As Mayor, I have to spend a lot of time on things that don’t produce immediate results. I find this difficult because I am not a patient man and I hate the slow pace of government.
It would be easy for me to concentrate on things that produce short term outcomes. Short term projects are feel good projects that are important for the goodwill of our citizens, but frankly the results are not long lasting and the dividends are not nearly enough; like a tree planting, for example.
These small projects occur routinely, but there are many things that I have initiated and are ongoing that will bring long term benefits to the citizens of Derby. These things involve changing the way we operate and creating best practices.
Two years ago, I put together a Housing Task Force consisting of my Building Inspector, Blight Officers, Police Department, Fire Marshall, Public Works Director, Housing Authority Director, Corporation Counsel and other department heads. This Task Force works with the Board of Aldermen to create ordinances, combat blight and ultimately establish a process that will improve our neighborhoods.
As a result of this Task Force, we now have strict blight ordinances that allow us to penalize absentee landlords, owners of blighted properties and individuals who have become a detriment to our neighborhoods. We have a stronger police presence and undercover presence in areas of Derby that are densely populated and have a high incidence of blight offenses. We have also upgraded our sidewalks and curbs in these areas.
We recently paved Elizabeth and Seymour and we will be reconstructing Hawthorne Avenue soon. Just now my Office of Economic and Community Development acquired a $300,000 grant to rehabilitate qualified homes. All of these things will have a huge impact on the quality of our neighborhoods, but these improvements will occur over time and with funding from the federal and state governments.
Another on-going practice I have set in place is the creation of a “one-stop” shop to help foster economic development. My Director of Economic and Community Development, my Building Official, Fire Marshall and Planning and Zoning officials and I all work together to meet with interested developers, discuss future plans and understand expectations.
This panel has helped move large development projects such as Lowes and the Griffin Hospital Cancer Center smoothly and with little or no government obstacles. It is a process I have established that will breed a more positive atmosphere for development now and in the future.
We can improve small things with relative ease, but major improvements to the way we do business take time, dedication and hard work. In the long run, it is a path for a brighter future in Derby. I am looking forward to continuing to play a role in the creation of a strong, solid foundation for Derby.
The writer is a Republican seeking re-election as Mayor of Derby.
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Thanks for getting the show on the road — for a better Derby, Mayor Staffieri. Hopefully, Derby voters will give you the opportunity to keep up — your good work!
No Marc, it is not true. This is another fabricated lie/rumor propagated by your party at their latest town committee meeting.
Is it true you will be hired as Dan Foleys’ administrative assistant?? (see how this works??)
Did you ask these “non political people” where they received their information? I think that is the more interesting question. Wasnt there a democratic brunch on Sunday?? Being there was no redevelopment meeting since then, one would have to wonder where this information came from. Wouldnt you agree?
In terms of Lifetouch, I suggest you take your own advice, “As Mayor or as a private citizen, I do not have the authority, legally or otherwise, to allow or not allow some one to partcipate in a private real estate transaction.”
Since Marc Garofalo’s former downtown developer failed very badly — costing Derby taxpayors a bundle of money, it apparently behooves him to try to verbally scuttle Eclipse Development’s committment to the City of Derby — just before Election Day.
Nice try Marc, but you have been known — to be “careless with the truth,” so your allegation must be taken with a grain of salt!
The developer isn’t going anywhere and I would be interested to know which non-political people are claiming that and how on earth they would know what the developer is or isn’t doing. Bizarre. But, I would love to comment on the long list of political rewards that the Dems have put together for favors given. I’ve actually been shown this list, by non-political persons, and it is pretty amazing. It runs the gamut from chief-of-staff, director of public works and finance, and so forth down the line encompassing every City position that can be controlled by the party in power. So if Foley were to win, we would be handing Derby over to his political allies, family, and contributors, to run the City. Do we really want the City to be run by the same crowd that runs the schools?
Judy, that is a good point. It would be interesting to see who Mr Foley has chosen for Corporation Council (Im interested in this one especially, as I heard some not so “nice” names), Director of Public works, Administrative Assistant, secretary, etc. Lets not forget, democrats who are no longer “electable” can stil be given city positions and are probably waiting in the shadows.
Anyone??
Ken, Judy and the rest of the GOP group – as Chair of the Derby Democratic Town Committee, I can attest to the fact that Eclipse has NEVER been a topic of discussion at ANY of our meetings. What has been discussed is the frustration with the slow, non-productive process of downtown re-development. When our current Mayor ran for the first time in 2005, he stated that he was frustrated with the same issue. During a debate with Mr. Garofalo (his ONLY debate), which was videotaped and aired on Cable 10, he states “I can get it done quicker”. Well, that was 6 years ago and the south side of Main St. is no more developed now that it was then. The only change I see is that the buildings are gone – ordered by the State for safety – and the weeds have gotten bigger. Perhaps a definition of “developed” should be clarified.
