Woodstock CT Café

Presented to the Board of Selectmen
January 17, 2008 – Recommendations follow introductory information.

Municipal Finance Advisory Task Force
Town of Woodstock, Connecticut
A Report of Recommendations
November 26th, 2007
The members of the Municipal Finance Advisory Task Force (MFATF) present a Report of Recommendations to the Board of Selectman, as well as to other interested boards and commissions, in the town of Woodstock, Connecticut.

The MFATF first met on July 31st, 2006. Since that time, there have been seventeen public meetings. Discussions about the interim work of the MFATF were held at the Board of Finance meeting on February 15th, 2007 and at the Board of Education meeting on March 22nd, 2007. As Chairman of the MFATF, I thank everyone for their input, advice, and help. Each member of the MFATF, former and current, volunteered time and effort during the past 1-½ years; I thank each one of them individually and all of them collectively for a job very well done.

Jeffrey Gordon, MD – Chairman
Municipal Finance Advisory Task Force

Municipal Finance Advisory Task Force

Purpose Statement
October 10th, 2006

The mission of the Town of Woodstock Municipal Finance Advisory Task Force (MFATF) is three-part: 1) to examine the means by which the public is kept informed about the Town’s budget, capital expenditures, and long-term fiscal planning; 2) to examine the budgetary revenue sources for the Town and to explore new ways to increase revenue; and 3) to review the Town’s expenditures and to recognize opportunities for improving efficiencies.

The MFATF shall communicate its findings and recommendations to the Board of Selectmen.

List of MFATF Members

Jeffrey Gordon* Chairman
Douglas Cutler* Vice-Chairman
Cynthia Kelly* Secretary
Stuart Boldry
Patricia Douglas*
Roger Gale*
Jeffrey Hallowell
Margaret Higgins*
David Laurens*
Rebbecca Leavitt*
William Lockwood
David Richardson
William Sowka*
Ernest St. Jean
Charles Super
Margaret Wholean* ex officio

* denotes current member Read the rest of this entry »

There’s an article in the Norwich Bull today about the Trustees of Norwich Free Academy adopting NFA’s budget for the 2008-2009 school year. The Trustees adopted a budget of $28.78 million for the next school year raising it by 5.23% because of increased Special Education (SPED) costs.

There are two facts that should be of interest to Woodstock taxpayers in the article. First, NFA gives a small break to the city of Norwich for the 1347 students that the host town sends to the Academy, $100 per student.

The second fact is the adopted tuition rate. NFA will charge the city of Norwich $10,365 per student whereas other sending towns (Bozrah, Canterbury, Franklin, Lisbon, Preston, Sprague, and Voluntown) are charged $10,465 per student. These tuition rates are presumed to include SPED costs because that’s why the rate is going up (the main point of the article).

This year (2007-2008) the Town of Woodstock paid the Academy a basic tuition of $9998 per student which does not include SPED costs. If one adds the SPED funding sent to the Academy, the cost per student increases to about $11,534*. Thus, Woodstock Academy costs Woodstock about $1169 more per pupil than NFA charges Norwich (basic tuition + SPED). This cost per pupil at the Academy does not include transportation (required by the state) which further increases the cost per pupil to $12,120. If there are 472 Woodstock students at the Academy, then the total (tuition + SPED) differential (Woodstock vs. Norwich) charged to the Town of Woodstock (from the Board of Education budget) is about $551,768 for this school year. Read the rest of this entry »

Yesterday, Monday, the Cafe had 411 unique visits and 926 page turns. Admin

Back in 1992, I took a trip to Russia and then to Lithuania. I was there for about four weeks. It was an amazing, eye-opening, culturally enlarging experience.

The first part of my trip was to St. Petersburg for an intensive language immersion program. After that I traveled on to stay in Vilnius, Lithuania with my pen pal, Nelly and her husband, Albinas. On one Sunday afternoon, very much like today, we returned from a lovely, long walk through the streets of Vilnius. We were about to celebrate my first sighting of a magpie! As we entered the apartment, Albinas spoke to me – Nelly had to translate because Albinas couldn’t speak either Russian or English. He told me he wanted to move to America so he could watch television. He complained that in Vilnius, there were only three channels and there was never anything on! I told him (through Nelly) that there were almost 300 channels on my television at home in America, but there still wasn’t anything on! Read the rest of this entry »

from the Stamford Advocate.

A Board of Education committee has called for many changes to raise standards and help students get more out of high school. They include a core curriculum of required courses and embedding communication and teamwork skills in the curriculum.

The committee also called for student success plans with career options and a senior year demonstration project.

