The following is a statement by Steve Carroll, who is running for Town Council At Large.

BIO:

Cheshire resident since 1979

Born: March 28, 1952

Office: Town Council At-Large

Affiliation: Republican

Education: B.S., Miami University, Oxford, OH 1974

MBA, University of Connecticut, 1980

Occupation: IT Director, MBI, Inc., 47 Richards Ave, Norwalk, CT

Previous Office Held:

Town Council 2003-2005

Chairman, Ordinance Review Committee 2003-2005

Member, Budget Committee 2003-2005

Member, Personnel Committee 2003-2005

Family:

Joan R. Carroll (wife) – Teacher (English as a Second Language)

in the New Haven, CT school system.

Justin F. Carroll (son) – Cheshire HS, 1999

Princeton University, 2003

Brendan M. Carroll (son) – Cheshire HS, 2002

Princeton University, 2006

Contact Information:

Home Tel: (203) 272-9503

Cell: (203) 915-1653

E-mail: Stephen.Carroll@sbcglobal.net

I am asked ‘Why are you running for Town Council?’ or ‘What is your platform?’ – I am always unsure where to begin.

There are so many reasons that I never know where to begin. One thing I am sure of is that I do not have agenda, other than looking out for the best interests of Cheshire. I have lived in Cheshire for about 28 years. I moved here for a combination of reasons: location, excellent schools, and nice community among the most compelling. I am pro-education, pro-senior tax relief, and fiscally conservative. I love being involved with municipal government and helping to shape solutions, and I hate the political side. I love our form of government, but unless we can turn down the politically-motivated and sometimes personal attacks – I am afraid the days are numbered for our current style of government.

I can tell you from first-hand knowledge, Cheshire is a well-run town, and by almost any measure, far better prepared than most other municipalities for what lies ahead. Here are my thoughts on a few of the hot topics in town.

Development in the North End – I am not opposed to mixed use development in the North end, with the exception of the residential component. A major retail development will undoubtedly cause some problems for Cheshire - most notably traffic, public safety, and pressures on infrastructure such as sewers, water mains, and roads, so we better be planning ahead. But imagine what you might have if you were “lucky” enough to attract an industrial business – say like American Cyanamid on Rte 5 in Wallingford. This argument is not about open space vs. development, it’s about what type of development we end up with. The residential aspect of this project is completely unnecessary, and I have reservations about the negative impact of a major retail development on other commercial business in town, but if the Planning & Zoning Commission does it’s job, this project can work.

Budget Surpluses – For the past 3 years, we have had surpluses of $1.6 million, $2.0 million, and $2.1 million. The budget underestimates revenue and overestimates costs. The net result is over-taxing property owners. We should fix this process (or be prepared to credit the money back to the taxpayer).

Community Pool – The bubble over the pool needs to be replaced with a permanent, energy-efficient structure, keeping in mind that the pool is hugely popular in the summer months. We need to look at the economics of this option, which I believe will save enough money annually to pay for the permanent structure in a reasonable time frame. There are simply no other viable solutions.

Sewers – We are looking at and planning for a major upgrade to the sewer treatment plant. By law, we must do this, though this will not directly address the inflow and infiltration problems. The WPCA is very limited in terms of it’s authority to spend money to identify and fix these problems, the Town Council is not. In 2007, these problems created a public health hazard in surrounding neighborhoods. This should be treated like the Fire Department treats a burning building.

Public Safety – Our Police Department is efficiently organized, but minimally staffed. When coupled with the fact that a number of resignations loom on the near horizon, we need to hire more officers quickly or we will jeopardize public safety. As well, the PD needs to be more active with the community and developing “out-reach” programs.”

It just never ceases to amaze me what type of shenanigans take place in Cliqueville, Connecticut. Apparently the major real estate company in this town C——-ni Real Estate has found a way to coerce the town into letting them advertise this “C—–ni Cares” House Tour, sponsored by C——–ni Real Estate on TOWN PROPERTY!!

I have NOTHING against the house tour to raise money, NOTHING AT ALL, for it is a good cause. What I have against this is the sign being put on town property advertising a private company in the Park and Recreation Bulletin Board near the high school. If the sign said “Cheshire Cares” House Tours sponsored the town, it would be a different story and you all would not be reading this post.

