“…we can all work together to at least …”
This is a great site for all of us to vent our frustrations while at the same time have some fun. Most of the blogging that takes place here, however, contains finger pointing, some anger and a surliness that gets old from beating the same dead horse, prop 46, and its associated problems with the budget.
I’d like to address this column to everyone, especially Johnny Tlag and his McMansionites.
Mr Tlag, there is a big problem looming for our town that will, indeed, promote cookie cutter building lots with tiny houses loaded with special needs children and parents who could care less about the education budget or what their children are doing. Yes, sadly, there is that group of people, who for various unfortunate circumstances, are trapped and more than willing to bring their baggage to our doorstep. Who can blame them? I can certainly understand their plight. I was brought up in a housing project in Hartford. I know what it’s like.
I am not saying that all people in housing projects are undesireable…not by a long shot. But let’s ‘call a spade a spade’. A big influx of “affordable housing” will affect all of us bigtime in many ways. I don’t want to argue the merits of encouraging a migration of lower income people to our town, nor will I favor not encouraging it. I’m just letting you know that it could very well happen. It won’t be because of any action taken by CPS. It will happen because all of us, CPS’ers, McMansionites, and the rest have been sold out by our Planning and Zoning Commission.
About a year ago, our zoning regulations were amended. There were a few but major changes quietly made that could have an astounding impact on the character of our town. For example, wording was added that includes the building of affordable housing. In addition, the developments that include this type of housing will be permitted to include 20% more units than would otherwise be allowed in more traditional developments. The new regs will also allow more houses to be build on our existing roads because the minimum frontage requirement for a unit was reduced from 200 feet down to 100 feet.
You might ask, why was this done? I asked that very same question to Mr. Joe Breen, a member of the commission during the time these new regs were being introduced. His response was “…to encourage diversity in Woodstock”. Well, pardon me, but I will argue that there’s plenty of diversity here already. Does the fact that we are mostly of light skin make us homogeneous?
In any event, I believe the new regs were slipped in with the help of considerable influence from our community of developers. Think about this. Soon the McMansion bubble will burst and the developer will be left with nothing to do but shift gears and grab asistance from Federal and State agencies so that they can keep busy. They will build all the affordable housing they can.
Here’s an issue, folks, where we can all work together to at least modify some of these new provisions or get rid of them entirely.
Thanks for your statement, Joe. “Pointing the finger� is not necessarily bad or wrong if the discussion is frank, honest, and meant to be constructive. What is an example of a deserving ‘pointee’? When those in leadership or responsible positions act irresponsibly or do not function for the betterment of the Town, or even practice deception. It is only fair to point the finger at these people. And, the same goes for that farce of a newspaper, the Villager. Citizens should be able to express their opinions freely and even anonymously (just like voting). I have been impressed with most of the conversation at this site. Only by having these discussions do we have an opportunity to persuade others to our point of view or perhaps to share our perspective. At least we may be able to discover that we share common ground. Where else could the two of us discuss our differences of opinions. Where else could I listen to you speaking quietly without interruption, hooting and hollering. It’s more important what you say, not who you are so don’t hesitate to speak anonymously, also. Since people can speak freely at this site, commentators and writers here have been subjected to the finger pointing of other(s) who accuse us of being the following: “whining losers�… “you morons�…“deceptive, lying and miserable you people truly are�… “ (we) worship at the Education altar�…“ (we are) stupid, uninformed, manipulated masses�…“You people should be ashamed�…“your hired stooge�…“(we are) incapable of an honest discussion�…“pissed away by the Education Mafia�… “(we are) attacking the Academy�…“the people on this website are to blame�. If this is the kind of “pointing the finger� that you don’t like, I would certainly agree with you.
Mr. Klusek: Lets play “Survivor�. What is the object of that wretched TV show? To eliminate the most valuable players from the onset and onward. I’m sorry, but your mention of Joe Breen makes me think that it is necessary for your group of good-fellas to discredit someone in P&Z- for what- next election, 2007?
