2011 Voters Guide
How did your elected officials vote?
BOARD OF EDUCATION VOTERS GUIDE
PHASE II ORDINANCE
Documentation Is Not Available Regarding Board of Education
Members’ Support or Opposition to the Phase II Project
BOARD OF EDUCATION BUDGET VOTE
Board of Education Special Meeting February 14, 2011Vote to Increase Board of Education Budget to $74,863,988
Passed Unanimously BOE Members Present: Pat Doyle, Beth Gianacopolus, Kirsten Hoyt, Bob Perruzotti, Brian Shirvell, and Chaz Zezulka
BOE Members Absent: Jennifer Sim, Rita Volkmann and Beverly Washington
TOWN COUNCIL VOTERS GUIDE
PHASE II ORDINANCE VOTE
Special Meeting - February 8, 2011 ADOPTION OF PHASE II ORDINANCE - YES OR NO
Bruce Flax Yes Running for Town Council
Bill Johnson Yes Running for Town Council
Catherine Kolnaski Yes Not Running
Deborah Monteiro No Not Running
Deb Peruzzotti Yes Running for Town Council
Paul-Ann Sheets Yes Not Running
Mick O’Beirne No Running for Town Council
Jim Streeter No Running for Town Council
Harry Watson Yes Running for Town Council
BOARD OF EDUCATION BUDGET VOTE
Town Council Review Session, April 19, 2011
Vote to Increase Board of Education Budget to $74,180,988 - Yes or No
Bruce Flax Yes Running for Town Council
Bill Johnson No Running for Town Council
Catherine Kolnaski Yes Not Running
Deborah Monteiro No Not Running
Deb Peruzzotti Yes Running for Town Council
Paul-Ann Sheets Yes Not Running
Mick O’Beirne No Running for Town Council
Jim Streeter No Running for Town Council
Harry Watson Yes Running for Town Council
REPRESENTATIVE TOWN MEETING VOTERS GUIDE
March 9, 2011 RTM Meeting
PHASE II ORDINANCE VOTE - IN FAVOR OR OPPOSED
Jean-Claude Ambroise In Favor Running for RTM
Joseph Baril Opposed Running for RTM
Nancy Barnhart In Favor Not Running
Alicia Bauer In Favor Running for RTM
Nancy Beckwith Opposed Not Running
Chris Burns Opposed Not Running
Michael Collins In Favor Running for RTM
Nancy Congdon In Favor Not Running
Warren Cooper In Favor Running for Town Council
LuAnn DeMatto In Favor Running for RTM
Syma Ebbin In Favor Running for RTM
Peter Fairbank In Favor Not Running
Nancy Gilly Opposed Running for Board of Ed.
Patrice Granatosky In Favor Running for RTM
Dolores Harrell In Favor Running for RTM
Keith Hedrick Opposed Running for RTM
Lynn Hubbard Absent Running for RTM
Michael Johnson In Favor Running for RTM
Rosanne Kotowski Opposed Running for RTM
Elizabeth Luck In Favor Running for RTM
Jackie Massett In Favor Running for RTM
Carole McCarthy Absent Not Running
Roscoe Merrit In Favor Running for RTM
Constance Miller In Favor Running for RTM
Karen Morton Opposed Running for Town Council
Scott Newsome Absent Running for RTM
Dana Parfitt Opposed Running for RTM
Rick Pasqualini Opposed Running for RTM
Tim Plungis Opposed Not Running
Kevin Power Opposed Not Running
Kristen Powers Absent Not Running
Donald Pratt In Favor Running for RTM
Betty Prochaska Opposed Running for RTM
John Scott In Favor Running for Town Council
Jack Sebastian Opposed Running for RTM
Dana Semeraro Absent Running for RTM
Joan Steinford Opposed Running for RTM
Irma Streeter Opposed Running for RTM
Mark Svencer In Favor Running for RTM
Archie Swindell In Favor Running for RTM
Rob Warn Opposed Running for RTM
REPRESENTATIVE TOWN MEETING VOTERS GUIDE
RTM Annual Budget Meeting May 11, 2011
BOARD OF EDUCATION BUDGET VOTE - TO LEVEL FUND AT
$72,645,500 (NO INCREASE) - IN FAVOR OR OPPOSED
Jean-Claude Ambroise In Favor Running for RTM
Joseph Baril Opposed Running for RTM
Nancy Barnhart In Favor Not Running
Alicia Bauer Opposed Running for RTM
Nancy Beckwith Absent Not Running
Michael Collins Opposed Running for RTM
Nancy Congdon Opposed Not Running
Warren Cooper In Favor Running for Town Council
LuAnn DeMatto In Favor Running for RTM
Syma Ebbin Opposed Running for RTM
Peter Fairbank Opposed Not Running
Nancy Gilly In Favor Running for Board of Ed.
Patrice Granatosky In Favor Running for RTM
Dolores Harrell In Favor Running for RTM
Keith Hedrick In Favor Running for RTM
Lynn Hubbard In Favor Running for RTM
Michael Johnson Abstained Running for RTM
Rosanne Kotowski In Favor Running for RTM
Elizabeth Luck In Favor Running for RTM
Jackie Massett In Favor Running for RTM
Carole McCarthy Opposed Not Running
Roscoe Merrit Opposed Running for RTM
Constance Miller In Favor Running for RTM
Karen Morton In Favor Running for Town Council
Scott Newsome Opposed Running for RTM
Dana Parfitt In Favor Running for RTM
Rick Pasqualini In Favor Running for RTM
Tim Plungis In Favor Not Running
Kevin Power In Favor Not Running
Kristen Powers In Favor Not Running
Donald Pratt Absent Running for RTM
Betty Prochaska In Favor Running for RTM
John Scott In Favor Running for Town Council
Jack Sebastian In Favor Running for RTM
Dana Semeraro In Favor Running for RTM
Joan Steinford In Favor Running for RTM
Irma Streeter In Favor Running for RTM
Mark Svencer Absent Running for RTM
Archie Swindell Opposed Running for RTM
Rob Warn In Favor Running for RTM
Lorie Watrous In Favor Running for RTM
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Credit Deborah Straszheim
Grotonpatch.com October 24, 2011
Superintendent Paul Kadri said Monday he knew the baseball field improvements at Fitch High School would cost more than the $500,000 from an anonymous donor, and he took a calculated risk in going forward.