OK, the Undergroundtownhall will be sponsoring a fundraiser for a good cause, can I please advertise on town property? Oh yeah, get real.

Just ask my pal Republican Tim White of the Town Council. He got a dose of the different strokes for different folks agenda a few years ago when he tried to fund raise on town property after seeing that the town had allowed the Democrats to do so and got told NO!!!

What makes C——ni Real Estate so privileged? It really galls me, this whole sign thing. It just keeps going on and on. The arrogance of it all.

What is good for some, is not good for others. Some of you think I am harping, but get real.

How would you feel if a member of your family received a call from the police department telling you that your family member was “seen” putting up a sign on a telephone pole across from (you guessed it) The big C real estate company.

My family member was told to take the sign down because it said “no mall” or something to that effect, but a “tag sale” sign was ALLOWED to stay up. And believe me people, EVERY WEEK , there is some sort of tag sale sign on that pole. I am sure those people aren’t getting embarrasing calls about their illegal sign!!!

My family members name was slandered by the town government and the New Haven Register who still won’t run an apology. They made my family member look like a petty criminal. Read my post “Truth or Consequences” which ran in early June. Also look at my “Steel to Steel” post which ran on June 10 of this year.

This subject was hit on by thousands of people and even made it to the to De-li-cious website and was posted by many bloggers and readers all over this country and beyond. Why, because people are fed up with censorship and the rules that apply to you don’t apply to us mentality.

The family member contacted the Town Government which stated that they did not even know this had happened!! Oh come on, these people must drive by the high school at least once or twice a week. I know one person that has to have driven by the school and seen the sign because this person lives a few miles south of the school and needs to drive on Rt. 10 past the school to get to their house.

I have heard from so many of you who feel your voices are getting “lost in the sauce.” We are going to fix it up my people. I hear you. You make the difference. You have to write my name in for Town Council or nonsense like this will go unquestioned and unabated.

Today was the day I met with the owner of the Cheshire Herald. I did not know what to expect when I walked in, but in all honesty, I expected to see the Cheshire Police Department there!!

Both the owner, Maureen Jakubisyn and I got off to a hot start last week as you all know. If you are new to the website, click on my post “Confrontation at the OK Cheshire Herald Corral” to find out how this all got started.

To summarize, when I went to place a classified ad last week, Ms. Maureen the owner, came bolting out of the starting gate wanting to know why I would even think about placing an ad in the paper I call “The Soviet News Agency Tass.” We gave each other a few stares and said a few words, but the bottom line was that I told Ms. Maureen that I was willing to meet with her and “discuss” this issue, to which she agreed.

When I arrived shortly before 10 a.m. on Tuesday, I only waited a few minutes for Maureen. We went into the conference room along with the ad representative. Maureen was very upbeat.

I asked Maureen if she knew why I would from time to time, call the Cheshire Herald the Soviet News Agency Tass. She said she had no idea. I asked her to really think about it. Off the bat, I explained to her that 90 percent of it was dry humor. But there was in my mind some truth to the label. I explained that I believed the Herald was not covering all of the news in town to the fullest extent that it could be covered.

I cited the most recent Planning and Zoning meeting regarding the proposed Lifestyle Center as an example. I told Maureen that there was plenty of quotes from Westfield and Milone and MacBroom, but little or no quotes from the members of the public, albeit, there were only a few. I explained the reason I believed there was low attendance at this meeting and many others, is that the Town Government and the Herald, (phew, I have to get used to calling the paper just the Herald)!! does not post the meeting schedules ahead of time so people can attend.

Maureen explained that her paper does cover the meetings and does do stories about the Police Department, which of course was another area of discussion. I asked her if 10 or even 15 years ago, did she honestly believe the Herald would have put the latest story on the Officer being arrested on the front page? I told her it probably would have been buried on Page 20. She asked me if I did not think people would read page 20. But I explained to her that because of my efforts, the Herald is starting to wake up and bring people in Cheshire all the news, not some of it, all of it. The officer story belonged on page one, as did the Lifestyle Center meetings. On that, they did a great job with the placement and I am happy about it.

