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Ron's Rap
March 30, 2007

Gorman Excludes Republicans

By Ron Gambardella

Below is a list that was distributed to each councilmember this past Monday. There was no forewarning, no discussion, no debate. Democratic Council President Al Gorman developed the list, which assigns councilmembers to review certain departments’ budgets and then make recommendations to the full body during budget deliberations.

However, you will notice two names noticeably absent from this list: Councilwoman Betty Wetmore and myself, the only Republicans on the otherwise Democratic Council.

Department               Councilmember

Building Department        Carol Noble
Economic Development   Carol Noble
Elderly Services               Willie Mewborn
Registrar's Office             John Flanagan
Emergency Management   Bob Westervelt
Engineering Department    Berita Rowe-Lewis
Finance Department         Curt Leng
Miscellaneous Review      Curt Leng
Fringes                            Full Council
Fire Department              Bob Westervelt
Legislative Council          Al Gorman
Library                           Gretchen Callahan
Mental Health                 Kath Schomaker
Mayor's Office               John Flanagan
Parks & Recreation       Gretchen Callahan
Personnel Office             John Flanagan
Police Department          Bob Westervelt
Probate Court                Kath Schomaker
Public Works                 Berita Rowe-Lewis
Purchasing Department   Curt Leng
QVHD                           Kath Schomaker
Review of Assessments   Curt Leng
State of Connecticut        Full Council
Tax Office                       Curt Leng
Town Attorney                Mike Germano
Town Clerk's Office         John Flanagan
VNA                               Jim Pascarella
Youth Services                 Mike Colaiacovo
Positions                          Full Council

Don’t for a second believe that bipartisanship will have a role in developing the new budget for the 2007-2008 fiscal period that already promises to add a 1.6 point mil rate increase to an already overtaxed residential population.

If this isn’t egregious enough, consider the fact that I have over 20 years in the private sector developing budgets considerably larger than the town’s and have an MBA in finance. This means that not only have the Democrats removed any opposition to the initial departmental budget review process but have also removed anyone who has any qualifications to develop a budget that will favor the taxpayer.

Friends, you should be angry. The folks who have voted for both Betty and me have been denied the opportunity to have their interests represented. Hold on to your wallets because very soon the Democrats will be knocking on your door demanding more of your hard-earned dollars. Let’s remember this in November. We have had enough.

Raw and uncensored, Republican Councilman Ron Gambardella opines on the latest goings-on from behind the legislative bench. He can be reached at r.gambardella@snet.net. (Note: The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the Hamden Daily News.)


March 27, 2007

About Last Night

By Ron Gambardella

Several items of interest came before the Council Monday night. One of which was the issue of donations. There were two donations made to the town, 1) Three Brothers Diner for $300 to purchase weather radios, and 2) Quinnipiac University for $2,500 to be used toward the expenses of the Vietnam Veterans Moving Wall. Both of these donations are for admirable causes. Who could argue that?

But to witness the Democrats falling all over themselves to issue glowing accolades was once again shortsighted and pathetic. The Council president went so far as to encourage others to follow along, always willing to take money irrespective of its source (watch the rebroadcast on local-access TV and see for yourself).

I went on record to oppose this practice. It seems to me the town must avoid the appearance of impropriety. These donations, as innocent as they appear, can have unintended consequences. There can develop an unspoken expectation for special privileges.

For example, a lenient fire inspection or siding with the university over a resident complaint just to keep the money flowing. This Council is not unaccustomed to taking money. A few months ago they accepted a sizable donation from a large apartment complex while the complex was in the midst of a safety upgrade. I am not saying there was any impropriety. I am, however, saying the town needs to avoid the appearance of impropriety. The mayor sets the example and the Council follows. You already know about the mayor’s propensity to exchange favors. So far, we have seen little emphasis on doing what’s right in this administration. How can we trust a donation is simply a good faith donation and not payback for a favor or a special request? Let’s just stop the practice and eliminate any suspicion of impropriety.

Another item of interest was a discussion brought before the Administration Committee to conduct a full-scale audit of the school department’s books. However, after reviewing the Board of Education’s responses to allegations of procedural lapses brought to the Council’s attention by Councilman Flanagan, I was convinced the BOE satisfactorily addressed the issues. Not only did they adequately explain any discrepancies, they put into place procedures that should minimize if not eliminate such discrepancies going forward. I could see they spent time, money and effort to address the Council’s concerns. No infraction hinted at any intentional manipulation of the books with the intent to defraud the town. In some instances there was poor judgment relative to some purchases, but no financial misappropriation of funds. The evidence wasn’t compelling enough to underwrite a full-scale audit. I voiced my opinion against such an undertaking in order to save time and money.

The final point of interest was the Fire Department’s request for a $100,000 transfer to cover sub/straight time. When questioned, the chief indicated that the men and women on the force are averaging 26 to 30 hours of overtime per week. His force is understaffed by 11 positions. The mayor chooses not to immediately fill these positions in an effort to save money. However, from the chief’s comments last evening he is now projecting an overrun to his budget of about $200,000 or more by fiscal year-end. I cannot for the life of me understand how the understaffing is saving this town any money. In fact it has created a problem of overworked, highly stressed individuals creating tremendous pressure on their family life while at the same time costing the town more money to operate in this fashion.

It just doesn’t make any sense. We have got to stop this nonsense. Be patient, November is coming.

Raw and uncensored, Republican Councilman Ron Gambardella opines on the latest goings-on from behind the legislative bench. He can be reached at r.gambardella@snet.net. (Note: The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the Hamden Daily News.)


March 22, 2007

Why I Gotta Run

By Ron Gambardella

This Tuesday, I announced the formation of an exploratory committee to consider a bid for the Republican Party’s mayoral nomination. The formation of the committee will allow me to raise funds. The funds are necessary to pay for such items as literature, postage, phone services, etc. Already I have received an outpouring of support. It seems I have struck a cord with voters who are fed up with the status quo.

There is a lot of work ahead of me. Over the next few months, I hope to determine the voters’ willingness to remove the current administration from office. This is a tall order since this administration is deeply entrenched in our government with friends and family as well as favors owed to just about anyone connected to the town. To be successful it will require time, money and a huge amount of determination. I am up for the task and will keep you informed along the way.

