City Councilor Ellen Zoppo, who's done terrific work on helping the city's ancient cemeteries, sent this note to the Bristol Historic Society tonight:
I wanted to give you a quick update on the status of the cemeteries. Much work has been accomplished in the last year and a grant for $5000 has been received from the Roberts Foundation to begin restoration work. Also, West Cemetery Association now has a management contract with the City for all the ancient cemeteries as well as Lake Avenue Cemetery, which has reverted back to the city's authority after years of being run by an association.
And finally, instead of only dealing with cemetery issues on an infrequent basis, the Mayor's Committee in place now has suggested that a permanent Committee be named to oversee the cemeteries. To that end, there will be a public hearing on the proposed Cemetery Ordinance on Tuesday evening, October 9, at 7pm in Council Chambers.
If it passes committee, it will then be referred to tomorrow night's Council meeting for adoption.
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Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
This is one example of the dozens of mundane issues that Ms. Zoppo handled on a daily basis.
ReplyDeleteShe will be missed and hopefully someone on the council will fill the void. However, I doubt if anyone currently serving or planning to gain a seat will be as organized as she.
Ms. Zoppo was tossed aside for several reasons, rightly or wrongly. Only time will tell.
The Cemetary committee is an appropriate legacy for Ellen.
ReplyDeleteThanks Ellen for that excellent commentary.
ReplyDeleteOur cemetaries are an important piece of our town's history. Ellen has a tremendous amount of knowledge when it comes to Bristol's past. She will do a good job at seeing that they are preserved and respected.
ReplyDeleteZoppo can be replaced, and she is NOT the only one who was organized. My goodness you make her out to be some GOD. She was tossed out because of her attitude towards people and the way she treated them. She got what she put out - plain and simple.
ReplyDeleteSo will out historians, and there are plenty of them!
ReplyDeleteShe was punished because she spoke truth to power (the voters), and they didn't like it. We will never have another councilmember who worked as hard as her or was as smart as her.
ReplyDelete"She was punished because she spoke truth to power (the voters), and they didn't like it. We will never have another councilmember who worked as hard as her or was as smart as her."
ReplyDeleteActually, she was punished because she was arrogant, talked down to people, didn't listen, etc.
This behavior negated her organizational skills, work ethic, understanding of the issues, etc.
Oh please, Zoppo worked hard and was smart, but to say there will never be a Council member as smart as her or as hardworking as her is just plain stupid.
ReplyDeleteHere is an example where Zopo saw a need, had a plan, was supported by Stortz with a good committee selection and got good results.
ReplyDeleteWe are losing two top notch people!!!
It's a good thing dead people in cemetaries can't vote!
ReplyDeleteThey still vote in Waterbury. Sometimes more than once.
ReplyDeleteVery funny, Frank Johnson. Seems like the Bristol Zoning Commission is trying to make Bristol look like Waterbury with the new Walgreens and those windows.
ReplyDeleteDoes the Waterbury Zoning Commission disregard its regulations and overrule its Building inspector's attempts to enforce rules just like in Bristol?
BRAVO! (to the last poster)
ReplyDelete"Oh please, Zoppo worked hard and was smart, but to say there will never be a Council member as smart as her or as hardworking as her is just plain stupid."
ReplyDeleteWhat an astonishingly ignorant comment. She has a master's degree in public administration (how many other Bristol democrats even have a college degree?), has an incredible memory for facts and details, and she was chairman of half of the city Council committees for the past four years (despite the fact that there are six councilmen). You clearly know nothing about Ellen or the City Council. Go back to sleep.
I like the windows.
ReplyDeleteSounds like we should build an alter and make sacrifices to the god ELLEN.
ReplyDeleteGive me a break.
Ellen, thanks for your service to the city. I hope you found it rewarding and fruitful. Those that get it, understand your commitment to our community. Well done.
ReplyDeleteMy mother always said, "If you can't say something nice......."