Westport’s 3 Republican Board of Finance members — Charlie Haberstroh, Ed Iannone and Avi Kaner — joined Republican Town Committee chairman Bob Zappi this past weekend, in Pinehurst, N.C.
No, they were not raising piles of cash from wealthy donors.
Nor did they plan a takeover of town government.
They were there to celebrate the wedding of Charlie’s son, Chuck.
The guy in the center of the photo (above) made sure no town business was transacted illegally.
Posted in Local politics
Tagged Avi Kaner, Bob Zappi, Charlie Haberstroh, Ed Iannone, Pinehurst, Westport Board of Finance
Theo Sullivan is a Staples water polo coach — and Westport Public Library lover.
Recently, he urged the Board of Finance to restore cuts proposed in next year’s budget. If not, he noted, the library might have to close on many Sundays.
When he told his team what he’d said, one responded: “I didn’t know they were allowed to close a library.”
“They” can do whatever “they” want.
So Westporters have barraged RTM members with phone calls and emails, pleading for restoration. The RTM Finance Committee recommended restoring $45,000 cut by the Board of Finance. The full RTM now must agree, by at least a 70 percent vote.
The Westport Library is busy all the time -- but always welcoming.
The proposed cuts have touched citizens in ways that others — aimed at public safety, recreation, even education — have not.
The reason, director Maxine Bleiweis thinks, is because the library is integrally tied in with the way the town identifies itself.
“The library embodies how nearly everyone learns, grows, and becomes creative,” Maxine says. “It’s like part of the Westport air — and now the air supply may be cut off.”
“We don’t have time to be closed,” she says. “We have to be open, to feed and nurture all that goes on in this community.”
Our discussion was interrupted — it seemed almost like a setup, but it wasn’t — by a call to Maxine from Keith Richards’ publicist. If the Rolling Stones’ PR guy needs the Westport library, there can’t be anyone in the area who doesn’t.
If the library can’t get no satisfaction through the restoration of funds, Sunday closings are a real possibility. That’s a better option, Bleiweis says, than cutting staff and services whenever the doors are open.
“You can’t have a restaurant that functions at less than full capacity,” the library director notes. And — as has been proven over and over — the Westport library is as much a part of town life as food and wine.
Or the air that we breathe.
(The RTM begins voting Monday to accept or restore Board of Finance budget cut recommendations for all town departments. The library is one of the last agenda items — meaning a vote may not come until Tuesday, or even Wednesday. In the meantime, Westporters are contacting RTM members, and/or making plans to attend the meeting — whenever it is held.)
Posted in Library, Local politics, Weather
Tagged Maxine Bleiweis, Westport Board of Finance, Westport Public Library, Westport RTM
Here’s an open letter to the Board of Finance and RTM from a Westport taxpayer. The writer does not wish to be identified, due to the personal information revealed.
To the Board of Finance and RTM:
I have followed with interest and dismay the decisions made by the Board of Finance on the town and Board of Education budgets. As an employee of the Board of Education, as well as a Westport property owner, I am directly affected by their decisions.
I had planned on paying my property taxes this year (and next). I know that times are tough and money is tight. Now I will lose my full-time job with the Board of Ed, at worst, or have my take-home income reduced, at best.
But that’s okay; I’m industrious. I am lucky enough to have a part-time job, in addition to my full-time job. As long as I don’t actually lose my job, I may be able to make up my reduced take-home by taking extra hours at my part-time job.
Uh-oh. The Board of Finance cut the Library budget. My boss said that if the library is closed on Sundays, he will close because he will lose so much business. So not only can I not get additional hours, I will make less money at my part-time job this year as well.
Gee. I had planned on paying my taxes, I really had. And if the Board of Finance hadn’t done such a good job of protecting me, I still might be able to.
Comments, as always, are welcome encouraged.
Morris Jesup might be lonelier on Sundays, if the Westport Public Library is forced to reduce hours due to budget cuts.
Last Sunday, retired businessman and 35-year resident Jim Goodrich offered some thoughts here on the town budget — including the pension liability.
His “06880” piece elicited strong reactions — including several explanations of the pension fund. Today, Jim addresses those responses.
You’re never too old to learn.
By going to the recent Board of Finance meeting, thinking about that meeting, then posting observations that generated considerable feedback, I’ve picked up a bit more understanding about my town. I find it useful. Maybe you will too.
I called the pension fund “elephant in the room” a $3 million problem. Is it really an $8 million problem — or $30 million?
