After some anonymous posters on this blog questioned whether it was ethical for Mayor Art Ward to have the American Legion pay for his trip to Indianapolis to make a pitch for the 2010 American Legion World Series, the mayor asked about the issue.
Ward said today that he asked the city attorney for an opinion. He said that Ed Krawiecki, the city attorney, told him that all of Bristol's lawyers agreed it would be best if the city paid for the travel by the mayor and Park Director Ed Swicklas.
Ward said that he had thought it made more sense for the Legion to pick up the tab, since it was the applicant, but that if taxpayers have to shell out the money, it remains well worth it.
Ward said both he and Swicklas are still planning to go to Indiana in early May and do exactly what they would have done. But their travel costs will be paid by the city, the mayor said.
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
March 19, 2008
State to make $8 million in repairs to Route 6 drainage
And another one, just in from Gov. Jodi Rell's office:
Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced that more than $8.1 million in state funding to improve drainage on Route 6 in Bristol is expected to gain approval when the state Bond Commission meets March 28.
The funding of $8,171,540 is part of a further $30 million allotment that Governor Rell is authorizing to pay for five major road projects.
“This investment will make Route 6 a safer road,” Governor Rell said. “I have made road safety a priority in my budget, and on all of our roads and bridges we are making necessary upgrades so that any and all hazards are addressed. Fixing the drainage problems on Route 6 in Bristol will not only help in preventing accidents on that stretch but will also benefit businesses in the area.”
In October, Governor Rell led a groundbreaking ceremony for the long-awaited, four-lane extension of Route 72 in Bristol. The $39 million project calls for a 2.4-mile, four-lane section of highway extending from Route 372 (the end of the existing Route 72 roadway leading off I-84 in Plainville) to Middle Street in Bristol. It will include a new bridge over the Pequabuck River and a new pedestrian bridge over the new section of Route 72 near Forest Street. The project is expected to be completed in 2009.
Since taking office, Governor Rell has approved more than $3.5 billion in investments in transportation, including a fleet of new rail cars for Metro-North, major improvements to all of the Interstates in Connecticut, new transit buses and a busway linking Hartford and New Britain.
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced that more than $8.1 million in state funding to improve drainage on Route 6 in Bristol is expected to gain approval when the state Bond Commission meets March 28.
The funding of $8,171,540 is part of a further $30 million allotment that Governor Rell is authorizing to pay for five major road projects.
“This investment will make Route 6 a safer road,” Governor Rell said. “I have made road safety a priority in my budget, and on all of our roads and bridges we are making necessary upgrades so that any and all hazards are addressed. Fixing the drainage problems on Route 6 in Bristol will not only help in preventing accidents on that stretch but will also benefit businesses in the area.”
In October, Governor Rell led a groundbreaking ceremony for the long-awaited, four-lane extension of Route 72 in Bristol. The $39 million project calls for a 2.4-mile, four-lane section of highway extending from Route 372 (the end of the existing Route 72 roadway leading off I-84 in Plainville) to Middle Street in Bristol. It will include a new bridge over the Pequabuck River and a new pedestrian bridge over the new section of Route 72 near Forest Street. The project is expected to be completed in 2009.
Since taking office, Governor Rell has approved more than $3.5 billion in investments in transportation, including a fleet of new rail cars for Metro-North, major improvements to all of the Interstates in Connecticut, new transit buses and a busway linking Hartford and New Britain.
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Tunxis gets $2.2 million to begin next new building
Just in, from Gov. Jodi Rell's office:
Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced that $2,221,622 in funding for the design of additions and renovations at Tunxis Community College in Farmington is expected to be approved when the State Bond Commission meets on March 28th. The design work is for renovations to an existing 34,000 square foot building to provide more classroom space as well as the construction of a new building that will house faculty and administrative offices.
“Providing the best learning environment possible for our students continues to be one of my top priorities,” Governor Rell said. “Investments in our institutions of higher learning are the best investments we can make in our future. Our community colleges play an important role by developing the skills of Connecticut’s workforce and we want to make sure that all of our public colleges and universities offer first-class educational opportunities.”
Last month, Governor Rell attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new $34.4 million library and classroom building at Tunxis Community College which doubled the size of the College. That project consisted of a 37,000 square foot two-story library with clock tower, a 58,000 square foot classroom building, and a glass-enclosed cyber café.
The new library includes two computer classrooms, 14 study rooms, an adjacent 40-seat classroom, and a coffee / sandwich bar. The new classroom building includes five science laboratories for Biology, Chemistry, Micro-biology, and Physics; a simulated dental hygiene clinic and laboratory; computer graphics studios; art and photography studios; six classrooms; eight break-out rooms; and academic resource space.
