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Hide and Seek!
Well, last night was an interesting lesson in blurring the lines as Brookfield's Board of Finance held it's annual gala event Brookfield High School.
Interestingly enough, the Board of Finance spoke repeatedly about the dark clouds gathering on the horizon for the financial picture in Brookfield. They imposed an ominous picture of Brookfield's tax situation and, of course, blamed the high school renovation for it. Naturally, they new all about this nefarious high school picture FOUR YEARS AGO, but choose to ignore it until it was a burning coal ember in their lap. At that point, the cried foul. What got them to this point? Perhaps having a part time financial consultant on a full time financial morass might have helped contribute to this.
Well, as NOT shown last night, they didn't want Brookfield to see their long range Five Year Plan (Five Year Plan? What's that?!). Planning takes a significant effort as the late Bart Conant showed the town the last time Brookfield got into hot water financially. Of course our current Selectmen and Board of Finance feel that when you don't know where you're going, any road will get you there. So, last night, amazingly enough, and coincidently, there was no Five Year Plan given to all the people they were preaching doom and gloom to from their pulpit. Why? Good question. The good people of Brookfield have a right to know if the Board of Finance only had done their homework. They (the elected officials, a seemingly elite caste yet again who serve dual roles on the boards in Brookfield and the RTC) asked the people of Brookfield to share their ideas, thoughts and concerns about the budget with no contextual reference except this year and the past, while they pontificated on the doom and gloom of the future due to the sudden appearance unbeknownst to them of the Brookfield High School Renovation project passed in 2003 (Perhaps they forgot about it).
While mothers and fathers railed at the fact they they have to hold bake sales to buy the teachers pencils and paper for the last couple of years (shame on the Board of Education for that fiasco!), the Board of Finance was busily putting together a budget that insured that the shutters were replaced on the cupola at the Brookfield Historical Society (Page 195-50 in the budget handout), replacing desks, cloth client chairs and a computer hutch at Town Hall (Page 195-51 in the budget handout) and a $100,000 contingency was tucked away to spend on their pet pork projects (Page 200 in the budget handout). More so, they buried a 300% increase in overtime for THEIR Finance Department for Fiscal Year 04-05(Page 171 in the budget handout). There is overtime spread throughout their budgeted town departments. Ah yes, and don't forget while cutting the Board of Education's budget to INCREASE the budget of the Lake Lillanonah Water Authority funding by 16%, of course completely unrelated to the former selectman's recent appointment to that same authority. And don't overlook the over 25% increase in union wages at the highway department (Page 151 of the Budget Handout) or the nice 9.1% salary increase given to the tree warden (imagine getting that for a raise this year!) (Page 151 in the Budget Handout).
Let's not forget the largess going out to the Candlewood Fire Department up 60% (See page 144 of the Budget Handout) that includes a 12% increase in telephone expenses. Reach out and touch someone I guess. Nor the 16% increase in police overtime (page 141 in the budget handbook).
Of course, they didn't have anybody speaking for decreased funding. Just parents trying to give teachers (some of whom are returned veterans from active combat) something to work with. And some didn't even have children in the system. To be continued as the analysis unfolds...
In another town not far...
Parents prepare for cuts
KATE RAMUNNI, Correspondent
SEYMOUR — About 200 parents were not happy to hear this week how a half-million-dollar budget cut will affect class sizes in the school district.
"It is really our kids who are taking the biggest hit," said Shannon Korponay at a Tuesday night meeting held by Supt. of Schools Tom Petruny and other officials on the school system's 2006-07 budget.
Board of Education Chairman Bruce Baker said that increased class sizes are inevitable because over the past several years, cuts were made in all other areas.
"We are down there, folks," he told the audience. "There are no more programs to cut."
Last year, for example, the summer school, gifted and talented and alternative high school programs were eliminated, Petruny said.
"When a program is cut, it takes a very long time to bring it back and it is very hard," he said. "We are facing a critical crossroads — the decisions we make this year will affect us for a very long time to come.
"The choice where we go is really yours."
Parents need to turn out in force at next week's Board of Finance public hearing on the budget, Baker said. "You need to give them everything you've got," he told them. "If no one shows up, nothing is going to happen."
The finance board hearing will be held Monday at 7 p.m. at Seymour High School.
On Monday of this week, the finance board approved a $27.5 million school district budget, $1 million more than this year's budget, but $500,000 less than what school officials say is necessary to run the school district next year at existing levels.