The answer is: It’s all 3 problems. Here’s — in rounded numbers — is why.
The $30 million refers to an unfunded shortfall in the town’s obligation to the pension fund for municipal employees. (Teachers are not included; they’re covered at the state level.)
The $8 million refers to the annual amount the town must pay for the next 30 years, in order to fulfill its pension obligations.
Now it gets really interesting.
The $3 million represents a reduction to the $8 million annual payment the actuaries say the town should pay into the pension fund. Why would Westport pay only $5 million of the $8 million into the fund, creating a larger long-term obligation?
This is not where our pension fund is. We hope.
The answer is pretty straightforward. By underpaying the pension fund, town and Board of Ed budgets can be more fully funded without having to raise taxes as much, or at all. Of course, the amount of the underpayment must be paid someday — just not now.
There are all kinds of discussions knowledgeable people can have on this point — and much of the subtext at the recent Board of Finance meeting dealt with this issue. What seems to be going on is “fiscal responsibility” versus “competent resource management” in balancing important community needs and the taxpayer’s ability to pay. The BOF is the place these discussions should take place.
Currently, town and school officials are finalizing details to show what a total of $2.6 million cut in funding will mean to educational programs, as well as vital services. The public does not yet know the exact cuts to be made — but they are expected to be serious.
What does “serious” mean? It could easily be headcount cuts to police, fire and teaching personnel, plus public works and all other town departments. What may get hit are all the “S”s – safety, security and schools — as well as Westport’s large “Q” (quality of life).
So pay attention. We may know within a few days what the cuts will bring. By Wednesday the BOF will have voted — and then it’s a done deal.
For a moment, consider what would happen if the BOF went in another direction and simply reinstated the $2.6 million to the town and school budgets. Would the world come to an end?
No. But taxes would go up by an average of about $260 for each Westport household. There are 2 people in my household. That’s $130 for each of us for the year. It’s $2.50 a week — 36 cents a day. For safety, security, excellent schools and quality of life — I don’t know about you, but it seems like a bargain to me.
(What do you think? To contact the Board of Finance, click here.)
Posted in Economy, Education, Politics
Tagged Jim Goodrich, Westport Board of Finance, Westport CT town budget
In 2009, Westport was engulfed in a battle over the education budget.
This year: not a peep.
There have been a couple of articles in the local press, and 1 or 2 letters to the editor. Beyond that: nada.
If you missed it, here’s what’s happening:
The Board of Education has requested a 2.13% increase for 2010-11. Word on the street is that the Board of Finance — which votes next Wednesday (March 24) — intends to keep the Board of Ed budget flat to this year.
Earlier this month, the Board of Ed made its case to the Finance men and women.
The main points:
Turning to actual figures, the Board of Ed cites:
The Board of Ed’s final points addressed key reasons to approve the budget as submitted:
The Board of Ed has presented its case. The Board of Finance votes Wednesday.
Speaking out after that point — about class size increases, program eliminations or anything else — is less effective than making opinions known now.
It’s been a silent budget process so far. Feedback is welcome; click the “Comments” link at the top or bottom of this post. To contact Board of Finance members directly, click here.
“06880” is not Nostradamus. But if Wednesday night’s candidate debate is any indication, the 2010 budget process will be far less rancorous than ’09.
The Board of Finance candidates — 4 are competing for 3 seats — oozed civility and reasonableness, at the LWV-sponsored event. More importantly, all acknowledged — in fact, stressed — the crucial role of our schools in keeping the town vibrant, and our property values high.
To varying degrees, all said: Education is important. And it is important that we pay for the high-quality education our school system provides.
The Board of Ed candidates reiterated the need to focus on programs, courses and class size. Whatever goes on each day in our classrooms — from kindergarten through high school — is the key component of education.
Candidates for both boards emphasized the need to communicate with each other — and with other departments, and the town at large — long before budget votes are taken.
On paper, those words can sound like the promises we hear every year. But the measured tones in which they were conveyed — and the memory of last spring’s harsh meetings and votes — makes us hopeful that this year’s budget process will be civil, efficient and relatively stress-free.
Santayana said, “Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” If last May can be considered “history,” it seems Westport has learned its lesson well.
Last spring, Staples students protested proposed budget cuts. Will this year's budget process be less confrontational?
Comments Off on A Kindler, Gentler Budget Process
Posted in Education, Local politics
Tagged Westport Board of Education, Westport Board of Finance
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