“Across Connecticut, we are continuing to transform the campuses of our public colleges and universities with new and renovated spaces and facilities,” Governor Rell said. “We will continue to focus on the creation of outstanding educational opportunities for all of the citizens of our state.”
Tunxis Community College was founded in 1970. The College serves close to 12,000 credit and non-credit students each year.
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Governor M. Jodi Rell today announced that $2,221,622 in funding for the design of additions and renovations at Tunxis Community College in Farmington is expected to be approved when the State Bond Commission meets on March 28th. The design work is for renovations to an existing 34,000 square foot building to provide more classroom space as well as the construction of a new building that will house faculty and administrative offices.
“Providing the best learning environment possible for our students continues to be one of my top priorities,” Governor Rell said. “Investments in our institutions of higher learning are the best investments we can make in our future. Our community colleges play an important role by developing the skills of Connecticut’s workforce and we want to make sure that all of our public colleges and universities offer first-class educational opportunities.”
Last month, Governor Rell attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new $34.4 million library and classroom building at Tunxis Community College which doubled the size of the College. That project consisted of a 37,000 square foot two-story library with clock tower, a 58,000 square foot classroom building, and a glass-enclosed cyber café.
The new library includes two computer classrooms, 14 study rooms, an adjacent 40-seat classroom, and a coffee / sandwich bar. The new classroom building includes five science laboratories for Biology, Chemistry, Micro-biology, and Physics; a simulated dental hygiene clinic and laboratory; computer graphics studios; art and photography studios; six classrooms; eight break-out rooms; and academic resource space.
“Across Connecticut, we are continuing to transform the campuses of our public colleges and universities with new and renovated spaces and facilities,” Governor Rell said. “We will continue to focus on the creation of outstanding educational opportunities for all of the citizens of our state.”
Tunxis Community College was founded in 1970. The College serves close to 12,000 credit and non-credit students each year.
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Bristol Hospital feels shut out by UConn study
Reporter Jackie Majerus wrote a couple of stories yesterday about a potentially critical issue facing Bristol Hospital. Here they are:
HARTFORD – As the state struggles to figure out how best to address the issue of hospital collaboration in the region, Bristol Hospital President Kurt Barwis is struggling to be part of the dialog.
"We're not at that table," said Barwis.
Asked to name the regional hospitals they're working with, University of Connecticut President Mike Hogan named The Hospital of Central Connecticut in New Britain, St. Francis Hospital, Connecticut Children's Medical Center and Hartford Hospital, but not Bristol Hospital.
"We have not been a part of the conversation," said Barwis, "and we continue to be excluded. He's not including all the community hospitals. We really need to be at the table."
But Hogan, who is new to the university, said, "We're open to a discussion with everybody."
UConn's pediatrics department is partnered with the Connecticut Children's Medical Center, said Hogan, who called it a "model" of happy and successful collaboration.
Tim Furey, chairman of the board at Bristol Hospital and a board member at St. Francis Hospital in Hartford, said competition between hospitals has "stunted" the possibilities for working together to make UConn's medical school top-notch.
"There needs to be a collaborative approach to medical school success," said Furey.
Deputy House Speaker Demetrios Giannaros, a Farmington Democrat whose district includes the UConn Health Center, said the recommendation to collaborate isn't the least expensive solution, but may be the best for the state.
Focusing only on UConn could cost less, but ultimately harm the community hospitals, Giannaros said, and hurt the state because of it.
"We may have to bite the bullet," said Giannaros, and keep the hospital system "healthy overall and not just UConn."
Giannaros said hospitals in the region, especially those that are close to UConn like Bristol Hospital, should be included in the discussion of what to do next.
"I'd love to have them involved," Giannaros said about Bristol Hospital. "They're more likely to be significantly impacted."
Bristol Hospital has no medical students, said Barwis, who would clearly welcome them.
"We could add value," Barwis said, and having medical students and being actively involved would also add value to Bristol Hospital, he said.
State Rep. Tim O'Brien, a Democrat who represents New Britain and Newington, said he's still digesting the report.
"Obviously, we have to really seriously weigh the need for hospital services in the region," said O'Brien, who serves on the finance committee. "As policymakers, we need to take a good hard look at this and come up with our own solution."
But O'Brien said hospitals like the one in Bristol and the Hospital of Central Connecticut in New Britain "absolutely" deserve to be included in the discussion.
"We need to get all opinions at the table," said O'Brien. "These are big, big decisions. We need to make sure we get it right."
And here's her story about the study itself:
HARTFORD – There are enough hospital beds in the Greater Hartford region now and into the foreseeable future, according to analysts who recommended that instead of a massive expansion in Farmington, the University of Connecticut Health Center work with other hospitals in the area to care for patients and train doctors.
The Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering on Tuesday released its findings and recommendations to state lawmakers reviewing the UConn Health Center's proposal to build a new 352-bed hospital to take the place of John Dempsey Hospital.
