Posted by Bob on January 18, 2012 under Daily Blogs | 
Reports of potential gunfire in the vicinity of Field Street caused the Naugatuck Police Department (“NPD”) and school officials to institute a “Code Yellow” and temporary lock-down at Naugatuck High School and Western Elementary School. After a thorough investigation by NPD, no evidence of shots being fired was found. The Code Yellow has been lifted and regular activity has been resumed at both schools.
Such situations are very fluid and often change by the minute. When our Police Department receives information such as it did this morning (1/18/2012), an investigation is initiated and all precautions are taken. One of the standard precautions is to “lock-down” any schools and/or day care facilities in the area. Information is often not reported to the public immediately because there is no verifiable information to report until all the facts are investigated. Reporting false information often is sometimes counter-productive to public safety and the ability of our police officers to do their job. We were informed that despite the report of gun shots, police could find no apparent evidence of shots being fired. That being said, it is important to take all precautions and follow standard protocols.
Posted by Bob on January 6, 2012 under Daily Blogs |
It never ceases to amaze me how relatively minor matters assume a life of their own in local government. For the past couple months our administration has been responding to a long-standing issue related to trash and recycling collection on the private road of Caitlin Circle, along Porter Avenue. Our Mayoral Aide, Ed Carter; Recycling Coordinator, Sheila Baummer; Director of Public Works, Jim Stewart, Borough Attorney, Ned Fitzpatrick; and myself have been aware of this situation to varying degrees for months. The matter was referred to the Street Commission, which is the appropriate forum to set policy for such matters. In recent weeks, we were once again contacted by the property owners at the end of the street to provide assistance. The situation is, in fact, an all too common result of decisions made long ago.
Caitlin Circle is one of numerous private roads in the Borough. Private roads are those that are not accepted as public property, and there is generally not a requirement for local government to assume maintenance, plowing and/or provide other services. Many such roads are owned in common by the property owners living in a particular subdivision serviced by the street. For whatever reasons, decisions have been made over the years to provide various levels of service, particularly trash collection, to private roads provided trash and/or recyclables were brought to the end of the street. While the Borough was not under any obligation to collect trash and/or recyclables, calls were likely made to the powers that were and decisions were made to provide such services. In many cases, including the case with Caitlin Circle, this has been done for decades. I would expect that Naugatuck is not alone with regard to such arrangements.
Our administration and the Street Commission having been working to reach a global resolution with regard to services provided to private and/or unaccepted roads. As one might imagine, this a complex and lengthy process. While residents along some private roads may not be entitled to services such as trash collection, it is certainly a disruption when such a service is ended for a property after having been provided for many years. Our goal while resolving this issue has been to achieve a solution that has the least disruptive impact to residents while improving the efficiency of service delivery, and ultimately providing an equitable system for taxpayers. It is very possible that the Street Commission will recommend eliminating trash and recycling collection in the coming months for certain private roads. Such a decision, however, will be made intelligently, in conjunction with a sound implementation plan. Any changes to practices that have existed for years will need to be explained to those impacted.
The situation with Caitlin Circle is easily explained. In the late 1980′s, a subdivision was created along Porter Avenue called the Porter Hill subdivision. Six (6) homes were constructed within the subdivision and a private road was created called Caitlin Circle. As is common with subdivisions, a declaration with various covenants and restrictions was recorded on the Borough’s land records. When such covenants and restrictions are recorded, they bind all owners to the requirements thereof, regardless if said properties are later sold to subsequent owners. The declaration effecting Caitlin Circle states that property owners within the subdivision were not entitled to trash collection.
Despite this provision in the declaration, a decision was made to collect trash for Caitlin Circle residents if the trash was placed at the end of the street. One can argue about the logic of such a decision, but the fact is that for whatever reason, the Borough has been collecting trash for Caitlin Circle residents for what appears to be a period greater than twenty (20) years. As local officials were attempting to address the numerous private road issues throughout the Borough, Public Works would continue to collect trash and recyclables, but for the continued complaints from the property owners at the end of the road.
