Housing Director Mitzy Rowe wasn’t the only manager at the Bristol Housing Authority to receive a secret raise this summer.
All of the supervisors for the Bristol Housing Authority were evaluated behind closed doors in June and new salaries for them set by consensus, according to the authority’s attorney.
Salvatore Vitrano, the agency’s lawyer, said Wednesday that four housing commissioners listened during an executive session in June as Rowe talked about the performance of each housing supervisor and recommended pay hikes for each.
While some received the same 3 percent hikes that the authority’s union members later got, others wound up with more.
Some ended up with the same 5 percent pay raise that Rowe received -- at her recommendation.
Vitrano said the raises were partly based on job performance but they were also meant to reflect changing duties.
It’s not clear which managers received the raises or how much each got.
Vitrano said that commissioners realized they should vote on the supervisors’ pay hikes in public as well as Rowe’s salary, but could not add it to the agenda for Tuesday’s special meeting where they renewed the director’s raise in public.
At the next regularly scheduled housing board meeting -- at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 20 in the meeting room at Cambridge Park -- commissioners plan to vote again on the pay hikes they handed out in secret in June.
*******
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
October 7, 2009
Alford: Bring Lincoln-Douglas debate style to Bristol
Press release from Republican mayoral candidate Mary Alford:
Alford: Chamber Debate
This event is not a debate in the usual sense and is certainly not meant by the Chamber or your mayoral candidates to exclude the citizens of
I realize that time is short and financing a challenge but if there is anyone or any group(s) willing to sponsor such a debate I say, let’s do it.
*******
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Secret pay hike draws criticism for BHA
A secret 5 percent pay hike awarded to the Bristol Housing Authority’s director in June drew harsh criticism Wednesday.
Mayor Art Ward said he was upset and bewildered that housing commissioners would give Mitzy Rowe a 5 percent pay hike in the middle of a recession.
“I don’t see how they could not have realized” the need for them “to demonstrate the severity of the conditions” in Bristol’s economy by keeping any salary hikes minimal, the mayor said.
“Everybody around us is not getting raises,” said Ward, who voted this year to slash the mayor’s pay by 5 percent in the coming term to ensure the city’s leader sets the right tone.
Rowe received her pay hike to $100,000 annually in a closed-door executive session in June after the board reached a consensus to hike her salary by 5 percent. The decision was never ratified in public until Tuesday night, after city Councilor Ken Cockayne and reporters began asking questions about it.
“It was really an oversight,” said Brian Wolverton, the chairman of the housing commission. “There was never any intent to keep it out of the public forum.”
Wolverton said that Rowe, who declined to comment, got a raise starting July 1 because of her outstanding performance in the job and because the authority could afford to pay her. He said nobody talked about whether it was appropriate to hike the salary so much during hard times.
‘Honestly, if someone brought it to the table that evening and said maybe this wouldn’t look so good, I would have given it consideration, but honestly it just didn’t come up that night,” Wolverton said.
Cockayne said that in “this tough economy,” when the city and state governments are asking workers for concessions and “the federal government is up to its eyeballs in debt,” he questions whether it is “morally right to take a 5 percent increase.”
Cockayne said that Rowe should not have received more than the 3 percent pay hike that BHA workers got this year.
“A fair raise would have been what the workers below her received,” Cockayne said. “If they’re good for a 3 percent raise, then why wouldn’t the director be good for a 3 percent raise?”
Wolverton said the panel wanted to give Rowe an increase over and above the norm to reward her for a solid performance in a difficult job.
Though housing commissioners said the failure to record in the minutes that Rowe received a raise was an oversight, several officials said privately it was done deliberately to avoid letting the BHA workers’ union know how much more the director would receive.
The commission didn’t want to complicate negotiations, the officials said.
Wolverton said it’s possible they meant to keep it secret.”We may have been glibly instructed” to keep it quiet until negotiations were over with the union, he said, but he doesn’t remember it.