Some folks have asked why try? My answer is that voters have come to believe what the Council has repeatedly said, “There is nothing we can do.” This cannot be further from the truth. There is always something that can be done; however, it takes leadership and vision. Just the other day, the HDN reported on the elimination of emergency management funding. When confronted, the administration did the usual finger pointing, ducking and above all else completely denying any culpability in the matter. Here is a fine example of that lack of leadership culled from the HDN story:

Henrici said it was Fire Chief David Berardesca’s idea to reduce the Emergency Management budget to $1,000 and put it in the fire budget … “I let Chief Berardesca take care of that budget,” said Henrici … Berardesca said he didn’t see the budget until it came out last Wednesday, March 14 … Berardesca said he didn’t tell Gorfrain that he was going to lose his stipend. “I wanted Clark to handle that,” he said. The chief said he plans to ask the Legislative Council for about $12,000 during budget deliberations next month to restore funding to EM.

The above reporting captures perfectly the leadership qualities of this administration. There appears to be a pattern beginning with the mayor. First be sure to distance yourself from any controversy by blaming a subordinate. The subordinate learns his lesson from the top spot by turning around and blaming his subordinate. If we follow the logic, pretty soon we will have some poor soul in the mailroom responsible for all the actionable items in town government. If this is an example of follow the leader, we are being led down a dead-end street.

Did you also notice that this administration will be requesting an additional $12,000 to the proposed budget? The ink hasn’t dried on the original proposal and we are already seeing attempts to increase the tax burden. Need I say more? It is for this and the many other “errors in judgment” that I am exploring the possibility of seeking the Republican Party’s nomination for mayor.

Raw and uncensored, Republican Councilman Ron Gambardella opines on the latest goings-on from behind the legislative bench. He can be reached at r.gambardella@snet.net. (Note: The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the Hamden Daily News.)


March 19, 2007

What Henrici’s Budget Really Says

By Ron Gambardella

After reading the text of the mayor’s budget address that he presented to the Council last Wednesday, I even more concerned than when I first heard the words spoken by the mayor. Additionally, since then, I have received calls from taxpayers expressing their anger over the proposed budget.

Who can blame them? What we have here is taxation without representation.

Can you imagine a council so enthusiastic about the mayor’s overall strategy that the majority of Council Democrats stood and applauded? So embolden are these Democrats that have cast aside any pretense of doing what is best for this town. Instead, they are putting into place a master plan that will perpetuate the status quo and accomplish what is best of them. Here is what the mayor had to say followed by my interpretation.

Mayor:
 
You will note that this proposal increases the Town budget by approximately 6%, from $163.6M to $173.6M. As you can expect, much of the increase is due to increased costs for electricity, a previously-determined increase in debt service based on our bonding schedule, the insurance of additional property like the new Hamden Middle School, and new salaries settled in the recent round of contract negotiations.

Ron Gambardella:

The mayor is proposing a $10M increase over last year’s budget. He tosses around millions like we can pick the funds off the money tree growing behind Town Hall. Are we not all experiencing increases in our utility bills? Has anyone increased your income to offset the cost of higher bills? If you are like me, you cut back in other areas to compensate. The mayor wants to blame contracts that he negotiated and the council approved as part of the reason for the increase. He first creates the problem and uses the only solution he can come up with to solve it -- more money. In fact, this is the only solution the entire Council can ever recommend -- more money! I am outraged by the arrogance of this administration and shameless display of support by his Council. These acts are no less than crimes against the taxpayers. We must take back our town from those who would care nothing for the financial wreckage they continue to heap upon us.  We must put a stop to that tired song of theirs, “There is nothing we can do.” I have news for them: there is something we can do. In November, they will feel the town’s wrath on the business end of a boot.  

Mayor:

As has been the case in the past, the largest single expenditure in the proposal is the projected cost of the medical self insurance fund. This account projection increased by just over $70,000 to $23 million. Given spiraling costs for health care nationwide, this increase of a mere 1/3 of one percent in our largest line item is great news for Hamden taxpayers and a credit to the negotiating team that has successfully implemented changes in our health care benefit policies.

Ron Gambardella:

The only sense I can make from the above statement is that the mayor may not be in possession of all his faculties and as a result may not fully appreciate the text of his message. He has just put into place a benefit package that is unrivalled in its generosity and expense. He thinks a one-third percent increase is good news when we should be talking about decreases. To add insult to injury, the Council locked up the current health benefit racket until 2009 for all contracts. What a mess!

Mayor:

The Town will also institute a workplace Wellness program as both a cost savings mechanism and a free way to boost employee morale and productivity through good health.

Ron Gambardella:

Now let me see if I understand this. It appears the mayor is admitting we need to improve productivity and increase morale. That’s good. However, the solution doesn’t seem to address the underlying problem. That’s bad. It seems he thinks he can resolve this issue with diet and exercise. He sees no correlation between ignoring the charter to hire friends and cronies as perhaps a reason why town employees may be feeling a little down. He should be discussing plans for instituting operational efficiencies and adhering to the Town Charter. Instead, he comes up with a free Wellness program as the key to solving these problems, putting the issue firmly in the laps of the employees and washing his hands of any wrongdoing. Do you see why we have a problem, right here in River City?

Mayor:

I hope that  … you will support me in offering a 10% abatement on residential property taxes within the consent order boundary to encourage the long-term ownership and investment that will allow the neighborhood to rebound from the stigmas placed upon it.

Ron Gambardella:

This is a sensitive issue and I am not without compassion for the folks who have been unfairly disadvantage by the environmental issues within the Newhall consent order. But, an across-the-board 10 percent abatement should not only be applied to a select group but should be extended to the entire town. We are all suffering from the environmental hazard known as excessive taxation. Property values are declining because taxes are too high. If you want to really help folks who are financially disadvantaged make Hamden an affordable place to live. Mr. Mayor, stop trying to buy more votes at our expense!

Mayor:

Across the board we have made every effort to provide to you a budget that is fair, reasonable, and, above all, fiscally responsible. I look forward to cooperative dialogue over the next few months that will allow us to move forward together with a budget that works for the people of Hamden.

Ron Gambardella:

If you believe that one, I have a bridge for sale in Brooklyn.

Raw and uncensored, Republican Councilman Ron Gambardella opines on the latest goings-on from behind the legislative bench. He can be reached at r.gambardella@snet.net. (Note: The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the Hamden Daily News.)


March 15, 2007

‘I Am Outraged’

By Ron Gambardella

Last night, the Council Democrats stood up and gave the mayor a standing ovation when he proposed a budget that will raise our mil rate by another 1.5 points. Additionally, the mayor stated that certain property owners will get a 10 percent tax exemption. This means that while the overall mil rate may increase by 1.5 points, the actual increase will be higher because the non-exempt property owners will be called upon to make up the difference.

These knuckleheads just don’t get it. They are so out of touch with the person on the street that they are actually applauding a proposed tax increase on top of last year’s historically high increase we are all still trying to cope with. Once again, with no opposition, this administration can do whatever it wants whenever it wants.