The property owners of the lot at the end of the road have been concerned at the level of debris caused by neighbors who bring trash to the end of the road. The portion of the road itself is actually owned by property owners of the first lot, a fact that was recently discovered by the Borough. Without the property owners permission, the Borough does not have the right to enter upon private property to collect trash. After very respectful and productive dialogue with the property owners, a temporary compromise was reached to provide residents along Caitlin Circle with garnet and grey containers with instructions to place the same on the opposite portion of the private road. The containers should prevent the type of litter and debris from being scattered on the road if used properly. Hopefully this arrangement will work in the short term, while the larger solution to this Borough-wide issue is determined by the Street Commission.
I am sure that WTNH Channel 8 would like to claim credit for “resolving” this matter. Changes in the media have forced statewide, television news networks to become creative in attracting viewers. Channel 8′s marketing hook is something to the effect of “we’ve got your back”, which was incorporated into its recent Naugatuck story involving Caitlin Circle. The Channel 8 reporter, Ali Reed, did a very professional job investigating the facts and reporting the information accurately. Once the story hits the air, however, the tone changes to enhance the role played by Channel 8. Apparently the lead-in to the story made a claim to the effect that our office was not involved until Channel 8 ran the story. That is simply not accurate.
Our office, primarily through Mayoral Aide Ed Carter, has been working with the Department of Public Works to find a solution to the Caitlin Circle matter for months. The temporary solution which will be implemented is very similar to one that had been proposed previously. The Street Commission has been aware of the matter for some time as well. The easiest solution for our office would simply be to eliminate collection immediately, as we are under no legal obligation to provide it. This may ultimately be the action taken, but we would prefer to implement the same in accordance with a broader Street Commission policy.
I wholeheartedly admit that aside from an occasional weather forecast, I rarely if ever watch state television news broadcasts. It is interesting, however, how such relatively minor issues are portrayed. Every so many months news outlets like Channel 8 come to the Borough to do a story based on a phone call from a resident, and/or after a story appears in another form of media. The Caitlin Circle matter was actually first reported in the Waterbury Republican-American by reporter Alia Malik on Sunday, January 1, 2012. There is really no way to prove it and I am not alleging it happened in this situation, but I wonder how many times a local reporter from the Republican does the initial homework for a statewide television news story.
The usual pattern of Channel 8 is to send a reporter to a community to interview various parties on a time frame that fits into the mid-day or evening news cycle. If local officials offer to provide greater detail at a particular time which does not fit nicely into the news agency’s deadline, one runs the risk that it will be reported that locals officials were “unavailable for” or “refused to” comment. Maybe it is a coincidence, but it usually seems to me that such stories pertain to public infrastructure and/or local service delivery issues during slower news cycles. Ms. Reed requested and was granted two (2) interviews with me, and took the time to learn the facts about the situation. Our first interview, which can be viewed here, covers the history and the facts. What results, however, is a couple seconds of the interview being spliced into the usual template of Channel 8 being a major actor in the relatively minor issue.
The last time I recall Channel 8 becoming involved in a local government matter in Naugatuck was during the heavy rain storms in March, 2011. The story that day claimed something to the effect that Channel 8 was on the scene to assist a resident attempting to obtain Borough services about a flooding issue. The implication was that, but for Channel 8′s involvement, the Borough would ignore the particular resident’s concerns. There was only one problem with such an assertion: Borough Public Works crews had been on the street the entire morning before the Channel 8 crew arrived. Sometimes there is no need for the facts to get in the way of a good “we’ve got your back” story.
I get it. The Information Age has forced certain media outlets to get creative to compete in today’s marketplace. Those who read blogs such as this probably do not rely on short features on television to obtain their understanding of local issues. Those who truly believe that the Channel 8′s of the world “have their back” probably are not reading this. It is strange to me, however, that of all the serious and big-picture matters that local communities face on a daily basis, how much time is devoted by television news coverage to stories that impact so few and often times are already being addressed. Our administration believes that providing access to the media to cover local government is our responsibility, and is vital to a healthy democracy. While I doubt my opinion matters to media outlets like Channel 8, I would hope that someday statewide television media would someday return to covering local communities for journalistic reasons consistent with their noble profession rather than simply using towns as pawns in their marketing strategies.
