opinions

Open Space is a "Win" for Democratic Administration 2010

Connecticut State Statutes require every town in Connecticut to have a Plan of Conservation and Development, an important part of which is its Open Space Plan. The Connecticut State’s goal is to preserve 25% of its land by enacting this Plan, and Oxford is moving forward to achieve that goal.

First Selectman Mary Ann Drayton-Rogers negotiated a very smart and cost-effective deal to purchase 66 acres of open space at minimal cost to tax payers. Through persistent efforts made by our First Selectman, grant writer and others, Oxford continues to strive to comply with Connecticut State Statutes. And Oxford gains open space!

The original property known as Von Wettberg previously owned by The Haynes’ was fairly negotiated but that’s not what some Republicans have said about this transaction. No. They refuse to acknowledge this successful purchase that the Palmer/Haversat administration walked away from some years ago due to some undisclosed reason. These few Republicans believed Palmer/Haversat them, and believe them today. Wake up! They should know better than to run interference for Palmer/Haversat!

Palmer/Haversat had every opportunity to purchase this property when they were elected officials but were unsuccessful at negotiating a fair price for it. Instead of negotiating in good faith, they balked and turned their backs! They turned their backs on the Connecticut State Statute, Oxford’s open space and on all Oxford residents. When will their party say "no more" to Palmer/Haversat lies?

Further, we believe Augie Palmer continues to "secretly" run the Oxford Republican Town Committee (ORTC)…just what we do not want or need in Oxford, and just what the ORTC does not want or need. But the ORTC refuses to say "no" to him. We will not hesitate again and again to say "no" to Augie Palmer and Dave Haversat.

We strongly criticize the ORTC for allowing Palmer to railroad its members. We criticize Palmer/Haversat’s lack of respect for everyone. We stand critical of their mistruths and outright lies. And we encourage the ORTC to have the courage to remove them from infiltrating and advising its own town committee.

Using Palmer/Haversat lies, the ORTC will mislead all residents again and again about any issue in town. Do not believe these political opinions; go for the facts.

Following is a recap of what Oxford actually did pay for the 66 acres of open space recently:

Recent Purchase Price: $1.150 million

Town Open Space Purchase Allocation: - .400 million

CT State DEP Grant Funding: - .500 million
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Tax Payers Funds: $ 250,000 +/- $50,000 in administrative fees

The Facts - Again

Carol Georgette, Chairman

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ORTC and Biased Votes

Tuesday’s rejection vote by the Republican majority BOF to bond for the repairs and reclamation of Great Hill Rd. is a purely partisan vote to stop this Administrations hard work to provide the needs and remedy safety concerns of the town.

The Drayton-Rogers bipartisan “Best for Oxford” not the party, way of progress stabs these Republicans in the heart. They work very hard to disrupt and delay any proactive project that would benefit the town. Mr. Burke’s comment of “due diligence” is just a stall tactic. To think that hadn’t been done at this point is ridiculous.

It is time to reject these biased Republican board members once and for all in the coming November elections. They represent the very worst representation possible. They are and will support the Oxford Republican Town Committee’s agenda, and will vote against a win-win for the town or safety concerns for our citizens if it represents any Democratic motion for progress.

The ORTC has no other agenda except to disrupt the current administrations plans to move Oxford forward. Safety concerns don’t concern them. Increasing the tax base to benefit citizen’s fall on deaf ears. One excuse after another. It is time to stop this viral madness and get them out of office.

Their goal is to become a festering splinter in the town government. There has been no positive action on their part to better Oxford. The closely entwined K.O.G. movement is another version of interference. Had we gotten the grant money to pursue regulations to limit and/or control housing in Oxford, we would have more control and not be subject to the whims of lawmakers far away.

I am proud to be an active Democrat in this town and work for the people, not against them and progress.

Gary Komar

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BOE Fiscally Irresponsible

Fellow Oxford residents, you should be outraged at the conduct of the current Board of Education and its inability to control the spending of our hard-earned tax dollars. On January 11, 2010, the BOE Finance Subcommittee was told that they would have to reduce the BOE’s budget by $657,000. The minutes of this meeting are posted on the Board of Education’s website in the Finance Subcommittee section. When this information became public, Chairman Rose McKinnon published a statement saying she was “surprised” by this information, but when it was pointed out that she actually attended that same meeting, she changed her statement to being surprised that the budget was never reduced.

