Bad Board

Ranger Vinny Gives Thanks

St. Stephen Kids Deserve Free Gym Use

So as far as I'm concerned, we are saving the city money by sending our children to St. Stephen. We are part of this city, by the way; people seem to think we aren't. And because we are part of this city and pay taxes we should be allowed to use public gyms when they are not being used by anyone, for free. I'm not saying that we shouldn't pay the hardworking custodians but if it is within the time that they are working, I can't see what the problem is.

Maybe it's just a different way of looking at a situation or maybe sports aren't seen as an important part of a student’s life. If it is just the money, I don't see us putting Hamden in a deficit by going to Ridge Hill School on a Friday night from 4:30-6:45 to practice basketball. Is that too much to ask? Well I asked and I got my answer!

Ann Dombrowski
Hamden resident and taxpayer
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'No Mystery Here'

A recent story in a local newspaper about naming streets after veterans left me scratching my head in disbelief. No one seemed to know which streets are named for which veterans who were killed in various conflicts. All one has to do is read the names on the walls inside Memorial Town Hall to get the answers.

Credit for beginning the naming of streets for deceased veterans should be given to former Town Engineer Pat Zullo, who began the formal process in the 1950s. As a brief example, Robertson Drive is named after my classmate Pierce Robertson who was killed in Vietnam. Ed Duel, brother of Tax Collector Barbara Tito, was killed in Vietnam and now we have Duel Drive. Hearn Lane is named for my neighbor Frances Hearn, who was killed in World War II. Lent Road after Hamden High third baseman Ed Lent. Few names are left for developers to pick.

There is no mystery here. I am simply amazed that this recognition of Hamden vets has gone unnoticed. Might I also suggest that reading the starred names on the veterans’ monument in front of the new middle school will produce the same result.

John L. Carusone
Daniel Road

BOE Cut St. Stephen a Sweet Deal

A Letter to Ned Lamont, the Democrat Who Ran Against Joe Lieberman For the U.S. Senate

"Dear Mr. Lamont:

Thank you for your kind note. However, there are a few comments I would like to make about your campaign.

Another Newhall Dump

I read the article in the Hamden Daily News “What a Dump.” This article told a very sad story about a school building that the Board of Education stopped repairing. The Board of Education let the old middle school fall apart when it was still being used as a learning center for our children. I find that to be unconscionable.

From Hamden's RTC Chair

In 2007, Hamden Republicans will be working very hard to recruit, once again, quality candidates to run for mayor, Legislative Council and the Board of Education. Hamden Republicans will urge all residents to give a good look at all Republican candidates running, and will ask for their confidence and their vote to balance the power in our town.

Hamden Republican candidates will pledge to work together with all other elected officials, put party politics aside and work for the best interest of the entire town, if elected.

We need to control town spending and to keep our taxes from soaring. The Democrats have controlled Hamden for the past 20 years. Union contracts have been poorly negotiated, our roads are in deplorable condition and our taxes are too high.

Hamden BOE member Austin Cesare and Hamden Republicans will have a party in January to congratulate Gov. Rell and Rep. Adinolfi for their tremendous victories. All Hamden residents will be invited.

Dan Potts, Gov. Rell’s Hamden coordinator who passed away just two weeks ago, would be so proud of the outcome he helped to achieve. Congratulations to all newly elected officials, both Republicans and Democrats. I look forward to all parties working together to help make Hamden a better place to live.

Michael R. Iezzi
Hamden Republican Town Chairman
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From Hamden's DTC Chair

To all the volunteers and supporters who gave time and money to the Connecticut candidates.

To Murphy, Joe Courtney and Diane Farrell for running campaigns that made us proud to be Connecticut Democrats. In the face of blistering attacks that lied about them and their records, all three maintained their dignity.

To John DeStefano, Mary Messina Glassman and Ned Lamont, who raised issues that had not been addressed and have put the winners on notice that we expect more from them than platitudes and broken promises.

To Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro for being such an outstanding representative to the people of Hamden and New Haven County and for attending our event last Sunday evening.

To Susan Bysiewicz, Denise Napier, Nancy Wyman and Richard Blumenthal for sending their words of encouragement in person, and for their continued exemplary public service.

To the Hamden Democratic delegation to the State House, Cam Staples, Brendan Sharkey, Peter Villano and Joe Crisco, for their leadership in Hartford and their unwavering representation of Hamden's concerns.