OK, so answer me this- why haven’t any of your �watchdogs� picked up on the over-spending in the Government budget? None of it takes a Rhodes Scholar to figure out, and the majority of the Town’s people aren’t even directly benefiting from that fatted calf. I think that most of the population across the board is basically cheap, and you could seriously pick up lots a brownie points if you guys would stop the insane repeated beating on the school system thats already falling down. So, what gives? I don’t understand why any of you don’t see what has happened. We have an incompetant Board of Finance, that literally directed the school budget to remain the same for the past two years, regardless of new and unavoidable costs, and a government budget that just keeps getting bigger and bigger. I really believe that most of this “amend� crap comes from this very incompetence. You sound like a reasonable guy- what gives? I resent all of you who would keep my kid from getting the same education that all of your kids did.
It’s interesting that Mr. Klusek complains about the finger pointing, then proceeds to point the finger at Mr. Breen. In a previous comment he also pointed the finger at Becki Leavitt, Frank Cordon, and Steve Adams. I’m not saying he’s wrong to mention these people, but where does he draw the line in finger pointing?
He also opines about beating on Prop 46. Doesn’t he remember that the petition to repeal 46, even thought he opposed this repeal, and much of the talk about 46 in the Villager and here came from Mr. Wetzel with the assistance of his side-kick, Mr. Shultz?
Didn’t someone at this site talk about “boring a dead horse to tears.” Could it be that Mr. Klusek is guitly of these complaints that he has made, or is it possible that he is disassociating himself from Mr. Wetzel and Mr. Schultz?
I still think that the genetic wonder, Mr. Schultz, has all along been a LIABILITY, to the CPS crowd. He’s slanderous, and for anyone who is thinking that he has any outstanding para-legal research ability , let it be known that he just waltzes into Baran’s office, presents the administrative assistants a “question” and they do ALL the work. What a genious. Who cares how many days a teacher in particular takes off- its in her CONTRACT, and there’s nothing anyone can do about it. He’s just a nuisance, and taking up space on an otherwise, not -so-bad ticket.
To all that have responded to my comment, I was merely trying to dismiss, for the moment, the finger pointing and show that we all do have some common ground.
To Occaisional Cafe Author and Dermatophyte, I’m not at all against the finger pointing and banter that goes on in here. I think it’s fun and entertaining. However, the point of my last statement focuses on the possibility that we all have a stake in where our town is going. If we all work together, perhaps we can save what we have.
Mr. Klusek, Well said. I am on your side with this. You are absolutely right on target. I see the trends you describe as certainly possible and certainly the biggest threat to the town as we know it. I also see this issue as an important platform to which, perhaps, we could create a unified coalition of people working together to help prevent this worse case scenario. I despise the mantra of diversity on many levels, but primarily because it implies that if you don’t buy into the BS you are a racist and a bigot. This couldn’t be further from the truth. To allow mediocrity and to settle for lower standards all in the name of accepting diversity is a travesty.
To “Observer”, If you’d listen to what Mr Shultz has to say and think for a moment, you’d understand that there’s plenty of waste going on in our school system. It cost you and me and the rest of the taxpayers in this town over a quarter of a million dollars in time lost from absent school teachers last year. This is not to mention that the “teacher of the year” missed 12 days. The year before she missed 14 days. That sends a nice message to our school kids, huh?
I have never spoken to the author. The new conservation subdivision regulations have nothing to do with diversity and the affordable housing requirements are a function of State law.
Our school system is probably one of the best run in the State of Connecticut. We spend less than practically anyone else, and have good students inspite of this fact. Our demographics, involved parents and an excellent teaching staff help. While we are on the subject of time lost on the job, Paul Lynn the custodian and probably the most prominent goof-off in the system, should be fired (again). As noted- he was out almost thirty days last year.
By the way, I am a parent, and not an educator. If Mr. Shultz is going to investigate “waste” in tax payer dollars, then perhaps it would be a wise idea to look at ALL TOWN EMPLOYEES. Also, if he is going to assume that the BOE is “suing” the town (on behalf of all children I might add ), then again, perhaps he should look into ALL lawsuits against the Town. Look hard on the State Judicial website. Many readers would be surprised at WHO has sued Who and on behalf of Who. Also- WHO has settled out of court and at what cost to WHo.
Mr. Breen’s comment left me totally flabergasted. I, as well as others who were with me at the meeting when the new regs were introduced, heard Mr Breen say (after I stood up at that meeting and asked him, directly, why the provision was included) that the provision for affordable housing was inserted “…to encourage diversity in Woodstock.” That is the absolute truth!