It seems more and more apparent that we have to take back the town. Right now there exists a strong coalition of friends, family, political contributors and other town cronies who continue to fleece the taxpayers. This nonsense can only be eradicated by waking up the independent-minded voter. The underlying reason for the cheers given by the Council Democrats is that the status quo has been given yet another year of financial support at our expense.

I am outraged by the absolute total disregard for the taxpayer. The cheers I heard last night are a stark reminder that we are dealing with a political power that is deeply entrenched and doesn’t consider any opposition a serious challenge to its authority. Extraction can only be achieved by the collective efforts by those who must bear the burden of such ill-conceived policies. The Council will pretend to make meaningful changes to the budget during deliberations, but in the end you all can expect the status quo --and as you know the status quo has gotta go!

Raw and uncensored, Republican Councilman Ron Gambardella opines on the latest goings-on from behind the legislative bench. He can be reached at r.gambardella@snet.net. (Note: The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the Hamden Daily News.)


March 12, 2007

What the Mayor Really Said

By Ron Gambardella

Recently, the mayor addressed Hamden’s Chamber of Commerce. This venerable institution of distinguished women and men had to sit through an address that would have tried Gandhi’s patience. You can’t succeed in business without being able to sort out the truth from the bull. These folks would have instantly recognized that they were about to be taken for a ride. The mayor, for his part, said many things that could have been summarized in two words: status quo.

Once again a translator is needed to descramble the nonsense spewed by the mayor and his staff.

For example, the mayor said:
Since I took office in November of 2005, I have done my best to tackle problems head-on, to put in place a team capable of inspiring the very best work from Town employees, and to ensure that above all, Hamden's government is responsive to the needs of its residents and business leaders. I am proud to say that these principles have resulted in a leaner yet more efficient local government.

Translation:
Since I took office, I have kept to the same set of principles the 13 Democrats on the Council and I have always used and will continue to use. Namely, I will fill jobs with folks to whom I owe favors or who contributed to my campaign. I hired a $50,000-a-year clerk to answer phones so she could relay messages that would have otherwise gone directly to department heads, effectively adding another layer to government. I just hired my friend as the animal control officer. This was his sole qualification for the job. Moreover, I fully expect the qualified person currently doing the job to train him so he becomes qualified (this is an example of efficient government at work). Yes, I put in place a team capable of inspiring the very best work from town employees.

The mayor said:
Make no mistake about it: Hamden's fiscal position is improving. Our commitment to tackling problems responsibly, including a fair and gimmick-free implementation of a painful property revaluation, earned the Town a Positive Outlook from rating agency Standard and Poor's after only seven months in office.

Translation:
Make no mistake about it, once I increased taxes to historically high levels, our finances improved. This is not rocket science. I increased expenses, so I had to increase taxes. Why is this so difficult for people to understand? Is anyone surprised? There were no gimmicks. I just instructed the Council to approve the budget and they complied. I didn’t have to waste any time compromising or negotiating with the opposition. You want to know why?  It’s because there isn’t any opposition. With 13 Democrats on the Council, it was like talking to myself. Everyone just nodded, smiled and stamped approved. You’ve seen what I could do with only seven months in office. Just wait until my next term. You won’t know what hit you.

P.S. Don’t forget this would be impossible to accomplish without my favorite Democrats on the Council. Do the right thing in November and reelect every last one of them and I promise to deliver similar results.

The mayor said:
The long-expired contracts were having a negative effect on morale and productivity, which can be particularly harmful in a government doing more with less. Fair negotiation and fair treatment of workers saves money in the long run. It fosters an environment where we can truly focus on what matters most: providing world-class service to the citizens of Hamden.

Translation:
The long-expired contracts were having a negative impact on morale and productivity, which can be harmful doing more with less. That’s why once I ensured the unions that I would preserve some of the best benefits available anywhere, I immediately instituted a hiring freeze to pay for them. Who cares about morale or productivity anyway? The truth is that I have been working the guardian services extremely hard. So to be fair, I hired an animal control officer to demonstrate my concern for their needs. I certainly did not want to leave this critical department shorthanded. So we now have a world-class animal control unit with one full-time inexperienced officer and his experienced assistant training him.

Friends, I think this translation gets much closer to what the mayor is trying to communicate to his audience. When the clutter is removed from his speech, the true essence of his text emerges and I don’t like what I see. The only cure for this type of ailment infecting Hamden politics is a complete elect-ectomy. In other words, the status quo has got to go.

Raw and uncensored, Republican Councilman Ron Gambardella opines on the latest goings-on from behind the legislative bench. He can be reached at r.gambardella@snet.net. (Note: The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the Hamden Daily News.)


March 7, 2007

‘Man, it’s Good to be Mayor!’

By Ron Gambardella

A lot can be learned from a simple statement. Yesterday’s HDN reported the following: “Asked why he didn’t post the position, Henrici said, ‘I didn’t think it had to be posted.’”

Let’s take a critical look at the implications of such a statement.

Taking this a bit further, we would also have to conclude that key Democrats had to be informed of the mayor’s intent to hire someone to such a visible position without posting the job. Thus, when the mayor makes the statement that he didn’t think it had to be posted we can also conclude that the personnel director didn’t know about the job posting rules, that Scott Jackson didn’t know about the job posting rules and the myriad of clamoring Democrats did not know about the posting rules. Highly unlikely.

This indicates a clear and intentional disregard of procedures, similar to the school department’s no-bid wiring job recently reported by the town auditors.

I find this to be intriguing because it speaks to the qualities of leadership. For example, it is not a very large stretch to also conclude that key decisions are made impulsively and with little thought and/or research. If you cannot anticipate the political backlash of such a move that the intentional disregard of the charter might have, then you also will not be able to apply critical judgment to weightier matters such as preparing a budget or negotiating a contract. This goes a long way in explaining the financial mess the town is now facing.

Perhaps we can disregard this as an oversight, but if we look back at some of the other decisions this administration has made we begin to see a disturbing pattern of incompetence, contempt for the taxpayer and little regard for the men and women who work at Town Hall. I only need to mention the purchase of the SUV, the historically high tax increase, hiring freeze, overlooking loyal employees to hire friends, the fire chief escapades, the ice skating rink contract, etc, etc, etc.

The pattern is disturbing indeed.

So how does the mayor respond to persistent questions regarding his blatant disregard to the charter? Does he apologize? Does he suggest there was any wrongdoing on his part? Does he try to right a wrong?