Instead of that project, the CASE report recommends that UConn work out a collaborative effort with other hospitals in the region.
UConn President Mike Hogan took the findings in stride, saying it "opens another door" to working in collaboration with other hospitals rather than building something that isn't needed.
"I needed a report like this," Hogan said, because it was done by "detached professional experts" with no agenda.
The findings stunned some lawmakers, including Sen. Joan Hartley, a Waterbury Democrat who said she and others had been told all along that UConn needed more beds in order to be viable.
The recommendation against enlarging the Farmington medical center requires "a major shifting of gears," said Hartley, who co-chairs the higher education and employment advancement committee.
Rep. Patricia Dillon, a New Haven Democrat who serves on the higher education committee, joked that complying with the recommendations would practically require "couples counseling."
"You've given us a heavy charge," said Dillon. "People have to be invested in this."
But the report drew high praise from Bristol Hospital President Kurt Barwis.
"The results were really good," said Barwis. "They did a great job."
Barwis and other local hospital leaders had decried the original proposal, saying a huge new hospital in Farmington could be a deathblow to community hospitals.
"It could have potentially caused all the good things we've done, the turnaround, to be derailed," said Barwis. He said the report recognizes the possible negative impact on hospitals like the one in Bristol.
"There's clearly no need for additional beds," said Barwis.
Dr. Steven Hanks, chief medical officer of The Hospital of Central Connecticut in New Britain, said the findings have created "a lot of confusion" about how regional collaborations would function.
"Working out the details is going to be very, very difficult," said Hanks.
Deputy House Speaker Demetrios Giannaros, a Farmington Democrat whose district includes the UConn Health Center, said the report indicates an "absolute need to upgrade" the health center.
"We're on the right track," Giannaros said.
But Giannaros, who serves on both the finance and higher education committees, stressed that UConn can't have a viable medical school in the coming decades "without a better facility for the doctors to practice" and without better clinical services.
The health center is outdated, Giannaros said, and too small to support itself.
"Its equipment may fall apart sooner rather than later," Giannaros said.
Hogan said UConn's medical school and dental school are at stake.
"We can't run a medical school without a state of the art medical facility, practice facility," said Hogan.
The best thing to come out of the study, said Barwis, is a new direction for the future.
Details of exactly how the collaboration can be established were deliberately not part of the report, according to Dr. Myron Genel, professor emeritus at Yale University School of Medicine, who served on the CASE report's study committee.
"We do not envision that this is going to be an easy process at all," Genel said. "The possibilities are significant for everybody involved."
Genel said UConn and the regional hospitals should work out a memorandum of understanding to get the process underway.
"Details can be worked out," said Hogan. He said the report offers "an exceptional solution for health care in the Hartford area."
Whatever happens, said Assistant Majority Whip David McCluskey, lawmakers must keep in mind that it is public money funding it. UConn will come to the state to pay for any project, he said, not to its fellow hospitals.
"At the end of the day, it's still taxpayers' money," said McCluskey, a West Hartford Democrat. He said governance over expenditures is important. "We're going to want to have a lot of influence over what decisions are made."
The entire CASE report is available online at www.ctcase.org.
Here are the links to the CASE press release, executive summary and full report:
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
HARTFORD – As the state struggles to figure out how best to address the issue of hospital collaboration in the region, Bristol Hospital President Kurt Barwis is struggling to be part of the dialog.
"We're not at that table," said Barwis.
Asked to name the regional hospitals they're working with, University of Connecticut President Mike Hogan named The Hospital of Central Connecticut in New Britain, St. Francis Hospital, Connecticut Children's Medical Center and Hartford Hospital, but not Bristol Hospital.
"We have not been a part of the conversation," said Barwis, "and we continue to be excluded. He's not including all the community hospitals. We really need to be at the table."
But Hogan, who is new to the university, said, "We're open to a discussion with everybody."
UConn's pediatrics department is partnered with the Connecticut Children's Medical Center, said Hogan, who called it a "model" of happy and successful collaboration.
Tim Furey, chairman of the board at Bristol Hospital and a board member at St. Francis Hospital in Hartford, said competition between hospitals has "stunted" the possibilities for working together to make UConn's medical school top-notch.
"There needs to be a collaborative approach to medical school success," said Furey.
Deputy House Speaker Demetrios Giannaros, a Farmington Democrat whose district includes the UConn Health Center, said the recommendation to collaborate isn't the least expensive solution, but may be the best for the state.
Focusing only on UConn could cost less, but ultimately harm the community hospitals, Giannaros said, and hurt the state because of it.
"We may have to bite the bullet," said Giannaros, and keep the hospital system "healthy overall and not just UConn."