Under the recommendations, students would take end-of-course examinations, administered by the state, and end-of-course performance tasks, administered locally. Minimum diploma credits would increase.

“Higher education, government and business leaders have been calling for more rigor and more engaging programming at the high school level to assure that our students develop the skills necessary to compete on the college campus and in the international workplace,â€? McQuillan said in a statement. Read the rest of this entry »

Dwight Ryniewicz and Allan Walker on the Town Highway Department. Good example of necessary and timely communication from our Town management.

Party registration by town – see this RED vs. BLUE map.

Stating “Reagan’s policies led to the downfall of the USSR” is a sign of someone who woke up in 1988 and never read a history book. Please don’t give such short shrift to Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon or Carter not to mention Marshall, Acheson, Kennan, Ball, Kissinger, Schlesinger and innumerable other strategists who developed and implemented these policies over several decades. Not to mention the tens of thousands who paid a human price to sustain these policies while people like Reagan, Cheney and Bush were carousing, studying political science statistical models and making cheap movies.

I would state the principles of the Democratic Party as follows:

1. Protect the security of the nation through foreign policy using Intelligence, Diplomatic and Military resources strategically and in combination to achieve objectives.

2. Insure continued economic strength through continued expansion of international trade, protection of intellectual property rights, maintaining the functioning of the capital markets through proper regulation, providing basic research to the markets, sustaining and improving the nation’s infrastructure, maintenance of environmental quality, equitable taxation system, etc. Read the rest of this entry »

Town Boards and Community “Meet and Greet� to be held! The Woodstock Board of Education invites the Woodstock community to join us and your other elected officials at an informal “Meet and Greet� event to be held on Thursday, January 31, 2008 at the Inn at Woodstock Hill, from 7:00 p.m.- 9:00 p.m.

The purpose of this event is purely social. We hope our citizens and our elected board and commission members and other officials will better get to know each other as individuals, away from the constructs of official roles and responsibilities. Trustees of the Woodstock Academy are invited, as is our Superintendent, Dr. Francis Baran, and the Headmaster of Woodstock Academy, Mr. Rich Foye. A cash bar will be available, along with light snacks. The Woodstock Middle School Jazz Band (see below) will be featured with a performance around 7:30 p.m.. Read the rest of this entry »

I’m not exactly sure how serious to take these posts (3rd article down). Right off the bat there is a conflation between socialism and communism and even a socialist policy/program and socialism in general. It is along the lines of stating that all theists are Muslims. I’m sure everyone here dealt with set theory in high school and knows better so I won’t dwell on it. As far as I can tell it is merely an attempt to associate a group with an unpopular philosophy. Villainizing a group and arguing against a straw man of their philosophies is much easier than arguing against what they actually believe. I can believe that you read Coulter as it is her stock and trade.

Now if we are just talking socialist programs, which we undoubtedly are, both of the major US parties engage quite heavily in them. About the only US party I can think of off the top of my head that doesn’t is the Libertarian party. Between the Democrats and the Republicans pretty much the only distinction is, which socialist programs do you support?

In my experience the problem with this type of discussion is that the participants mostly spend their time pushing perceived problems with other people’s philosophies without either extending their own for examination, or doing a comparison of the weaknesses of each (which we see here). So right off the bat we get a charge against the Democrats for having “mastered the art of fine rhetoric” followed by a diatribe that is mostly, you guessed it, rhetoric without much supporting evidence. Read the rest of this entry »

Tonight the Democrats of Woodstock caucused at the Town Hall. Due to the resignation of DTC Chairman Joe Breen yesterday, Carol Andrzeicik stood in as Temporary Chair of the caucus, calling the meeting to order at 7:37 PM and appointing Becki Leavitt as temporary causus secretary. Nominations for permanent chair of the caucus were opened. Mitch Eaffy was nominated by Reece Painter and Carol Andrzeicik was nominated by Bill Andrzeicik. The vote for Eaffy was 53 and a majority of the 82 Democrats present.

Taking over the chairmanship, Eaffy asked for nominations for permanent caucus secretary. Becki Leavitt was nominated by Carol Andrzeicik. There were no other nominations.

There was a short discussion regarding the rules of the caucus and various minor items including whether majority or plurality of votes wold be used. Carol Andrzeicik made a motion to used the State Central rules of a majority of votes (50% plus one). The motion was seconded by Reece Painter. After some discussion the motion carried easily.