When I was a newspaper reporter years ago, I took my work seriously. I take all work seriously. Freedom of the press is a sacred right bestowed upon us by our founding fathers. The First Amendment to the Constitution sends shivers up and down my spine. It is SACRED. It is up to the Cheshire Herald and all newspapers and media to take the lead.

This is our check and balance that keeps the government in place. The Herald, like all other media, is on the frontline in this battle. It is a very important responsibility.

I told Maureen I liked the way the Herald looks now. It is bold and bright and they have some good writers. I told her I would like to see more coverage of other town meetings, and subcommittee meetings, because to me, that is the meat of all decision makings. The meetings in the back rooms that the public doesn’t usually go to-is where the cornerstones of all government decision making is usually made.

I mentioned the possibility of covering the Public Safety Commission for that matter. I don’t believe they receive too many members of the public at their meetings so that would be a start. I asked Maureen to consider running a list of all upcoming meetings on the lower right hand side of the front page each week, because for some reason, the Town Government which has at its disposal, Channel 14, cannot seem to get it together and put it together.

As I have said in earlier posts, I can tell you when Vinny Carr’s Dance Party will take place, but I have no idea when the next Inland Wetland meeting is (oh I found out by contacting Planning and Zoning, that it is Oct. 2 at 7:30 p.m. in the Town Hall Council Chambers). It is too confusing to list meetings taking place the second or third Tuesday of the month or whatever. Put the ACTUAL date, time and place of the meeting for all to see. Is the Town Government afraid people will actually SHOW UP!! and interfere with their plans???

Maureen agreed to discuss this option with Shannon Becker the editor. So we made progress on that issue.

Another hot topic with me is (of course you guessed) the police department. I asked her to have a reporter go down to the Police Department and ask for a printout of the calls–sans the medical calls which are private. I inquired about this years ago and got a BAD reception to say the least. When I covered the Orange Police Department years ago, I would go down to the station, the secretary would print out a list of all the calls and times dispatched. I would pick out what interested me and then I would sit down with a high ranking officer and he/she would give me the information for the police log.

In fact, Orange was so good about this matter, that if I did not show up on Tuesday, which was the day I usually would go to the station, they would CALL me and read me the information over the phone. That is what I would like to see happen in Cheshire.

I know in the news business, no one is ever happy. But Cheshire and the Herald have got to get used to reporting and releasing all the news good or bad and all sides, good or bad.

I think we both had a good discussion, but I asked Maureen to keep vigiliant and keep on the issues. Question the town government, do some research and investigative reporting. If it is controversial, so be it. I thank the Herald for taking time out to have this discussion.

Remember:

We do not live in that town in the Walgreen’s commercial, Pleasantville or Perfectville, I can’t remember.

It is the job of the press to keep the governments feet to the flame. I hope the Herald will start by gathering the wood and stoking the fire.

Well, it finally happened Cheshire. Today I sent in the application (if you can call it that,) which will allow people to write me in for the Cheshire Town Council.

You know, I can’t believe it, but right after I posted this article I could swear I heard ambulance sirens all over town!!!

I honestly do not know how many people will write in my name. But if you are a regular reader to my site, you know what I stand for: OPEN and HONEST GOVERNMENT. I dedicated most of my life to this principle. I made a living defending it and ensuring it when I was a member of the press.

I believe in peoples’ rights–ALL people. I believe even the humblest of persons has a voice and has a right to be heard and they will if I am on the Town Council. I don’t care who you are or what you think of me, I will listen to you.

The Town of Cheshire is my investment and it also is yours. Every resident needs to get involved. Make time. Speak out, write letters, call your Town Council representative.

I believe in the Constitution of the United States and I hold each article to my heart. My platform:

Replace the bubble on the pool within the next year with a permanent structure as what was done in Milford. The Milford Community Pool has a polycarbonate glass structure that opens at the top and on all four sides in the summer. The structure can be closed entirely in the winter making for an all season pool. The “greenhouse” setup of this structure, allows for natural heating of the pool water, and as you know, that is the biggest expense the Cheshire Community Pool incurs.

Turn over the entire operation of the Pool to the Cheshire YMCA. In other words, privatize the ownership. The Southington Y operates in the black every year. Operate the pool as a business. Stop this “outside” nonsense and welcome all people.