Nooooo! He said the following in the same HDN story: “‘The result will come out the same whether I post it or not,’ Henrici said from his office yesterday, ‘because [Smith] is already an employee of the town.’” Wow! You’ve got to be impressed by the audacity of that statement. No remorse, no guilt, just in-your face-attitude. Man, it’s good to be mayor!

Well the mayor has the last laugh at our expense. This is because he has 13 Democrats who will rationalize and justify the most outrageous sort of nonsense. We need to take the town back and out of the hands of those representatives who care nothing for the people they represent. They have completely abdicated all sense of responsibility, integrity and commitment to do what’s right for the town of Hamden. These Democrats would like you to consider this a minor infraction. However, if you cannot be trusted in small matters, what makes you believe this administration could be trusted at all. They have got to go.

Raw and uncensored, Republican Councilman Ron Gambardella opines on the latest goings-on from behind the legislative bench. He can be reached at r.gambardella@snet.net.


March 5, 2007

Contract with Sanity

By Ron Gambardella

Come now, and let us reason together.

We need to take a reasonable approach to the high cost of running the town. I can understand how some town employees might think that my criticism of the recently approved labor contracts may seem like I am somehow unhappy with the dedicated folks who work for the town. This could not be further from the truth. I fully support the guardian services, Public Works and all the employees who keep the town running.

When I look at some of the provisions in the contracts and bring that to the public’s attention, some employees mistakenly think I am attacking them personally. Unless we address the cost of labor in this town, all will be lost. I fully support paying people enough in wages to provide for their families. Not once have I objected to any pay increases. I believe the police and fire departments should be fully staffed. We do the fine men and women who are working endless hours of overtime a disservice. Unending overtime takes its toll on family relations and morale and increases the number of fatigue-related accidents.

The labor situation the guardian services now face is directly related to the high cost of the contracts recently approved by the Council. I am specifically speaking to the benefits package and productivity issues. Let’s be reasonable and work together to solve this problem.

Instead of being able to accumulate 222 sick days, perhaps a simple solution is to purchase a short- and long-term disability policy. This may be more appropriate and cost effective.

Rather than a 35-hour workweek perhaps we should consider a 40-hour workweek.

Increasing health benefit co-pays and premium contributions to levels paid by the private sector will help control the rapidly rising cost of health insurance benefits.

Instead of paying overtime after seven hours let’s move toward eight.

Putting in place a pension plan that provides employees more control and options will give the employee a sense of hope and optimism that someone is caring for their interest. By making a few changes here and there, employees would also be helping themselves to long-term job security and prosperity. The taxpayer benefits through more manageable cost structure. Everyone wins.

What is apparent is that we can’t count on the administration or the Council to do the right thing. Their votes are held out to the highest bidder. When they make good on a promise, they don’t reveal the implications of such promises until after the deal is done. Their strategy is to never reveal how an agreement made behind closed doors may have an outcome far different than the expectation, for example, supporting a benefit package publicly then once the deal is signed, immediately announcing a hiring freeze leading to under staffing and overwork.

The unions have had an extremely effective strategy backing the Democrats and translating that backing into tangible benefits for the rank and file. Every union member should be proud of the way their leadership has guided the unions to some of the best contracts offered anywhere. But you have to admit there is no challenge when dealing with an inept administration and Council. The current Council has nothing but contempt for the taxpayer. It has demonstrated this contempt by negotiating benefits separately from working conditions. Then, they locked the town into the current health benefit package until 2009 effectively removing that benefit out of the next round of negotiations with the upcoming contracts. This sort of tactic is creating an undercurrent of dissatisfaction amount folks who live in this town.

By reasoning together, we can put sanity into the process. This, of course, is based on the premise that voters will oust the folks who created the problem in the first place.

Raw and uncensored, Republican Councilman Ron Gambardella opines on the latest goings-on from behind the legislative bench. He can be reached at r.gambardella@snet.net. (Note: The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the Hamden Daily News.)


March 2, 2007

Henrici’s ‘Achievements’

By Ron Gambardella

The absolute power of the mayor of Hamden has finally been exposed for all to witness. No longer encumbered by any pretense of modesty or any appearance of cooperation, the mayor has decided that the Town Charter no longer applies to his administration. There, I’ve said it plainly. The rules are just an annoyance to this administration.  Why pretend to pay any heed to the charter when you can make the rules as you go along. With 13 Democrats on the Council backing him, who will get in the way? The genie is out of the bottle and there ain’t no going back.

I am, of course, referring to the recent hiring of Chris Smith as dog warden by Henrici. The charter clearly states the job must be posted, but wait a minute, if he did that he might have to pick a qualified candidate. Instead, like bid waivers, he simply disregards the rules and picks a hockey buddy for the job or perhaps someone he may owe a favor.

Before continuing, I like to take a minute to thank the mayor. Usually, I have to work hard to uncover the truth by digging through the Democrats’ debris pile of half-truths and slight-of-hand politics. But now all that has changed. They have gone from covert tactics, obfuscation and intentional confusion to downright boldface lying. Their new philosophy is to just put their agenda in your face and challenge you to do something about it.

This is nothing more than the steady progression of the ceaseless privileges extended to the mayor by his Council.  I couldn’t make any of this up if I tried. The facts are certainly stranger than fiction.

When questioned, the mayor said no one was interested in the animal control officer position. Meanwhile, we have a town employee performing the job who was not given even the slightest hint of consideration for the position. Not only that, to add insult to injury, the mayor doesn’t tell anyone his plan and the new employee just shows up. It seems like I need only wait a day or two before the mayor and his administration provide me with something more to write about. Let’s take a moment to reminisce about some of the mayor’s other achievements:

  • Instituting a hiring freeze except when a friend needs a job; then there is a temporary thaw
  • Attempting to hire an inexperience candidate to head the fire department
  • 47 bid waivers and counting
  • Purchasing an SUV in the middle of a gas crisis
  • Creating a  $50,000-per-year help desk job when promising not to create any new positions
  • Presiding over the highest tax increase in the history of the town
  • Critical positions left vacant in police and fire
  • Presenting a budget to the Council that overstates revenue and understates expenses
  • Pursuing useless endeavors such as Wi-Fi and a cash-burning ambulance service

At some point, the people in town will have to stand up and take notice that the current leadership in the legislative and executive branches of government is woefully deficient in even the most basic principals of management. Leading us in circles isn’t leadership at all. It’s nothing more than mindless meandering and floundering.

One last point and I’ll let you go. This Monday coming, the Council is scheduled to discuss adoption of a code of ethics for public officials. Given the current state of affairs of this administration, we are in store for excellent comedic entertainment. Stay tuned.