To Hamden’s overlooked but vitally important Judge of Probate Salvatore Diglio for continuing to exemplify the true meaning of "compassionate."

To our Registrar of Voters Margaret Rae for being the most thorough, impartial and unflappable registrar in the nation.

And finally, to the Hamden voters, who helped prove that democracy is alive and well in America. The people have spoken and these are some of the things they said they want:

· A resolution to the war in Iraq and responsible foreign policy
· A livable minimum wage
· Universal healthcare
· Federal funding of stem cell research
· A comprehensive renewable energy plan free, of foreign oil
· Real job creation
· Funding and tax breaks for education

These are not Democratic or Republican issues, they are American issues and we need to solve them together. Now let's get to work.

Dial 407.2090 to Report Illegal Students

As a newly elected member of the Hamden Board of Education, I have been lobbying the school district with great enthusiasm to strengthen our district residency office. We currently have only one person in charge of identifying non-residents who attend our schools. She is responsible for doing the necessary surveillance, and filling out the mountains of paperwork required to do the job properly.

She continues to do a tremendous job. In the recent budget, I lobbied hard and managed to obtain funding for a new part-time position (with a cost of about $6,000) to help support this residency officer in her ever-growing task of removing non-residents. This is money well spent. I have received strong support on this issue from the central office administration and many BOE members.

Students who do not live in town but attend our schools have an immediate impact on growing class sizes and in properly determining the resources necessary to provide the teachers, textbooks, classroom space and supplies to our children. Thus far this year, we have had 20 residency cases, of which seven have withdrawn from our schools. Do the math. If it costs approximately $12,000 to educate a Hamden child, this amounts to a long-term cost savings of over $84,000 ($12,000 x 7 = $84,000).

In 2005-06, we investigated 90 cases of which 47 withdrew, thus indicating that they were not Hamden residents. In 2004-2005, 89 cases were investigated and 58 withdrew. In 2002-2003, we had 117 residency cases where 69 students withdrew upon request and 48 students were determined to live in town. These numbers clearly show that each year new cases pop up, and that we have a continued residency issue in this town.

Central office has done a good job with its recent findings, but more can be done. I believe there are currently more than just 20 possible cases of non-residency in our schools. The yearly numbers I cited above show that this is a real possibility. This "stealing" of educational services by non-residents attending our schools has got to stop! My late father, Frank Cesare, a former 2nd District councilman, brought this issue up several times while on the Council in the 1990s, and it was dismissed as "being a non-issue." The recent findings clearly show that residency is indeed an issue.

Along with the hiring of an additional part-time residency officer, I believe another effective tool in fighting this continued problem could be what my Republican colleague, Ed Sullivan, had proposed recently, which is to bill the parents of each non-resident for the $12,000 that they stole from the hard-working taxpayers in this town. Or better yet, bill the school district where the students come from for the educational services we provided to their students. To be fair, we could even prorate this bill based on the number of days the student attended our schools before getting caught.

This is a major issue as we continue to have growing class sizes and ever-shrinking resources to spend on education. We simply have no other alternative but to address this concern. The stakes and costs are too high. If you have any information regarding students attending our schools illegally, you can contact the superintendent's office at 407.2090.

Austin T. Cesare (R)
Hamden Board of Education

Now I agree that as a local elected official, one’s job would be to manage the well-being of the town in the best interest of all parties involved. Now, as I have stated to Don and many other people during discussions while waiting for the Town Council to begin, it should not matter if you are a Dem or a Rep, but it should matter that you’re a Hamden resident first and foremost.

I feel that the vast majority of people do not see that as such; they only see what the media tell them. If you’re a Republican, you are for Iraq and love George Bush. If you’re a Democrat, then you oppose the war and think George is Satan. This is why I feel Republicans get a bad rap. We are not looked upon as individuals but merely Republicans. When a Republican is introduced, people see Washington and national issues and blame these local politicians.

I know, Don, that you and I have some very similar views on things on the local level. We have both honorably served our country in the military, and we both care very deeply what happens in our town. I just think that as people go to the polls, they should be thinking with their heart and their head when pulling the levers of our outdated voting systems.

Don, as you point out: “Democrats, on the other hand, have so many quality candidates that every available seat -- mayor, Council, BOE and the Democratic Town Committee -- is up for grabs in the convention and has led to primaries in the last two elections.”

That is only because people do not vote on those candidates as individuals, but simply look to their party. Again, Republicans are not liked because of national politics.