Kadri told a packed Board of Education meeting that bids for the project came in well over the donated amount, but he had to build the field to meet the requirements of the New England Collegiate Baseball League.
Kadri said he went to the league and the team agreed to borrow the approximately $150,000 difference. Kadri said he knew there was a chance the money would not materialize. The Mystic Schooners moved to Groton this summer, as the field was being finished.
Now the bills are due but the vendors are not being paid.
Kadri said he wants to use federal Department of Defense money, which the schools have, to pay the bills until it’s sorted out. He said an auditor told him he can do this and there's nothing wrong with it.
“I have no desire to wear horizontal stripes in life," he said. "I am very fiscally conservative."
The league did not return calls to discuss the project last week and could not be reached Monday night.
Kadri said he does not want the team to go into default and wants it to stay in Groton. He said he took the risk because he knew Groton would get a $650,000 baseball field at a maximum cost of $150,000, and he’d do it again.
“Let me make myself very clear. I stand before you proud of that decision,” he said.
“I also want to point out that hidden in all of this, is the generous, absolutely generous donation of a local resident who committed a minimum of $500,000 to this project,” he said.
Andrew Parella, chairman of the political action committee Friends for Affordable Education, said the group filed a Freedom of Information request last week seeking all public records, including any recorded data, e-mails, faxes or text messages about cost overruns, work order changes or adjustments to the baseball field improvements.
He said the money will come from taxpayers, whether it’s town or federal money.
“There is a definitely problem here,” he said.
Wes Greenleaf, director of buildings and grounds for Groton Public Schools, said last week that the field ultimately cost $574,000.
The school department filed a request earlier this month to move one of the dugouts 12 feet. Because of set back requirements and then confusion among the contracted architects, the dugout was built blocking the view of left field from the press box.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Team's payments fall short of covering Fitch school field improvements
By Chuck Potter Publication: The Day
Published 10/21/2011 Groton
The Board of Education and the town are holding a $140,000 bag - the amount owed to contractors who upgraded the baseball field at Fitch High School so the Mystic Schooners collegiate baseball team could call Groton home.
If the team fails to pay the bills, it could be found in default of its agreement with the town, Superintendent of Schools Paul Kadri said Thursday. But the contractors' bills still have to be paid. Kadri wants to use school district funds to close the gap. The town agreed to the deal with the Schooners on the condition that the upgrades would be made "at no cost to the town." The Schooners, who play for in the New England Collegiate Baseball League - sailed into Groton on the wave of a $500,000 anonymous donation. The money was to pay to upgrade Fitch High School's playing field dugouts and to build a press box and bleachers to meet the league's facilities requirements. The team was expected to pay the $80,000 cost to install lights. The improvements would benefit the high school for years to come. When the bidding was done last fall, the work came in at $560,000. The cost later escalated to $640,000 when $80,000 for lighting was included. "The team told me they could get the remaining funds as a loan from the benefactor," Kadri said.
Kevin P. Kelleher, the team's president and general manager, did not return a phone call Thursday.
Kadri said if he couldn't start the work until all of the money was in the bank, the field couldn't get done on time, and the whole deal could have gone down the drain.
He said even a worse case scenario would have been beneficial to the town. If the team defaulted, the town would have a $640,000 facility for $140,000. He said the school district has funds from the Department of Defense, Supplement to Federal Impact Aid, channeled through the U.S. Department of Education. The DOD website states that "... there are no restrictions regarding how eligible school districts should spend DOD Impact Aid Program funds." Kadri's position is that using these federal funds is not using local tax dollars, although that stand is being disputed by several town officials. "I'm just waiting for them (the town) to cut the check," Kadri said. "I don't know why they won't do it. To me this thing makes perfect sense." Kadri said it was August when he learned that the team did not have the funds to cover about $140,000.
"We want the Schooners to stay here. The community likes them, the kids love them," Kadri said. "So we really want to work this out with the team. But the fact is, if we have to pay the difference, they will have defaulted on the contract."
School board member Robert Peruzzotti, who is on the Schooners' staff and was a point person in bringing the team to town and finding the benefactor, is frustrated at the idea of paying the $140,000.
"I knew the bid was more than the allotted money," Peruzzotti said. "I asked Paul (Kadri) to see what could be done to reduce it. We voted originally to back the project and perform the work. This is the first I officially heard that it was over the budgeted amount."
The board will meet at 5 p.m., Monday, at the Town Hall Annex, first in executive session, then in open session to discuss and explain the matter. [email protected]
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Article published Jul 27, 2011
Groton education PAC is reforming
By Chuck Potter Day Staff Writer
Groton - Friends for Affordable Education, the political action committee that started as a bulldog - attacking and ultimately defeating the Phase II school facilities improvement plan - has resurfaced this time as a watchdog, its chairman said Tuesday.
In a news release announcing the reformation, Andrew Parrella said that FFAE will "monitor, scrutinize and hold accountable the school budgetary process for the duration of this year and possibly into the next fiscal year."
Parrella said the original PAC was "closed" after the May referendum in accordance with state election laws. The group's new goal, he said, is to be an oversight group, involving itself with spending townwide.
The PAC's leadership comprises mostly current politicians and hopefuls. Neal Gardner, FFAE's first vice chairperson, is a Republican candidate for the Representative Town Meeting.
Kevin Trejo, chairman of the Republican Town Committee, is second vice chairperson. Treasurer Rosanne Kotowski and Deputy Treasurer Lynn Hubbard are both RTM members. Shelly Gardner is the group's secretary and also a Republican candidate for the RTM. Scott Aument is the group's deputy secretary.
Parrella said the FFAE wants to make sure that the Board of Education's money is spent wisely. He said there are parts of the defeated Phase II plan that might make sense for the town. The preschool plan and the two artificial turf football fields, he said, did not.