Posted by Bob on December 30, 2011 under Daily Blogs |
The Board of Mayor and Burgesses (“BMB”) held a special meeting on Wednesday, January 28, 2011, to consider the proposals contained in the Charter Revision Commission’s Final Draft Report. The process, which begin in its initial stages over a year ago, requires the BMB to approve or reject the substantive proposals that were submitted to the Borough Clerk earlier in the month. The following is a summary of the action taken by the BMB on each specific recommendation made by the Charter Revision Commission.
Proposal to Change the Date of Municipal Elections to November – Approved
The BMB voted unanimously to change the date of all municipal elections to the first (1st) Tuesday after the first (1st) Monday in November, beginning in 2013. If the proposal is approved by Naugatuck voters, this would postpone the May, 2013, elections that are currently scheduled, to November, 2013; and all future municipal elections would be held in the month of November.
Proposal to Change the Term of Office of Mayor from Two (2) to Four (4) Years – Approved
The BMB voted seven (7) in favor to approve the recommendation, two (2) opposed, with one (1) abstention to extend the term of the office of mayor from two (2) to four (4) years. If approved by the Naugatuck voters, this change would take place beginning in November, 2013 (if the change to November elections is approved); or May, 2013 (if the change to November elections is rejected).
Proposal to Change the Percentage of Signatures Required to Force Additional Budget Referendums – Approved
The BMB voted unanimously to change the percentage of signatures required to force a second (2nd) and third (3rd) budget referendum from eight (8%) percent of the registered electors to four (4) percent. Said proposal does not change the percentage of registered electors (8%) required to force the initial referendum.
Proposal to Change Municipal Offices – Approved
The BMB considered two (2) separate motions on this particular recommendation. The initial motion focused solely on changing the currently elected position of Town Clerk from an elected to an appointed position and requiring the Assistance Town Clerk to also be appointed by the BMB. The BMB voted five (5) to five (5) on the motion to accept this particular proposal, with my tie-breaking vote made in favor of the change. The BMB then unanimously approved the recommendation to eliminate the following offices: Jurors, members of the Board of Public Charities; Selectmen and members of the Board of Relief.
Proposal to Eliminate Outdated Language – Approved
The BMB voted unanimously to eliminate various outdated and unnecessary language from the Charter. Much of the language recommended for removal (which can be read in detail in the report) pertains to local criminal codes which have been supplanted by applicable state statutes.
Proposal to Eliminate the Borough Bidding Process from the Charter – Rejected
The BMB voted five (5) to five (5) votes to approve the recommendation from the bidding process from the Charter, and likely govern the same by local ordinance of the BMB. I broke the tie to reject said proposal from the Charter Review Commission.
A process exists by which registered electors can petition to have any proposals recommended by the Charter Review Commission but ultimately rejected by the BMB, taken to a public referendum.
All approved changes will be submitted for final legal review and language will be finalized. Upon completion, the same will be presented to the BMB for approval. The BMB can choose to include all questions into one (1) ballot question, or separate into multiple questions for each specific recommendation. Ultimately, all proposals would be subject to approval by the voters of the Borough. The BMB also voted on Wednesday (10/28/2011) to include any Charter Revision Commission recommendations on the Tuesday, November 6, 2012, presidential election ballot.
We would like to thank all the members of the Charter Revision Commission for their collective time, dedication and talent devoted to this lengthy process. Led by Chair Andrew Bottinick, Esquire, the Commission tackled a tremendous amount of subject matter related to the Borough’s Charter. While there was not universal agreement on every issue, the Commission’s work generated excellent ideas and spurred interesting debates. The BMB engaged in very lively but respectful discussions on the issues as a result the Charter Revision Commission’s proposals. In addition to Attorney Bottinick, Commission members included Attorney M. Leonard Caine III, Second Deputy Mayor Michael Ciacciarella, David Cronin, Brian Gregorio, Christian Herb, Dorothy Hoff, Burgess Robert Neth and Sarah Poynton. Changing charter provisions is rightfully a difficult endeavor, but all members deserve much praise for advancing the proposals discussed above to this point in the process.