Raw and uncensored, Republican Councilman Ron Gambardella opines on the latest goings-on from behind the legislative bench. He can be reached at r.gambardella@snet.net. (Note: The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the Hamden Daily News.)


February 26, 2007

POBs and Then What?

By Ron Gambardella

To date, the Council has not been given the opportunity to vote on the mayor’s proposal to issue pension obligation bonds (POBs). This has been a contentious issue. There have been several presentations made before the Council by various experts. More recently, the mayor addressed the Council in an effort to educate -- and convince -- Council members that this is the right thing to do.  If I had to guess, the mayor and his staff are working hard behind the scenes to secure the necessary votes to ensure passage of the POBs. I could only speculate what is going on behind closed doors.

These closed-door sessions are a staple of American politics. My concern is what the mayor must promise to win the necessary votes. I don’t want to solve one problem only to create another from an IOU. In an effort to apply additional pressure to the Council, during his presentation, the mayor went on record to say that he could not endorse a budget that did not include POBs. This was his way of saying, “If taxes go up don’t blame me. It’s the Council’s fault for not approving my recommendation. See I told ya so!”

It is no secret that I have been the only outspoken advocate on the Council for the issuance of pension obligation bonds, as a way of raising the level of the under-funded pension closer to what the actuary is recommending. The primary purposes for my support of this measure is threefold: 1) to give current and future retirees peace of mind that the necessary funds will be there; 2) that once we travel down this road, using the pension for political jockeying to balance the budget will be removed from the equation for this administration as well as future administrations; and 3) properly managed, this strategy provides much needed stability for the taxpayer minimizing if not eliminating the need for sharp tax increases.

I continue to believe it is the right thing to do for all interested parties. However, it is only the foundation from which we must continue to build a financially sound town budget.

Once the POB’s are in place, the next hurdle will be to dismantle the retirement plan as it currently exists for new hires. I repeat new hires only. It would be extremely unfair and downright wrong to disadvantage any town employee nearing the end of his or her career who relied on the existing retirement package.

One idea brought to my attention by a concerned taxpayer was to reinstitute the Social Security system as the first step toward a long-term retirement solution. With Social Security, the employer pays 50 percent of the cost and the employee pays 50 percent. Additionally, a plan similar to a 401K or 403(b) plan can be set up where the employee contributes to the plan and the town can match those funds up to an agreed-upon percentage. This empowers employees to take control of their own retirement. A plan like this would be completely portable, following the employee from employer to employer without losing prior year contributions. The investment decisions would be up to the individual employee.

There is no one plan that will make everyone happy. I would also consider voluntary lump-sum payout options for existing employees who are inclined to manage their own financial future. We must look for other alternatives to solve deep-seated problems. The town must come to grips with financial reality. We can no longer afford to pay the benefits we are paying. This has got to stop! It may take a wholesale replacement of those in power to effect a change.

Raw and uncensored, Republican Councilman Ron Gambardella opines on the latest goings-on from behind the legislative bench. He can be reached at r.gambardella@snet.net. (Note: The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the Hamden Daily News.)


February 22, 2007

Polly Wannabe Elected

By Ron Gambardella

Sometimes complex subjects such as employee benefits can best be understood when they are discussed among town employees. They, after all, have the greatest interest in how a new contract will impact them. Most taxpayers expect their elected officials to do what’s best for the town (this is a huge mistake) and have little time or energy to devote to such matters. As a result, taxpayers pay little attention to the details. Moreover, with the 13 Democrats and two Republicans on the Council, any attempt to debate issues and reach a compromise is pointless.

Below, I have used the example of the health benefits recently approved by the Council to give the reader a better idea of why the town’s health costs continue to soar. Let’s listen in on a hypothetical conversation between two unnamed town employees to gain a better understanding of how taxpayer money is freely given away.

Employee 1: I heard you’re planning on retiring in the next few months. How many years do you have?

Employee 2: Yeah, you heard right. I had enough. I’ll have 20 years in March.

Employee 1: Not bad at all. How old are you?

Employee 2: I will be 50 in a couple of weeks.

Employee 1: What are planning on doing with all your time?

Employee 2: Time? I fully expect to be back at work. I can collect my pension here, which is around $40K a year, and work at something I really enjoy doing. Thanks to the new contracts my friends in the Democratic Party recently approved, I can receive my health benefits for life. You won’t believe this but my new employer will even give me a bonus if I decide not to take the health package they offer. I looked at their plan but Hamden’s plan is twice as good. I would be a fool to give up this plan.

Employee 1: Man, you got me thinking. You mean I can keep my health benefits from the town for life and work somewhere else after I retire from here?

Employee 2: You sure can. Do remember what Matt Fitch said the other day on the Council when approving the police contract? He said the benefits were very generous. He was letting us know that as long as the Democrats remain in control you can expect more of the same.

Employee 1: I think I know what you’re saying. We have a good thing; don’t upset the applecart. What about Gambardella? He seems to be attracting attention to things that shouldn’t concern him. Do you think anyone will listen to him?

Employee 2: Nah! He’s a Republican. Right now no one is listening to Republicans. The Democrats run things in Hamden. Remember when [former Councilwoman] Valerie Cooper ran for office? She was on the campaign trail a total of two days and won in a landslide victory. The Democrats have so much power in this town they can actually run a parrot in the next election. They should name the parrot Polly Wanna. Put the parrot on the ballot for the next term. I will guarantee the parrot will beat any Republican by a margin of 2 to 1. In fact, we have a bunch of parrots on the Council right now. They simply mimic the administration. Relax. When it’s your time to retire you won’t have a thing to worry about.

I have tried to get across two points from the above dialogue. First, Hamden’s health plan is among the best offered anywhere. In fact, it is too good, placing a tremendous financial burden on the taxpayer. Second, when politics are so lopsided as they are in Hamden, any prudent thinking is replaced by a greater mindset to stay in power at any cost. If this town has any hope for the future, a more balanced approach to the political process must occur for the benefit of all.

Raw and uncensored, Republican Councilman Ron Gambardella opines on the latest goings-on from behind the legislative bench. He can be reached at r.gambardella@snet.net. (Note: The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the Hamden Daily News.)


February 20, 2007

Power, Power and More Power

Hamden Dems can't seem to get enough

By Ron Gambardella

In my last few articles, I have made reference to “the way of the Democrat.” This expression assumed that folks reading this understood the philosophy behind the decisions made by those 13 Hamden Legislative Council members who call themselves Democrats. To fully appreciate they way of the Democrat we have to go back to the Amento Administration.