"We are named 'Affordable,' because we know money has to be spent. I've suggested that we look at Phase II and perhaps apply some pieces of that to another plan," he said. "We know the schools are bad. We'd like to look at the options and pass something that will help the schools and yet be affordable. We need to have a balance of affordable and serviceable."
Neal Gardner said the town and school district should sell their old buildings and property, including the closed Noank and Groton Heights Schools, to better afford capital improvements to the existing ones.
"Not speaking for group, but in this economy if we have to piecemeal our school buildings together for the next for five or 10 years, then that's what we have to do," he said. "If the residents want the property for open space, they can buy it at market value," Gardner said. "We can't have it both ways.
"I have a decent job, drive a company truck and a gas card, and I can't afford to pay more taxes each year. A lot of people are not as fortunate. What do they do?"
[email protected]
How did your elected officials vote?
BOARD OF EDUCATION VOTERS GUIDE
PHASE II ORDINANCE
Documentation Is Not Available Regarding Board of Education
Members’ Support or Opposition to the Phase II Project
BOARD OF EDUCATION BUDGET VOTE
Board of Education Special Meeting February 14, 2011Vote to Increase Board of Education Budget to $74,863,988
Passed Unanimously BOE Members Present: Pat Doyle, Beth Gianacopolus, Kirsten Hoyt, Bob Perruzotti, Brian Shirvell, and Chaz Zezulka
BOE Members Absent: Jennifer Sim, Rita Volkmann and Beverly Washington
TOWN COUNCIL VOTERS GUIDE
PHASE II ORDINANCE VOTE
Special Meeting - February 8, 2011 ADOPTION OF PHASE II ORDINANCE - YES OR NO
Bruce Flax Yes Running for Town Council
Bill Johnson Yes Running for Town Council
Catherine Kolnaski Yes Not Running
Deborah Monteiro No Not Running
Deb Peruzzotti Yes Running for Town Council
Paul-Ann Sheets Yes Not Running
Mick O’Beirne No Running for Town Council
Jim Streeter No Running for Town Council
Harry Watson Yes Running for Town Council
BOARD OF EDUCATION BUDGET VOTE
Town Council Review Session, April 19, 2011
Vote to Increase Board of Education Budget to $74,180,988 - Yes or No
Bruce Flax Yes Running for Town Council
Bill Johnson No Running for Town Council
Catherine Kolnaski Yes Not Running
Deborah Monteiro No Not Running
Deb Peruzzotti Yes Running for Town Council
Paul-Ann Sheets Yes Not Running
Mick O’Beirne No Running for Town Council
Jim Streeter No Running for Town Council
Harry Watson Yes Running for Town Council
REPRESENTATIVE TOWN MEETING VOTERS GUIDE
March 9, 2011 RTM Meeting
PHASE II ORDINANCE VOTE - IN FAVOR OR OPPOSED
Jean-Claude Ambroise In Favor Running for RTM
Joseph Baril Opposed Running for RTM
Nancy Barnhart In Favor Not Running
Alicia Bauer In Favor Running for RTM
Nancy Beckwith Opposed Not Running
Chris Burns Opposed Not Running
Michael Collins In Favor Running for RTM
Nancy Congdon In Favor Not Running
Warren Cooper In Favor Running for Town Council
LuAnn DeMatto In Favor Running for RTM
Syma Ebbin In Favor Running for RTM
Peter Fairbank In Favor Not Running
Nancy Gilly Opposed Running for Board of Ed.
Patrice Granatosky In Favor Running for RTM
Dolores Harrell In Favor Running for RTM
Keith Hedrick Opposed Running for RTM
Lynn Hubbard Absent Running for RTM
Michael Johnson In Favor Running for RTM
Rosanne Kotowski Opposed Running for RTM
Elizabeth Luck In Favor Running for RTM
Jackie Massett In Favor Running for RTM
Carole McCarthy Absent Not Running
Roscoe Merrit In Favor Running for RTM
Constance Miller In Favor Running for RTM
Karen Morton Opposed Running for Town Council
Scott Newsome Absent Running for RTM
Dana Parfitt Opposed Running for RTM
Rick Pasqualini Opposed Running for RTM
Tim Plungis Opposed Not Running
Kevin Power Opposed Not Running
Kristen Powers Absent Not Running
Donald Pratt In Favor Running for RTM
Betty Prochaska Opposed Running for RTM
John Scott In Favor Running for Town Council
Jack Sebastian Opposed Running for RTM
Dana Semeraro Absent Running for RTM
Joan Steinford Opposed Running for RTM
Irma Streeter Opposed Running for RTM
Mark Svencer In Favor Running for RTM
Archie Swindell In Favor Running for RTM
Rob Warn Opposed Running for RTM
REPRESENTATIVE TOWN MEETING VOTERS GUIDE
RTM Annual Budget Meeting May 11, 2011
BOARD OF EDUCATION BUDGET VOTE - TO LEVEL FUND AT
$72,645,500 (NO INCREASE) - IN FAVOR OR OPPOSED
Jean-Claude Ambroise In Favor Running for RTM
Joseph Baril Opposed Running for RTM
Nancy Barnhart In Favor Not Running
Alicia Bauer Opposed Running for RTM
Nancy Beckwith Absent Not Running
Michael Collins Opposed Running for RTM
Nancy Congdon Opposed Not Running
Warren Cooper In Favor Running for Town Council
LuAnn DeMatto In Favor Running for RTM
Syma Ebbin Opposed Running for RTM
Peter Fairbank Opposed Not Running
Nancy Gilly In Favor Running for Board of Ed.