Posted by Bob on December 24, 2011 under Daily Blogs |
Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah and best wishes to all for the happiest of Holiday seasons. May you and your family be blessed with good health and much joy during this special time of year. God Bless all of our troops throughout the world who are spending the Holidays far from family and loved ones in service to our Country.
If you have not received a Christmas card from our family yet, please feel free to select from one of the following reasons:
A. Mezzo’s are historically late sending Christmas cards;
B. It is hard getting our dog Awesy to sit still for a picture;
C. We were waiting for a certain family member to arrive;
D. All of the above.
We are shooting for Happy New Year’s cards this year.
Posted by Bob on December 23, 2011 under Daily Blogs |
The Board of Mayor and Burgesses will have a special meeting on Wednesday, December 28, 2011, 6:00 PM, at Town Hall. The purpose of the special meeting will be discuss and possibly act upon the Charter Review Commission’s Final Draft Report recently submitted to the Borough Clerk. The Final Draft Report may be viewed here in .pdf format.
Posted by Bob on December 20, 2011 under Daily Blogs |
The Strategic Planning Action for Naugatuck Committee (“SPAN”) met last Thursday, December 15, 2011, to formulate a request for qualifications (“RFQ”) seeking consulting firms to assist with formulating long-term planning to improve government efficiency in local government. Committee members include Deputy Mayor Tamath Rossi, Finance Board member Don Carten, Board of Education Chair David Heller, Police Union Vice-President Steven Hunt, Comptroller Wayne McAllister, community members Ed Dooling and Mini Scales and myself.
Strategic planning is a common function in private industry. Companies often seek assistance from impartial and qualified professionals to develop long term goals, implement best practices, analyze strengths and weaknesses and improve efficiency. Such a concept is not as common in the public sector, particularly local government. Despite managing multi-million dollar budgets, providing services to thousands of constituents and employing hundreds of workers, local governments often operate by using historical and institutional practices while reacting to outside market forces as they arise.
While the concept of strategic planning has been discussed previously, the Joint Boards of Finance and Mayor and Burgesses (“Joint Boards”) allocated THIRTY FIVE THOUSAND and 00/100THS ($35,000.00) DOLLARS during the 2011-2012 budget cycle to begin the process. The consensus of those who supported the project was that the Borough can no longer continue to operate in the same manner for years into the future and expect dramatically different results. Each budget year for the past decade has resulted in the same struggles of trying to provide the same level of services in a similar manner with a grand list that grows at a rate lower than inflation.
This is not to say that local government reforms have not been made in recent years. There has, in fact, been substantive improvements implemented that have made Borough government more fiscally responsible. Such initiatives include but are not limited to fully-funding pension obligations while converting to defined contribution plans for many new hires; creating a not-for-profit development corporation to oversee economic development policy; maintaining a stable fund balance which has resulted in upgrades to the Borough’s bond rating; creating a human resource department, changing health care carriers and plan designs offered to employees, reorganizing the Public Works structure; implementing the conversion to automated trash collection; and cost-saving collaboration between the Board of Education (“BoE”) and municipal government with regard to common business functions. Numerous intelligent and committed public servants from both parties and no party at all have contributed to these improvements.
Despite such positive change, we continue to struggle. Each and every year we face the prospects of another tax increase and/or a reduction in services. Committees have been formed and reports submitted recommending additional changes to government structures and/or levels of service, but often face entrenched opposition from those who may be impacted. Many suggestions are weakened by the lack of a detailed implementation plan. The strategic planning process will allow input from stakeholders, analyze Borough practices and compare with other municipal entities, and make detailed recommendations as to how local government can prepare for the future and maximize results.
The initial SPAN committee is simply charged with drafting an RFQ and interviewing companies. It is likely that additional community members will be added depending on the style of the firm selected. Some companies utilize larger steering committees, while others conduct direct interview and/or engage focus groups. SPAN members will analyze what style would work best for Naugatuck, and recommend a firm to the Board of Mayor and Burgesses for contract approval.