To make up for the $500,000 deficit, the school board has proposed cutting third-grade teachers at Bungay and Chatfield schools, a fifth-grade teacher at LoPresti School and a technology education teacher at Shelton Intermediate School.
Seymour High School would also lose three positions — business, social studies and world language teachers.
The cuts are necessary despite the $1 million budget increase because of other increased costs, Petruny said, including contractual salary hikes and escalating utility costs.
In 2001, utilities cost the district almost $500,000, he said. This year, that cost is more than double.
"We needed $1.5 million to keep us exactly where we are right now," Petruny said. "When you have to face a reduction of $500,000, the money has to come from somewhere.
"We always look to places that will not affect kids and staffing, but that's not going to happen this year. We are cutting into the core."
But parents aren't going to let it happen without being heard. The elementary school PTAs are distributing petitions that will be presented to the finance board at its budget hearing Monday.
"We are looking for the Board of Finance to support the Board of Education and its financial needs," Chatfield PTA Vice President Regina Fitzgerald said.
So why is the budget going up?
Check this out.
The Cost of Waiting for the "Best Deal" before borrowing by the Murphy Team
for the Brookfield High School Renovation project.
Principal $ 24,000,000.00 $ 24,000,000.00 Additional
Interest 1% 4.0% Interest
Years 20 20 Cost
$1,316,799.56 $1,765,962.04 $449,162.48
$1,316,799.56 $1,765,962.04 $449,162.48
$1,316,799.56 $1,765,962.04 $449,162.48
$1,316,799.56 $1,765,962.04 $449,162.48
$1,316,799.56 $1,765,962.04 $449,162.48
$1,316,799.56 $1,765,962.04 $449,162.48
$1,316,799.56 $1,765,962.04 $449,162.48
$1,316,799.56 $1,765,962.04 $449,162.48
$1,316,799.56 $1,765,962.04 $449,162.48
$1,316,799.56 $1,765,962.04 $449,162.48
$1,316,799.56 $1,765,962.04 $449,162.48
$1,316,799.56 $1,765,962.04 $449,162.48
$1,316,799.56 $1,765,962.04 $449,162.48
$1,316,799.56 $1,765,962.04 $449,162.48
$1,316,799.56 $1,765,962.04 $449,162.48
$1,316,799.56 $1,765,962.04 $449,162.48
$1,316,799.56 $1,765,962.04 $449,162.48
$1,316,799.56 $1,765,962.04 $449,162.48
$1,316,799.56 $1,765,962.04 $449,162.48
$1,316,799.56 $1,765,962.04 $449,162.48
$26,335,991.24 $35,319,240.83 $8,983,249.59
Less: Bid savings $ 500,000.00
Real cost of not bonding when
interest rates were low in 2003 $ 8,483,249.59
So is this the reasom all of the
kids call Brookfield
C R O O K F I E L D
FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS
PROOF IS IN THE PUDDING JUST
JUST CHECK THE KIDS MY SPACE
WHICH BROOKFIELD POLITICAL APPOINTEE SAID
"IF YOU CAN'T AFFORD THE TAXES
M O V E"
WAS IT BILL DAVIDSON????????????
FURNITURE ALLEY
YOU CAN TALK UNTIL YOUR BLUE IN THE FACE ABOUT ROAD STUDIES
ROUTE 7 IS WHAT IT IS – NOT A NICE PLACE TO TRAVEL ON.
FURNITURE STORE AFTER FURNITURE STORE
TRAFFIC TIE UP AFTER TRAFFIC TIE UP
WE CAN NOT BELIEVE THAT IT IS WHAT IS IS
BROOKFIELD USED TO BE A NICE PLACE TO LIVE
HERES A RIGHT BACK AT YOU TO TOWN OFFICIALS - MAY YOU BE IN
YOUR CAR FOR HOURS AND LIKE US ADVANCE ONLY I FOOT.
What motivates people? To leaders this is a big question. Psychological, sociological, and even spiritual factors contribute to motivation. Both intrinsic and extrinsic elements are involved. Tom Landry, one of football's outstanding coaches, said, "Leadership is the ability to get people to do what they don't want to do so they can become what they want to become."