Giannaros said hospitals in the region, especially those that are close to UConn like Bristol Hospital, should be included in the discussion of what to do next.
"I'd love to have them involved," Giannaros said about Bristol Hospital. "They're more likely to be significantly impacted."
Bristol Hospital has no medical students, said Barwis, who would clearly welcome them.
"We could add value," Barwis said, and having medical students and being actively involved would also add value to Bristol Hospital, he said.
State Rep. Tim O'Brien, a Democrat who represents New Britain and Newington, said he's still digesting the report.
"Obviously, we have to really seriously weigh the need for hospital services in the region," said O'Brien, who serves on the finance committee. "As policymakers, we need to take a good hard look at this and come up with our own solution."
But O'Brien said hospitals like the one in Bristol and the Hospital of Central Connecticut in New Britain "absolutely" deserve to be included in the discussion.
"We need to get all opinions at the table," said O'Brien. "These are big, big decisions. We need to make sure we get it right."
And here's her story about the study itself:
HARTFORD – There are enough hospital beds in the Greater Hartford region now and into the foreseeable future, according to analysts who recommended that instead of a massive expansion in Farmington, the University of Connecticut Health Center work with other hospitals in the area to care for patients and train doctors.
The Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering on Tuesday released its findings and recommendations to state lawmakers reviewing the UConn Health Center's proposal to build a new 352-bed hospital to take the place of John Dempsey Hospital.
Instead of that project, the CASE report recommends that UConn work out a collaborative effort with other hospitals in the region.
UConn President Mike Hogan took the findings in stride, saying it "opens another door" to working in collaboration with other hospitals rather than building something that isn't needed.
"I needed a report like this," Hogan said, because it was done by "detached professional experts" with no agenda.
The findings stunned some lawmakers, including Sen. Joan Hartley, a Waterbury Democrat who said she and others had been told all along that UConn needed more beds in order to be viable.
The recommendation against enlarging the Farmington medical center requires "a major shifting of gears," said Hartley, who co-chairs the higher education and employment advancement committee.
Rep. Patricia Dillon, a New Haven Democrat who serves on the higher education committee, joked that complying with the recommendations would practically require "couples counseling."
"You've given us a heavy charge," said Dillon. "People have to be invested in this."
But the report drew high praise from Bristol Hospital President Kurt Barwis.
"The results were really good," said Barwis. "They did a great job."
Barwis and other local hospital leaders had decried the original proposal, saying a huge new hospital in Farmington could be a deathblow to community hospitals.
"It could have potentially caused all the good things we've done, the turnaround, to be derailed," said Barwis. He said the report recognizes the possible negative impact on hospitals like the one in Bristol.
"There's clearly no need for additional beds," said Barwis.
Dr. Steven Hanks, chief medical officer of The Hospital of Central Connecticut in New Britain, said the findings have created "a lot of confusion" about how regional collaborations would function.
"Working out the details is going to be very, very difficult," said Hanks.
Deputy House Speaker Demetrios Giannaros, a Farmington Democrat whose district includes the UConn Health Center, said the report indicates an "absolute need to upgrade" the health center.
"We're on the right track," Giannaros said.
But Giannaros, who serves on both the finance and higher education committees, stressed that UConn can't have a viable medical school in the coming decades "without a better facility for the doctors to practice" and without better clinical services.
The health center is outdated, Giannaros said, and too small to support itself.
"Its equipment may fall apart sooner rather than later," Giannaros said.
Hogan said UConn's medical school and dental school are at stake.
"We can't run a medical school without a state of the art medical facility, practice facility," said Hogan.
The best thing to come out of the study, said Barwis, is a new direction for the future.
Details of exactly how the collaboration can be established were deliberately not part of the report, according to Dr. Myron Genel, professor emeritus at Yale University School of Medicine, who served on the CASE report's study committee.
"We do not envision that this is going to be an easy process at all," Genel said. "The possibilities are significant for everybody involved."
Genel said UConn and the regional hospitals should work out a memorandum of understanding to get the process underway.
"Details can be worked out," said Hogan. He said the report offers "an exceptional solution for health care in the Hartford area."
Whatever happens, said Assistant Majority Whip David McCluskey, lawmakers must keep in mind that it is public money funding it. UConn will come to the state to pay for any project, he said, not to its fellow hospitals.
"At the end of the day, it's still taxpayers' money," said McCluskey, a West Hartford Democrat. He said governance over expenditures is important. "We're going to want to have a lot of influence over what decisions are made."
The entire CASE report is available online at www.ctcase.org.
Here are the links to the CASE press release, executive summary and full report:
[Press Release] [Executive Summary in PDF format] [Full Report in PDF format]
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
March 18, 2008
Clash of opinions on need for chief operating officer for city
To some, creating a chief operating officer for the city would put Bristol on “a horrible road,” while others see it as an essential step to keep the community growing.