Patrice Granatosky In Favor Running for RTM
Dolores Harrell In Favor Running for RTM
Keith Hedrick In Favor Running for RTM
Lynn Hubbard In Favor Running for RTM
Michael Johnson Abstained Running for RTM
Rosanne Kotowski In Favor Running for RTM
Elizabeth Luck In Favor Running for RTM
Jackie Massett In Favor Running for RTM
Carole McCarthy Opposed Not Running
Roscoe Merrit Opposed Running for RTM
Constance Miller In Favor Running for RTM
Karen Morton In Favor Running for Town Council
Scott Newsome Opposed Running for RTM
Dana Parfitt In Favor Running for RTM
Rick Pasqualini In Favor Running for RTM
Tim Plungis In Favor Not Running
Kevin Power In Favor Not Running
Kristen Powers In Favor Not Running
Donald Pratt Absent Running for RTM
Betty Prochaska In Favor Running for RTM
John Scott In Favor Running for Town Council
Jack Sebastian In Favor Running for RTM
Dana Semeraro In Favor Running for RTM
Joan Steinford In Favor Running for RTM
Irma Streeter In Favor Running for RTM
Mark Svencer Absent Running for RTM
Archie Swindell Opposed Running for RTM
Rob Warn In Favor Running for RTM
Lorie Watrous In Favor Running for RTM
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Credit Deborah Straszheim
Grotonpatch.com October 24, 2011
Superintendent Paul Kadri said Monday he knew the baseball field improvements at Fitch High School would cost more than the $500,000 from an anonymous donor, and he took a calculated risk in going forward.
Kadri told a packed Board of Education meeting that bids for the project came in well over the donated amount, but he had to build the field to meet the requirements of the New England Collegiate Baseball League.
Kadri said he went to the league and the team agreed to borrow the approximately $150,000 difference. Kadri said he knew there was a chance the money would not materialize. The Mystic Schooners moved to Groton this summer, as the field was being finished.
Now the bills are due but the vendors are not being paid.
Kadri said he wants to use federal Department of Defense money, which the schools have, to pay the bills until it’s sorted out. He said an auditor told him he can do this and there's nothing wrong with it.
“I have no desire to wear horizontal stripes in life," he said. "I am very fiscally conservative."
The league did not return calls to discuss the project last week and could not be reached Monday night.
Kadri said he does not want the team to go into default and wants it to stay in Groton. He said he took the risk because he knew Groton would get a $650,000 baseball field at a maximum cost of $150,000, and he’d do it again.
“Let me make myself very clear. I stand before you proud of that decision,” he said.
“I also want to point out that hidden in all of this, is the generous, absolutely generous donation of a local resident who committed a minimum of $500,000 to this project,” he said.
Andrew Parella, chairman of the political action committee Friends for Affordable Education, said the group filed a Freedom of Information request last week seeking all public records, including any recorded data, e-mails, faxes or text messages about cost overruns, work order changes or adjustments to the baseball field improvements.
He said the money will come from taxpayers, whether it’s town or federal money.
“There is a definitely problem here,” he said.
Wes Greenleaf, director of buildings and grounds for Groton Public Schools, said last week that the field ultimately cost $574,000.
The school department filed a request earlier this month to move one of the dugouts 12 feet. Because of set back requirements and then confusion among the contracted architects, the dugout was built blocking the view of left field from the press box.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Team's payments fall short of covering Fitch school field improvements
By Chuck Potter Publication: The Day
Published 10/21/2011 Groton
The Board of Education and the town are holding a $140,000 bag - the amount owed to contractors who upgraded the baseball field at Fitch High School so the Mystic Schooners collegiate baseball team could call Groton home.
If the team fails to pay the bills, it could be found in default of its agreement with the town, Superintendent of Schools Paul Kadri said Thursday. But the contractors' bills still have to be paid. Kadri wants to use school district funds to close the gap. The town agreed to the deal with the Schooners on the condition that the upgrades would be made "at no cost to the town." The Schooners, who play for in the New England Collegiate Baseball League - sailed into Groton on the wave of a $500,000 anonymous donation. The money was to pay to upgrade Fitch High School's playing field dugouts and to build a press box and bleachers to meet the league's facilities requirements. The team was expected to pay the $80,000 cost to install lights. The improvements would benefit the high school for years to come. When the bidding was done last fall, the work came in at $560,000. The cost later escalated to $640,000 when $80,000 for lighting was included. "The team told me they could get the remaining funds as a loan from the benefactor," Kadri said.
Kevin P. Kelleher, the team's president and general manager, did not return a phone call Thursday.
Kadri said if he couldn't start the work until all of the money was in the bank, the field couldn't get done on time, and the whole deal could have gone down the drain.
He said even a worse case scenario would have been beneficial to the town. If the team defaulted, the town would have a $640,000 facility for $140,000. He said the school district has funds from the Department of Defense, Supplement to Federal Impact Aid, channeled through the U.S. Department of Education. The DOD website states that "... there are no restrictions regarding how eligible school districts should spend DOD Impact Aid Program funds." Kadri's position is that using these federal funds is not using local tax dollars, although that stand is being disputed by several town officials. "I'm just waiting for them (the town) to cut the check," Kadri said. "I don't know why they won't do it. To me this thing makes perfect sense." Kadri said it was August when he learned that the team did not have the funds to cover about $140,000.
"We want the Schooners to stay here. The community likes them, the kids love them," Kadri said. "So we really want to work this out with the team. But the fact is, if we have to pay the difference, they will have defaulted on the contract."
School board member Robert Peruzzotti, who is on the Schooners' staff and was a point person in bringing the team to town and finding the benefactor, is frustrated at the idea of paying the $140,000.
"I knew the bid was more than the allotted money," Peruzzotti said. "I asked Paul (Kadri) to see what could be done to reduce it. We voted originally to back the project and perform the work. This is the first I officially heard that it was over the budgeted amount."
The board will meet at 5 p.m., Monday, at the Town Hall Annex, first in executive session, then in open session to discuss and explain the matter. [email protected]
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Article published Jul 27, 2011
Groton education PAC is reforming
By Chuck Potter Day Staff Writer
Groton - Friends for Affordable Education, the political action committee that started as a bulldog - attacking and ultimately defeating the Phase II school facilities improvement plan - has resurfaced this time as a watchdog, its chairman said Tuesday.
In a news release announcing the reformation, Andrew Parrella said that FFAE will "monitor, scrutinize and hold accountable the school budgetary process for the duration of this year and possibly into the next fiscal year."
Parrella said the original PAC was "closed" after the May referendum in accordance with state election laws. The group's new goal, he said, is to be an oversight group, involving itself with spending townwide.
The PAC's leadership comprises mostly current politicians and hopefuls. Neal Gardner, FFAE's first vice chairperson, is a Republican candidate for the Representative Town Meeting.