The power of vision motivates. It motivates a mountain climber to brave cruel winds and dangerous trails to reach the summit. The power of vision motivated the Wright brothers to overcome disappointment and failure and build a flying machine. It motivated a small, unrefined, motley group of 12 men to change the world. They caught the vision of their leader, Jesus, and set the whole course of history.
Vision as a leader has significant impact on the growth and effectiveness of the our town. A leader's vision is powerful, and a lack of vision is perilous. Proverbs 29:18 says, "Where there is no vision, the people perish." Vision first influences the leader personally by giving them direction. They listen, evaluate the situation, and know what is needed or desired. They never lie, tell only half the story or wait until the newspapers print it before they deal with an issue. Leaders are direct and to the point and don't make it personal. Leader like being held accountable. They never view accountability as negative but possible point for improvement.
The leader with a clear sense of direction who is able to articulate it will find the average citizen of Brookfield has high motivation. Unless you know where you are going, how you are going to get there, and what you want to accomplish, life will become dull and boring. Dennis Waitly, in Seeds of Greatness, says, "The reason so many individuals fail to achieve their goals in life is that they never really set them in the first place." A five year plan does just that. The Board of Selectmen only plan's for one year since that's 50% of the time they are elected for. The Board of Finance only plan's for the current year. Go figure.
A leaders vision gives them a sense of urgency and rightness. This conviction that a vision is right and urgent dominates the leaders thoughts, penetrates their emotions, and dictates their actions. The difference between a leader and a daydreamer is that the leader activates his dreams, while the daydreamer just thinks about them. Case in point, the interest rate on the high school renovation bonds. A vision consumes a leader with a sense of responsibility. They assumes responsibility for the accomplishment of their vision. Although others may catch his vision, no one will have a more intense passion than they do. This can be frustrating for the leader, but the key is to work with people, yet assume the responsibility for accomplishment.
How does a leader share their vision? First, start with a clearly defined, communicable goal. Second, brainstorm for ways to accomplish the goal. Involve others in a planning meeting. Begin to dream with the group. Fantastic ideas can come out of these interactive times. Three, establish a strategy. For a goal to be accomplished, specific steps must be taken. Determine what must be done and in what order the steps should be completed. Fourth, set dates. Set your time frame and the dates for each step to be finished. Fifth, assign personnel. Utilize the resources and abilities of people you work with to accomplish it. Sixth, work your plan. Once you have set your goal, determined your strategy, and delegated responsibility, get to work. Don't allow the goal to die on the committee planning table. Seventh, evaluate the results. Look at both positives and negatives. Be objective about the success of the task. What needs to be changed, and what worked very well?
The lack of vision in this budget should cause people to stop and wait until there is one. Indeed DEMAND one. Hence zero, hence no. Until leadership is provided we won't know if we're proceeding down the path we want...and who wants to double back? That costs time and money.
Is itn true that Susan Murphy is
on the Candlewood Lake Authority now???????????????
Bill Davidson on the Lake Lillinonah Authority and
Susan Murphy on the Candlewood
Lake Authority.
Makes you wonder what is going on
I hear that there is 10 million
dollars now to be spent on the
lakes due to PBC's.
I wounder where this money will be
channeled.
Interesting
Friends of Brookfield
Hmmmm...it seems Newtown residents have already had two referendums on their budget, defeating it both times cutting almost two million dollars in the process as today's News-Times article below indicates. If Brookfield defeats it's budget at referendum and can do just half of that, just half the Newtown reduction, it would accomplish a lot of good. And they just started paying for the John Read Middle School construction so they are in the same boat as Brookfield. Don't let them tell you they can't. CAN'T = WON'T!
Consider gasoline, electric and heating oil prices that are already far beyond historic highs. Go to the gas pump. How much did it cost to fill up? Write out the check for the electric bill and be grateful that you haven't turned on your central air conditioner. Shop for a budget plan for heating oil for next year and you will be stunned at the prices.
Consider that the town is HIRING, that's right folks, in this day and age, hiring additional people when everywhere across Connecticut and America, corporations are downsizing, doing the same job with less people.
The town's finance department salaries are going up a staggering 22%! Are yours? Their travel budget (finance alone) is going up 81.6%...and their software costs going up 40% as well. Is this anyway to run it folks? Think about it. New software...higher costs....NO SAVINGS! Their Finance elected officials salary account is going uo 20%...that's right...elected officials. And non-union finance wages are going up 22% while their union wages are going up 3.4%
It's Fat City at the Castle at 100 Pocono Road!