A professional overseer at City Hall would be able to "change the culture, little by little, for the better,” said Blake Dellabianca, a developer with a 30-year history in town.
Business officials who spoke during Tuesday’s public hearing on the plan generally favored the charter change that would create the new position while union members expressed skepticism. The Greater Bristol Chamber of Commerce’s board of directors unanimously backed the proposal.
"With a $200 million budget in the city of Bristol, in a city that's continuing to grow, we just feel the necessity to have professional support for the mayor's office is essential," said former Mayor John Leone.
"My concern would be the privatization of city employees," said Sean Burke, a janitor at one of the high schools.
Burke said that a chief operating officer who could rack up four-year terms is going to have some real clout over time.
"If this guy wants to start cutting city employees, I'm concerned," Burke said.
The Charter Revision Commission plans as soon as next Tuesday to complete a report urging that city councilors agree to give voters the last word on whether to add a chief operating officer to Bristol’s municipal structure.
Other proposals on its agenda include switching to an appointed city treasurer and extending the registrars’ terms to four years instead of the two-year stints they currently serve. Nobody spoke on the treasurer change while former city Councilor Tom Ragaini voiced support for longer terms for registrars.
Leone said the continuity and oversight of a professional administrator would improve city operations.
"It would be very helpful to have somebody there who would be there administration to administration, Democrat or Republican, it makes no difference," Leone said.
"I just don't see the need for it," Ragaini said.
Terry Parker, a resident active in Democratic politics, said the position could be created today without revising the charter. The mayor and City Council could hire someone to do the work envisioned for the chief operating officer right now, he said.Ragaini said former Mayor Gerard Couture took "a baby step" toward its creation when he had a $25,000-a-year, part-time assistant. He said officials could go further in creating a new position if it's needed.
Tim Furey, chairman of the charter panel, said the data he’s seen makes him think the new position he backs would cost up to $130,000 annually, but easily pay for itself in improved efficiency within city government.
Dellabianca said elected officials are conscientious and well-meaning, but few have the background to head an organization with a large budget and many employees. He said they need someone with experience "who can manage the day-to-day things."
Dellabianca said some current city supervisors are capable and others are not. The trend, though, is bad, he said.
"Things are getting worse. They're not getting better," Dellabianca said.
"It's just absurd we didn't have a manager-council form of government decades ago," he said. "We're way, way behind."
"You need to do this," he urged charter commissioners. "It disturbs me when I see some of things that are going on."
Resident Chad Lockhart said that towns that have managers have found the professionals haven't been good for labor.
"I went out and voted to try to get the mayor," he said, and bringing in a chief operating officer undermines the value of an election.
"Before you know, you have a city manager who can do what he wants," Lockhart said.
He said an entrenched chief operating officer "could lead us down a horrible road we don't want to be in."
Lockhart and Ragaini each questioned whether the city can afford to pay another costly professional
"Can this town sustain the impact of what this guy's going to get paid?" Lockhart said. "I don't think we need another high-paid official."
If the charter panel adopts the idea, the decision would next go to the City Council. If councilors agree, the proposition would be put on the November 4 general election ballot for voters would render the ultimate decision.
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
A professional overseer at City Hall would be able to "change the culture, little by little, for the better,” said Blake Dellabianca, a developer with a 30-year history in town.
Business officials who spoke during Tuesday’s public hearing on the plan generally favored the charter change that would create the new position while union members expressed skepticism. The Greater Bristol Chamber of Commerce’s board of directors unanimously backed the proposal.
"With a $200 million budget in the city of Bristol, in a city that's continuing to grow, we just feel the necessity to have professional support for the mayor's office is essential," said former Mayor John Leone.
"My concern would be the privatization of city employees," said Sean Burke, a janitor at one of the high schools.
Burke said that a chief operating officer who could rack up four-year terms is going to have some real clout over time.
"If this guy wants to start cutting city employees, I'm concerned," Burke said.
The Charter Revision Commission plans as soon as next Tuesday to complete a report urging that city councilors agree to give voters the last word on whether to add a chief operating officer to Bristol’s municipal structure.
Other proposals on its agenda include switching to an appointed city treasurer and extending the registrars’ terms to four years instead of the two-year stints they currently serve. Nobody spoke on the treasurer change while former city Councilor Tom Ragaini voiced support for longer terms for registrars.
Leone said the continuity and oversight of a professional administrator would improve city operations.
"It would be very helpful to have somebody there who would be there administration to administration, Democrat or Republican, it makes no difference," Leone said.
"I just don't see the need for it," Ragaini said.