Renew the Senior and Disabled Tax Freeze. Many people in this town, especially the middle class, feel they are being squeezed out by rising home prices and taxes. They need to feel their voices are not falling on deaf ears. We need to keep a foundation in this town. By that I mean the people who have lived here most of their lives, who have put their faith in Cheshire, who have invested in this town by making Cheshire their lifelong home.

Expand the powers of the Public Safety Commission to not only include the Police Department, but also the Fire Department as well. I strongly believe in government by the people. We have a democracy in this country. Our government was set up by our forefathers to have the PEOPLE be the check and balance against government.

It is not fair and right to have one or two people making decisions about the Police Department. And believe me, you will NOT hear any other candidate speak as openly about this issue as myself. You cannot tell me that when promotion time comes, the right decisions are always being made.

A few years ago, there was a letter to the editor from the family of a Cheshire Police officer expressing concern that their family member was not promoted. Now, I am NOT saying a police commission is perfect, it is not. Nothing human is perfect. But I would think one would stand a much better chance of moving up in the department if this decision was put into the hands of several people instead of one or two, meeting behind closed doors if you will, instead of in the public where these decisions belong.

The members of the Public Safety Commission, which already meet, are quite capable of taking on this task. They need the Town Council to make a decision and stop leaving them hanging in mid-air. So it is not another layer of government, as some of our Town Council members have indicated. The key is in the ignition—START IT UP!!

The Cheshire Town Council needs to take charge of this town now! The Town Council may be the “Board of Directors” as one ex-Town Council member once said, but the people are the stockholders. The Town Council needs to demand they be informed of every issue-when it occurs, not several days or weeks down the road as was the case with the Meningitis situation at the Community Pool a year and a half ago, and the recent arrest of the Cheshire Officer.

I will push for these changes as I have been doing behind the scene for years. If you don’t believe me, just ask anyone in the Town Managers Office, the Public Works Department and even the Police Department. I.E. the Police Chief open house–thank me for that effort also: The monthly updates of the police reports–the signs around Cheshire that say “Please Drive Slowly-We Love Our Children…the paving of some roads-installation of some sidewalks. I have constantly contacted the Town Government to make sure our infrastructure is updated and safe; The snack bar at the pool: I will be running my show which aired on Cox Channel 15 public access from 2005, in which I speak with my husband, Derf, about a snack bar at the pool. This is now a reality.

I also believe in fair taxation, not overtaxing, spending money where needed and spending it wisely.

As far as education: I am PRO EDUCATION. I have put four children through the Cheshire School system, some more smoothly than others, but anyone who knows me, knows that I cannot think of any better way to spend money than on education.

But even there, we must make sure our spending priorities are straight. We must have the BEST EQUIPMENT, BOOKS and RESOURCES and ALSO TEACHERS. We have to compete with wealthy Fairfield County towns such as Easton, Weston, Wilton and Redding, i.e. Region 9. Go look at their CAPT and SAT scores.

Several years ago, my husband and I also got the library to extend the rental times on videotapes. I support the library and have spoken publicly in their favor. This is the most important building in town and it should lack for nothing!!!

Well, that is all for now.  As a friend said to me when I told her of my decision:

“You could be Cheshire’s savior. Then again, you could be its anti-Christ.”!!!

Now take your nitro-glycerin pills and go to bed!!

UPDATE UPDATE:

Apparently tonight there was a Planning and Zoning public hearing. It is too bad hardly ANYONE knew about it!! This has GOT TO STOP AND I WILL STOP IT.  Is this town going to go “through the motions” or are they sincerely going to listen to the public?

Information has to be readily put out to the public on a consistent basis. This town is fortunate enough to have the resouces to have their own public access channel–Channel 14–The Town Goverment Channel.

A list of upcoming meetings–should be on the air ALL theTIME. It is too confusing for people to keep reading: this commission meets the second and fourth Monday of the month, or that committee meets every third Wednesday.

PUT THE DATES AND TIME AND LOCATIONS OF THE MEETINGS ON THE TV!!

