Alderman Fainer, presumably speaking on behalf of the Della Volpe administration, calls parts of the Cassetti Game Plan “insane.”
What’s really insane, however, is that Ansonia now carries the ninth highest tax rate in the state.
Even more ludicrous is the fact that the present administration, which led Ansonia to this dizzying height atop Connecticut’s tax totem pole, can offer no more than unconvincing excuses and mean-spirited attacks against those calling for change.
For the record, bringing taxes down is a fundamental priority for Dave’s team. Anyone attending Board of Aldermen meetings for the past four years can attest to that. The Republican candidates were merely underscoring an unfortunate fact: this administration has made one heck of a mess to clean up.
Fortunately, Dave has offered the first plan to lower taxes and give Ansonia a fresh start. His critics in city hall have yet to offer a plan of their own. Rather, they are content to point fingers, assign blame (even, at one point, to the Bush administration) and exclaim: “no can do!”
At the end of the day, Ansonia residents must ask: what, if anything, do the folks running city hall stand for?
Clearly not for accountability. Alderman Fainer makes it clear that he would not place responsibility for the city’s finances in the hands of elected officials. As of now an unelected tax board has the final, unchecked say on spending and taxes (the aldermen’s budget is not final), insulating elected officials from the blame. The folks running city hall would like to keep it that way.
Clearly not for saving money. A city manager would help to centralize business and day-to-day finance operations (taking over the administrative duties of the tax board), allowing the mayor to be more effective at less cost to taxpayers. Right now administrators in city hall are collectively paid over $1 million per year. The folks running city hall would like this to continue.
Clearly not for transparency. Dave has called for all city expenditures to be posted online. City hall’s response? Get it yourself through a Freedom of Information (FOI) request.
What does this administration stand for? Judging from Alderman Fainer’s letter, the answer is simple: they stand strong and resolute for “more of the same.” More of the same tired policies that have saddled Ansonia with the ninth highest tax rate out of 169 municipalities in the state.
I am not certain by what Alderman Fainer means by his “train out of town” comment, but I do recall writing an opinion piece several months ago in which I stated that Ansonia was heading down the wrong path. It saddens me to see city hall so willing to continue down that road, to the detriment of Ansonia’s residents.
There’s still time to change the road we’re on.
Dave and his team love Ansonia and are willing to fight for the fresh start this city deserves. It’s time to put the excuses aside and move forward.
The writer represents the Seventh Ward on the Board of Aldermen and is the chairman of the Ansonia Town Republican Committee.
I have a question that I would like clarified/answered. The City Manager job is being created to handle the work of 4 current positions according to the plan. One being the Mayor’s assistant. What will the overall savings be after the elimination of the 4 salaries and then institution of the City Manager salary? Also, how will the Mayor and City Manager manage all of their work without an administrative assistant? I would guess there would need to be at least one available for them. So that salary needs to be included as well when calculating cost savings by creating the City Manager position. At that point, will there be any savings? I also have to comment that City Manager’s tend to do well, as in Meriden, however, they do not also have a Mayor. City Manager and Mayor are two well paid positions, not something to take lightly.
Fair questions Will. First, it’s important to note that the positions of Human Resource Director, Mayor’s Assistant and Goverment Liason are already held by the same person. So consolidating duties is nothing controversial or new.
What is new? The idea of hiring a well-qualified professional city manager with experience handling multiple roles. Consolidation in city hall right now has no logic behind it. Some leaves, someone else gets a new job and new paycheck, regardless of qualifications. A city manager would be hired on the basis of his or her ability to be effective with multiple duties – one paycheck for one job.
Also, you are correct that the mayor and city manager would require an administrative assistant. However, there is no reason that this role could not be filled by the already existing mayor’s secretary.
How much will a city manager save? In the short run that depends on exactly which positions are consolidated. That’s a decision to be made not only by the mayor, but also by the charter revision commission and board of aldermen, who would work to recommend any changes to the charter and structure of city hall. In the end, those changes would need approval by the voters.
The long run savings, however, go far beyond merging positions. The real savings will be realized through increased efficiency. A city manager can work with departments on a daily basis to address their budgetary and personnel needs. This is far more effective than a 14 member tax board that holds meetings once per month to discuss finances.
Working with a city manager will make the mayor better positioned to identify cost savings. The city manager can also be a tremendous resource to the board of aldermen, who currently receive no formal input from the tax board at regular meetings (tax board members often attend, but do not give reports as other departments do).
A big issue in city hall is simple communication. The left hand rarely knows what the right hand is doing. A city manager will help solve that problem by streamlining operations.
John