At that time, the Democrats sought the ways and means to discredit the mayor by doing such things as stripping his administration of the ability to hire by withholding financing for key positions. This in turn created logjams in workflow and the inability to keep government running smoothly. When things went badly, the Democrats were quick to point out the issues in an attempt to show that Mayor Amento was unable to continue to function in the capacity of mayor.

Another example was bid waivers. The Democrats skewered the mayor for this practice calling it unacceptable and attempted to paint the picture that Mayor Amento was resorting to tactics that would disadvantage the taxpayers. The Democrats used these arguments to build the necessary momentum to unseat the mayor in favor of the current administration.

Finally, the Democrats were especially irked at Mayor Amento’s bipartisan government, which seemed to be the final straw that resulted in a thumbs-down vote from his party. Councilman Matt Fitch was instrumental in arranging Mayor Amento’s demise.

Now fast forward to the current administration. Suddenly bid waivers are an acceptable practice. Where’s the opposition? Where’s the concern for the taxpayer? These very same Democrats now talk about how bid waivers are a quick way to move government forward and serve the taxpayer’s best interest. These same Democrats who would not provide staffing for Mayor Amento saw fit to hire a $50,000 help desk administrator when a published directory of department head telephone numbers would have accomplished the same thing. Again, these same Democrats sung praises of support for purchasing an SUV as way of inaugurating the new mayor.

Not once did the Democrats mention a word about the need for a historically high tax increase during Mayor Henrici’s campaign. Don’t let anyone kid you in believing the Democrats did not understand the difficulties facing the town. After all, they created the problems. Instead, they feature Wi-Fi and an ambulance service as the cornerstones for reform in the town of Hamden. To me, this is almost sinister. With hindsight being 20-20, we now see more clearly the hidden agenda of the Democrat.

So what is the way of the Democrat? It is simply this: They embrace policies that best suit the Democratic Party. Right or wrong has nothing to do with how a Democrat votes. It is what is best for the party. Whom do we owe favors? Whom do we owe jobs? How can we get more votes at the expense of the taxpayer? These are the underlying principles that operate in the background and are behind every vote the Democrats cast.

Just look at the way they eliminated the library director’s salary during last year’s budget process, then reversed their position. This was a warning to anyone who opposes the way of the Democrat. However, if you bow to party politics you are rewarded with lucrative contracts as can be seen in the case of the recently awarded contract to complete the ice skating rink.

It pays to be a member of the Democratic Party.

Raw and uncensored, Republican Councilman Ron Gambardella opines on the latest goings-on from behind the legislative bench. He can be reached at r.gambardella@snet.net. (Note: The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the Hamden Daily News.)


February 15, 2007

I Asked and I Got

By Ron Gambardella

Recently I requested a yearend projection of the town’s expenses from the administration. Listed below is a line item detail of those projections. I took what the Finance Department provided and resorted the data and listed each item by expense category rather than by department, so you can get a better sense of how the town spends your money. Bottom line is that the town is projecting a savings of $537K from the revised budget. The forecast is for Feb. 1 to the end of the fiscal period on June 30, 2007.

It is interesting to note that the Council doesn’t seem at all interested in such matters. When the topic of projections was discussed at our last meeting, Councilman Flanagan indicated that he could only deal with the here and now. He appears to be the spokesman for the Democratic Party, since most of what he says goes unchallenged by his Democratic peers. I can only conclude the Democrats as a whole have no interest in the chart below. Judging from their approach to developing a budget and their approval of endless bid waivers, they seem to take comfort in the bliss of financial ignorance. Almost like saying don’t tell me, let me be surprised.

However, after being shell shocked by the historically high tax increase that the Democrats heaped upon the taxpayers last year, I am acutely aware how this philosophy can create a significant financial burden on the rest of us who have to pay for such ignorance.

2006-2007 Exp Forecast

 

 

 

 

 

CATEGORY

Revised Budget

Forecast

Better/Worse) Budget

ADVERTISING          Total

102,040

108,110

(6,070)

ANIMAL ACQ/CARE/TREA Total

6,000

6,000

0

ANNUAL AUDIT         Total

40,000

40,000

0

BINDING              Total

4,440

5,243

(803)

BLDG/GROUND MAINT Total

147,100

162,100

(15,000 )

BOARD OF EDUCATION B Total

70,700,000

70,700,000

0

Board of Ethics Total

1,000

1,000

0

BOOKS, MAPS, MANUALS Total

21,245

20,195

1,050

BUILDING REPAIRS     Total

30,775

30,650

125

BUSINESS TRAVEL      Total

1,660

450

1,210

CABINETS, CHAIRS, ETC. Total

400

398

2

CABINETS, CHAIRS, ETC. Total

1,000

0

1,000

CASH MATCH           Total

12,400

12,400

0

CODED ALARM/MONITOR  Total

500

500

0

COMMISSION EXPENSES  Total

1,250

1,250

0

COMPUTER RELATED Total

79,800

39,800

40,000

s

HYDRANT WATER SERVIC Total

500,000

500,000

0

INSURANCE CLAIMS     Total

50,000

70,000

(20,000)

INSURANCE LIABILITY  Total

1,350,000

1,350,000

0

INSURANCE MANAGEMENT Total

45,000

25,000

20,000

INTEREST             Total

4,823,096

4,823,096

0

LABORATORY EQUIPMENT Total

10,000

10,000

0

LAND RECORDS INDEXIN Total

85,000

85,000

0

LAND/BUILDINGS - RENTAL Total

100,500

100,200

300

LANDFILL MATERIALS & Total

50,000

50,000

0

LEAF REMOVAL         Total

140,000

146,613

(6,613)

LEGAL LAWYER         Total

10,000

10,000

0

LIBRARY MATERIALS    Total

225,000

225,000

0

LIBRARY PROCESSING Total

14,000

14,000

0

LIFE INSURANCE       Total

85,000

85,000

0

LINE PAINTING        Total

32,500

32,500

0

LONGEVITY            Total

487,635

462,355

25,280

LUBRICANTS           Total

14,100

14,100

0

MEAL ALLOWANCE       Total

2,050

2,050

0

MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT Total

700

700

0

MEDICAL Total

22,928,345

22,928,345

0

MEDICAL SUPPLIES     Total

41,030

41,030

0

MIDDLE SCHOOL/SPEC.  Total

120,000

0

120,000

MILEAGE              Total

11,130

10,930

200

MONTHLY ALLOWANCE    Total

4,100

3,700

400

MUNICIPAL SERVICE FE Total

83,100

89,079

(5,979)

NATURAL GAS          Total

170,000

190,000

(20,000)