The closest comparison to this process in Naugatuck was the Mount Auburn Associates study undertaken in the early part of the last decade that focused on economic development. The process brought together representatives from the public and private sector and produced a report that was accepted as fair and comprehensive. The formation of the Naugatuck Economic Development Corporation resulted, and changed the way the Borough did business. Economic development policy has transitioned to a non-partisan partnership between the public and private sector working together to stabilize and enhance the Borough’s commercial tax base. Success has been achieved even in the face of the Great Recession. It is our intention to achieve similar results through the SPAN committee with regard to government efficiency.
Posted by Bob on December 13, 2011 under Daily Blogs |
Our family welcomes the birth of James “Jack” Michael Mezzo, who was born this Tuesday, December 13, 2011, at Griffin Hospital in Derby, CT. Jack was born at 12:54 PM, weighing seven (7) pounds and fifteen (15) ounces. Both Jack and Mom Eileen are in good health and resting comfortably. Sister Ally and brother Jay are excited to welcome Jack to our family.
Jack Mezzo
We would like to thank all of you who have offered prayers, kind words and well wishes to our family over the past several months. God has blessed us with wonderful friends. We would also like to thank the tremendous staff members of Griffin Hospital for a wonderful, family-centered experience. Our family is truly grateful for the compassion and professionalism of Griffin’s doctors, nurses and support staff.
While it has been some time since Eileen and I have experienced car seats, diapers and midnight feedings, Jack is truly a blessing to our family. God willing, we look forward to first words, more magical Easters, Halloweens and Christmases, preschool art projects, first games at Fenway (except Eileen), first communions, tee-ball at Union City, Borough Music Fests, four (4) more cracks at Ansonia and raising Jack in the best community in the state.
Posted by Bob on December 10, 2011 under Daily Blogs |
The Naugatuck Board of Education authorized execution of a new collective bargaining agreement (“CBA”) between the BoE and the Naugatuck Teachers League (“NTL”) at a regular meeting held on Thursday, December 8, 2011. The agreement, which covers the period from September 1, 2012 through August 31, 2015, can be viewed here. A summary of the fiscal analysis of the CBA prepared by BoE Business Manager Wayne McAllister can be viewed here in both Microsoft Excel and .pdf format.
The BoE authorized execution of the CBA by a vote of seven (7) to one (1), with one (1) abstention. The NTL ratified the CBA earlier in the week. Once the CBA is executed by the BoE Chair, it will be delivered to the Borough Clerk. The Board of Mayor and Burgesses has thirty (30) days from the date of receipt by the Borough Clerk to take action, if any, on said CBA.
Particulars of the CBA are as follows:
Health Care:
The Borough achieved significant cost savings as a result of a change to a high deductible health plan (“HDHP”) in the form of a health savings account (“HSA”). The NTL agreed to make the HSA the stand-alone plan. Because the HDHP plan runs on a calendar year, a traditional preferred provider organization (“PPO”) plan will be offered from September 1, 2012, through December 31, 2011, with higher co-pays on various services.
Under the current HDHP, which was not chosen by many teachers, the employee contributed zero (0%) percent toward the premium cost share. The new HSA will require the following employee contribution rates:
- Beginning September 1, 2012, teachers will pay fourteen (14%) percent toward the premium share;
- Beginning January 1, 2013, teachers will continue to pay fourteen (14%) percent toward the premium share;
- Beginning January 1, 2014, teachers will pay fifteen (15%) percent toward the premium share; and
- Beginning January 1, 2015, teachers will pay sixteen (16%) percent toward the premium cost share.
The annual deductible associated with the HSA plan will be based on a TWO THOUSAND and 00/100THS ($2,000.00) DOLLAR / FOUR THOUSAND and 00/100THS ($4,000.00) DOLLAR structure. Employees will contribute fifty (50%) percent toward the deductible and prescription co-pays with a fifty (50%) percent employer-match from the BoE.
