Director Doucette Suggests Town Provide Help

Last night the Directors heard public reaction to a program to help provide support to those who are having a little trouble with home upkeep.

Director Jason Doucette had suggested to town officials that a portion of the Community Block Grant be set aside to provide reimbursement assistance to qualified homeowners in certain neighborhoods.

This program is intended to provide help to those who do not qualify for "Rebuilding Together", a fantastic program that provides housing upgrades to residents in need.

Doucette said, "If someone could benefit from a fresh coat of paint, we should have money set aside."

Property owners could be reimbursed up to $500 for paint and supplies. Labor is not immediately included unless the homeowner is elderly or disabled. If that is the case, they may be eligible for an additional $500 reimbursement.

The article in the Journal Inquirer can be found here.

JI: Democratic Directors Experienced, Bi-Partisan and Results Driven

The Journal Inquirer article on the Democratic Directors announcement to seek reelection, much like the Courant article, clearly demonstrates why the Democratic Directors are the best choice for Manchester.

Emphasis mine:

"Hands down, we have the best team for Manchester," Zingler, who's been on the board since 2001, said.

"We've always looked out for the best interests of all residents. We are always looking for ways to improve the quality of life. We arelooking to do things that will help people down the road."

Citing such accomplishments as passage of a living-wage ordinance, funding for more police officers, and planning for the eventual closure of the landfill, Democrats say they will continue to be "honest, frugal, and performance-driven," Zingler said.

"I believe in the town and its residents, and I know the four people I'm sitting here with believe in this town and have the residents' best interests at heart," Topping, who was elected to his first term in 2005, said.

He added, "... we respect each other and our counterparts, and it's clear to me it's not always the same on the other side."

Sheridan, who's served as the board's majority leader the last two years after first being elected in 2001, touted the experience of fellow Democratic directors in the areas of public safety, law, engineering,the legislature, and social services.

That's on top of local experience on the Board of Education, Planning and Zoning Commission, and 8th Utilities District board of directors.

...

O'Neill ... said she's most eager to follow through on projects that already have been started, namely the continued renovation of the elementary schools."We're a proven majority," she said.

...

While Doucette ... affably referred to Sheridan as the "dean of our delegation," he was equally complimentary of the other four directors, "All of the attributes we bring ... function seamlessly."

He added, "The most important thing that we do is a responsible and reasoned approach to town government."

...

"We love this town, and it would be an honor and privilege to serve the residents again," Zingler said.

With Sheridan adding, "and it would be an honor and privilege to serve with these four."

Directors: Strong, Effective, Proactive Leaders

The Hartford Courant has reaction to the Democratic Directors announcement yesterday that they would be seeking reelection this fall. As the article noted, the Directors have confronted the issues of the community head on, initiating innovative and successful solutions to the most pressing problems.

Emphasis mine:

Sheridan said the backgrounds of the five Democrats - law, engineering, public safety and working with people with disabilities - and their political experience have given the team success.

"We're not a bunch of political or governmental neophytes," said Sheridan, who has been on the board since 2001. "We can do this job and we can do it well."

Sheridan said the problems facing the town two years ago have been addressed and he would like to see the next board address a couple of other issues. He said the board needs to address spaceneeds at the library and to improve the elementary schools that have not been recently renovated. Town buildings, especially the schools, have undergone or are in the middle of major renovations.

"One of the reasons I'm running is to see these projects through," said O'Neill, who served on the school board before being elected to the board of directors two years ago.

She also has been outspoken about historic and land preservation."I'm not going anywhere and I really, really want to see this town succeed for many generations to come," O'Neill said.

Doucette said planning ahead is one of the most important jobs of the board.

"Responsible planning, forward thinking ... what's going to make sense three, four years down the road," Doucette said.

Zingler, who was elected to the board of directors in 2001, said the town should be proud of its achievements in the past two years, such as creating a tax credit program for low-income residents and a program that gives senior citizens tax relief.

"We love this town and it would be an honor and privilege to serve again," Zingler said.

Topping, a retired Hartford police officer who runs his own landscaping business, said he brings the public safety and business mind-set to the board. Topping said he has fought hard for more funding for the police and fire departments to hire more officers.

"I just want to continue what I started two years ago," he said.

Manchester Democratic Directors To Announce Reelection Candidacy

Tonight, at 6:30pm in the Manchester Room in the Town Hall, incumbent Directors Jason Doucette, Lisa O'Neill, Dave Sheridan, John Topping and Kevin Zingler will formally announce their intentions to run for reelection to the Board of Directors this November.

The Directors plan to cite their experience, knowledge, vision, and resume of reasoned and responsible stewardship as reasons for reelection with a special emphasis on the record of progress under last 16 years of Democratic leadership. They will also touch upon some of the critical issues facing Manchester and both general and specific goals for the future, including responsible fiscal management and reconciling the need for critical town services and care of Town facilities and vital infrastructure with the ability to pay, school reconstruction, public safety, responsible planning and strengthening neighborhoods, continuing to provide creative, productive outlets for Manchester’s youth, and improving overall management of Town resources.

A candidate to replace Josh Howroyd’s seat on the Board of Directors has yet to be announced. The Manchester Democratic Town Committee will make that determination in the coming weeks through its Nominating Committee process.

Additional information on each of the candidates can be found by going to http://manchester.dems.info/boardofdir.html.