Directors Help With Clean Up

Directors Kevin Zingler and Dave Sheridan joined other volunteers, led by the tireless Doug Smith, the unofficial "river keeper" for the Hockanum River, for the annual Union Pond clean-up. Over the course of a three-hour effort, the volunteers fished about a dozen bags of trash from the banks of the pond, as well as bicycles, old tires, children's toys, a lawnmower, and a town trash receptacle. Firefighters from the Eighth Utilities District brought their rescue boat to the pond and hauled the bags of trash back to the boat launch, where Town crews hauled it off for disposal.

Director Sheridan remarked "Union Pond is certainly a natural treasure, but the real treasure is these volunteers, who give so much time and energy to keeping this Pond, and the entire Hockanum River Linear Park, clean and beautiful for all of us. Once a year Kevin and I come down and pitch in for a few hours, but they are out here year round. It's a pleasure to work alongside them, they love this river so much."

Director Zingler agreed. "Without Doug Smith and his volunteers, Union Pond is a different place. It's a shame people don't respect the pond and throw all this junk into the water. Maybe someday that will change. But until it does, everyone in Manchester owes a tremendous debt to these volunteers."

Organizer Doug Smith commented that this is the fourth year that the cleanup has occurred and "every year it gets a little better, every year the Pond seems to be a bit cleaner." One of the volunteers remarked that it's great that the clean-up occurs in the fall because that's when the Pond is at its best. "In a week or two all these leaves will turn and this will be the most beautiful place in Town, a half-mile from Buckland Hills Mall. That's something we should always preserve. I hope this Pond is here - just like this - a hundred years from now."

Democrats Want to Begin Work on School Renovations Now

Today the Hartford Courant published an article about the Republican Minority Leader's stall tactics in appointing two members to the School Renovation Committee, which is tasked with developing a real, cost-effective and achievable plan to renovate the 8-remaining elementary schools.

The article notes that the Democrats are interested in beginning their work in October (for a variety of reasons, the least of which is that little could be accomplished during the holiday season and January is spent considering the school budget), whereas Republican Lou Spadacinni would prefer to wait until after November, arguing that the membership could change following the November elections. Spadacinni's failure to act further distinguishes the Democrats desire to tackle the hard issues and reinforces their commitment to not play politics with concerns foremost in the minds of Manchester residents.

Despite objections, Spadacinni has agreed to appoint two Republican members and allow the committee to begin its work in earnest and start to solve this complex dilemma

EXCLUSIVE: I spoke with Director Sheridan this afternoon and he shared the following thoughts (emphasis mine):

"There is nothing more important in this Town that we should be working on between now and November 19 (the swearing in of a new Board) than a potential Spring 2008 referendum for renovations to elementary schools. It is definitely more important than the election, and arguably more important than anything on the October BOD Agenda. Finishing the rebuilding of our schools is the most important task on our plate right now. When you have something that important to do, and you have a deadline of March 2008, "let's wait a few months" is hardly the attitude to take.

Second, as the Republicans stated in August, this is a bi-partisan effort. The partisan outcome of an election should not affect it. The Republicans seem to have abandoned bi-partisanship before the committee even gets started with this bizarre argument that somehow the joint committee will operate differently or reach a different result if the Republicans - rather than the Democrats- are in charge.

Finally, the whole "wait - there's an election coming up" argument offends me. The people elect us to work together and govern right up until the day we leave office. Everything shouldn't grind to halt because there's an election coming up."

Democratic Directors Justify Trip to Washington

On September 10 Chief Berry of the Manchester Police Department received a letter from the Department of Justice informing him that Manchester would be receiving a $50,000 grant from the DOJ's COPS "Secure Our Schools" grant program. The receipt of this money is a direct result of the efforts by the Democratic Directors, including Dave Sheridan, Kevin Zingler and Jason Doucette, who attended the National League of Cities national conference in March. The grant will be used to enhance school security with state-of-the-art security technology at Nathan Hale School and Illing Middle School.