Consider that the towns capital lease/purchase account is going up 41.2%. Must be nice to drive new cars, right?
(The first selectman's shiney fuel efficient vehicle)
Consider the First Selectman's travel account is going up 33% and advertising 28.6% (for new hires?). Or the Health Director up 127.4% and their secretary up 15.4% yet the punitive cuts to the Historic District Commission reflect a reduction of 26.2%. Now is that politics or is that politics?!
How can the Boards at Murphy Inc. possibly support UPSIZING at a time like this when families and seniors are suffering under energy inflation running 40% for 2007 thus far. Did you get a 40% raise this year?
And how about the kids? Is this a kid friendly administation? Not on a bet. They cut the Youth Commission by 50% from this years budget just because they could.
Oh yes and Parks and Rec, the folks that installed the original track that the First Selectman himself said was improperly installed with the volunteers money?
They have a 14.3% increase in the union salary account. Nice eh? And grounds? Their union wages are going up 17.5% and a staggering 50% increase in the part time wages account. I guess the maintenance free fields they installed at the high school are going to need a lot of maintenance because that's the only change in the town. No new parks. No new grounds except for those. A-MAZ-ING!
(Behind Town Hall, have a look yourself!)
Ah yes, and remember the horse sculptures and the towns commitment to art? Wrong. A 14.9% decrease from this year. Get ready for the rust. Just look at the picture above for a prelude.
Good news though. The Civil Defense budget is up a staggering 108.5%
The Economic Development Commission...the group that is suppose to grow the town's tax base.....what is their budget proposed? $825. What percent increase is that? 0%!
...but the CONTINGENCY account...you know...the Slush Fund? Up a staggering 80.2% from this year.
It truly shows it's a matter of priorities and politics (and all the numbers quoted are coming directly from the Public Hearing handouts from April 10 and 14th).
Don't they understand the meaning of the word frugality? Help teach the word frugality to them on Tuesday and you'll get to see just how much they can really do without. Vote NO and send a message to the Castle at 100 Pocono Road that they can't be upsizing when you're being downsized or early retired. After all, who's footing the bill? Them or you? Did you see the size of your July tax bill yet? It's not 4.3% higher, that's for sure!
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Pssst...pass it on. Get Cranky. Continue to send this email to all your friends, neighbors and relatives as you have and help re-invent a government that listens to the people and protects the one's it is suppose to represent.
The Cranky Yankee
Newtown cuts budget items
By Heather Barr
THE NEWS-TIMES
NEWTOWN -- Town residents will see fewer roads getting fixed and fewer parks and recreation trails maintained -- and the town's senior center won't get a part-time aide.
Those were just a few items cut by the Board of Selectmen on Friday to reduce its budget by $725,000.
"It certainly was difficult," First Selectmen Herb Rosenthal said of making the additional cuts.
Selectmen also voted Friday to have a Town Meeting on May 21 at 7 p.m. in the Cyrenius H. Booth Library, 25 Main St., and to have the town's third budget referendum May 22.
Residents rejected a $101.25 million budget Tuesday by about 400 votes. The next day the council decided to begin with the budget figure from the first referendum -- $102.2 million -- and reduce it $1.75 million by cutting $875,000 from the education budget and $875,000 from the selectmen's budget. The result was a $100.5 million budget.
On April 25, the council cut a $38 million town budget by $150,000 and a $64.2 million education budget by $542,000. The council chose to have the town bond $342,000 of that for updating computers at schools. The council also chose to move $58,000 from the revenue side of the budget.
Wednesday's new proposed budget eliminated the $342,000 of bonding for updating computers as part of the $875,000 cut. Legislative Council member Francis Pennarola said he voted Wednesday to cut both budgets by $875,000, because "frankly it was giving the smallest cut that I thought could be passed."
Pennarola had tried to convince fellow board members to cut only $600,000 from each budget.
"I think it was a substantial cut, frankly, for the town and Board of Education to absorb," said Pennarola, who said he didn't see a lot of fat in either budget before and now there will be "belts tightening."
"I think the Board of Education is way underfunded," said council member Keith Jacobs, "and I challenge a single person to go into any one of the schools in Newtown and find excess and waste based on the conditions of the schools."
Jacobs voted against the cuts. He said even if voters turn down the budget May 22, he doesn't think the council will add more money to it.
