Jim Gildea and Kurt Miller, Derby and Seymour residents with more than 50 years of local political experience, join the “Navel Gazing Podcast” to weigh-in on a number of hot topics in the Valley, including Ansonia Mayor David Cassetti’s recent comments threatening to pull out of certain deals with Derby unless Derby agrees to merge senior centers.
Press play to listen to the podcast.
(Top row) Kurt Miller, Valley Indy. (Bottom row) Jim Gildea.
Here’s a show guide:
First three minutes and fifty seconds: introductions & insults
4 min Gildea (chairman of the Derby school board) gives insight into last week’s election in Derby. Miller (former Seymour First Selectman and current chief financial officer in Ansonia), gives his reaction to the local results, too.
10 min, 30 seconds: Is a town or city Facebook page essentially a re-election tool?
14 min, 25 seconds: Miller and Gildea discuss whether a recent Hartford Courant story about state Rep. Kara Rochelle consulting for West Haven will have an impact on the upcoming race in the 104th District.
33 min, 46 seconds: — The Valley Indy plays a 1‑minute clip of Mayor Cassetti on the “Melissa in the Morning“ show from WICC, during which Cassetti says Derby is going nowhere and predicts massive tax increases unless the Derby Board of Aldermen/Alderwomen approve a plan to close its senior center and merge with Ansonia. Cassetti says that if Derby doesn’t make a decision, he’ll end agreements that supply Derby with gasoline and winter sand. Miller and Gildea react, and The Valley Indy reads a written response from a Derby Alderman.
- Note: Alderman Hyder left a comment on this story saying Derby’s lawyer has been authorized to work with Ansonia’s lawyer on the senior center agreement (Derby brought in outside counsel since the two cities have the same lawyers). Hyder also pointed out Derby doesn’t use Ansonia’s salt shed and fuel for free.
This podcast is sponsored by ValleyGivesBack.org.