Ask yourself a question, if you were the Chairman of the Board of Education or a member of the Finance Subcommittee and were told the budget had to be reduced by $657,000, wouldn’t you make sure this was done or at the very least, keep following-up with the Business Manager until it was done?

Chairman McKinnon and the Finance Subcommittee have failed to control the BOE’s spending and now we, the taxpayers, will have to pay for their mistake. Oxford was projected to have a $200,000 surplus from the Municipal budget, but because of the fiasco caused by this Board of Education, Oxford had a deficit instead.

Chairman McKinnon, take ownership of your Board’s problems. Stop playing politics and blaming others. It’s bad enough your Board has agreed to pay the highest salary ever for a Superintendent in Oxford (hopefully he will be worth it), now we have your Board creating deficits at the expense of Oxford taxpayers. Learn some fiscal responsibility and stop burdening us with your expensive mistakes.

Kenn Maher

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P&Z Chairmen Switch Roles?

I understand that the Planning & Zoning Board removed its chairman, Pat Cocchiarella, of his responsibilities at its January 6 meeting after serving one year in the chairman position while the other officers were maintained.

While I do not know Mr. Cocchiarella personally, I do know that he always put the Towns best interests first and while some of the fights were not easy nor do they continue to be not easy, he always handled them in a professional manner. He thought things through and earned respect from the citizens and State boards as well. I am saddened to have read of his removal as Chairman.

However, it concerns me his removal may have been planned for political reasons only. The new chairman is Democrat Bill Johnson whom I also do not know personally. But I wish him well and trust he will do a fine job.

However, may I say that I find it a little interesting that a Republican-majority board would nominate a Democrat; it just doesn’t happen here. While I wish Mr. Johnson well in his new endeavor, I hope he watches his back; things happen for a reason.

Mr. Cocchiarella received the highest number of votes (1,758) on Election Day, 2009 and though it is the P&Z’s right to elect new officers at the beginning of the new year according to their charter, why ruin a good thing? “If it’s not broke, don’t fix it” as they say.

I would like to thank Mr. Cocchiarella for his leadership and doing what he thought was right for the town and not for a particular party or advocacy group. He was elected to do the right thing and I believe he has done it. Well done Mr. Cocchiarella, well done! And good luck to Bill Johnson!

Maura Satkowski

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Safety Prevails on Great Hill Road

Last Thursday’s Great Hill Rd. presentation by the town Engineer and input from families living on or using that road, once again gained support for the re-construction and drainage improvements. It passed nearly 4-1 in favor.

The issue is the bonding to get this done. Historically low interest rates and common sense make this project doable. The cost to taxpayers for this $1.2 million project is approximately $13.00 per year, or 6-7 cups of coffee per year, for the life of the bond.

BOF chairman Ferrillo said we have never bonded for road repairs before and shouldn’t do it now. This is a reconstruction, an engineered road project, not simply patching and resurfacing. Mrs. Ferrillo wants taxpayers to have that $1.2 attached to your tax bill, imagine that.

General Custer had similar views about Little Big Horn. This is how we did it before; we’ll do it the same. Time to think out of the box Ms. Ferrillo. This is a major safety issue, endangering lives. This is a major project, very affordable if you take your blinders off.

BOF member Kiley wanted a guarantee we would not revisit this again. I find that unreasonable, counter productive and just said for the sake of argument. With proper maintenance, the road will last for decades.

BOF member Lyon made the most reasonable statement. The road is dangerous, it’s a safety issue and needs to be fixed. Plain and simple. Common sense thinking.

First Selectman Drayton-Rogers, once again puts the citizens first, not politics. Safety first, citizens first, not games of chance with your life.

The next step is back to the BOF to approve what the citizens have voted to approve at town meeting. Let’s vote the will of the people BOF, not your political agenda.

Gary Komar

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