Posted by Bob on March 29, 2009 under Daily Blogs | 
Having recently blogged about my opposition to active recreational fields at Gunntown, I was asked by a voter what I would do to address the fact that there is not enough quality fields to support our youth and adult sports leagues. Knowing a little about my background is necessary for some context on this issue.
Since I was a small child, sports have been a huge part of my life. After my parents separated, sports was a way to not only escape from some of the uncertainties of childhood, but also to gain a sense of belonging and friendship by being a part of a team. While attending Naugatuck High School, I played four years of football and tennis, and one year of basketball for the Greyhounds. In addition, I played three years in the Naugatuck Basketball Association (formerly the “Friday Night League”), where I have recently completed my fifteenth year as a coach.
Since the birth of my children Ally and Jay, I have coached in Naugatuck Youth Soccer, Union City Little League and the YMCA’s Little Pal basketball. Every fall Friday night since 2001, I have filmed opponents of the Naugatuck High School football team at every field in the Naugatuck Valley League and beyond. The only game that I see every year of my beloved Greyhounds is the Thanksgiving Day game.
Much to my Yankee-fan wife’s discontentment, I schedule family events around Red Sox baseball games. The four season, holidays and birthdays are all intertwined with the Patriots, Bruins, Celtics and Huskies.
If there is anyone who questions my commitment to finding a comprehensive and long-term solution to Naugatuck’s on-going field space crunch, I would ask that they first take a look at my lifetime of support for and belief in the importance of sports in all our lives.
One (1) recreational field at Gunntown will do little to nothing to address our field space problem. For the sake of argument only, lets remove the environmental concerns and desire by many for a passive recreational park. Gunntown will never contain a field that will see any significant use be our youth or adult sports teams.
The current proposal for Gunntown contains plans for one (1) field. The field will not be watered, as their is no city water in that area. There will be no lights at said field. Parking will be difficult, and access along winding Gunntown Road will be less than ideal. If one speaks with the majority of Borough officials, “on” or “off the record”, they will tell you that not only can we not maintain the field, but that there is no intention to use it for more than one season of a few games of sports. Some will say uniforms and/or practices will never take place there. The simple truth is that we have talked more about this one project over thirteen years than we will ever play sports at the site.
While Naugatuck has spent enormous time and sizable resources insisting that fields be placed at Gunntown, the better part of a generation of kids, including my own, have never played a down, kicked a ball or hit a pitch at Gunntown. Instead young athletes are forced to play and practice on fields that contain little grass, much dirt and many rocks. While other wealthier communities (Middlebury, Cheshire, Prospect) built or improved their natural grass parks and other struggling towns (Waterbury, Wolcott) had the foresight to seek and obtain funding for field turf facilities, Naugatuck has focused a disproportionate share of its time and talents on two (2) or now one (1) field on the outskirts of town with no water, no lights and little to no sustainability.
Current funds designated from land use fees will not be sufficient to provide a quality field that our kids deserve. In addition, precious hours are being spent attempting to prepare for one (1) field at Gunntown that will not be used for any significant youth sports activities. In this economic climate, one must ask whether this one (1) field has been worth all the time, energy and resources that have been devoted to it.
I have stated my support for a long-term, field turf solution on many occasions. Even if Naugatuck comes to the conclusion that it can maintain numerous more natural grass fields, there are other, more prudent options available than Gunntown. These includes:
- Fawn Meadow (soccer field with parking);
- Applewood Estates II (five to six acres that may allow for parking);
- Country Farms Estates (six to eight acres in a 112 lot subdivision);
- Huntington Hills (nine to ten acres of open space);
- Cross Street School (considering how much land would be available if the old pool was removed and graded);
- Applewood Road (small field possibly for practice); and
- Baummer’s Field (narrow field possibly for practice, another subdivision across the street on Field Street is in the planning process).
While each of these areas has its own concerns, pros and cons, such alternatives should be part of the discussion.
The hard truth is Naugatuck has no money to expend on any capital projects in this year’s budget. The state is in arguably worse shape and no one knows for certain how or for what federal stimulus dollars will be spent. Just because there is $75,000.00 burning a hole in a restricted land use fund does not mean that the Borough needs to spend it on one (1) field that will be extremely difficult to maintain and will not meet the needs of local athletes.