“That would be true for the management increases” generally, he added.
The housing panel was told this week by its attorney it did not have to vote in public because there was no dissent about the pay hike, but opted to do it anyway, Wolverton said.
“We decided it was just a matter of good form to officiate it in the form of a vote,” Wolverton said.
The Connecticut Freedom of Information Commission’s Valicia Hamon said Wednesday she urged Vitrano to push the commissioners to vote in public because it would ratify the solid performance review done behind closed doors.
She said, though, that it doesn’t appear an improper vote was taken in executive session in June because it was “really a performance review” more than a discussion about pay levels.
“The executive session wasn’t about how much. It was about how great,” Hamon said.
It did, however, result in a pay hike that Rowe began receiving in July without public notice.
Wolverton said the commission is establishing new procedures to make sure it evaluates managers in the right way and awards raises in public in the future. Transparency is crucial, Wolverton said.
Wolverton said he regrets the way this was handled.
“It was a very regrettable chain of events, I think,” Wolverton said.
Ward said the housing authority operates separately from the city government, but because the mayor appoints commissioners, he felt “a moral obligation” to speak out against the raise that Rowe received.
He said that his own decision to support a 5 percent pay cut for whoever is elected mayor next month shows the magnitude of the fiscal crisis that’s hit the community.
Taking a 5 percent salary increase in such times, Ward said is wrong.
“They really need to be cognizant of the effect on the community” that so large a pay hike can create, the mayor said.
*******
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Mayor Art Ward said he was upset and bewildered that housing commissioners would give Mitzy Rowe a 5 percent pay hike in the middle of a recession.
“I don’t see how they could not have realized” the need for them “to demonstrate the severity of the conditions” in Bristol’s economy by keeping any salary hikes minimal, the mayor said.
“Everybody around us is not getting raises,” said Ward, who voted this year to slash the mayor’s pay by 5 percent in the coming term to ensure the city’s leader sets the right tone.
Rowe received her pay hike to $100,000 annually in a closed-door executive session in June after the board reached a consensus to hike her salary by 5 percent. The decision was never ratified in public until Tuesday night, after city Councilor Ken Cockayne and reporters began asking questions about it.
“It was really an oversight,” said Brian Wolverton, the chairman of the housing commission. “There was never any intent to keep it out of the public forum.”
Wolverton said that Rowe, who declined to comment, got a raise starting July 1 because of her outstanding performance in the job and because the authority could afford to pay her. He said nobody talked about whether it was appropriate to hike the salary so much during hard times.
‘Honestly, if someone brought it to the table that evening and said maybe this wouldn’t look so good, I would have given it consideration, but honestly it just didn’t come up that night,” Wolverton said.
Cockayne said that in “this tough economy,” when the city and state governments are asking workers for concessions and “the federal government is up to its eyeballs in debt,” he questions whether it is “morally right to take a 5 percent increase.”
Cockayne said that Rowe should not have received more than the 3 percent pay hike that BHA workers got this year.
“A fair raise would have been what the workers below her received,” Cockayne said. “If they’re good for a 3 percent raise, then why wouldn’t the director be good for a 3 percent raise?”
Wolverton said the panel wanted to give Rowe an increase over and above the norm to reward her for a solid performance in a difficult job.
Though housing commissioners said the failure to record in the minutes that Rowe received a raise was an oversight, several officials said privately it was done deliberately to avoid letting the BHA workers’ union know how much more the director would receive.
The commission didn’t want to complicate negotiations, the officials said.
Wolverton said it’s possible they meant to keep it secret.”We may have been glibly instructed” to keep it quiet until negotiations were over with the union, he said, but he doesn’t remember it.
“That would be true for the management increases” generally, he added.
The housing panel was told this week by its attorney it did not have to vote in public because there was no dissent about the pay hike, but opted to do it anyway, Wolverton said.
“We decided it was just a matter of good form to officiate it in the form of a vote,” Wolverton said.