The March trip has also reaped additional returns for the Manchester community, including a $500,000 grant for the Regional Emergency Operations Center and $200,000 for the Spruce Street Youth Center. Perhaps even more impressive is that these results fly in the face of the Republicans who, at the time, decried the Democratic Directors attending the conference, claiming that the cost was exorbitant and a waste of taxpayer dollars. Based on the results, it appears that the indignation was misplaced and completely without merit.

VIDEO: Democratic Director Candidates Release "Pledge" with Manchester Residents

Below is video from last Thursday's press conference, where the Democratic candidates for the Board of Directors released their "Pledge" with Manchester residents.

Democratic Director Candidates Pledge Press Conference
Uploaded by ManchesterDTC

Directors Zingler & Topping Push for Block Watch Program in Green Manor Neighborhood

Directors Kevin Zingler and John Topping recently sent a letter to Town Manager Scott Shanley requesting that the town research the details regarding the purchase and installation of "Block Watch" signage in the Green Manor area.

Both attended the last community meeting at the Manchester Senior Center, and with about 50 people in attendance, discussed how to make the neighborhood safer. One of the suggestions was the formation of a "Block Watch" program. As the sentiment was unanimous that this occur quickly, Directors Zingler and Topping immediately forwarded a letter to Shanley requesting that the town identify what the procedure(s) are for the installation of the signs, the cost and the time required to perform the installation.

As stated by Zingler, "Besides being a crime deterrent, the installation of the signs would also reaffirm the town's commitment to solve the recent criminal activity in the area."

Director John Topping Seeks Tax Relief for 8th District Firefighters

It was reported earlier this month that Director John Topping brought forth a proposal for consideration by the Board of Directors that would provide a tax credit for 8th Utilities District Firefighters, Emergency Medical personnel and fire police. The Hartford Courant has a follow-up in this morning's paper, excerpts are found below:

The ordinance would give a $400 property tax exemption to volunteers who meet certain requirements. One requirement is that a volunteer must respond in a six-month period to 120 calls, 25 of which must be mutual aid to the town of Manchester.

The Eighth District has been trying to get a property tax exemption for its volunteers for years, said John Topping, a Democrat on the town's board of directors who used to be an Eighth District firefighter and a member of its board of directors.

Topping said the Eighth District's members do more than fight fires.

"They are involved in crowd control, blocking streets off. They just free up other police officers so that the police officers can go back to patrolling the town," he said.

...

Eighth Utilities District Fire Chief Paul Litrico said his firefighters assist the town's paid firefighters with major events and fires.

"Because of the efforts and time the volunteers of our organization put in throughout the whole town, there should be some sort of compensation," Litrico said.

Topping proposed the ordinance to the town's board of directors this month and the board is scheduled to vote on it next month. Directors have expressed interest in approving it.

...

Democratic Director Kevin Zingler said there are 40 to 50 people in town who would qualify for the tax exemption, which would cost the town about $16,000.

"When you put it all together, and the hours that these people are putting in volunteering for the town of Manchester ... they're donating well above $16,000 in time and money," Zingler said.

Dems Pledge To Use Individual Strengths to Carry Out 9-Point Plan

This article appears in full on the September 18, 2007 online edition of the Manchester Journal-Inquirer (emphasis mine):

By: Kimberly Phillips, Journal Inquirer

MANCHESTER - In unveiling a nine-point campaign platform today, local Democrats said that the goals play on their individual strengths, even though the slate of six pledges to work as a team.

"We run because we want to better the community," incumbent Kevin L. Zingler said during a morning press conference. "We want to help out the people who are the neediest."

At the top of the platform is making the town safer through the immediate hiring of additional police officers so they can gain experience before the town loses numerous others to retirement.

That's something incumbent John D. Topping has taken the lead on, Democrats say, given his background as a former Hartford police officer: "The town is safer, the town is a better place overall," he said of Democratic leadership.

Newcomer Pamela Cranford said she decided to run for the board based on the "people aspect" of political work and because her employment with the state Department of Children and Families makes her the best advocate for the next prong in the platform: planning for outreach to at-risk youth.

That's achieved through locating a youth center on Spruce Street and developing a plan for alleviating overcrowding at Mary Cheney Library, another part of the platform, they said.