For too long we have failed to develop a long-term, sustainable plan to provide first-class fields for our kids. We have lost focus and argued more than acted. I will take my share of blame for previously supporting fields at Gunntown. What is needed now, however, is to see the big picture and plan accordingly for our future. Our kids and taxpayers deserve it.
Posted by Bob on March 27, 2009 under Daily Blogs |
Recent reports from Hartford indicate that the state’s budgetary problems are worsening. CT Local Politics reports that the governor’s office annouced that almost all areas of revenue are down due to the struggling economy. What this means for Naugatuck remains to be seen. Any revenue projections in Naugatuck’s proposed budget should be highly scrutinized until the state’s budget is finalized.
Posted by Bob on March 25, 2009 under Daily Blogs |
In the midst of global economic uncertainty, our local Joint Boards of Mayor and Burgesses and Board of Finance are formulating the Borough’s 2009-2010 budget. The current administration appears determined to pass a budget that contains no tax increase before the May 4, 2009, election.
This sounds great, a welcome departure from the dramatic tax increases of the past two years and the recent history of eight straight tax increases. We can all only hope that Naugatuck can finally adopt a budget that does not further burden our citizens. Unfortunately for taxpayers, however, the numbers being used are as fragile as the state of our economy.
Please review the proposed budget that is scheduled for a public hearing on Monday, March 30, 2009:
Proposed Budget for Public Hearing
The current budget is using revenue projections that have not been finalized to any degree of certainty. There is no guarantee that said projections are accurate, and we will not know the final status of the Educational Cost Sharing grant until the state legislature completes its session later this spring.
In addition, the prevailing thought is that any federal stimulus dollars designated for municipalities should not be and probably will be prohibited from being used to cover operating costs. Using one-time revenues in this manner would leave huge holes in future budgets once such funding evaporates.
The revenue side of the current proposed budget is only part of the story. Expenditures have been allocated based on revenue-neutral increases to the Borough’s largest departments: Fire, Police, Street, Park and Education. As of today’s date, only the Police Department has agreed to a pay freeze concession for this coming year’s budget.
Assuming zero-based budget expenditures without firm concessions from municipal workers is a risky gamble and contrary to previous Joint Boards’ practices. The strategy is based on the fact that local unions will be forced to accept a pay freeze or accept layoffs. The current proposed budget takes no account for the horribly negotiated teacher’s contract which was unsuccessfully taken to arbitration by the Borough. The arbitration award includes raises that are ignored by current budget proposals.
The current administration certainly has the right advocate this all-or-nothing, pay-freeze-or-layoff approach, but voters need to understand the ramifications of such a strategy. Certain departments contain mandatory staffing ratios. Others have minimum expenditure requirements. Noncompliance with such mandates could put Naugatuck in violation of state and/or federal law. If Naugatuck terminates public safety officials, overtime costs in those departments will be astronomical. Under the administration’s current budget proposals, Naugatuck would be forced to expend funds that are not being budgeted.
Laying-off workers also requires direct costs to the Borough such as payment of accrued benefits and sick/vacation days, increased unemployment compensation and administrative costs. No where are these direct costs reflected in the current budget proposal.
In addition, negotiating pay freezes requires a certain skill and strategy that this administration has, up to this point in time, failed to demonstrate. The only major union from which the current administration achieved a pay freeze for this year’s budget is the police department. The police union pay freeze, however, was a deal that the union could not refuse. In exchange for a pay freeze in this year’s budget and next year’s budget, police officers will receive a two-year extension of their current contract, a SIX (6%) PERCENT increase two years from now and a massive increase in private duty rates. That means if an organization needs to hire an officer for a community event or a homeowner needs a police presence to have a tree removed from their property, rates will be significantly higher than they were previously. Pay freezes sound great in newspaper articles, but taxpayers have the right to know the long term ramifications of such concessions.