OFFICE EQUIPMENT     Total

15,460

12,800

2,660

OFFICE EQUIPMENT REP Total

62,750

56,650

6,100

OFFICE SUPPLIES      Total

31,300

30,300

1,000

OTHER Total

173,420

176,554

(3,134)

OVERTIME             Total

770,173

909,007

(138,834)

OVERTIME-MUNICIPAL E Total

30,000

22,000

8,000

PARAMEDIC/EMS DIFF.  Total

270,000

244,560

25,440

PARK & REC SPEC PROG Total

165,000

165,000

0

PARKWAY/TREE MAINTEN Total

12,500

12,500

0

PARKWAY/TREES        Total

15,000

15,000

0

PAY DIFFERENTIAL     Total

16,100

15,600

500

PHOTO/DUPLICATING EQ Total

500

250

250

PHOTO-DUPLICTING EQU Total

150

150

0

PHYSICAL EXAMS       Total

15,000

15,000

0

PHYSICAL EXAMS-OSHA  Total

30,000

30,000

0

POLICE PROTECTION    Total

30,000

35,000

(5,000)

POSTAGE              Total

120,935

120,429

506

PRINCIPAL            Total

6,950,000

6,950,000

0

PRINTING/REPRODUCTIO Total

89,400

87,772

1,628

PROFESSIONAL MEETING Total

10,450

10,150

300

PROFESSIONAL/TECH SE Total

662,045

634,627

27,418

PROPERTY MAINTENANCE Total

2,000

2,000

0

PROTECTIVE EQUIP.    Total

40,000

40,000

0

Q.V.H.D. ASSESSMENT  Total

301,700

301,700

0

RADAR EQUIPMENT      Total

3,000

3,000

0

RADIO REPAIRS        Total

21,400

21,400

0

RADIO/COMMUNICATION  Total

13,000

11,500

1,500

RECORD REPRODUCTION  Total

4,000

4,000

0

RECREATION EQUIPMENT Total

3,500

3,500

0

RECREATION SUPPLIES  Total

12,700

12,600

100

RECREATION-FALL/WINT Total

26,000

26,000

0

RECREATION-SPRING/SU Total

16,500

16,500

0

RECREATION-YEARLY    Total

67,230

74,230

(7,000)

RECYCLE MAT/SUPPLIES Total

7,000

7,000

0

REGULAR SALARIES Total

23,998,671

23,292,861

705,810

RENTAL - AUTOMOBILE  Total

11,000

11,000

0

RENTAL - EQUIPMENT   Total

40,560

40,560

0

RENTAL EQUIPMENT     Total

1,000

1,000

0

REPAIRS-FIRE EXTINGU Total

3,000

3,000

0

RES. NEGOTIATION-ARB Total

1,129,075

1,129,075

0

ROAD MAINTENANCE SUP Total

50,000

60,000

(10,000)

SAFETY EQUIPMENT     Total

43,200

42,450

750

SAFETY SUPPLIES      Total

17,600

17,600

0

SANITARY & CLEANING  Total

14,000

18,000

(4,000)

SETTLEMENT RESERVE   Total

0

0

0

SEWER USAGE CHARGES  Total

20,000

20,000

0

SHIFT DIFFERENTIAL   Total

194,750

177,720

17,030

SNOW RELATED EQUIP R Total

8,000

8,000

0

SNOW REMOVAL         Total

180,000

180,000

0

SNOW REMOVAL SUPPLIE Total

100,000

100,000

0

SOCIAL SECURITY      Total

1,300,000

1,338,927

(38,927)

SPECIAL PROGRAMS     Total

5,000

5,000

0

SPECIAL PROJECTS     Total

53,000

53,000

0

STAND-BY             Total

89,760

91,940

(2,180)

STIPEND              Total

7,900

7,900

0

STIPEND/REIMBURSEMEN Total

18,750

18,750

0

STREET LIGHTING      Total

990,000

1,066,702

(76,702)

STREETS/BRIDGES      Total

10,000

10,000

0

SUBSTITUTES/STRAIGHT Total

1,200,000

1,500,000

(300,000)

TAX REFUNDS          Total

106,300

100,000

6,300

TEL REPAIR/INSTALLAT Total

49,540

49,540

0

TELEPHONE SERVICE    Total

310,470

305,837

4,633

TEMPORARY WAGES      Total

336,900

343,903

(7,003)

TEST SUPPLIES        Total

12,500

12,500

0

TIRE REPAIRS/ROAD SE Total

55,000

55,000

0

TIRES/TUBES/WHEELS   Total

12,000

12,000

0

TOOL ALLOWANCE       Total

1,600

1,600

0

TOWING ABANDONED CAR Total

4,000

4,000

0

TOWN CONTRIBUTION    Total

9,000,000

9,000,000

0

TOWN EVENTS          Total

5,000

5,000

0

TRAFFIC SIGN SUPS.   Total

22,500

22,500

0

TRAFFIC SIGNAL PARTS Total

30,000

30,000

0

TREE STUMP REMOVAL S Total

3,000

3,000

0

UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENS Total

35,000

35,000

0

UNIFORM CLEANING ALL Total

35,850

32,100

3,750

UNIFORM PURCHASE ALL Total

250,410

239,405

11,005

UNIFORM STIPEND ALLO Total

31,240

31,240

0

VEHICLE MAINTENANCE  Total

87,400

89,600

(2,200)

VEHICLE RENTAL       Total

20,400

20,400

0

VEHICLE REPAIR SUPPL Total

1,500

1,500

0

VEHICLE REPAIRS      Total

101,000

101,000

0

VEHICLE REPLACEMENT  Total

200,970

199,925

1,045

VEHICLE/EQUIPMENT RE Total

55,000

55,000

0

VETERANS MEMORIAL PA Total

5,000

5,000

0

WASTE REMOVAL CONTRA Total

1,390,000

1,390,000

0

WASTE REMOVAL-CONDOS Total

180,000

181,324

(1,324)

WATER                Total

46,400

47,900

(1,500)

WATER MONITORING     Total

6,500

6,500

0

WORKERS' COMPENSATIO Total

1,100,000

1,100,000

0

YALE CHILD STUDY     Total

37,080

37,080

0

Grand Total

163,841,404

163,304,398

537,006

Raw and uncensored, Republican Councilman Ron Gambardella opines on the latest goings-on from behind the legislative bench. He can be reached at r.gambardella@snet.net. (Note: The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the Hamden Daily News.)


February 12, 2007

When a Donkey Says ‘No’ He Votes ‘Yes’

By Ron Gambardella

It occurred to me that the Democrats sitting on the Council may not understand the meaning of the word “no.” In fact, I do not believe there has been a single instance that this word has been voiced when it comes to bid waivers or union contracts. To date, there have been 47 bid waivers approved by the Democrats. Additionally, every union contract has also been approved.