The Connecticut Freedom of Information Commission’s Valicia Hamon said Wednesday she urged Vitrano to push the commissioners to vote in public because it would ratify the solid performance review done behind closed doors.
She said, though, that it doesn’t appear an improper vote was taken in executive session in June because it was “really a performance review” more than a discussion about pay levels.
“The executive session wasn’t about how much. It was about how great,” Hamon said.
It did, however, result in a pay hike that Rowe began receiving in July without public notice.
Wolverton said the commission is establishing new procedures to make sure it evaluates managers in the right way and awards raises in public in the future. Transparency is crucial, Wolverton said.
Wolverton said he regrets the way this was handled.
“It was a very regrettable chain of events, I think,” Wolverton said.
Ward said the housing authority operates separately from the city government, but because the mayor appoints commissioners, he felt “a moral obligation” to speak out against the raise that Rowe received.
He said that his own decision to support a 5 percent pay cut for whoever is elected mayor next month shows the magnitude of the fiscal crisis that’s hit the community.
Taking a 5 percent salary increase in such times, Ward said is wrong.
“They really need to be cognizant of the effect on the community” that so large a pay hike can create, the mayor said.
*******
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
October 6, 2009
Council debates on October 20th
The 12 candidates vying for City Council seats will face off during a live debate at City Hall on October 20.
The debate, sponsored by the Central Connecticut Chamber of Commerce, is slated to air live in Nutmeg Community Television.
Nutmeg will also tape and broadcast the mayoral debate the chamber is sponsoring next week.
The chamber’s debates are being co-sponsored by Bristol Hospital and The Bristol Press.
With only four of the six incumbent councilors seeking reelection -- at least two newcomers are bound to join the council following the November 3 municipal election.
The public is invited to watch the council debates for free at City Hall.
In addition to airing live on Nutmeg TV, they’ll also be rebroadcast at least a couple of times before the election. The mayoral debate will also be shown more than once. But times and dates are not yet available.
At this point, there are no other forums or debates scheduled.
For the council showdown, there will be three half-hour debates, one for each district, beginning agt 7 p.m. for the 1st District. The 2nd District debate is slated to start at 7:35 p.m. and the hotly contested 3rd District should get underway at 8:10 p.m.
The 1st District pits incumbents Mike Rimcoski, a Republican, and Cliff Block, a Democrat, against Democrat Kevin Fuller and Republican Eldianne Bishop.
The 2nd District race features Democratic incumbent Kevin McCauley and Republican incumbent Ken Cockayne against the GOP’s Richard Scarola and Democrat Allen Marko.
In the 3rd District, where both incumbents are stepping down, those vying for election are Republicans Derek Czenczelewski and David Mills and Democrats Kate Matthews and Terry Parker.
The two top vote-getters in each district will take office. Council members serve two-year terms for a part-time salary of $10,000 annually.
*******
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
The debate, sponsored by the Central Connecticut Chamber of Commerce, is slated to air live in Nutmeg Community Television.
Nutmeg will also tape and broadcast the mayoral debate the chamber is sponsoring next week.
The chamber’s debates are being co-sponsored by Bristol Hospital and The Bristol Press.
With only four of the six incumbent councilors seeking reelection -- at least two newcomers are bound to join the council following the November 3 municipal election.
The public is invited to watch the council debates for free at City Hall.
In addition to airing live on Nutmeg TV, they’ll also be rebroadcast at least a couple of times before the election. The mayoral debate will also be shown more than once. But times and dates are not yet available.
At this point, there are no other forums or debates scheduled.
For the council showdown, there will be three half-hour debates, one for each district, beginning agt 7 p.m. for the 1st District. The 2nd District debate is slated to start at 7:35 p.m. and the hotly contested 3rd District should get underway at 8:10 p.m.
The 1st District pits incumbents Mike Rimcoski, a Republican, and Cliff Block, a Democrat, against Democrat Kevin Fuller and Republican Eldianne Bishop.