Terry Parker, a resident active in Democratic politics, said the position could be created today without revising the charter. The mayor and City Council could hire someone to do the work envisioned for the chief operating officer right now, he said.Ragaini said former Mayor Gerard Couture took "a baby step" toward its creation when he had a $25,000-a-year, part-time assistant. He said officials could go further in creating a new position if it's needed.
Tim Furey, chairman of the charter panel, said the data he’s seen makes him think the new position he backs would cost up to $130,000 annually, but easily pay for itself in improved efficiency within city government.
Dellabianca said elected officials are conscientious and well-meaning, but few have the background to head an organization with a large budget and many employees. He said they need someone with experience "who can manage the day-to-day things."
Dellabianca said some current city supervisors are capable and others are not. The trend, though, is bad, he said.
"Things are getting worse. They're not getting better," Dellabianca said.
"It's just absurd we didn't have a manager-council form of government decades ago," he said. "We're way, way behind."
"You need to do this," he urged charter commissioners. "It disturbs me when I see some of things that are going on."
Resident Chad Lockhart said that towns that have managers have found the professionals haven't been good for labor.
"I went out and voted to try to get the mayor," he said, and bringing in a chief operating officer undermines the value of an election.
"Before you know, you have a city manager who can do what he wants," Lockhart said.
He said an entrenched chief operating officer "could lead us down a horrible road we don't want to be in."
Lockhart and Ragaini each questioned whether the city can afford to pay another costly professional
"Can this town sustain the impact of what this guy's going to get paid?" Lockhart said. "I don't think we need another high-paid official."
If the charter panel adopts the idea, the decision would next go to the City Council. If councilors agree, the proposition would be put on the November 4 general election ballot for voters would render the ultimate decision.
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Concern about privatization raised
“My concern would be the privatization of city employees,” said Sean Burke, a janitor at one of the high schools.
Burke said that a chief operating officer with four-year terms is going to have some clout over time. “If this guy wants to start cutting city employees, I’m concerned.”
“We take really good pride in what we’re doing,” he said.
Burke said if the person is talking in every mayor’s ear, it could happen, and a privatized workforce will not do the job nearly as well.
“You start getting those buildings falling apart and looking like crap,” he said, then “we’ll start losing teachers and the quality of people who are serving up food.”
“It’s a big issue for us,” Burke said.
Tim Furey, the chairman of the Charter Revision Commission, said it is “a huge jump” to imagine that such a drastic change would be done easily. He said the mayor and City Council could make the decision, but not the chief operating officer.
Burke said, though, that a COO could do it after years in office, after he becomes entrenched.
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Burke said that a chief operating officer with four-year terms is going to have some clout over time. “If this guy wants to start cutting city employees, I’m concerned.”
“We take really good pride in what we’re doing,” he said.
Burke said if the person is talking in every mayor’s ear, it could happen, and a privatized workforce will not do the job nearly as well.
“You start getting those buildings falling apart and looking like crap,” he said, then “we’ll start losing teachers and the quality of people who are serving up food.”
“It’s a big issue for us,” Burke said.
Tim Furey, the chairman of the Charter Revision Commission, said it is “a huge jump” to imagine that such a drastic change would be done easily. He said the mayor and City Council could make the decision, but not the chief operating officer.
Burke said, though, that a COO could do it after years in office, after he becomes entrenched.
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Lockhart says no to chief operating officer
Resident Chad Lockhart said that towns that have managers have found they haven’t been good for labor.
“I went out and voted to try to get the mayor,” he said, and bringing in a chief operating officer undermines the value of an election.
“Before you know, you have a city manager who can do what he wants,” Lockhart said.
As they hold the position, he said, a COO “will get to know everything’s that happening.”
“It’s not good to have one person in charge of everything,” Lockhart said.
He said a COO “could lead us down a horrible road we don’t want to be in.”
Lockhart said he’ll “become a constant.”
“Can this town sustain the impact of what this guy’s going to get paid?” Lockhart said. “I don’t think we need another high-paid official.”
Lockhart said that in Meriden, a manager laid off a number of firemen on Christmas Eve.
Following suit, he said, “I’m concerned the numbers are going to get crunched” and they’ll do things like privatize the cafeteria workers, he said.
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
“I went out and voted to try to get the mayor,” he said, and bringing in a chief operating officer undermines the value of an election.
“Before you know, you have a city manager who can do what he wants,” Lockhart said.
As they hold the position, he said, a COO “will get to know everything’s that happening.”
“It’s not good to have one person in charge of everything,” Lockhart said.
He said a COO “could lead us down a horrible road we don’t want to be in.”
Lockhart said he’ll “become a constant.”
“Can this town sustain the impact of what this guy’s going to get paid?” Lockhart said. “I don’t think we need another high-paid official.”
Lockhart said that in Meriden, a manager laid off a number of firemen on Christmas Eve.