Kevin Trejo, chairman of the Republican Town Committee, is second vice chairperson. Treasurer Rosanne Kotowski and Deputy Treasurer Lynn Hubbard are both RTM members. Shelly Gardner is the group's secretary and also a Republican candidate for the RTM. Scott Aument is the group's deputy secretary.
Parrella said the FFAE wants to make sure that the Board of Education's money is spent wisely. He said there are parts of the defeated Phase II plan that might make sense for the town. The preschool plan and the two artificial turf football fields, he said, did not.
"We are named 'Affordable,' because we know money has to be spent. I've suggested that we look at Phase II and perhaps apply some pieces of that to another plan," he said. "We know the schools are bad. We'd like to look at the options and pass something that will help the schools and yet be affordable. We need to have a balance of affordable and serviceable."
Neal Gardner said the town and school district should sell their old buildings and property, including the closed Noank and Groton Heights Schools, to better afford capital improvements to the existing ones.
"Not speaking for group, but in this economy if we have to piecemeal our school buildings together for the next for five or 10 years, then that's what we have to do," he said. "If the residents want the property for open space, they can buy it at market value," Gardner said. "We can't have it both ways.
"I have a decent job, drive a company truck and a gas card, and I can't afford to pay more taxes each year. A lot of people are not as fortunate. What do they do?"
[email protected]
Groton groups battle over Phase II
Posted: Wednesday, April 27, 2011 4:00 pm | Updated: 8:26 am, Wed Apr 27, 2011.
Groton groups battle over Phase II By Ian Holliday, Press Writer The Westerly Sun |
GROTON – With a referendum on the proposed overhaul of the town’s school buildings less than two weeks away, two political action committees are battling over the facts of the plan and the effect it would have on Groton taxpayers if it passes.
The two committees – Groton Friends for Affordable Education, opposed to the plan, and Taxpayers for Groton Schools II, in favor – have each been rallying supporters on their websites and Facebook pages, writing letters and comments to local newspapers and websites, and distributing lawn signs, all aimed at convincing residents to vote their way in the May 2 referendum.
At the heart of the dispute is the proposed project, commonly known as Phase II, which would move all of the town’s seventh- and eighth-grade students into a new, central middle school on the site of the current Claude Chester School.
The plan also calls for the renovation of West Side Middle School and S. B. Butler Elementary School for use as “early education centers” for children in preschool through first grade. The town’s remaining schools would be used for students in grades two through six, except Pleasant Valley Elementary School, which would close.
Groton Friends for Affordable Education formed shortly after the Representative Town Meeting voted to approve Phase II in March. Committee Chairman Andrew Parrella said the group is opposed to the project because it burdens the taxpayers with a large bond they’ll have to pay back.
“We want to vote the referendum down and then have it re-looked-at, work with the Board of Education, work with the superintendent, and work with the school system and the town to see a better plan,” Parrella said.
Taxpayers for Groton Schools II draws its inspiration and its name from a political action committee formed in 2004 to advocate for the passage of Phase I. Elizabeth Giancoplos, a member of both the committee and the town’s Board of Education, said the new group, which formed in February, is similar in concept to the original.
“A small group of us came together and said, ‘We need to get together to support this referendum,’” Giancoplos said. “We kind of modeled it after what we did back in 2004.”
Parrella and Friends for Affordable Education Vice Chairman Timothy Plungis stressed their committee’s bipartisan membership and said the goal wasn’t simply to oppose Phase II, but to continue pursuing their agenda after the May 2 referendum.
“This is not a short-term committee,” Parrella said. “We want to continue this committee. This is an ongoing committee.”
If the Phase II proposal is defeated, Parrella said the group would work to outline a better plan. He said the committee would want to be inclusive of everyone in town during that process, and has tried to avoid putting forward an alternative plan without input from people outside the committee.
One aspect of Phase II that the committee would definitely not include in its proposal is universal pre-kindergarten education, Parrella said. He also said members of the committee had suggested revisiting the use of the King Property for the new middle school or even keeping two middle schools, but it remains to be seen whether those ideas would be included in a Friends for Affordable Education counter-proposal.
“We don’t have one set idea,” Plungis said. “We have people on this committee with diverse opinions on the topic, but what we are all 100 percent behind is not having Phase II pass as is.”
Proponents of Phase II say the current plan has been thoroughly researched, and a better plan is unlikely to come along because of pending changes in the rate of state reimbursement for school construction projects and the cost of construction, which is currently low because of the recession.
Giancoplos said she understands that the proposal’s $133 million price tag is “scary,” but she said school costs would continue to increase without the Phase II plan, and the need to reform the town’s schools would still exist.
Taxpayers for Groton Schools II devotes a page on its website to refuting claims made by Friends for Affordable Education and other opponents of the project, but Parrella and Plungis take issue with some of the underlying assumptions at play.
For example, in response to the friends’ claim that Phase II would increase the tax burden on the town, proponents said the project would eliminate the $2.7 million inefficiency in the system caused by maintaining three middle schools instead of one, a savings that, combined with state reimbursement, low interest rates, and the town’s repayment structure, would keep the Board of Education’s budget to a zero percent increase for the next two years.
The problem with that argument, Plungis said, is that the state’s reimbursement isn’t guaranteed to be 66 percent of the total project cost.
“I take as suspect the number because Gov. Malloy is already pushing to have it lowered,” Plungis said. “I don’t know if we can break ground at the exact time that they think they can. That’s what the funding is based on: when you can break ground.”
Parrella agreed. He said the plan has a lot of uncertainty in it. “It’s all on what-ifs,” he said. “That’s what scares me the most.”
For Giancoplos, the uncertainty of the state’s contribution to the project is a reason to hurry up rather than to slow down. She said it’s unlikely the cost of doing a project like Phase II would ever be lower.
“I believe that this helps the taxpayers and improves the schools,” Giancoplos said.
On those goals – helping the taxpayers and improving the schools – both sides can agree. How to achieve them is another matter entirely.
Posted: Wednesday, April 27, 2011 4:00 pm | Updated: 8:26 am, Wed Apr 27, 2011.