The 2nd District race features Democratic incumbent Kevin McCauley and Republican incumbent Ken Cockayne against the GOP’s Richard Scarola and Democrat Allen Marko.
In the 3rd District, where both incumbents are stepping down, those vying for election are Republicans Derek Czenczelewski and David Mills and Democrats Kate Matthews and Terry Parker.
The two top vote-getters in each district will take office. Council members serve two-year terms for a part-time salary of $10,000 annually.
*******
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Hamzy: State can't close Bristol courthouse
State judicial officials may not have the power to close Bristol’s courthouse.
“They can’t do it,” said state Rep. Bill Hamzy, a Plymouth Republican whose 78th District includes northwestern Bristol.
Two decades ago, when another governor was eyeing the city’s courthouse, lawmakers pushed through a measure that remains on the statute books that declares the judicial department must operate a courthouse in Bristol.
A section in the law governing the state’s superior courts says “the court shall not sit less than 40 weeks in Bristol and Stamford,” which doesn’t appear to offer much wiggle room.
Hamzy said the provision has never been repealed and cannot be ignored.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I know what can’t happen,” Hamzy said Tuesday.
*******
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
“They can’t do it,” said state Rep. Bill Hamzy, a Plymouth Republican whose 78th District includes northwestern Bristol.
Two decades ago, when another governor was eyeing the city’s courthouse, lawmakers pushed through a measure that remains on the statute books that declares the judicial department must operate a courthouse in Bristol.
A section in the law governing the state’s superior courts says “the court shall not sit less than 40 weeks in Bristol and Stamford,” which doesn’t appear to offer much wiggle room.
Hamzy said the provision has never been repealed and cannot be ignored.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I know what can’t happen,” Hamzy said Tuesday.
*******
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Lawton says he'll talk to anyone
Press release from independent mayoral candidate Gary Lawton:
Lawton says he will speak to any group that would like him to talk to them
While it is unfortunate that the Chamber of Commerce has decided to charge for the up coming debate, I would love to introduce myself to any club meeting or join an individual and talk to them one on one. To get their concerns and if they have any ideas they believe could help Bristol, now or even perhaps in the future. We, as I have said, must all work together to get Bristol back on its feet and be the best city we all know it can be. While some may say Bristol is a lost cause I say no, we can do this and will do this because if not for us now then at least for future generations to come. We see pictures of cities that have just given up, rampant crime, boarded up buildings even people living in their cars or on the street. I think Bristol can over come its problems and emerge stronger and better for the future, perhaps an example of how a city reshaped itself into a new entity. So if an individual or group would want to hear me talk about Bristol, and some of my ideas and add some of your own, email me at hoss0463@gmail.com. Let us all work together and return Bristol back on top.
*******
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Lawton says he will speak to any group that would like him to talk to them
While it is unfortunate that the Chamber of Commerce has decided to charge for the up coming debate, I would love to introduce myself to any club meeting or join an individual and talk to them one on one. To get their concerns and if they have any ideas they believe could help Bristol, now or even perhaps in the future. We, as I have said, must all work together to get Bristol back on its feet and be the best city we all know it can be. While some may say Bristol is a lost cause I say no, we can do this and will do this because if not for us now then at least for future generations to come. We see pictures of cities that have just given up, rampant crime, boarded up buildings even people living in their cars or on the street. I think Bristol can over come its problems and emerge stronger and better for the future, perhaps an example of how a city reshaped itself into a new entity. So if an individual or group would want to hear me talk about Bristol, and some of my ideas and add some of your own, email me at hoss0463@gmail.com. Let us all work together and return Bristol back on top.
*******
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Pay hike for housing director?
I can't make it to the Bristol Housing Authority meeting tonight, but I'd sure love to hear from anyone who can.
Mitzy Rowe, the housing director, may be in line for a decent pay raise -- months after everyone else at the authority got a pay freeze.