Projections based on current trends indicate that these changes to the teacher health care plan will result in a cumulative savings to the BoE over the three (3) year period in the approximate amount of TWO MILLION FIVE HUNDRED SEVENTY ONE THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED FORTY ONE and 61/100THS ($2,571,241.61) DOLLARS. The annual savings are as follows:
- Year One: FIVE HUNDRED SIXTY THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED SIXTY and 76/100THS ($560,260.76) DOLLARS;
- Year Two: EIGHT HUNDRED THIRTY FIVE THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED FIFTY NINE and 43/100THS ($835,759.43) DOLLARS; and
- Year Three: ONE MILLION ONE HUNDRED SEVENTY THREE THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED TWENTY TWO and 42/100THS ($1,173,222.42) DOLLARS.
Pensions
The pensions of the overwhelming majority of Naugatuck teachers are administered through the Connecticut Teachers Retirement Board (“TRB”), and not subject to local collective bargaining.
Wages:
Teachers in the NTL will received increases in general wages and step increases for the following years at the following rates:
- 2012-2013: One Half (1/2) Step on the Salary Schedule and a One and 18/100ths (1.18%) percent general wage index. The aggregate increase amounts to One and 76/100ths (1.76%) percent;
- 2013-2014: One Half (1/2) Step on the Salary Schedule with a One and 00/100ths (1.00) percent general wage increase on the top step; and a Zero and 77/100ths (.77%) percent increase on all other steps. The aggregate increase amounts to One and 96/100ths (1.96%) percent; and
- 2014-2015: One (1) Step on the Salary Schedule with a One and 00/100ths (1.00) percent general wage increase on the top step; and a Zero and 76/100ths (.76%) percent increase on all other steps. The aggregate increase amounts to Two and 38/100ths (2.38%) percent.
The cumulative cost to the BoE relative to general wage and step increases and other stipend schedule increases is approximately THREE MILLION EIGHTY SIX THOUSAND THIRTY SEVEN and 00/100THS ($3,086,037.00) DOLLARS. The annual costs are as follows:
- 2012-2013: FOUR HUNDRED SIXTY THREE THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED SEVENTY and 00/100THS ($463,970.00) DOLLARS;
- 2013-2014: NINE HUNDRED EIGHTY SIX THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED NINETY THREE and 00/100THS ($986.693.00) DOLLARS; and
- 2014-2015: ONE MILLION SIX HUNDRED THIRTY FIVE THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED SEVENTY FOUR and 00/100THS ($1,635.374.00) DOLLARS.
Other Changes
The CBA also contained the following provisions that improved the grievance procedure, clarified the length of the school year and amount of instructional time, and allows block scheduling to be implemented in the high school beginning in year two (2) of the CBA.
Overall, the total cost of the three (3) year CBA is approximately FIVE HUNDRED FOURTEEN THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED NINETY FOUR and 39/100THS ($514,794.39) DOLLARS. This represents a total increase over said three (3) year period of approximately one and 60/10ths (1.60%) percent, much less than the expected increase in inflation.
This CBA is the first (1st) agreement negotiated on behalf of the BoE by Attorney Nick Grello, who also represents the Borough in collective bargaining. Attorney Grello and insurance consultants Dr. Joseph Field and Robert Fitzpatrick form a great team, providing valuable expertise to navigate the complex world of municipal labor negotiations and health care. The terms of the CBA are consistent with recent municipal agreements that offer modest wage increases in exchange for significant savings in health care costs and changes to the structure of such plans. Our administration would like to congratulate the entire BoE negotiating team and Superintendent Dr. John Tindall-Gibson for the significant amount of time devoted to reaching this agreement and the foresight to focus on future sustainability. BoE Business Manager Wayne McAllister worked tirelessly and effectively as usual to assist the negotiating team.