Groton groups battle over Phase II By Ian Holliday, Press Writer The Westerly Sun |
GROTON – With a referendum on the proposed overhaul of the town’s school buildings less than two weeks away, two political action committees are battling over the facts of the plan and the effect it would have on Groton taxpayers if it passes.
The two committees – Groton Friends for Affordable Education, opposed to the plan, and Taxpayers for Groton Schools II, in favor – have each been rallying supporters on their websites and Facebook pages, writing letters and comments to local newspapers and websites, and distributing lawn signs, all aimed at convincing residents to vote their way in the May 2 referendum.
At the heart of the dispute is the proposed project, commonly known as Phase II, which would move all of the town’s seventh- and eighth-grade students into a new, central middle school on the site of the current Claude Chester School.
The plan also calls for the renovation of West Side Middle School and S. B. Butler Elementary School for use as “early education centers” for children in preschool through first grade. The town’s remaining schools would be used for students in grades two through six, except Pleasant Valley Elementary School, which would close.
Groton Friends for Affordable Education formed shortly after the Representative Town Meeting voted to approve Phase II in March. Committee Chairman Andrew Parrella said the group is opposed to the project because it burdens the taxpayers with a large bond they’ll have to pay back.
“We want to vote the referendum down and then have it re-looked-at, work with the Board of Education, work with the superintendent, and work with the school system and the town to see a better plan,” Parrella said.
Taxpayers for Groton Schools II draws its inspiration and its name from a political action committee formed in 2004 to advocate for the passage of Phase I. Elizabeth Giancoplos, a member of both the committee and the town’s Board of Education, said the new group, which formed in February, is similar in concept to the original.
“A small group of us came together and said, ‘We need to get together to support this referendum,’” Giancoplos said. “We kind of modeled it after what we did back in 2004.”
Parrella and Friends for Affordable Education Vice Chairman Timothy Plungis stressed their committee’s bipartisan membership and said the goal wasn’t simply to oppose Phase II, but to continue pursuing their agenda after the May 2 referendum.
“This is not a short-term committee,” Parrella said. “We want to continue this committee. This is an ongoing committee.”
If the Phase II proposal is defeated, Parrella said the group would work to outline a better plan. He said the committee would want to be inclusive of everyone in town during that process, and has tried to avoid putting forward an alternative plan without input from people outside the committee.
One aspect of Phase II that the committee would definitely not include in its proposal is universal pre-kindergarten education, Parrella said. He also said members of the committee had suggested revisiting the use of the King Property for the new middle school or even keeping two middle schools, but it remains to be seen whether those ideas would be included in a Friends for Affordable Education counter-proposal.
“We don’t have one set idea,” Plungis said. “We have people on this committee with diverse opinions on the topic, but what we are all 100 percent behind is not having Phase II pass as is.”
Proponents of Phase II say the current plan has been thoroughly researched, and a better plan is unlikely to come along because of pending changes in the rate of state reimbursement for school construction projects and the cost of construction, which is currently low because of the recession.
Giancoplos said she understands that the proposal’s $133 million price tag is “scary,” but she said school costs would continue to increase without the Phase II plan, and the need to reform the town’s schools would still exist.
Taxpayers for Groton Schools II devotes a page on its website to refuting claims made by Friends for Affordable Education and other opponents of the project, but Parrella and Plungis take issue with some of the underlying assumptions at play.
For example, in response to the friends’ claim that Phase II would increase the tax burden on the town, proponents said the project would eliminate the $2.7 million inefficiency in the system caused by maintaining three middle schools instead of one, a savings that, combined with state reimbursement, low interest rates, and the town’s repayment structure, would keep the Board of Education’s budget to a zero percent increase for the next two years.
The problem with that argument, Plungis said, is that the state’s reimbursement isn’t guaranteed to be 66 percent of the total project cost.
“I take as suspect the number because Gov. Malloy is already pushing to have it lowered,” Plungis said. “I don’t know if we can break ground at the exact time that they think they can. That’s what the funding is based on: when you can break ground.”
Parrella agreed. He said the plan has a lot of uncertainty in it. “It’s all on what-ifs,” he said. “That’s what scares me the most.”
For Giancoplos, the uncertainty of the state’s contribution to the project is a reason to hurry up rather than to slow down. She said it’s unlikely the cost of doing a project like Phase II would ever be lower.
“I believe that this helps the taxpayers and improves the schools,” Giancoplos said.
On those goals – helping the taxpayers and improving the schools – both sides can agree. How to achieve them is another matter entirely.
Groton group forms to fight $133 million school plan
By Chuck Potter Day Staff writer
The Day, April 2, 2011
GROTON - A Political Action Committee has formed to promote the defeat of the Phase II school development proposal. Andrew Parrella, chairman of Friends for Affordable Education, said in a letter announcing the PAC that the group is a fast growing and seeks to defeat the May school project referendum.Voters will be deciding on a $133 million plan to consolidate three middle schools to one, convert two elementary schools into early education learning centers and upgrade the high school's football field with an artificial multi-purpose playing surface. The town would pay about half of the costs after state reimbursements.
FAE's vice chairman, Tim Plungis, a member of the Representative Town Meeting, said Parrella approached him soon after RTM approved the resolution last month that sent the Phase II plan to a referendum on May 2."We filed with the town clerk right after that," Plungis said. "Andrew spearheaded it. He brought me on board. At the time, we didn't know who would be a part of it then. We got a lot of people through word of mouth." Plungis, who came up short in a bid for the state legislature last year, said the group FAE includes people with diverse opinions about the best direction for the school district's growth and development. But, he said, it is of one mind regarding Phase II."Our (immediate) goal is to have Phase II not pass," Plungis said. "The broader goal is to have the conversation, to increase the awareness of education matters in the town. Especially on fiscal matters. We need to have the conversation about, are we getting the best bang for our buck? We spend a lot of cash, but we don't always get the results we want.