It seems Webster’s dictionary may have to be invoked to fully appreciate the meaning of the word n-o. For those who may not be aware, Webster’s provides an online dictionary.  Not only is the word defined, but you can actually hear the word properly pronounced. Something the Democrats should listen to more often. I played it several times, since it is so seldom heard from the Democrats when it comes to practicing fiscal restraint. Webster’s defines no as follows:

No:  1) used as a function word to express the negative of an alternative choice or possibility 2) used to express negation, dissent, denial, or refusal 3) used with a following adjective to imply a meaning expressed by the opposite positive statement 4) used as a function word to emphasize a following negative or to introduce a more emphatic, explicit, or comprehensive statement 5) used as an interjection to express surprise, doubt, or incredulity 6) used in combination with a verb to form a compound adjective 7) in negation

A word as simple as “no” can easily be inserted into a statement to express the unwillingness to co-sign poorly negotiated contracts or ill-advised bid waivers.  So far, this Council has been unable to demonstrate they actually can vote no. It is true that they can speak endlessly about the possibility of voting no, but cannot seem to actually do it. What is there to gained from talking about voting no and then concluding your discussion by voting yes? It is like a child who pesters a parent for a toy or candy. The parent first may be inclined to say no or actually say the word no, but eventually wearies of the incessant demands and gives in.

This Council is a lot like the weary parent. The administration constantly seeks approval by submitting an unending request list of bid waivers. The Council then talks about saying no but doesn’t. Again, it’s like Pavlov’s dog that begins to salivate when stimulated by sound. This administration begins to salivate when the Council discusses no, because they understand what is coming next -- yes!

When Councilman Matt Fitch was defending the police union contract last Monday, he went so far as to admit the contracts were lucrative, chocked full of high-cost benefits. He spoke about taking small or baby steps. He then mentioned how the police union contract was like the Titanic turning slowly. By voting yes to this contract, he was willing to commit this town to a multi-year pact that doesn’t reflect current fiscal realities.

The only problem with Councilman Fitch’s comparison is that the Titanic sunk. It sunk because it could not turn quickly enough to avoid an iceberg. The very analogy Mr. Fitch used to justify his yes vote speaks to the failed policies the Democrats have instituted over the past seven years. The slow pace the Democrats are charting will ultimately lead to the same fate as the Titanic.

Raw and uncensored, Republican Councilman Ron Gambardella opines on the latest goings-on from behind the legislative bench. He can be reached at r.gambardella@snet.net. (Note: The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the Hamden Daily News.)


February 7, 2007

Lobotomy, Anyone?

By Ron Gambardella

This Monday, the Council reviewed and approved the collective bargaining agreement between the Democrats who control the town of Hamden and the police union Local 907. The vote was 13 yes, 2 abstentions and one no vote. Once again, I cast the sole no vote. While other councilmembers may wax philosophically on the virtues of voting no, I remain the only person who actually did so.

Now to the casual observer it would appear that I am voting no just to be different and perhaps grab a headline or two. Let me perfectly clear: I do not relish the onslaught I receive from the Democrats attempting to justify the most outrageous sort of nonsense.  If you think I enjoy ridicule, chastisement and the overall feeling of being totally and absolutely alone you are wrong. I am compelled to do the right thing for the taxpayers.

I will not be silenced by the Democrats no matter how hard they try. It would be so much easier going along for the ride. After all, who really cares? Why put myself through the misery? Just go along with the crowd. Well the short answer is that I just cannot remain silent. The Democrats prefer darkness to light. I say let’s bring the abuses into the light so they can be adequately addressed and remedied. 

Let me be more specific. The union contract, just approved by the Democrats who claim there is nothing we can do, agreed to the following:

  • Sick leave accumulation up to 220 days
  • Vacation time accumulation up to 66 days
  • $750 annual incentive to use 9 or fewer sick days
  • $500 annual incentive to use 11 or fewer sick days
  • Employee health insurance premium contribution capped as follows: 2007 -- $28.85 per week or about $121 per month

Let me start off by saying I have the utmost respect for the fine women and men working on the force. They have done a fine job in policing our roadways and neighborhoods. That said I would like to point out police officers are paid extremely well for the outstanding work they do and are frequently among the top wage earners in the town. They can afford to increase their contribution to the health insurance premiums. Councilman Flanagan attempted to discredit any criticism of the contract by reminding the Council of the dangers police officers face. I don’t believe any councilmember needed reminding, nonetheless, the reminding was intended to discourage any attempt at challenging the agreement.  This logic has led to the extremely high labor cost we as a community are struggling to pay. Councilman Flanagan can best serve his community by sitting on the other side of the Council table.

Let me continue. Does it make any sense to offer incentives to accumulate sick time? Does it make any sense to allow 220 days of sick time? The administration admitted that sick time was being abused by the officers. The financial incentive was less expensive than paying overtime when an officer calls in sick. This is like treating the symptoms and not the disease. This is the way of the Democrat. Don’t fix the problem, spend more money. I nearly vomited when I heard this explanation. Worse yet, no one voted no. The Council thought this to be an acceptable answer.

I feel like Jack Nicholson in “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.” In the movie, Jack seemed to be the only sane character in an insane situation. He was given a lobotomy for his troubles so he could better adjust to his surroundings. This seems to be the prerequisite for sitting on the Council. I’m beginning to understand why my fellow councilmembers nod their heads yes and smile often

Raw and uncensored, Republican Councilman Ron Gambardella opines on the latest goings-on from behind the legislative bench. He can be reached at r.gambardella@snet.net.(Note: The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the Hamden Daily News.)



MATTHEW J. CORCORAN, ESQ.

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Help support the Hamden Daily News by clicking a link below. If you purchase something at one of the advertised businesses via that click, we get a few bucks -- while you don't pay an extra cent.

21st Century Insurance
Amazon.com
Anna's Linens
Barnes & Noble
Beau Ties
Beyond Bedding
Big Mans Land
Blockbuster
Cheap Trips
Constructive Playthings
The Container Store
Cuban Crafters
Dancing Deer Baking Co.
ebay
Expedia.com
Flowers.com
GiftCertificates.com
GNC
Green Cine
Kaplan Test Prep
Lane Bryant
LensCrafters
Macy's
Match.com
National Pet Pharmacy
Nirvana Belgian Chocolates
Office Depot
PetSmart
Sears
Sierra Club
StubHub
StuffedAnimals.com
Thrifty Rent-a-Car


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