Additionally, there is no so-called list of potential staffers. I would check your resources before making blanket accusations for which there is no substantive evidence.
My point here is that this election is about the people of Derby voting for a Mayor and an under-ticket based on FACTS, not rumor or innuendo or insults. The people of Derby are educated, intelligent individuals who look around and see that Derby is no better off now than it was 6 years ago.
Sheila M. Parizo: You should be pleased, that in today’s bad economy, that Derby is not worse off — than it was 6 years ago. Count your blessings, Sheila, instead of trying to be politically correct.
Sheila, thanks for the response. You addressing “truth” and “facts” is the epitome of irony. Almost every flyer put out by your candidate had a stretched-statement or downright lie on it (crime stats, redevelopment statements, Derbys’ taxes, etc). Even in your response, there is a lie. The State DID NOT make Derby take down all the buildings. The State addressed the rear potion of one of the buildings as a hazard. It is these types of mistruths you pass amongst yourselves and soon start believing as truth. Give credit where credit is due, we came into office and cleaned up the eyesore that was once our dilapidated downtown.
Asking who Mr Foley will make as appointments if elected mayor is a fair question. Being this is his second run at the office, we all know he has appointments in mind (city attorney, dpw director, et al) and it is only fair to let those voters know who those appointments would be if he is elected.
To say Derby is no better off now than 6 years ago is the sticking point. I see a brand new middle school, a very healthy and vastly improved financial situation in the worst economy EVER, no loss of services or municipal jobs, new businesses cropping up throughout Derby, and a downtown project taken from a bad development deal, through the courts, a new developer search and now a new plan with actual timelines.
Is there room for improvement?? Of course there is, but your side spent most of their campaign money criticizing what we have done, instead of outlining specific examples of what your party would do if elected, and most importantly, how it will all be paid for. Its very easy to say lets give more money to the schools, but where will that money come from??
Increased taxes?? If thats the plan, it needs to be said.
Ken,
While I appreciate your remarks there are some points I take issue with. Firstly, any candidate running for Mayor would most certainly have “in mind” appointments, if elected. However, the FACT remains that planning is not a bad thing. As to the names, again you are relying on rumor and innuendo. The residents of Derby were not and are not privy to Mr. Staffieri’s appointments.
As to your point about loss of jobs in Derby, aside from the many small and large businesses that have closed their doors in the past 6 years, have you forgotten about the teachers and paraprofessionals that lost their jobs due to underfunding? You ask where the education dollars should come from? Perhaps a long hard look at the tax dollars that are spent on legal fees and exorbitant salaries for appointed staffers is in order.
The Foley campaign HAS outlined their plans for a better Derby and it begins with a better leadership.
Sheila, how can you use education as an example, and then point to exorbitant salaries in City Hall?? I had to read that sentence twice. Would you like to take a look at the 10 highest wage earners in the City, including education??
Both democrats and republicans had to approve the Board of Ed budget for it to pass, so why is it an issue now? The City does not lay off teachers. That is an educational administrative decision.
Have you done a net business loss/gain for Derby?? Connies goes out, Bar None comes in. Staples goes out, The Edge goes in. Porn Shop goes out (thankfully), Smoke and Bones goes in. Bank goes out, phone store goes in. Brickhouse goes out, Italian Pavillion expands. A Quick Pick crane service also comes in. Its the natural cycle of business, especially during the great recession.
Ken – All these points will make for a great debate….oh wait….
What is it that the current administration could point to as their greatest achievement after six years in office?
The answer came to me literally like a ton of bricks falling from their downtown redevelopment plan…fireworks.
I’m not going to point out that their greatest success occurred through no insight of their own but by pure blind luck. To think a couple of bricks falling onto a sidewalk would set the wheels in motion for such a windfall of good fortune.
Anyhow, the buildings came down and Derbyites and visitors alike now have the best fireworks display anywhere…bar none. The current administration likes to talk about how our bond rating compares with Shelton and how we need to move our city by following Shelton’s lead. In fact, they even had us take our garbage to Shelton while they held a kangaroo court against fellow Derby citizens.
I am stating right here and right now that Shelton’s fireworks pale in comparison to ours. Our lack of buildings and businesses allows us an unobstructed view of both the Derby and Shelton fireworks. Each year, we block off Elizabeth Street and the community watches the best fireworks display around. Who is laughing now, Shelton? We get to see your fireworks for free and we owe it all to our current leadership.