Here's the meeting agenda:
DATE: October 2, 2009
TO: All Commissioners, City Liaison and General Counsel
The Special Meeting is scheduled for October 6, 2009. The Commissioners of the Housing
Authority of the City of Bristol will meet as follows:
Date: Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Place: Cambridge Park Community Room
AGENDA
1. Roll Call
2. Public Participation Related to Agenda Item
3. Executive Session to discuss Personnel Matter Involving Pay Raise Issue Relative to
Executive Director.
4. Any Action necessary as a result of Executive Session
5. Adjournment
Respectfully Submitted,
Mitzy Rowe
Executive Director
If you do go and you're not used to these things, here's the deal. They can -- perhaps -- meet in executive session about the possible pay raise, but they must come out of the the secret part of the meeting to take any votes on the record. There may even be some dissent on the issue.
If anyone goes, I know I'm not alone in wanting to find out what happens and if anyone says anything.
*******
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Mitzy Rowe, the housing director, may be in line for a decent pay raise -- months after everyone else at the authority got a pay freeze.
Here's the meeting agenda:
DATE: October 2, 2009
TO: All Commissioners, City Liaison and General Counsel
The Special Meeting is scheduled for October 6, 2009. The Commissioners of the Housing
Authority of the City of Bristol will meet as follows:
Date: Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Place: Cambridge Park Community Room
AGENDA
1. Roll Call
2. Public Participation Related to Agenda Item
3. Executive Session to discuss Personnel Matter Involving Pay Raise Issue Relative to
Executive Director.
4. Any Action necessary as a result of Executive Session
5. Adjournment
Respectfully Submitted,
Mitzy Rowe
Executive Director
If you do go and you're not used to these things, here's the deal. They can -- perhaps -- meet in executive session about the possible pay raise, but they must come out of the the secret part of the meeting to take any votes on the record. There may even be some dissent on the issue.
If anyone goes, I know I'm not alone in wanting to find out what happens and if anyone says anything.
*******
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Mocabee says there's "no value in anything" Wright does
Twitter posts from Art Mocabee, a state Republican Party vice chairman, regarding state Rep. Chris Wright, a Bristol Democrat (note: on Twitter, "to follow" someone is to sign up to read their posts) --
Chris Wright is an example of what unions can do. They elect puppets.
6:02 PM Oct 2nd from TwitterBerry
Chris Wright wants to follow me. What an insult. There is no value in anything from him.
6:01 PM Oct 2nd from Twitterberry
*******
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Chris Wright is an example of what unions can do. They elect puppets.
6:02 PM Oct 2nd from TwitterBerry
Chris Wright wants to follow me. What an insult. There is no value in anything from him.
6:01 PM Oct 2nd from Twitterberry
*******
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
October 5, 2009
Report problems to the city!
Listening to "Where We Live" on WNPR this morning, I remembered that I wanted to see how SeeClickFix.com would work out in Bristol. So I've added it to this blog. If you scroll down the right, it's under the list of candidates.
What it allows is for people to report everthing from potholes to prostitutes, from cracked curbs to crackheads. You cite where's there's a problem and, in theory, government or some other institution leaps to respond. We'll see how that works out.
But it's a great concept.
I'm sorry the area I have to use includes a bit more than Bristol, but I can't seem to make the map only feaure Bristol. If I can figure it out more exactly later, I'll change that.
Meantime, give it a try. There's a lot to be said for public pressure to fix the city.
*******
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
What it allows is for people to report everthing from potholes to prostitutes, from cracked curbs to crackheads. You cite where's there's a problem and, in theory, government or some other institution leaps to respond. We'll see how that works out.
But it's a great concept.
I'm sorry the area I have to use includes a bit more than Bristol, but I can't seem to make the map only feaure Bristol. If I can figure it out more exactly later, I'll change that.
Meantime, give it a try. There's a lot to be said for public pressure to fix the city.
