Divinity site – which Ward called the "worst idea" – could be next in line.
The best site was the former Roberts property, said Ward, "and that's been eliminated."
Superintendent Phil Streifer said he wasn't surprised by the council's vote.
"This really is a difficult decision," said Streifer, who said there's "no clear winning solution."
Streifer said the building committee will now meet again and consider alternatives. While the committee could recommend the Scalia site a third time, Streifer said he would encourage them to select a different location.
Councilors Cliff Block, Ken Cockayne and Kevin McCauley all voted in favor of approving the Scalia site.
"The days of neighborhood schools are no longer," said Block.
McCauley said the Scalia family should sell the land without the city having to use the power of eminent domain.
The Scalia family's mining company, McCauley said, has "abused their position in excavating that land." He said neighbors have "been abused for years" by the "overindulgence" of the use of that land.
But McCauley still said the Scalia site is the best option.
"Safety is number one," said McCauley. "I believe Scalia is the safest bet for our students."
Cockayne, who is on the West End School Building Committee, said two different groups of people on the committee chose the Scalia property as the best site.
"I'd hate to see it taken off the table," said Cockayne.
But Nicastro said the streets aren't safe for heavy school traffic and that major road work would be required to make it work.
Nicastro also said the district made a "costly mistake" in dumping the old K-8 system for a middle school format.
"It seems like we follow trends 15-20 years later," Nicastro said.
In his remarks, Rimcoski called on several city officials, including the fire chief and city planner, to answer questions.
Fire Chief Jon Pose said the trucks could make it through a tunnel to the school site, but that if they had to go around via Clark Avenue there could be "significant" delays in the response time.
City Planner Alan Weiner said the potential sites are limited in part because of the size of the school.
"There is no clear cut best site," said Weiner.
Despite sending the committee back to the drawing board, councilors were careful to pat them on the back.
"You're doing a thankless job," said Rimcoski.
Nicastro, too, said the committee members were working as unpaid volunteers and that he didn't want to belittle their efforts.
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Update at 10:25 p.m. - Here is the promised story:
In a 4-3 vote Thursday, city councilors shot down a plan to build a 900-student, K-8 school on a former Scalia sand pit, sending the location problem back to the West End School Building Committee.
"The options are limited," said Mayor Art Ward, who cast the deciding vote against the Scalia site. "There's not a lot of alternatives."
"I honestly believe that this is the wrong site for the wrong reason at the wrong time," said Councilor Mike Rimcoski.
Ward, Rimcoski and Councilor Frank Nicastro, who also voted against the site, all said they were concerned about the price of the property if the Scalia family claimed they could still mine the land.
Rimcoski said he spoke with a member of the Scalia family who said she didn't want to see a school there and mentioned mining rights.
"As soon as she said that, the first thing I saw was dollar signs," Rimcoski said.
Nicastro said, "If their mining rights are still there, that cost could skyrocket."
The other councilor who voted against the Scalia site, Craig Minor, tried to push the council into making a clear decision Thursday, saying the residents of the Park and Divinity neighborhood have been in "purgatory" ever since the plan to put a school there – and take about 35 properties in the process – came to light.
"We need to make a decision tonight," said Minor. "This just can't go on forever."
Several residents spoke against putting a new school on the sand pit, but others came to tell the council that the Park and Divinity location was the wrong spot.
"We'd lose our home by eminent domain," said Debra Gagnon, a Divinity Street resident who said property owners can't sell their homes and are even afraid to invest in repairs while the question hangs over them.
Still others cheered the idea of the Scalia site.
Jeff Merrow said he grew up on Park Street and knows the contamination in the neighborhood from junkyards. It wouldn't be a good place for a school, according to Merrow.
Putting a school on the old Scalia sand pit site, said Merrow, is "a fantastic idea."
Minor said the council should try to steer the West End committee to the Park and Divinity street location and after the Scalia site was voted down, he made a motion to that effect, but no one seconded it and it died.
Nicastro said he doesn't like the Scalia site, but isn't in favor of the Park and Divinity location, either.
"I never felt that either place was the right place," said Nicastro.
Ward said a problem with rejecting the Scalia site was that the Park and Divinity site – which Ward called the "worst idea" – could be next in line.
The best site was the former Roberts property, said Ward, "and that's been eliminated."