"During the public hearing on the town budget Monday, Ed Ettinger, a member of FAE, said the school budget "just reeks of rancid fat." Friday he elaborated on that sentiment.He said $3.3 million to put artificial turf on the football field at The Robert E. Fitch Senior High School would be a frivolous expenditure. He said the early childhood learning centers would be town-funded preschool competing with the more cost-efficient private sector. Finally, he said, the proposal for a middle school at what is now the site of Claude Chester Elementary at the intersection of routes 1 and 117, or Fort Hill and North roads, is in the wrong place.
By Chuck Potter Day Staff writer
The Day, April 2, 2011
GROTON - A Political Action Committee has formed to promote the defeat of the Phase II school development proposal. Andrew Parrella, chairman of Friends for Affordable Education, said in a letter announcing the PAC that the group is a fast growing and seeks to defeat the May school project referendum.Voters will be deciding on a $133 million plan to consolidate three middle schools to one, convert two elementary schools into early education learning centers and upgrade the high school's football field with an artificial multi-purpose playing surface. The town would pay about half of the costs after state reimbursements.
FAE's vice chairman, Tim Plungis, a member of the Representative Town Meeting, said Parrella approached him soon after RTM approved the resolution last month that sent the Phase II plan to a referendum on May 2."We filed with the town clerk right after that," Plungis said. "Andrew spearheaded it. He brought me on board. At the time, we didn't know who would be a part of it then. We got a lot of people through word of mouth." Plungis, who came up short in a bid for the state legislature last year, said the group FAE includes people with diverse opinions about the best direction for the school district's growth and development. But, he said, it is of one mind regarding Phase II."Our (immediate) goal is to have Phase II not pass," Plungis said. "The broader goal is to have the conversation, to increase the awareness of education matters in the town. Especially on fiscal matters. We need to have the conversation about, are we getting the best bang for our buck? We spend a lot of cash, but we don't always get the results we want.
"During the public hearing on the town budget Monday, Ed Ettinger, a member of FAE, said the school budget "just reeks of rancid fat." Friday he elaborated on that sentiment.He said $3.3 million to put artificial turf on the football field at The Robert E. Fitch Senior High School would be a frivolous expenditure. He said the early childhood learning centers would be town-funded preschool competing with the more cost-efficient private sector. Finally, he said, the proposal for a middle school at what is now the site of Claude Chester Elementary at the intersection of routes 1 and 117, or Fort Hill and North roads, is in the wrong place.
Budget not well received
By Ian Holliday, Press Writer
Mystic River Press, March 31, 2011
GROTON – The process of crafting the town’s fiscal year 2011-12 budget began back in November, but it will still be months before a plan is adopted. “The budget process in Groton is a very long one,” said Town Manager Mark Oefinger at a public hearing on his roughly $121.9 million proposed budget Monday night. The proposal is an increase of approximately $4 million, or 3.4 percent more than the approved budget for the current year.
Due to decreases in revenue and the need to replenish the town’s cash reserve, the proposal calls for a 9.8 percent increase in the tax rate, from $18.42 per $1,000 in assessed value to $20.23. Oefinger said that even if every section of the budget were held to a zero percent increase, taxes would still need to go up by 4.1 percent to account for the losses in revenue from state and federal sources and bring the town’s reserve up to 7.5 percent of the total budget. While a nearly 10 percent tax hike seems like a large amount, Oefinger said it’s highly unlikely the final budget for the coming year will include such an increase.
“I don’t envision we’re going to have a 9.8 percent increase, but that’s what the numbers show,” Oefinger said.
One reason that figure is likely to change is the desire on the part of the Town Council and the taxpayers to keep increases to a minimum, a desire demonstrated at the public hearing Monday night. Approximately 60 people attended the hearing, and of the 20 who spoke, 12 did so in opposition to all or part of the current proposal.
Mystic resident Ed Ettinger, the first member of the public to speak, set the tone for the rest of the evening with his comments. Ettinger focused on the proposed school budget, which he accused of wasteful spending on a litany of line items and blamed for taking money away from programs he felt were more deserving, including art education and library hours. “This budget just reeks of rancid fat,” Ettinger said. “If the superintendent can’t manage his business unit productively, how can we ever think for a moment to entrust him with a $ 133 million Phase II project?”
The Board of Education and its budget were frequent targets of anger throughout the meeting, as was the building project commonly know as Phase II that would consolidate the town’s middle schools and restructure its early education programs. Because it has yet to receive approval from voters (a referendum is scheduled for May 2), Phase II isn’t included in the coming year’s proposed budget, Oefinger said. But that didn’t stop residents from including the project in their budgetary complaints.
“You cannot pile debt upon debt,” said resident Andrew Parrella. “Why should we go out and vote for a referendum, for example, that’s going to increase the bonding on an already supposed zero budget? The budget’s not going to be zero if the numbers aren’t real.” Residents also spoke in opposition to the budget proposal because of the increase it would cause to the tax rate. Several members of the public suggested starting with a zero percent increase in the tax rate and determining the rest of the budget from there, rather than determining the tax rate last, as is the current practice.
“This budget is not acceptable, and should be dead on arrival,” said resident Neal Gardner. The budget was not without its supporters, however. Several members of the public got up to speak in favor of maintaining or restoring funding to one program or another, and some expressed their support for the school budget and the Phase II proposal.
Resident John Casey, who has children in the Groton school system, encouraged the Town Council to support the school budget proposal. He said other speakers’ concerns that tax increases would drive residents away could be applied to a lack of funding for schools as well. “Children are the future of this town, and we can’t shortchange them,” Casey said. “We will lose residents if we don’t have a good school system.”
By Ian Holliday, Press Writer
Mystic River Press, March 31, 2011
GROTON – The process of crafting the town’s fiscal year 2011-12 budget began back in November, but it will still be months before a plan is adopted. “The budget process in Groton is a very long one,” said Town Manager Mark Oefinger at a public hearing on his roughly $121.9 million proposed budget Monday night. The proposal is an increase of approximately $4 million, or 3.4 percent more than the approved budget for the current year.
Due to decreases in revenue and the need to replenish the town’s cash reserve, the proposal calls for a 9.8 percent increase in the tax rate, from $18.42 per $1,000 in assessed value to $20.23. Oefinger said that even if every section of the budget were held to a zero percent increase, taxes would still need to go up by 4.1 percent to account for the losses in revenue from state and federal sources and bring the town’s reserve up to 7.5 percent of the total budget. While a nearly 10 percent tax hike seems like a large amount, Oefinger said it’s highly unlikely the final budget for the coming year will include such an increase.