Here is what everyone should base their votes on:

1. Who will get the job done?
2. Are they likeable?
3. Would you put your livelihood in their hands?

If you can find a candidate that fits those ideals then by all means vote for him or her, but one should not vote for a candidate because you either hate Republicans or Democrats. Remember that wherever one goes in politics, they will usually already have personal values and beliefs that determine how they vote. When Joe Lieberman or Rob Simmons go into their chambers to cast a vote on a bill, they usually have an idea what the state wants. But in the case where there is no clear direction, they ultimately make a decision based on personal values.

So just give a moment before you rally behind the Donkey or Elephant. In local politics it’s about the whole town and the betterment of all who pay taxes and call Hamden home.

Lastly, I would like to echo your sentiments about holding caucuses before scheduled committee or Council times: “Another thought. I believe the Dems on the Council would better serve their constituents, their party and the opposition by holding caucuses and executive sessions before the published time of the public meeting. Leaving the Republicans and the public staring at the clock only raises questions about smoke-filled closed-door backroom deals. Let the light shine!”

Don, I look forward to our many good conversations during Council meetings.

Joseph DeLuca
Proud Republican and Hamden native

Hamden Republicans Desperate for Candidates

Councilman Ron Gambardella has been echoing anti-Democratic vitriol that appears on some local Web sites, forgetting that local politics are personality driven and have little to do with party affiliation other than one has to be something. Local politicians (I believe) choose their affiliations based on national policies.

The Hamden Republican Party has been unable to recruit candidates that appeal to Hamden voters. Evidence: The only elected reps (Council and Board of Education) are mandated by charter -- not by the electorate. Republicans didn't have enough candidates for the Board of Education, endorsed the Democrat for town clerk and were beaten by a third-party candidate (who siphoned votes from the Democrats) in the 5th District in last year’s elections.

Democrats, on the other hand, have so many quality candidates that every available seat -- mayor, Council, BOE and the Democratic Town Committee -- is up for grabs in the convention and has led to primaries in the last two elections.

Another thought. I believe the Dems on the Council would better serve their constituents, their party and the opposition by holding caucuses and executive sessions before the published time of the public meeting. Leaving the Republicans and the public staring at the clock only raises questions about smoke-filled closed-door backroom deals. Let the light shine!

Don Werner
Mix Avenue

Ron Gambardella is a freethinking councilman expressing opinions and proposals he believes to be in the best interest of Hamden. Unfortunately, his current vendetta against town employees is misinformed and ill-advised.

Four or five years ago, the Public Works union received concessions in its contract to allow for an outsourced janitorial service to clean town buildings. It didn't last a year due to poor performance, lack of rapid response, etc. I predict the same for the current Board of Education debacle.

Negotiations are a two-way street. The unions conceded higher costs for
heath plans, a sunset for retirements and what amounts to a six-month
contract. The unions got pay raises that are eaten up by increased health care and cost of living, language protecting work rules and grievance procedures and protection for long-term employees who trusted the town’s promises in regards to retirement.

Ron, three-fifths or 60 percent of town employees are Hamden residents. I don't have numbers for the BOE. How about advocating for this constituency instead of threatening their families’ futures? Why not present examples of service by town employees (like Chief Administrative Officer Scott Jackson) instead of demonizing them and inflaming public sentiment against them by their neighbors?

Don Werner
Mix Avenue
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Thanks for the Tip

I would like to thank the following people who made this night such a success. Police Chief Thomas Wydra for his continued support of this event. Mayor Craig Henrici and his staff for attending, and their donations. Ray DeNardis, general manager of T.G.I. Friday's, along with his managers and staff for their continued hospitality and cooperation. Bob Garguilo, director of special events for Special Olympics Connecticut, for his assistance and attendance each year at Tip-A-Cop. Global messenger and athlete Carrie Rosabianca for doing a tremendous job selling torch run pins at the door. The Hamden PBA and Screen Tek printers for donating T-shirts.

Thanks to all the families, friends and patrons of T.G.I.'s for their attendance and generous donations. Special thanks to my fellow Hamden police officers who donated their time and efforts to serve as waiters: Lt. Timothy Wydra; Sgts. John Riordan, Thomas Raggozino and Steven Crowley; Detectives Colin Kearns, Ray Quinn and Stephen Rossacci; officers Greg Curran, Richard Dzieken, Eric Goclowski and Mark Sheppard; and records clerk Karen Johnson. Without them the night would not have been possible.