If a budget is prematurely adopted without accurate revenue and/or expenditure calculations, and such projections result in budget deficits, Naugatuck taxpayers will be left to pick-up the tab. Passing a budget in such a manner is not responsible. The consequences of error in the budgeting process can result in additional taxation, a reduction to the Borough’s bond-rating or even state oversight in the extreme.
This is a bad business practice which helps explain why Naugatuck is in the mess that it is today. For years mayors have produced spring budgets that look great at election time, but are not based in reality and hammer taxpayers in years to come. Two years from now, police officers will receive a SIX (6%) PERCENT pay increase so that the current administration can tell you that a pay freeze was achieved today. We should not mortgage our future and tie the hands of future administrations through bad negotiations.
Everyone knows this year’s budget is going to be one of the most difficult in recent history. All members of the Joint Boards should be working to adopt a budget that contains no tax increase, but such a budget should be based on accurate information and sound business practices. Adopting the budget without firm numbers on either side of the ledger for political purposes is a relic of Naugatuck’s failed past. Naugatuck taxpayers deserve better, and most certainly need to know the details of the budgetary process.
Posted by Bob on March 21, 2009 under Daily Blogs |
Last night I had the privilege to be the “honorary” coach of the combined boys and girls Naugatuck Greyhound basketball team at the Naugatuck High School Distributive Education Club of America (DECA) “Clash for the Cure” student-faculty game. Thanks to DECA advisor Tim Reilly, all the high school staff and the talented members of DECA who helped make the night a great success and a lot of fun. Proceeds raised from the night will go to benefit a team of Naugatuck cyclists who will participate in the Pan-Mass Challenge, an annual bike race which raises money to find cures for cancer through the Jimmy Fund.
Congratulations to Mayor Mike Bronko who coached the faculty to an overtime victory. With help from some “questionable” calls throughout the game, the faculty nipped the students on a buzzer beater by Principal Fran Serratore. Special thanks to my “assistant coach”, Mohamed Hrezi, who really did most of the coaching and provided hospitality and entertainment throughout.
I would also like to thank the members of the boys and girls basketball teams. Instead of treating me as some politician not worthy enough to “coach” such talented athletes (which is what I was), each and every athlete participating was extremely courteous, respectful and friendly. As a coach of two youth basketball teams, I do not get to attend many high school basketball games. I was thoroughly impressed not only with the talent of these student athletes, but what a great group of guys and girls they are as well. They are great ambassadors for all that is good about Naugatuck High School. As the future leaders of our great community, I am sure we will see a few of them as “honorary” coaches in the not so distant future.
Thanks again to all who organized, participated and attended.
Posted by Bob on March 18, 2009 under Daily Blogs |
Congratulations to the 2009 Exchange Club Community Champions and their families. Eileen and I were privileged to share an evening with friends to honor the following Champions:
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Carmine Fidanza – Police Officer of the Year
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Robert J. Froelick – Citizen of the Year
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Todd Gallino – Firefighter of the Year
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Nancy LaGrave – Co-Educator of the Year
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Kathleen Schacht – Co-Educator of the Year
In their own special way, each of this year’s reciptions demonstrates on a daily basis all that is good about Naugatuck. On good days and bad, these individuals do their job with passion and dedication to their community. While those in attendance got a chance to hear only a part of each Champion’s respective story, it was evident to all who attended that tonight’s honor represented recognition for a lifetime of hard work, compassion and commitment to Naugatuck.
Thank you also to the Naugatuck Exchange Club, which once again hosted a first class event. Over the years the Exchange Club has done an outstanding job helping Naugatuck in many ways and recognizing many individuals deserving of the Community Champion award.
Posted by Bob on March 13, 2009 under Daily Blogs |
As Naugatuck Democrats and Republicans voted on Monday, March 9, 2009, 
the state board of arbitration ruled against the Borough Board of Education with regard to the teacher’s contract. Once again, Borough taxpayers will be left paying the tab.
Please click this link to read the decision in full. The decision is not kind to those who negotiated this contract.
Hopes to hold the line on spending in the upcoming budget will now depend on the willingness of teachers to make concessions that they have already won through arbitration. Given the grandstanding and rhetoric surrounding the negotiation and arbitration process, Naugatuck’s “bargaining” position is weak at best.