As you know, I am scheduled to meet with the owner of the Herald later today. I will be discussing this very issue. I will let you know what happens. I hope I don’t end up in the slammer!! ONLY KIDDING!!!

Click Here for the Elect Louis Murray Flyer

The following is a statement from Lou Murray, Republican candidate for Town Council First District. Mr. Murray’s family has resided in Cheshire since 1954.

My campaign slogan:

Better Government from the Ground Up.

My campaign slogan is better government from the ground up. Government of the people, by the people, for the people was already taken. but you get the idea.

We need to govern in the open, in full view of the people of Cheshire, and the people of Cheshire need to watch and care.

I am not a politician, at least in the sense that I can’t just say whatever someone wants to hear just to get elected. I can’t make any promises to anybody even though there’s a lot I’d like to accomplish.

Promises made before an election are not sincere and everyone knows it. Think about it, How many election promises can you remember that were actually kept? I thought so.

Lot’s of folks think Cheshire is a town of rich people that can afford to do pretty much what they want. That’s not the Cheshire I know and it’s not the one I grew up in.

Lots of people work hard to make ends meet and struggle to stay here because they love living in Cheshire. Our town ends every year with a very large surplus and thinks it’s great that the town is doing so well.

Well, I say wait a minute here, that’s not the town’s money, it belongs to the residents of Cheshire. I think the citizens are smart enough to know what to do with their money,
They don’t need the town to manage it for them. How about the town giving it back. Now there’s a radical idea, give back the peoples money that belongs to them anyway.
There are lots of issues in this town that every talks about but never seem to get fixed. Let’s take the town pool.

I’m not going to promise that I can fix it. We can’t get rid of it, but what we can do instead of pointing fingers at each other is work to make it better, and this doesn’t mean spending twenty thousand dollars on a consultant for a pat on the back.
I work with water filtration every day and there are multiple methods that are better and less expensive.
First of all, I want to know how much does that bubble weigh. We are paying for energy every minute to hold it up. It’s being held up by air pressure so where does that air come from?

We blow cold air in from outside and heat it to hold up the bubble. Then warm air inside leaks out in the process. Obviously the same amount of warm air is leaking out as cold air coming in. What’s the temperature inside the bubble? I wonder how many houses could be heated just from that lost air. This is only one of several problems I have with the way we are running the pool.
Now we have a dam in my district. Everybody is pointing fingers ate each other as to who’s fault it is that it has not been maintained. I hear that the neighborhood was promised that it would be dealt with. None of the solutions are going to make everyone happy but what happens if everybody does nothing. Cheshire gets stuck with the problem anyway, as is, with none of the costs being shared by the developer or anyone else.

Let’s talk about public safety for a minute. Has anybody notice that we are in a war on terror? The horrible tragedy on Sorghum Mill Drive this past July, has taught us that it CAN happen here.

Do we have a town plan for terrorism, biological or chemical attack, or nuclear contamination? If so, nobody told me, do you know? I thought not. Our schools are at risk,our food supply, shopping centers and anywhere people gather. The least our government can do is spread the word to be prepared. If Cheshire suffers a major disaster of any kind, man made or natural, people need to know that it will be too late for government to help. We could be on their own for days. We need to learn to get prepared to take care of ourselves in the event of disaster and then do it..

We need to start doing what is best for the whole community, not just what is best for each of us. Do you have an illegal alien cleaning your house, working on your farm or in your business. Do you think this is in the best interests of the town? the state? or our country? I hope you answered no, it may seem less expensive for you on the surface it’s a lot more expensive in the long run. Besides that, did anybody hear the word “Illegal”?

We need to be a town of law abiding people, no exceptions.

My only special interest is the citizens of my district and the town as a whole. I won’t just rubber stamp everything the town manager hands us.

The Town Manager does a good job but the town council runs the town and needs to oversee him. That tax money the town gets is all of our money and needs to be seen that way.

We also need to spend money on education, town infrastructure and town services. That’s reality, but how we spend it and how much needs to be spent must be monitored carefully. We need income, the taxpayers bear a heavy burden in this town, Is it borne equally or we failing to tax entities that should be taxed?
I bring many more questions to the table than answers at this point but these are questions we all need to be asking. Solutions are going to need hard work and due diligence.
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