I think the provision’s presence being a function of state law is bull…., especially the part that allows a developer to cram in 20% more units per development. If a developer wants to build affordable housing, fine; it’s his right. Let him bring his plan before the proper boards like any other project and forget about giving him special consideration for more units. Let’s not give anymore away than we have to. Developers already get a nice fat break when they’re allowed to build cul-de-sacs that are a thousand feet long and then give the town the responsibility of maintaing them. They’re nothing more than driveways for the few that live on them.
Thank you, Johnny, for your comments. At some point, soon, we’ll be looking into the matter of making some changes. Doing it may involve getting a petition together. I’m sure it’ll create a big fuss, but that’s what has to be done sometimes to protect what we value. I’m delighted to have your support.
Devo, Mr Wetzel, rightfully, slashed the town government’s budget to where it should be when he was in charge. They’ve been living lean, but healthy ever since, thanks to his and others like Preston Shultz’s continued efforts to keep taxing and spending in check.
Mr. Klusek, are you not quite awake yet? Or, do you just have one finger to point with? The municipal government budget was only lean when Wetzel was IN office! And, truth be told, he slashed some stuff just for slashing’s sake. He ignored infrastructure maintenance. But he’s been out of office for more than two and a half years. The current budget is anything but lean! Wetzel’s salary was $36K (and change) when he left – the position knocks down over $50K three budgets later! What is lean about that??? You talk about the people on this site beating a dead horse, but the way I see it that’s what you’re doing. The rest of us are trying to have a civil discourse and debate issues that are complex and multi-facetted. Your dime-store, dog-eared script is tiresome and lacking in both creativity and intelligence. Preston Shultz is NOT a knight in shining armor, concerned with resolving anything or open to any conversation that doesn’t serve his jihad against the school system.
Get Real, Get real!
Joe, According to your comment under Johnny’s article, you are a “full time certified teacher.” Where do you teach? So far, I don’t see you listed as a full time teacher in Thompson, Putnam, Woodstock, Killingly, Brooklyn, Union, Ashford, or Pomfret. Where are you a full-time teacher? Could it be in Massachusetts or Eastford?
Mr. Klusek, Ernie is gone two years now- and has been quoted by many as having said that the Government is spending now and “making up for lost time.” You five or so men are not trust worthy, are far from being anyone’s guardian angel, and will never get my vote. By the way- are you home schooling? I cant seem to find you anywhere in any school system in CT. (Pontificating occasionally in Comings and Goings, or at meetings- doesnt qualify the title of “teacher”.)
Mr. Klusek, as a certified full time teacher, I’m sure that you must know that it is state statute that allows teachers to accumulate up to 150 days of sick time (some towns even allow more to be accumulated). The absentee figures that the Citizens for Prudent Spending demanded via a formal FOI request were all inclusive (i.e. bereavement days, family sick days, personal days and even workshop attendance). Perhaps, instead of continuing to bloody the nose of our school system, you and your compadres should aim that spite and malice at your state legislature.
To aim the malice at the state legislature would involve REAL WORK, ACURACY and a CONVINCING LOGICAL ARGUMENT, none of which Mr. Schultz or any of the “Citizens for Prudent Genious” are capable of.
I’m betting that our state legislature is composed, in part, of air-heads like the ones in our town that want to spend everyone elses’s money so that we look pretty to more air-heads that would like to move here.
Those air heads you are referring to have a name…liberal democrats. Their main constituents are goverment freeloaders who want tax payer dollars. These freeloaders in return offer us only one thing, and it is priceless to the liberals. That one thing is called diversity and the liberals love it so much that if we don’t accept it we can be called racists and bigots. The illegal immigration issue (or as the liberals like to do… conveniently drop the “illegal” part of it) works on the same premise. Our tax dollars are conveniently redistributed amongst towns and cities whereby areas that have the highest tax payers get the least and the cities who have the least tax payers get the most. Gee, sounds like socialism to me. So Chuckles, don’t fool yourself. Real work, accuracy, and a logical argument at the state level is not the way to win (unfortunately). The way to win is to rally tax payers much in the way that CPS has done, just on a grander scale. I’m not saying this is right or wrong, but its just the way it is…sour grapes.