One of the most disturbing aspects of the arbitration award is that this is not the first time this has happened. Rather than negotiating municipal contracts in an amicable and respectful manner, those representing the Borough have gone in with “guns a blazing” and told unions what they would accept. While this may be applauded in newspaper articles as tough negotiating, the reality is that the process does not work in this manner. After all the political rhetoric is gone, Naugatuck taxpayers are penalized and people who work for a living in the Borough become the scapegoats.
I have spoke to countless Borough employees over the past several months. Not one has failed to realize what difficult economic times in which we live. Not one does not appreciate having a job while others are losing theirs. Not one is unwilling to sacrifice like everyone else. The majority of Borough workers are Borough residents who also pay taxes. Borough employees are, however, tired of Borough leaders negotiating contracts through the newspaper, told to accept nothing or go to arbitration, and being treated as if they are the cause of all of Naugatuck’s problems.
It is time that Borough leaders look in the mirror when trying to find blame for the rising costs of contracts and insurance premiums in Naugatuck’s budgets. Complaining about a system that a politician does not like does not help Borough taxpayers forced to pay for contracts negotiated poorly. Leaders must remained focuses, use the rules and previous arbitration awards to their advantage and achieve better results for Borough taxpayers.
In the coming weeks, other candidates will tell voters how great the relationship is between Town Hall and municipal unions. This is fantasy. The recent teacher’s contract and how it was handled is a prime example why such a statement is pure fiction.
If elected as your next mayor, one of my priorities will be to establish an environment of cooperation between town hall and union representatives. I will promise nothing to anyone but respect for workers, their families and the laws which govern collective bargaining. Sacrifice will be required by all, but will be negotiated with decision makers, not newspapers.
Naugatuck taxpayers deserve results, not more arbitration decisions which require more of their tax dollars.
Posted by Bob on March 9, 2009 under Daily Blogs |
Thank you to all who voted in Monday’s primary. Our victory is shared by the many fantastic friends of Team Mezzo and all Democrats who braved chilly weather, rain and snow to exercise their right to vote.
We are truely humbled to receive 58% of Democratic primary votes. While our great country voted overwhelming to move in a different direction in 2008, Naugatuck Democrats brought this movement of real change to the Borough. While much hard work remains to be done, tonight’s win represents a victory for all Democrats yearning to make Naugatuck the community all we hoped it can be.
I would like to congratulate Kevin Knowles for running a positive campaign. I consider Kevin a friend and respect all he has done for Naugatuck over the years. Our respective campaigns represented all that is good about the Democratic party in Naugatuck.
Congratulations to Mayor Mike Bronko for his victory in today’s Republican primary. The Mayor is a gentlemen who ran a great campaign. I look forward to a clean, issue-oriented campaign in the upcoming general election.
Thank you all once again for your support and confidence in our campaign. We look forward to debating the critical issues that face Naugatuck in the upcoming, general election campaign this spring.
Posted by Bob on under Daily Blogs |
The Democratic and Republican primaries are today, Monday, March 9, 2009. Polls are open until 8:00 P.M. We would greatly appreciate your support in our ongoing effort to make Naugatuck all that it can be.
Should anyone need a ride to the polls or have any questions about where to vote, please call our headquarters at 203-729-6271, or call my cell phone at 203-217-0876.
Many brave individuals have fought to preserve our American democracy throughout the years. Some have made the ultimate sacrifice for our great country. Even today, members of our armed forces put themselves in harm’s way to protect the rights we often take for granted. Please exercise your precious right to vote.
Posted by Bob on March 5, 2009 under Daily Blogs |
For those of you who would like an electronic reminder to vote in the upcoming Democratic primary on Monday, March 9, 2009, please send our campaign your email address or cell phone number for a text message.
Posted by Bob on under Daily Blogs |
If you need a ride to the polls, our campaign would be happy to accommodate. Please feel free to call anytime beginning now all the way until 8:00 PM on the day of the Primary, Monday, March 9, 2009. The phone number is 203-729-6271.
You may also email our campaign in advance to arrange for a ride at bob@bobmezzo.com.
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