Following suit, he said, “I’m concerned the numbers are going to get crunched” and they’ll do things like privatize the cafeteria workers, he said.
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Dellabianca backs new position
Blake Dellabianca, a former member of a charter commission, said he’s a lifelong resident who’s been in construction and real estate for 30 years. Here in City Hall weekly and deal with many officials and workers.
“I think I have a pretty good understanding of how this city’s being run,” he said.
“We do some things very, very well,” he said, “and we do some things very poorly.”
But, he said, “it’s important to try to do more thing well.
Dellabianca said elected officials are conscientious and well-meaning, but few have the background to head an organization with a large budget and many employees. He said they need someone with experience “who can manage the day-to-day things.”
Dellabianca said some administrators are capable and others not. “Thigns are getting worse. They’re not getting better,” he said.
“It’s just absurd we didn’t have a manager-council form of government decades ago,” he said. “We’re way, way behind.”
“You need to do this,” he said. “It disturbs me when I see some of things that are going on.”
A professional overseer, he said, can “change the culture, little by little, for the better.”
There are many morale issues, Dellabianca said. Sometimes those who should advance don’t because of politics, and vice versa. “That creates a lot of morale problems,” he said.
Dellabianca said there will be a more fair environment for all with a chief operating officer. Ultimately, he said, municipal workers will embrace the change.
He said there will be more accountability and better results if the proposal is approved.
Dellabianca said the position needs to be in the charter so that it’s removed from politics.
He said to do what’s necessary to get this adopted, even if it’s just a toehold. The results will prove the value, Dellabianca said.
Dellabianca said the position will pay for itself ten times over. He said the position could pay twice the mayor’s salary and still be worth it.
He said that West Hartford and Southington’s governments work “much better” than Bristol because they have managers. Everyone in West Hartford loved its former manager, he said.
Dellabianca said that ESPN’s growth “has helped us take up the slack” from lost manufacturing, but it won’t always continue growing at such a fast clip.
Without it, “we’d be half a step behind Waterbury and New Britain on the way to insolvency.”
Dellabianca said there’s a reason to have a mayor, “but we need some real expert people to run the day to day stuff” and “not sweep stuff under the rug.”
“We’re spinning our wheels,” he said, “and nothing’s getting done.”
He said the city has had new mayors every two years for a long while, making it so that balls inevitably get dropped.
Dellabianca said it would be far better to have a trained, qualified professional instead of relying on politicians who lack the background.
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
“I think I have a pretty good understanding of how this city’s being run,” he said.
“We do some things very, very well,” he said, “and we do some things very poorly.”
But, he said, “it’s important to try to do more thing well.
Dellabianca said elected officials are conscientious and well-meaning, but few have the background to head an organization with a large budget and many employees. He said they need someone with experience “who can manage the day-to-day things.”
Dellabianca said some administrators are capable and others not. “Thigns are getting worse. They’re not getting better,” he said.
“It’s just absurd we didn’t have a manager-council form of government decades ago,” he said. “We’re way, way behind.”
“You need to do this,” he said. “It disturbs me when I see some of things that are going on.”
A professional overseer, he said, can “change the culture, little by little, for the better.”
There are many morale issues, Dellabianca said. Sometimes those who should advance don’t because of politics, and vice versa. “That creates a lot of morale problems,” he said.
Dellabianca said there will be a more fair environment for all with a chief operating officer. Ultimately, he said, municipal workers will embrace the change.
He said there will be more accountability and better results if the proposal is approved.
Dellabianca said the position needs to be in the charter so that it’s removed from politics.
He said to do what’s necessary to get this adopted, even if it’s just a toehold. The results will prove the value, Dellabianca said.
Dellabianca said the position will pay for itself ten times over. He said the position could pay twice the mayor’s salary and still be worth it.
He said that West Hartford and Southington’s governments work “much better” than Bristol because they have managers. Everyone in West Hartford loved its former manager, he said.
Dellabianca said that ESPN’s growth “has helped us take up the slack” from lost manufacturing, but it won’t always continue growing at such a fast clip.
Without it, “we’d be half a step behind Waterbury and New Britain on the way to insolvency.”
Dellabianca said there’s a reason to have a mayor, “but we need some real expert people to run the day to day stuff” and “not sweep stuff under the rug.”
“We’re spinning our wheels,” he said, “and nothing’s getting done.”
He said the city has had new mayors every two years for a long while, making it so that balls inevitably get dropped.
Dellabianca said it would be far better to have a trained, qualified professional instead of relying on politicians who lack the background.
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Ragaini says no to chief operating officer
Former city Councilor Tom Ragaini said New Britain has four aides helping the mayor and there’s nothing to stop the mayor and council from adding at least one.
He said a COO would make almost as much as the mayor, or more, and he’s not sure where the money would come from.