*******
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Documentary film about Bristol Press nearing completion
Last winter, when it appeared The Bristol Press would close, some documentary filmmakers began producing piece for CT Public Television about the demise of the paper. Focusing on the Press, it aimed to tell the larger story of the industry's troubles, and what they mean for cities like Bristol.
Other than making the hideous mistake of putting me on camera -- which good editing could still solve - they seem to have done quite well. You can see some clips here.
The producers are interested in finding potential funders so if you've got some cash sitting around that you can afford to give away -- and you don't feel like giving it to me - then this could be a nice thing to support.
Drop me a line if you're interested in helping them and I'll get you in touch.
*******
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Other than making the hideous mistake of putting me on camera -- which good editing could still solve - they seem to have done quite well. You can see some clips here.
The producers are interested in finding potential funders so if you've got some cash sitting around that you can afford to give away -- and you don't feel like giving it to me - then this could be a nice thing to support.
Drop me a line if you're interested in helping them and I'll get you in touch.
*******
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
October 1, 2009
Mayoral debate slated for October 15
In what may prove the only debate of the mayoral campaign, the three contenders vying for the city’s top job are slated to appear before the Central Connecticut Chamber of Commerce on October 15.
Mayor Art Ward, a first-term Democrat seeking reelection, said he doesn’t see much point in holding more than one debate.
His challengers, Republican Mary Alford and independent Gary Lawton, are angling to unseat the mayor in the November 3 general election.
The chamber is also sponsoring City Council debates that will likely be filmed at Nutmeg Community Television for broadcast in the days before the election.
The chamber’s debate, sponsored by Bristol Hospital, will be focus on “business-related issues as they affect the Bristol community.”
The event is slated to take place at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 15 at Nuchies Restaurant in Forestville, with breakfast starting at 8 a.m.
It costs $17 for chamber members who pay ahead of time, $20 at the door. For non-chamber members, the cost is $25 prepaid or $30 at the door.
At this point, there is no debate or mayoral forum scheduled where voters can hear the three candidates for free.
The chamber’s debate was organized by its legislative committee. It will be moderated by Tom Monahan, a veteran newsman on WVIT television, channel 30.
Payments for tickets should be made to the Central CT Chambers of Commerce, 200 Main Street, Bristol, CT 06010.
For more information, visit the CentralCTChambers.org website, email Info@CentralCTChambers.org or phone (860) 584-4718.
Ward was elected in 2007 after a tight race against Republican Ken Johnson. William Stortz, the GOP mayor from 2005 to 2007, did not run for another term.
Mayors serve two-year terms for $98,000 annually.
*******
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Mayor Art Ward, a first-term Democrat seeking reelection, said he doesn’t see much point in holding more than one debate.
His challengers, Republican Mary Alford and independent Gary Lawton, are angling to unseat the mayor in the November 3 general election.
The chamber is also sponsoring City Council debates that will likely be filmed at Nutmeg Community Television for broadcast in the days before the election.
The chamber’s debate, sponsored by Bristol Hospital, will be focus on “business-related issues as they affect the Bristol community.”
The event is slated to take place at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 15 at Nuchies Restaurant in Forestville, with breakfast starting at 8 a.m.
It costs $17 for chamber members who pay ahead of time, $20 at the door. For non-chamber members, the cost is $25 prepaid or $30 at the door.
At this point, there is no debate or mayoral forum scheduled where voters can hear the three candidates for free.
The chamber’s debate was organized by its legislative committee. It will be moderated by Tom Monahan, a veteran newsman on WVIT television, channel 30.
Payments for tickets should be made to the Central CT Chambers of Commerce, 200 Main Street, Bristol, CT 06010.
For more information, visit the CentralCTChambers.org website, email Info@CentralCTChambers.org or phone (860) 584-4718.
Ward was elected in 2007 after a tight race against Republican Ken Johnson. William Stortz, the GOP mayor from 2005 to 2007, did not run for another term.