Whether that means building a new library or reusing another town facility, candidate Jason E. Doucette, who's running for his first term after being tapped to fill a board vacancy last year, said a plan for the library is "one of the obvious challenges for the next board."

"We don't let things get to the point where we have to play hero," incumbent Lisa Paggioli O'Neill said of Democrats' "constantly and quietly" planning for the future.

O'Neill, given her occupation as an engineer, will be called on to provide insight into future municipal and school building projects, incumbent David M. Sheridan said, especially since continued focus on the schools makes the list.

"It's interesting, the platform does accentuate the talents of our team," Sheridan said, adding that Zingler watches out for the town's oldest residents and Doucette has an interest in working smarter and spending wisely, another two tenants of the platform.

"We just know what we have to do as a governmental leaders, and we get it done," Sheridan said.

Topping said Sheridan's strength is exemplified in each of the points, since his work as a lawyer makes him adept at fleshing out others' proposals to make them fit with both the law and what town staff want.

The platform is rounded out with pledges to maintain roads, sidewalks, bridges, and other town facilities; acquire more open space and look to making the town "greener" through environmental conservation; and work to improve the town's emergency services.

Democratic Pledge

Moving Manchester Forward

Manchester’s Democrats have worked hard to make our Town a place where people from all walks of life can be proud to live, work and raise their families. As the driving force in Town government for many years, we've focused on real solutions – not on headlines and sound bites. Others deliver speeches – we deliver results. You can depend on the Democrats to always do what is right for the people of our town and for the future of Manchester. You can depend on the Democrats to:

Make Our Town Safer: Put more uniformed officers on the streets.

Take Care Of What We Have: Protect our investment in town infrastructure by maintaining, repairing and renovating roads, sidewalks, bridges, town buildings and facilities.

Work Smarter. Spend Wisely: Promote the efficient use of our tax dollars; by continuously examining town services and programs to find new ways to deliver high quality services at the lowest possible cost to the taxpayers.

Continue To Rebuild Our Schools: Develop and carry out plan to repair, renovate and upgrade all of Manchester's elementary school buildings.

Build A Cleaner And Greener Manchester: Acquire more open space land and continue implementing energy-efficiency and environmentally responsible measures.

Plan For The Future: Work towards a consensus plan for addressing library space needs at Mary Cheney Library.

Make A Difference In The Lives Of Our Youth: Encourage expanded programming and outreach to at-risk youth.

Help Our Senior Citizens: Ensure that Manchester’s seniors receive all the services and assistance they need for health and happiness in their retirement years.

Be There For Every Emergency: Continue to improve the effectiveness of town-wide emergency medical, fire and public safety services

Democrats Issue Pledge to Manchester Community: Set Reasonable and Achievable Goals

Today the Democratic candidates for the Board of Directors released their pledge to the Manchester voters. The pledge will Move Manchester Forward by:

• Making Our Town Safer.
• Taking Care Of What We Have.
• Working Smarter. Spending Wisely.
• Continuing To Rebuild Our Schools.
• Building A Cleaner and Greener Manchester.
• Planning For the Future.
• Making a Difference in the Lives of Our Youth.
• Helping Our Senior Citizens.
• Being There For Every Emergency.

Director Dave Sheridan said, “The voters of Manchester know that we need strong, effective leadership if we are to continue to move this Town forward. We Democrats have shown that we know how to put Town government to work solving problems and making Manchester a better place to live. We have the experience and ability to overcome new challenges in the future and make Manchester stronger, safer, cleaner, and healthier. We know what has to be done, and we know how to get it done."

“Manchester needs a realistic and understandable plan for the future, which this clearly is. We take great pride in open, honest, straight-forward government, and I believe this program parallels that attitude and the vision that we have set forth and worked hard to follow throughout the last two years” said Director Kevin Zingler.

Deputy Mayor Lisa O’Neill followed, “Over the past two years we Democrats worked extremely hard to keep our town safe, looked critically at our spending and ensured that we are responsible, and fought to continue providing the services that Manchester’s residents appreciate and deserve. Our pledge demonstrates that we are committed to moving Manchester in a direction that all residents can be proud of.”