Eaffy then openned the floor for nominations (nominations did not require seconds). Margaret Wholean was nominated from the floor. Reece Painter then nominated a slate of 25 candidates: Carol Andrzeicik, Bill Andrezeicik, Andre Bessette, Richard Canavan, Richard Cass, Fred Chmura, John Day, Jeffrey Danforth, Gail Dickinson, Mitch Eaffy, Richard Fontaine, Polly Hayden, Rebecca Hyde, Sara Harkness, Jim Kaeding, Beth Murphy, Bob Reichel, Kirsten Rigney, Doug Porter, Craig Powers, Reece Painter, Lee Wesler, Peg Wilson, Suzanne Woodward, and Margaret Young. Further nominations from the floor were Sarah Burke, Suzanne Rosendahl, Dave O’Brien, Roger Solomon, Bill Brower, Becki Leavitt, and Mary Weaver. Read the rest of this entry »

BFSC:

While I doubt that anyone would run on a communist platform in this country, the way around it is really quite simple. Follow this: The democrats have mastered the art of fine rhetoric that appeals to the dependent as a means of garnishing votes. This rhetoric promises an array of government benefits that pander to the gutteral instinct of an entitlement mentality which believes that the purpose of government is to meet all of their needs. They conveniently fail to mention the cost of these benefits or how and where the money will come from. This erosion in traditional values of personal accountability is slowly replaced by short sighted liberal bureacratic elitists, who think that they know better than everyone else, into a utopic wet dream system whereby the poor and disenfranchised are ultimately injured tenfolds more and stuck in the spiraling downward rut of dependency which leads to frustration and crime. We have all witnessed the steady growth of liberalism in this country and at the same time the progressive deterioration of our cities and our urban schools. The correlation between this growth of liberalism and this growth in crime is no coincidence. The Democrats, by their platform, by their rhetoric, their promises, and by their policies support the continuation and growth of this warped system. Whether their intentions are good or not does not matter and it sickens me when democrats cry that republicans are not compassionate when in fact it is the democrats who have created the mess that the poor find themselves in and offer no solutions out except for spending more money and increasing taxes. All of the democratic candidates for President want to roll back tax cuts, expand government programs, cut back on the military, foster an internationalized government whereby the ilks of the United Nations make foreign policy decisions for us, support nominations of activist supreme court judges who will legislate and uphold affirmative action and racial quotas, are weak on securing our boarders, support the rights of criminals over the rights of victims, and believe that diplomacy can solve all problems. All this wonderful stuff hidden behind the charge of “change” and “hope”. Democrats rarely go any deeper than platitudes and promises because if they really told us what their positions were on the issues, it would be more than just Mr. Wetzel calling them communists and they would never get elected. You see, democrats cannot get elected by their own merits. They have to pretend that they are conservative and have traditional values, they have to pretend that they are something that they are not, and the only way they can undermine Republicans is by name calling and the bashing of individuals. Democrats inherently know that their liberal philosophy do not work and when cornered they will admit that they do in fact have conservative values because deep down they know that conservative values are not only right but rely on common sense. Read the rest of this entry »

Date: January 9, 2008
To: Woodstock Democratic Town Committee
From: Joseph E. Breen
Re: Membership

As discussed with many of you over the past several months, my involvement with the WDTC has required me to defer important personal and professional obligations.

Accordingly, and with our term drawing to a close, this will resign my membership with the WDTC, effective immediately. Further, I will not seek – or accept – nomination for membership with the new Committee.

I trust that with our preparations completed, the Caucus will have broad participation and proceed smoothly, and I hope that the new membership of the WDTC will represent the town’s interests effectively.

I wish to thank all of you for your support and contribution of time, effort and funds over the past four years.

The Woodstock Democratic Party will hold its Caucus for election of a new Democratic Town Committee tomorrow night, Thursday, January 10, 2008 at 7:30 at Woodstock Town Hall.

All registered Democrats in Woodstock are eligible to vote, to be nominated, and if elected, to serve for a two-year term on the new 25-member Democratic Town Committee. The Democratic Town Committee selects candidates directly for all municipal offices, and selects delegates to conventions for State and U.S. Congressional offices. All registered Democrats are invited to attend the caucus, to represent their views publicly, to vote, and to seek a nomination.

Caucus procedure is simple:

1. The Caucus will verify status of all attendees as registered Democrats.
2. The Caucus will propose and approve Rules.
3. All Democrats will be allowed to speak.
4. Nominations will be individually or by slate.
5. Voting will be by private ballot.

It is important that the new Democratic Town Committee be representative of the town’s overall Democratic voter base, so it is important that as many of Woodstock’s registered Democrats participate as is possible.

From comment 12 under “Shultz’ FOIA Request…” below.