Mayors serve two-year terms for $98,000 annually.
*******
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Proceed with caution, Lawton warns
Press release from independent mayoral contender Gary Lawton:
Kudos to ESPN, Proceed With Caution on Downtown, The Budget
It is great how ESPN has stepped up to help build the new Boys & Girls club. It shows the role ESPN has to the community. This city has such a powerful sports history that it only seems a natural fit for ESPN to be part of the build for the new center, a center that will not only benefit the city's youth through sports but so many other ways also, so kudos go out to ESPN.
I would also need to say that while it is a wondrous event to see some progress on the center mall site.. From first glance the renaissance group seems to see what we want, but I must also urge caution from just jumping in feet first. I realize we all need to see downtown move forward, but if we rush headlong into it and not hold a level head about us we could end up with something that will not help us and then were would we be. Slow patient steps lets do it right the first, time cause there may not be a second.
The last point I would need to address is the budget and expected shortfall. Only, through sound economic policies and concessions from all sides and difficult decisions, will we continue to were we need to be. I have already stated my intentions to return 35% of my salary if elected while perhaps a minor matter in the nature of a possible 8-10 million dollar deficit it is a start, and we have to start some were plus, I think it shows my desire to help try and be part of the result. One other issue is I will not assume any raises unless the citizens of Bristol vote on it. They are the employer, and they should be the ones to give me a raise if they think I am doing an good job. I also of course would not want to be reelected if they felt I was not doing the same good job. I would want to see unpaid furlough days set in a position to help the city, possibly shutting down city hall one day a month if possible. I would also want to see if we could combine some departments to try and get rid of some of the duplication that is amongst departments. I also feel pay scales should be looked at to see if the are in line with what other cities pay. In short everything would be up for review to make sure the citizens of Bristol are getting the best deal for their tax dollars. I think if every year we have to give them a bill to pay, the budget, and they pay that bill with their taxes, then they should be entitled to the best - possible deal we can give them. I hope we can all work together for the whole of Bristol.
*******
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Kudos to ESPN, Proceed With Caution on Downtown, The Budget
It is great how ESPN has stepped up to help build the new Boys & Girls club. It shows the role ESPN has to the community. This city has such a powerful sports history that it only seems a natural fit for ESPN to be part of the build for the new center, a center that will not only benefit the city's youth through sports but so many other ways also, so kudos go out to ESPN.
I would also need to say that while it is a wondrous event to see some progress on the center mall site.. From first glance the renaissance group seems to see what we want, but I must also urge caution from just jumping in feet first. I realize we all need to see downtown move forward, but if we rush headlong into it and not hold a level head about us we could end up with something that will not help us and then were would we be. Slow patient steps lets do it right the first, time cause there may not be a second.
The last point I would need to address is the budget and expected shortfall. Only, through sound economic policies and concessions from all sides and difficult decisions, will we continue to were we need to be. I have already stated my intentions to return 35% of my salary if elected while perhaps a minor matter in the nature of a possible 8-10 million dollar deficit it is a start, and we have to start some were plus, I think it shows my desire to help try and be part of the result. One other issue is I will not assume any raises unless the citizens of Bristol vote on it. They are the employer, and they should be the ones to give me a raise if they think I am doing an good job. I also of course would not want to be reelected if they felt I was not doing the same good job. I would want to see unpaid furlough days set in a position to help the city, possibly shutting down city hall one day a month if possible. I would also want to see if we could combine some departments to try and get rid of some of the duplication that is amongst departments. I also feel pay scales should be looked at to see if the are in line with what other cities pay. In short everything would be up for review to make sure the citizens of Bristol are getting the best deal for their tax dollars. I think if every year we have to give them a bill to pay, the budget, and they pay that bill with their taxes, then they should be entitled to the best - possible deal we can give them. I hope we can all work together for the whole of Bristol.
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Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
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