Superintendent Phil Streifer said he wasn't surprised by the council's vote.
"This really is a difficult decision," said Streifer, who said there's "no clear winning solution."
Streifer said the building committee will now meet again and consider alternatives. While the committee could recommend the Scalia site a third time, Streifer said he would encourage them to select a different location.
Councilors Cliff Block, Ken Cockayne and Kevin McCauley all voted in favor of approving the Scalia site.
"The days of neighborhood schools are no longer," said Block.
McCauley said the Scalia family should sell the land without the city having to use the power of eminent domain.
The Scalia family's mining company, McCauley said, has "abused their position in excavating that land." He said neighbors have "been abused for years" by the "overindulgence" of the use of that land.
But McCauley still said the Scalia site is the best option.
"Safety is number one," said McCauley. "I believe Scalia is the safest bet for our students."
Cockayne, who is on the West End School Building Committee, said two different groups of people on the committee chose the Scalia property as the best site.
"I'd hate to see it taken off the table," said Cockayne.
But Nicastro said the streets aren't safe for heavy school traffic and that major road work would be required to make it work.
Nicastro also said the district made a "costly mistake" in dumping the old K-8 system for a middle school format.
"It seems like we follow trends 15-20 years later," Nicastro said.
In his remarks, Rimcoski called on several city officials, including the fire chief and city planner, to answer questions.
Fire Chief Jon Pose said the trucks could make it through a tunnel to the school site, but that if they had to go around via Clark Avenue there could be "significant" delays in the response time.
City Planner Alan Weiner said the potential sites are limited in part because of the size of the school.
"There is no clear cut best site," said Weiner.
Despite sending the committee back to the drawing board, councilors were careful to pat them on the back.
"You're doing a thankless job," said Rimcoski.
Nicastro, too, said the committee members were working as unpaid volunteers and that he didn't want to belittle their efforts.
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
$5 million for just 78 kids
Though less than 1 percent of Bristol’s students require special education services that can’t be delivered in city schools, educating those 78 students is socking taxpayers for nearly $5 million annually.
It costs an average of $62,152 per student to provide the special schooling mandated by the federal government, educators said this week.
When she saw the number, Deputy Superintendent Susan Moreau said, “My jaw dropped.”
“That’s huge,” she said.
It amounts to six times the figure the city spends on the average pupil.
Superintendent Philip Streifer said that most of the students who have to be bused to special schools in other towns are prone to violent behavior and can’t be educated in a normal school environment.
Many of them are “seriously violent,” the superintendent said, and suffer from abandonment or other catastrophic family situations. Some are crack babies, he added.
Basically, Streifer said, the increasing cost of caring for many of the outplaced special education students is a consequence of “parental neglect.”
Streifer said that the problems exist in more than just poor families. It’s more widespread than that, he said, and the overall need for specialized education is growing.
Streifer said that Bristol can’t do much to lower the costs except to try to convince the state to pick up a greater share of the burden.
“This is completely beyond our control,” Streifer said.
The city schools are responsible for paying the tab for outplaced students until the bill reaches more than 4.5 times the average pupil expense in the system – essentially the first $45,000 or so of the cost for each of the 78 outplaced students.
At least 17 of the students covered by the special education outplacement were placed in foster care in Bristol by the state Department of Families and Children. The school system is forced to pick up the tab even though the children hail from somewhere else, officials said.
“These children really should be paid for by the state,” Streifer said.
On the other hand, Bristol children who might require the same costly education are sometimes placed in other towns so it’s not clear whether the DCF placements – which are designed to protect abused minors – have much impact in the big picture.
Tom O’Brien, a Board of Education member, has said he’s convinced DCF is deliberately placing students in Bristol and has called on legislators to take action.
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
It costs an average of $62,152 per student to provide the special schooling mandated by the federal government, educators said this week.
When she saw the number, Deputy Superintendent Susan Moreau said, “My jaw dropped.”
“That’s huge,” she said.
It amounts to six times the figure the city spends on the average pupil.
Superintendent Philip Streifer said that most of the students who have to be bused to special schools in other towns are prone to violent behavior and can’t be educated in a normal school environment.
Many of them are “seriously violent,” the superintendent said, and suffer from abandonment or other catastrophic family situations. Some are crack babies, he added.