“First of all if any of you bothered to study history, you would know that McCarthy was right in certain respects. We had alot of Communists in our government and in higher education. Alot of them are still there, now they are running for President. Second, keep hiding from answering questions and claiming it is just a witch hunt, it will get you nowhere. Your BOE is hiding behind the law and not being open and honest with the public, therefore, FOI’s are necessary. Open government is what we need in Woodstock. The biggest problem in Woodstock is the education group who think they can bully and threaten citizens to get their way. Give them all the money they need and shut up. Fortunately, we are too smart for people like you, the “best and the brightest”, morons are what I call them. They keep pursuing the same failed tactics and get their heads slammed at election time and budget time. Gee, I wonder why? You will not get more money until you come clean and start answering questions.”

Ernest A. Wetzel
Former 1st Selectman
Former member of the Board of Education
Former Woodstock Academy Trustee

See Wikipedia for an explanation of “McCarthyism”

McCarthyism is the term describing a period of intense anti-Communist suspicion in the United States that lasted roughly from the late 1940s to the late 1950s. This period is also referred to as the Second Red Scare, and coincided with increased fears about Communist influence on American institutions and espionage by Soviet agents. Originally coined to criticize the actions of U.S. Senator Joseph McCarthy, “McCarthyism” later took on a more general meaning, not necessarily referring to the conduct of Joseph McCarthy alone.

During this time many thousands of Americans were accused of being Communists or communist sympathizers and became the subject of aggressive investigations and questioning before government or private-industry panels, committees and agencies. The primary targets of such suspicions were government employees, those in the entertainment industry, educators and union activists. Suspicions were often given credence despite inconclusive or questionable evidence, and the level of threat posed by a person’s real or supposed leftist associations or beliefs was often greatly exaggerated. Many people suffered loss of employment, destruction of their careers, and even imprisonment. Most of these punishments came about through trial verdicts later overturned, laws that would be declared unconstitutional, dismissals for reasons later declared illegal or actionable, or extra-legal procedures that would come into general disrepute.

DEMOCRATS

Democrats . Vote ……… % … Delegates
Clinton … 110,550 … 39% … 9
Obama … 102,883 … 36% … 9
Edwards … 47,803 … 17% … 4
Richardson … 12,987 … 5% … 0
Kucinich … 3,845 … 1% … 0
Total Write-ins … 2,351 … 1% … 0
Biden … 616 … 0% … 0
Gravel … 397 … 0% … 0

REPUBLICANS

Republicans . Vote ……. % … Delegates
McCain …… 86,802 … 37% … 7
Romney ….. 73,806 … 32% … 4
Huckabee … 26,035 .. 11% … 1
Giuliani … 20,054 … 9% … 0
Paul … 17,831 … 8% … 0
Total Write-ins … 4,058 … 2% … 0
Thompson … 2,808 … 1% … 0
Hunter 1,195 …. 1% … 0

(Minor editorial changes have been made. Admin)

The following is the tail end of an exchange between ‘A Taxpayer’ and Joseph Breen. It is interesting in how both participants commit to the discussion and find each other’s point of view in an attempt to understand their differences.

A Taxpayer said:

It’s very narrow minded to suggest that policies are to blame for either the complete success or failure of schools. We both agreed that socioeconomic and personal integrity factors play a large role. That’s not to assume that policies can’t contribute even if they do so merely by not being responsive to the needs of those they supposedly support. It’s my belief that unfair funding between urban and suburban schools does have an impact on suburban schools such as in Woodstock. How does that belief hurt us? But keep in mind, I do also believe that funding issues are multifactorial and particularly in Woodstock where we do have some unique factors.

Mr. Breen, you may not agree with all I have said, but I can assure you that the success of the WPS is in my best interest. I can also assure you that if I were on the BOE that my conversations with you would not end.

Joseph Breen said:

Taxpayer -

I most certainly agree that “It’s very narrow minded to suggest that policies are to blame for either the complete success or failure of schoolsâ€?. So why do you keep focusing on state education policies as the cause of failure in the urban schools? Why not follow your own advice?

There are three basic failures in your months-long argument:

1. You ignore the related aspects of the local education funding problem. We control most aspects of the problem which are underfunding of K-8, imbalanced funding of Academy/K-8, and the P-46 deflationary spending cap.

2. In contradiction of your own “multifactorialâ€? comment above, you blame state education policy as the source of failure in the urban schools and now beyond that on urban social problems generally. Read the rest of this entry »

Interesting article about cell towers, a new system to replace the high towers actually. Can be a money-maker for a town, but what is required? GOOD ZONING PLANS.

The Martha’s Vineyard Times: Aquinnah votes cell tower rule

Julie Anderson