Who does the Purchasing for the town of Brookfield and for the schools?
Well folks, today is the third referendum on Brookfield's budget and time to reflect on what's transpired. While the Board of Bucks can continue to cut spending, the Board of Barons steadfastly refuses a public meeting to discuss phasing in the revaluation over five years because their leader can afford his and finds it "repugnant" that others can't. Can we let elected officials continue the carnage...this Reign of Terror? Indeed, a Tale of Two Brookfield's has emerged that needs further discussion in the community before elections this November...but... the time has come to end this tragic act. Greek drama this is not, even though it may appear to be one.
The time has come to vote yes on the budget referendum question; to move beyond where we are today and to prepare for this fall, when the town's leadership needs to be held to account for everything from the budget debacle of this spring...and their complete lack of touch with the voting community...to the Brookfield High School renovation project, and the management thereof. To their solving the corporate problems for water immediately on Federal Road, while letting the longer term radon water problems languish for residential condominiums for years to come. To the wasteland of a shopping center in the heart of Brookfield's Federal Road business district.
We need to continue to exam the minutes of the Board of Bucks, attend the meetings, exam their formal written policy on the town's fund balance as well as their other written financial policies, the grants gotten, the funds transferred. We need to comment continuously on illogical actions and present an opposing point of view. We need to watch what happens to the $850,000 law suit settlement money next year...will they give you back your money? Vigilance is something that has re-appeared thanks to you. People have not given up hope. Not only do we need to be guardians of our town's security, but also of our town's financial security. Get involved. Pay attention. Everyone has been awakened...this fall is the call to action...to listen for answers, not excuses...to measure the people's results, not rhetoric. We hope to earn your continued support at helping to return Brookfield to be the town we all expect it to be...it is, after all, our town. Pay attention to the meeting of the Board of Bucks for June, July, August and September...the "quiet" period when the final year end "adjustments" are made. Look at the transfers being done at all the Boards and ask why and how - you didn't vote on the transfers now, did you? But for now, today, vote yes on the budget referendum question. We need to redeploy our efforts in order to be effective at omnibus actions.
Many interesting points made in this blog full of what I think is well directed anger. However, I wish to point toward one blog which discusses leadership. Just because someone is in politics doesn't mean they're a leader, or even that they want to be a leader. As stated, leaders have a vision. Unfortunately, some of those visions fall under the heading of hallucinations (for ex., see "weapons of mass destruction/Iraq/Exxon profits."). Others, however, are enormous ideas and these visions will positively shape our future. I would love to take credit for one of those visions, but I can't really. I can say though, I recognized Steve Schappert's plan for building GREEN affordable work force housing and elderly housing as the visionary plan it is. I'm proud to be his partner because of this. Connecticut Real Estate and Construction has plans to change Brookfield, and Connecticut, and the entire country for the better. We want to make Brookfield the place that started the GREEN revolution in earnest.
Talk is cheap. And while I'm all for charitable institutions providing grants and such for the usage of environmentally friendly materials, real change won't occur on the massive scale necessary until a company shows the rest of the construction world that there is money to be made building GREEN.
However, the task is not that simple. We have to show that not only can we make money, but also the towns that approve our project will benefit proportionately, particularly in terms of their tax dollars. I read in this blog numerous complaints about the allotment of tax dollars and where the money was being directed. We don't dare get involved in the push and pull of local governments. That would be a lose/lose for us: an alienation of some and a misdirection of our efforts. Rather, we want to build in a manner that will stress tax coffers as little as possible while providing significantly increased tax revenues for the town. Then the issue of a few thousand dollars and where it is directed should become moot when compared to the additional revenues we want to add to each town in the state where we build.
And trust me, we're not doing this because we're nice guys. We plan on making money doing it, but we want to lead!! We want to show you can build smart and make money. We want to show you can build green and make money. We don't want to be the only company doing green on a large scale. We simply want to be in the lead position. We were the first to break ground on a solar powered, geothermal heated and cooled commercial building in the state. We have submitted plans for the first solar powered, geothermal heated and cooled elderly congregate housing facility in the state. Every project we have in the planning stages will be as energy efficient as design will allow. So, you want leaders? We are giving it our best shot. Take a look for yourself at www.connecticutrealestateandcontruction.com. See where we are headed. We'd love whatever input you have to offer.
Miles Shapiro, President
Connecticut Real Estate and Construction
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