Basically, Streifer said, the increasing cost of caring for many of the outplaced special education students is a consequence of “parental neglect.”
Streifer said that the problems exist in more than just poor families. It’s more widespread than that, he said, and the overall need for specialized education is growing.
Streifer said that Bristol can’t do much to lower the costs except to try to convince the state to pick up a greater share of the burden.
“This is completely beyond our control,” Streifer said.
The city schools are responsible for paying the tab for outplaced students until the bill reaches more than 4.5 times the average pupil expense in the system – essentially the first $45,000 or so of the cost for each of the 78 outplaced students.
At least 17 of the students covered by the special education outplacement were placed in foster care in Bristol by the state Department of Families and Children. The school system is forced to pick up the tab even though the children hail from somewhere else, officials said.
“These children really should be paid for by the state,” Streifer said.
On the other hand, Bristol children who might require the same costly education are sometimes placed in other towns so it’s not clear whether the DCF placements – which are designed to protect abused minors – have much impact in the big picture.
Tom O’Brien, a Board of Education member, has said he’s convinced DCF is deliberately placing students in Bristol and has called on legislators to take action.
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Downtown zoning rules hearing on March 31st
Note from City Planner Alan Weiner:
Greetings!
This is to advise you that the Bristol Zoning Commission has scheduled a public hearing for Monday, March 31, 2008, on a series of proposed amendments to both the Downtown Business (BD) zone provisions of the Bristol Zoning Regulations and the Downtown Business zone on the city's Zoning Map. The hearing will be held in the First Floor Meeting Room, Bristol City Hall, 111 North Main St., beginning at 6:30 PM.
You can view and download the latest draft of the proposed text amendments and the proposed zoning map changes - along with a variety of supporting materials - at http://www.ci.bristol.ct.us/content/3326/8362/default.aspx
These proposed amendments, developed by the Zoning Commission and its staff over the course of many months at numerous work sessions, are designed to make the BD zoning regulations more flexible and user-friendly, while at the same time maintaining the development principles for downtown Bristol articulated in the city's 2000 Plan of Conservation and Development.
We encourage you to share this information with other individuals and groups who you feel might have an interest in these proposed amendments. Similarly, we encourage you to forward the Weblink specified above to all interested parties.
If you have any questions or need additional information, please feel free to contact the Land Use Office by telephone at 860/584-6225 or by e-mail at landuseoffice@ci.bristol.ct.us. Thanks in advance for your interest and participation in this important process.
Regards,
Alan L. Weiner, AICP
City Planner
********
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Greetings!
This is to advise you that the Bristol Zoning Commission has scheduled a public hearing for Monday, March 31, 2008, on a series of proposed amendments to both the Downtown Business (BD) zone provisions of the Bristol Zoning Regulations and the Downtown Business zone on the city's Zoning Map. The hearing will be held in the First Floor Meeting Room, Bristol City Hall, 111 North Main St., beginning at 6:30 PM.
You can view and download the latest draft of the proposed text amendments and the proposed zoning map changes - along with a variety of supporting materials - at http://www.ci.bristol.ct.us/content/3326/8362/default.aspx
These proposed amendments, developed by the Zoning Commission and its staff over the course of many months at numerous work sessions, are designed to make the BD zoning regulations more flexible and user-friendly, while at the same time maintaining the development principles for downtown Bristol articulated in the city's 2000 Plan of Conservation and Development.
We encourage you to share this information with other individuals and groups who you feel might have an interest in these proposed amendments. Similarly, we encourage you to forward the Weblink specified above to all interested parties.
If you have any questions or need additional information, please feel free to contact the Land Use Office by telephone at 860/584-6225 or by e-mail at landuseoffice@ci.bristol.ct.us. Thanks in advance for your interest and participation in this important process.
Regards,
Alan L. Weiner, AICP
City Planner
********
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
New Britain mayor threatens eminent domain to seize newspaper building
I have no idea if this new story in the Hartford Courant is accurate, but it certainly raises all sorts of interesting issues. The Herald, by the way, is owned by the same company that owns The Bristol Press.
My initial thought is that if the government has the power to seize a newspaper's building, then the First Amendment doesn't mean much.
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
My initial thought is that if the government has the power to seize a newspaper's building, then the First Amendment doesn't mean much.
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)