“When you call the mayor’s office, you try to get hold of the mayor,” Ragaini said, but an aide could handle some of those.
He said people elect the mayor and want whoever is picked to be in charge.
“I just don’t see the need for it,” Ragaini said.
He said former Mayor Gerard Couture took “a baby step” toward its creation when he had a $25,000-a-year, part-time assistant. He said officials could go further in creating a new position if it’s needed.
Furey said the new post “would help all of the officials” in a high-pressure time to get work done.
But Ragain said the mayor and council can create a similar post today without changing the charter.
“If you’re elected president of a corporation,” Ragaini said, “you’re going to want your own people, that you know. Maybe they’re from Bristol and maybe they’re not.”
Ragaini said it makes sense to have trusted aides in the mayor’s office, but not a $100,000 professional to do the work.
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
He said a COO would make almost as much as the mayor, or more, and he’s not sure where the money would come from.
“When you call the mayor’s office, you try to get hold of the mayor,” Ragaini said, but an aide could handle some of those.
He said people elect the mayor and want whoever is picked to be in charge.
“I just don’t see the need for it,” Ragaini said.
He said former Mayor Gerard Couture took “a baby step” toward its creation when he had a $25,000-a-year, part-time assistant. He said officials could go further in creating a new position if it’s needed.
Furey said the new post “would help all of the officials” in a high-pressure time to get work done.
But Ragain said the mayor and council can create a similar post today without changing the charter.
“If you’re elected president of a corporation,” Ragaini said, “you’re going to want your own people, that you know. Maybe they’re from Bristol and maybe they’re not.”
Ragaini said it makes sense to have trusted aides in the mayor’s office, but not a $100,000 professional to do the work.
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Chamber backs chief operating officer
Former Mayor John Leone said the Greater Bristol Chamber of Commerce’s board of directors unanimously backed the proposed creation of a chief operating officer.
“With a $200 million budget in the city of Bristol, in a city that’s continuing to grow, we just feel the necessity to have professional support for the mayor’s office is essential.”
Leone said the chamber officials were divided about a possible city manager form of government, but had few doubts about hiring a professional to help supervise city government and provide greater continuity.
“It would be very helpful to have somebody there who would be there administration to administration, Democrat or Republican, it makes no difference,” said Leone, who has been head of the chamber since he left the mayor’s office.
Leone said the mayor’s job today is “an awesome” one that takes more than one person can offer. He said adding the position would take the city to the next level.
He said with growing complexity and a push for regional solutions, “there needs to be someone in the trenches on an administrative basis.”
Terry Parker, a resident active in Democratic politics, said the position could be created today without revising the charter.
Parker said that the mayor and City Council could hire someone to do the work envisioned for the chief operating officer right now.
He said he's concerned that putting it in the charter might sidetrack "the will of the people" as shown by those they elected.
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
“With a $200 million budget in the city of Bristol, in a city that’s continuing to grow, we just feel the necessity to have professional support for the mayor’s office is essential.”
Leone said the chamber officials were divided about a possible city manager form of government, but had few doubts about hiring a professional to help supervise city government and provide greater continuity.
“It would be very helpful to have somebody there who would be there administration to administration, Democrat or Republican, it makes no difference,” said Leone, who has been head of the chamber since he left the mayor’s office.
Leone said the mayor’s job today is “an awesome” one that takes more than one person can offer. He said adding the position would take the city to the next level.
He said with growing complexity and a push for regional solutions, “there needs to be someone in the trenches on an administrative basis.”
Terry Parker, a resident active in Democratic politics, said the position could be created today without revising the charter.
Parker said that the mayor and City Council could hire someone to do the work envisioned for the chief operating officer right now.
He said he's concerned that putting it in the charter might sidetrack "the will of the people" as shown by those they elected.
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Live blogging from charter hearing tonight
I'm all hooked up and ready to go, planning to post a few times from tonight's public hearing at City Hall about proposed charter changes. It's one way to stay awake!
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Mall demolition photos
The city just put up on its website a PowerPoint presentation showing a sequence of pictures of the mall coming down.
I know a lot of people don't have PowerPoint, so I've also converted it to a PDF so that anyone who doesn't have the costly software can also see the pictures. (Warning: it's a big file, almost 10 MB, so it may take some time to open. If you view it with Adobe Acrobat, you can turn the pictures counterclockwise to see them more easily. It's just to the right of the viewer percentage.)
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
I know a lot of people don't have PowerPoint, so I've also converted it to a PDF so that anyone who doesn't have the costly software can also see the pictures. (Warning: it's a big file, almost 10 MB, so it may take some time to open. If you view it with Adobe Acrobat, you can turn the pictures counterclockwise to see them more easily. It's just to the right of the viewer percentage.)
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)