We would also like to thank all of Naugatuck’s fantastic teachers and their negotiating team for reaching a fair and equitable agreement for teachers and taxpayers alike. The Naugatuck School District contains some of the best and most caring educators in the state. The past few years have been very difficult given hard economic times, but Naugatuck teachers have never faltered in their commitment to making lifelong learners of our children. Through this agreement’s health care savings and previous concessions given during trying times, teachers are affording the Borough the opportunity to provide our students with the best education possible. We all realize that the complexities of educating children will only increase in coming years, but are confident that Naugatuck’s excellent teachers will be ready to meet these challenges.
Posted by Bob on December 7, 2011 under Daily Blogs |
Saint Francis – Saint Hedwig School will be hosting its Christmas Bazaar this Sunday, December 11, 2011, from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM, in the Church Hall at 294 Church Street, Naugatuck, CT 06770. The annual event will include vendors, crafts, food and raffle prizes. Organizers invite residents to stop-by for some great Christmas shopping opportunities and holiday cheer.
Posted by Bob on December 5, 2011 under Daily Blogs |
Members of the Naugatuck Board of Education (“BoE”) have been assessing options associated with the expiration of the employment contracts of School Superintendent John Tindall-Gibson and Business Manager Wayne McAllister.
The employment contract of Superintendent Dr. John Tindall-Gibson is scheduled to expire on June 30, 2012. As many will recall, I asked for the resignation of both the Superintendent and the Chair of the Board of Education in December of 2009. While neither resignation was tendered at the time, meaningful changes were enacted to resolve a BoE budget crisis and to ensure that proper management of the BoE Business Office resulted. Despite the events of the past, I now support a proposal to be discussed at the December 8, 2011, BoE meeting to approve a one (1) year extension of Dr. Tindall-Gibson’s current employment agreement.
Although the relationship between Dr. Tindall-Gibson and myself was certainly strained by the events of 2009, we have both managed to work together productively over the past year. Furthermore, in May of 2011, five (5) new members were elected to the BoE, dramatically changing the dynamics of the Board. As a result, I personally believe that a one (1) year extension is prudent at this time for the following reasons.
The new BoE, under the leadership of Chair David Heller, has a dramatically different strategy and agenda than the previous Board. While all members do not agree on every issue, there is a core commitment to improve communication and to work in cooperation with the municipal government. It has been refreshing, enjoyable and productive to work with this new Board over the past six-plus (6+) months. Dr. Tindall-Gibson has embraced this culture change and committed to improve communication with parents, staff and taxpayers. I appreciate his implementation of the Board’s goals and vision and his attempts to improve the distribution of information about school matters to the public. I have strong faith that the district’s leadership team and the new BoE will ensure that the Superintendent remains committed to improved communication and collaboration regarding the many educational issues that our school district deals with on a daily basis.
The Superintendent has committed to the reorganization of the BoE business office under the direction of Mr. McAllister. Such a strategy will allow us to explore responsible and well-planned cooperation between the BoE and municipal government that can result in tangible benefits for all stakeholders in the Borough. While such concepts are exciting and creative, they are not the norm in Connecticut. Engaging a new superintendent before such cooperative initiatives are in place could be disruptive and counterproductive. I am confident at this time that the fiscal problems that existed in the BoE Business Office will not re-occur in the future under Dr Tindall-Gibson’s leadership.
Throughout the time that I have served as Mayor, I have never questioned the experience or knowledge of Dr. Tindall-Gibson regarding educational matters. Dr. Tindall-Gibson has always impressed me during our conversations with his understanding of the changes rapidly occurring in the field of education, particularly with regard to technology. There is no doubt he is a learned man committed to positioning the Naugatuck School System for future success. While we all need to do a better job of explaining our educational achievements, our District has made significant strides improving test scores and maintaining the gains achieved. While improvements in the testing results of various subgroups of students still needs to be achieved under the complex testing measures, Dr. Tindall-Gibson and his administrative staff have worked diligently to improve test scores and academic achievement throughout the district. I believe that with the continued direction of Superintendent Tindall-Gibson that we can continue to improve how we communicate the successes achieved and the complex challenges that remain to the citizens of Naugatuck.
