Voter’s guide to Cheshire’s 2007 election
~ by Cheshire_Votes - October 11, 2007 ~
The following candidates are dedicated to:
Representing all Cheshire residents
High standards of government.
A first class educational system.
Development that is consistent with Cheshire’s character.
Providing the best fire, police, and ambulance services.
Controlling spending to minimize future tax increases.
Keeping Cheshire a great place to live.
2007 Town Council Candidates
Lou Murray, 1st District
Tom Ruocco, 2nd District
Bruce Caldwell, 3rd District
Tim White, 4th District
Steve Carroll, At large
Bruce Klein, At large
Jim Sima, At large
Tim Slocum, At large
Cindy Kleist, At large Independent write-in
Planning and Zoning Candidates
John Attwood
Tali Maidelis
Mickey McPhee
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The Current Town Council
Earlier this year, W/S appeared before the town council and explained their proposal for developing a retail mall with residential units on 109 acres of the interchange zone.
At the end of the public meeting they voted on the W/S request for needed text changes to the “THE TOWN PLAN OF CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT” (The video of the public hearing, including closing comments from each of the current town council members, is available here: Cheshire Town Council Public Hearing 01-23-07)
Here’s how they voted:
E. ESTY, YES
M. HALL, YES
M. ALTIERI, YES
M. ECKE, YES
D. ORSINI, NO
D. SCHRUMM, NO
T. RUOCCO, NO
D. VISCONTI, YES
T. WHITE, YES
The Planning and Zoning Commission
“Cheshire Route 10 LLC” - W/S is now proposing 639,000 ft2 of retail/commercial space, 160 apartments and a hotel on 109 acres of the Interchange Zone.
P&Z approved W/S’s request for text changes to the Town Plan of Conservation and Development so as to include residential and retail in mixed use. After this approval, the request for a zone change allowing retail and residential in the 400 acre I/C zone was also approved.
Here’s how they voted:
P. FLYNN-HARRIS, YES (Chairman)
M. COBURN, YES
W. DAWSON, YES
E. KURTZ, YES
R. LEVY, YES
S. STROLLO, YES
L. TODISCO, YES
P. RANANDO, NO
T. SLOCUM, NO
Three slots are to be filled on the commission this year.
Good Candidates for the commission are:
John Attwood
Tali Maidelis
Mickey McPhee
3 Comments »
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#1 | Comment #737 by Louis Murray on October 22, 2007 @ 1:28 pm
I would like to clarify my position on several issues.
1 North End development.
I have looked at several W/S shopping center projects and reviewed other information provided to me about the way W/S does business.
It is my opinion the W/S should not be trusted to do what they say they are going to do. They will not work for the best interests of Cheshire and we could easily end up with box store sprawl after it is too late to do anything about it. The residential aspect of this project will put an expensive drain on Cheshire’s resources
2 WPCA
This has been hijacked by my opponent. She claims to be bipartisan in her appointing. In that case why were some of our best qualified people gotten rid of. Tim Pelton, Ken Neuman and Steve Eberle (all three Republicans) are no longer there. This is a tremendous loss of human resource where we need it more than ever.
3 Senior Tax relief
We need to do what ever it takes to make this program an effective aid to our senior and disabled residents .Be careful who you believe regarding credit for what has been accomplished. I credit the seniors themselves, Al Adinolfi, and Tom Ruocco for helping get something done
4 The surplus
This surplus is money that belongs to the tax payers. The Town Council does not have any money. It is entrusted with the job of managing the pooled funds (tax revenue) of the residents of Cheshire. This surplus should be returned to the people it rightfully belongs to.
5 Public safety
One of the most important aspects of public safety is instruction. Families should have at least a week’s supply of food and water, as well as any medical supplies in the event of a major incident. We are only eighteen miles from the coast and if a category three or greater hurricane were to hit Connecticut it could be days before adequate relief could reach us.
We also need to support a sufficiently staffed and equipped police department and fire department. Cheshire is fortunate to have one of the finest volunteer fire departments in the country. we owe it to them to provide whatever it takes to protect us and keep them from harm.
6 Education
Education is our investment in the future. Cheshire is also fortunate to have a top notch school system. We need to do whatever is necessary to keep it that way.
7 Public Works
It is imperative that the roads in Cheshire be properly maintained. This is not just an aesthetic issue, it is a public safety issue.
8 The pool
It does not mater whether you are pro or anti pool. It is here to stay. The problems with the pool must be addressed. I am sick and tired of talk talk talk, and no action. Our resources are being blown out into the cold with the tremendous energy waste with keeping that bubble inflated. Mold, air quality and energy costs are the issue that must be resolved now. The problem is not the pool, it’s the bubble.
In conclusion, all this being said, it is important to allocate funds to all the needs mentioned with careful attention to detail. The council, being entrusted with our money, must constantly be on the lookout for waste and excess. It is imperative that the best interests and only the best interests of the citizens of Cheshire be addressed.
Cheshire is a special town, with its own charm and beauty. We can not allow that to be destroyed for any reason.
#2 | Comment #753 by Louis Murray on October 29, 2007 @ 8:47 am
Tonight I will be a guest at a Friends of Boulder Knoll board meeting. This is a group that is concerned about open spacea nd the citizen’s role and town’s role in preserving and making use of the resources of our open space. I remember Boulder Knoll when it was a well kept up operating farm. Yesterday I went past the old barn and was saddened to see the continuing decay and degradation of the property. Fields that have not been mowed go bad with invasive plants. The building is now a dangerous structure. The milking shed will follow soon if nothing is done.
We are fortunate to have people in this town who care about our open space. Boulder Knoll is one of Cheshire’s treasures and can not be allow to decay away.
What is going on her anyway? These open spaces are our legacy to the generations that come after us. I am a serious Republican environmentalist.
This does not conflict at all with any of my conservative philosophies. Conserving our natural beauty and stopping its destruction are conservative by their very nature.
This is a small investment in our future with a huge return.
#3 | Comment #3412 by Ron on August 25, 2008 @ 2:20 am
Excellent site - do keep up the good work.