Director Jason Doucette stated that Manchester is the envy of all its neighbors and that thinking strategically, and not politically, is the key to continue leading the way in municipal government. “We have wonderful schools, great after-school programs for youth, awe-inspiring open space and have provided tax relief to our communities’ most vulnerable citizens. We pride ourselves in not playing politics with our community, but rather getting things done in a way that continues to better Manchester as a whole.”

Candidate Pamela Cranford continued, “Being a Democrat means putting people before politics. It means producing real results. We have been models in achievement and I am proud to be a member of this team.”

Director John Topping called special attention to keeping Manchester safe, “Being a former police officer, I cannot think of a more important issue to any community. We have and will continue to fight for more police, better equipment and more training. We also cannot forget the great services that our firefighters, paramedics and fire police provide in keeping our community safe and secure. Our work, including fighting for a Regional Emergency Operations Center, shows that we put a premium on the safety of our community.”

Information on the Manchester Democratic Party and each of the candidates can be found by going to http://manchester.dems.info/boardofdir.html.

Mayor Josh Howroyd and Democratic Directors Preserve Jobs

The Journal-Inquirer wrote today about the fantastic efforts of Mayor Josh Howroyd, the rest of the Democratic Directors and Town Planning and Economic Development Director Mark Pelligrini, and their cumulative efforts to keep Fuss & O'Neill, a renowned engineering firm, in Manchester for the foreseeable and preserve its 190 jobs.

In order to stay, the Directors granted Fuss & O'Neill a 2-year tax abatement on its expansion properties, which will be located at 146 (their present location) and 160 Hartford Road.

"I am extremely proud they worked with our town administration to come up with the tax assessment agreement," Democratic Mayor Josh M. Howroyd said during the board's meeting.

In a memo detailing the expansion project, Pelligrini said that "the expansion, costing between $1.2 million and $1.6 million, is expected to add 11,000 square feet of space, for a total of 53,830 square feet between the two buildings, giving room for the company to hire an additional 30 workers..."

The abatement will cost the town $16,300 per year, but Pelligrini noted that any potential loss will be offset by personal property improvements, which will ultimately allow the town to collect $10,344 in taxes during the abatement period.

Money aside, Democratic Deputy Mayor Lisa Paggioli O'Neill, who is not related to the company's principles but is an engineer with Pratt & Whitney, said during the meeting that there's been a revitalization in the industry recently, especially in civil engineering, since the bridge collapse in Minnesota this summer.

Further, she said that having Fuss & O'Neill in town provides local teens an opportunity for job shadowing.

Director Zingler Works to Reopen YMCA for Seniors

Below is a full press release from Director Kevin Zingler's campaign on his effort to work with Town Staff and active seniors to reopen the Community "Y":

The Fitness Center at the Manchester Community “Y” will open again for due to the efforts of Manchester Board of Directors member Kevin Zingler. After bringing the issue before the Board at last Tuesday’s Board Meeting, Director Zingler worked successfully with town staff and community members this week to secure the use of the recreation center again.

In a letter to Director Zingler, that he read from during the Board meeting, resident Laura McCoy tells of how “many lives have been affected in a very positive manner since the gym was renovated.” She adds that “it has enriched our lives through exercise and also in the development of friendships, and the fitness center is a wonderful example of what makes Manchester a community of choice.”

The Fitness Center normally closes during the summer due to staffing reasons, but the recreation department did their best this year to keep the facility open after a request was made by a group of 30 senior citizens who use the gym regularly. After August 18th, however, it was closed.

Director Zingler intervened this week to keep this valuable community facility open to senior citizens. “Programs like these are the reason we have such a great Department of Parks and Recreation,” he added. “I am thrilled to have been able to help so many seniors.”

At Director Zingler’s request, town staffs made arrangements to have the new fitness facility remain open for morning use again starting Monday, September 10th.

Director Zingler calls “the reopening of the fitness center a wonderful example of how town leaders and citizens can work together for a better community.”

For information on the town’s Fitness Center and other programs, call the Manchester Department of Parks and Recreation at 647-3084.