Over the next four (4) years, our community will renovate its flagship school, Naugatuck High School (“NHS”). The next six (6) months will be critical as an architect is chosen, documents are designed, a construction firm is hired and the state determines the level of reimbursement available for this project. It is critical that all stakeholders involved are completely aware of the history of the project, the educational specifications of the renovation and the particulars of the preliminary design that was approved at referendum. Dr. Tindall-Gibson has been a strong supporter of the NHS renovate-as-new project and he has worked tirelessly to advance the project to referendum.
As the President of the Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents (“CAPSS”), Dr Tindall-Gibson will be a strong asset to the Borough as his term begins on July 1, 2012. This role will provide the Superintendent with direct access to state educational leaders, particularly with regard to discussions involving eligible reimbursements for the NHS project. The fact that Naugatuck’s superintendent will be the leader of a statewide organization such as CAPSS will provide our district with unique opportunities for educational improvement and fiscal reimbursement.
In addition, Dr. Tindall-Gibson has agreed to remain as superintendent for an additional year at his current salary if the BoE decides to extend his employment agreement. While the Superintendent’s salary may seem extravagant to many in our community, it is actually very reasonable when compared to other superintendents. Retaining Dr. Tindall-Gibson for the 2012-2013 school year will fix a cost that would likely rise for a new superintendent in 2012-2013, and avoid the costs associated with a search for a new Superintendent from this year’s budget.
With regard to the BoE Business Office, Borough Comptroller Wayne McAllister has been serving as the Business Manager of the BoE since the Fall of 2009. At that time the BoE was facing a significant budget crisis. While it was not easy, the crisis was resolved through a combination of concessions from employees, a pledge to assume the operating deficit by the municipal government, an affirmation by the BoE to retain the services of Mr. McAllister for the short-term, and a change in the BoE’s health care broker. Through Mr. McAllister’s efforts, the operating deficit was transformed into a small surplus by the end of the 2009-2010 fiscal year.
The 2010-2011 school year began with a significant reduction in the educational staff in our district followed by the worst Winter in a generation. Changes to the structure of the BoE business office continued under the management of Mr. McAllister, whose appointment as the BoE’s business manager was extended through December 31, 2011. For the second (2nd) consecutive year, the BoE ended the 2010-2011 fiscal year with a small surplus. As a member of the Board of Education, I am pleased with the changes made to date in the Board of Education’s Business Office. However, there is still significant work that remains. One of my priorities remains to find creative and innovative ways to reduce the cost of common business functions that are currently performed separately by the BoE and the municipal government. During the past two (2) years, having the Borough’s Comptroller acting also as the BoE Business Manager has resulted in savings to taxpayers. The change to common health care insurance and property and casualty insurance brokers has also been a positive step resulting in savings. Furthermore, the BoE retained the same law firm that negotiates Borough collective bargaining agreements to negotiate their BoE union contracts.
Discussions continue to further explore combination of effort in the areas of human resources and information technology. While more complex, there has also been conversations regarding the possibility of exploring better coordination between public works and maintenance functions. Reducing BoE costs pertaining to business functions can ultimately free more dollars for educational funding without impacting taxpayers. Comptroller/Business Manager Wayne McAllister has been a vital component of this integration. While I realize that the demands of both positions can not be sustained by one person indefinitely, Mr. McAllister is the right person to lead us in this new and innovative direction. At the request of myself and the Board of Education, Mr. McAllister has expressed a willingness to continue as the BoE Business Manager until December 31, 2012; and I am wholeheartedly in agreement with such an extension. Mr. McAllister possesses the experience and knowledge to transform the BoE business office for years to come and to create a sustainable and economical business office structure.
BoE Chair David Heller has issued a statement announcing that the Board plans to address the extension of the employment contracts for both Superintendent Dr. John Tindall-Gibson and BoE Business Manager Wayne McAllister at its monthly meeting at Hillside School on December 8, 2011. Chairman Heller’s statement can be viewed here.
I would welcome questions and/or comments on the topic of these proposed contract extensions. Please feel free to post or email me at bob@bobmezzo.com. The comments stated herein this post are my own, and not intended to reflect the individual and/or collective opinions of my colleagues on the Naugatuck Board of Education.
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