“I don’t envision we’re going to have a 9.8 percent increase, but that’s what the numbers show,” Oefinger said.
One reason that figure is likely to change is the desire on the part of the Town Council and the taxpayers to keep increases to a minimum, a desire demonstrated at the public hearing Monday night. Approximately 60 people attended the hearing, and of the 20 who spoke, 12 did so in opposition to all or part of the current proposal.
Mystic resident Ed Ettinger, the first member of the public to speak, set the tone for the rest of the evening with his comments. Ettinger focused on the proposed school budget, which he accused of wasteful spending on a litany of line items and blamed for taking money away from programs he felt were more deserving, including art education and library hours. “This budget just reeks of rancid fat,” Ettinger said. “If the superintendent can’t manage his business unit productively, how can we ever think for a moment to entrust him with a $ 133 million Phase II project?”
The Board of Education and its budget were frequent targets of anger throughout the meeting, as was the building project commonly know as Phase II that would consolidate the town’s middle schools and restructure its early education programs. Because it has yet to receive approval from voters (a referendum is scheduled for May 2), Phase II isn’t included in the coming year’s proposed budget, Oefinger said. But that didn’t stop residents from including the project in their budgetary complaints.
“You cannot pile debt upon debt,” said resident Andrew Parrella. “Why should we go out and vote for a referendum, for example, that’s going to increase the bonding on an already supposed zero budget? The budget’s not going to be zero if the numbers aren’t real.” Residents also spoke in opposition to the budget proposal because of the increase it would cause to the tax rate. Several members of the public suggested starting with a zero percent increase in the tax rate and determining the rest of the budget from there, rather than determining the tax rate last, as is the current practice.
“This budget is not acceptable, and should be dead on arrival,” said resident Neal Gardner. The budget was not without its supporters, however. Several members of the public got up to speak in favor of maintaining or restoring funding to one program or another, and some expressed their support for the school budget and the Phase II proposal.
Resident John Casey, who has children in the Groton school system, encouraged the Town Council to support the school budget proposal. He said other speakers’ concerns that tax increases would drive residents away could be applied to a lack of funding for schools as well. “Children are the future of this town, and we can’t shortchange them,” Casey said. “We will lose residents if we don’t have a good school system.”
Groton budgets attacked and defended at hearing
By Chuck Potter, Day Staff Writer
The Day, March 29, 2011
Groton - The public's opportunity to voice its opinion on the proposed $121.9 million budget for 2011-12 drew about 60 residents to the Groton Senior Center Monday night.Town Manager Mark Oefinger told the audience that the budget, which is 3.4 percent or $4 million more than the current spending plan, has been on the Town Council's agenda for every meeting since November.He noted that the town faces a challenge in trying to make up for lost revenues, mostly from state and federal government. He said that decrease means the town automatically faced a nearly 10 percent increase in the tax rate.
In past years, he said, the town could take money from its reserve fund to offset the tax rate and still preserve the amount it needs to keep in the fund.
In 2011-12, he said, the town would have to put money in the reserve fund to maintain that level. Superintendent of Schools Paul Kadri tried to convey his educational fiscal philosophy to help generate support the Board of Education's $74.9 million school spending plan.When residents had a chance to speak, Ed Ettinger referred to the school board budget as the elephant in the room."This budget reeks of rancid fat," he said.Ettinger wasn't the only one upset. Jack Sebastian, a member of the Representative Town Meeting said the town should have sought a budget with no tax increase."The bottom line for next year's budget is no property tax increase," he said. "Our senior citizens did not receive an increase in Social Security last year. The way to accomplish a zero increase is to zero out any increase in the Board of Education budget, or even decrease it from this year's level if necessary."
Angie Robinson was disappointed in the reduced funding for the Mystic & Noank Library. "We've had to close the library on Thursdays," she said. "People sit outside on benches trying to use our Wi-Fi. This is a very important place in our community." Sally Whitney urged the Town Council to stand fast to the decrease. She said the town is fortunate to have three libraries and that people always have access to one or another."The Bill Memorial Library is closed two days per week. Mystic & Noank could do the same," she said.
By Chuck Potter, Day Staff Writer
The Day, March 29, 2011
Groton - The public's opportunity to voice its opinion on the proposed $121.9 million budget for 2011-12 drew about 60 residents to the Groton Senior Center Monday night.Town Manager Mark Oefinger told the audience that the budget, which is 3.4 percent or $4 million more than the current spending plan, has been on the Town Council's agenda for every meeting since November.He noted that the town faces a challenge in trying to make up for lost revenues, mostly from state and federal government. He said that decrease means the town automatically faced a nearly 10 percent increase in the tax rate.
In past years, he said, the town could take money from its reserve fund to offset the tax rate and still preserve the amount it needs to keep in the fund.
In 2011-12, he said, the town would have to put money in the reserve fund to maintain that level. Superintendent of Schools Paul Kadri tried to convey his educational fiscal philosophy to help generate support the Board of Education's $74.9 million school spending plan.When residents had a chance to speak, Ed Ettinger referred to the school board budget as the elephant in the room."This budget reeks of rancid fat," he said.Ettinger wasn't the only one upset. Jack Sebastian, a member of the Representative Town Meeting said the town should have sought a budget with no tax increase."The bottom line for next year's budget is no property tax increase," he said. "Our senior citizens did not receive an increase in Social Security last year. The way to accomplish a zero increase is to zero out any increase in the Board of Education budget, or even decrease it from this year's level if necessary."
Angie Robinson was disappointed in the reduced funding for the Mystic & Noank Library. "We've had to close the library on Thursdays," she said. "People sit outside on benches trying to use our Wi-Fi. This is a very important place in our community." Sally Whitney urged the Town Council to stand fast to the decrease. She said the town is fortunate to have three libraries and that people always have access to one or another."The Bill Memorial Library is closed two days per week. Mystic & Noank could do the same," she said.