Fred Camillo, who was sworn in on December 2 as Greenwich’s newly elected Republican First Selectman, announced the proclamation in a ‘modified news flash.’ Continue Reading →
First Selectman Camillo Declares Monday “Anthony ‘Tony’ Turner Day”
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BET
Recent Posts
Goldrick: What Camillo and the Republican BET Candidates Won’t Tell Us
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“Failure to utilize long-term financing leaves taxpayers vulnerable to rising interest rates, potentially sharply increasing debt service, since the town would have failed to lock in historic low interest rates.” – Sean Goldrick, former member of the Greenwich BET Continue Reading →
Filed under: Letter to the Editor, BET, Sean Goldrick
RAMER: Respecting Town Budget History
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“No, Mr. Camillo. You don’t understand Town finance. Your adversary, Jill Oberlander, does. She was at the helm for the creation of most of what has been accomplished over the past two years of the Democratic controlled BET, which she chaired.” – Jeff Ramer Continue Reading →
Filed under: Letter to the Editor, BET, Fred Camillo, Jeff Ramer, Jill Oberlander
LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS: Why there is no debate for Greenwich BET
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“Voters do determine which majority party will control BET decision making. Of the 12 candidates on the ballot, voters may choose any 6. The party receiving the most total votes becomes the majority party, which then elects the Chairman, Vice Chairman, and often, the Secretary. The Chairman receives a second, tie-breaking vote in most decisions.” – Sandy Waters, President, Greenwich League of Women Voters Continue Reading →
Filed under: Letter to the Editor, BET, Board of Estimate and Taxation, League of Women Voters Greenwich, Sandy Waters
BET Republicans: We Welcome Superintendent of Schools Dr. Toni Jones
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“We are optimistic that Dr. Jones will serve our school district for many years to come and will honor and respect those principles that brought global renown to our schools and Town.” – Republican BET Members and Republican Candidates for Re-Election to the BET – Bill Drake, Andy Duus, Karen Fassuliotis, Debra Hess, Michael Mason, Leslie Tarkington Continue Reading →
Filed under: Letter to the Editor, Andy Duus, BET, Bill Drake, Debra Hess, Karen Fassuliotis, Leslie Tarkington, Michael Mason
Bill Drake, Brooks Harris: The New Debt Policy is Risky
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“We are at a critical juncture where spending is about to increase dramatically while the new debt policy is a risk to our long-standing financial strength and quality of life.” – Bill Drake (BET) and Brooks Harris (RTM) Continue Reading →
Filed under: Letter to the Editor, BET, Bill Drake, Brooks Harris, debt policy, RTM
Lucia Jansen: No More “Ready Fire Aim” Fire Planning
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Submitted by Lucia Jansen
On May 13, 2019, the RTM approved the BET’s proposed $444 million general FY19-20 fund budget. Included in the budget is $75,000 for an independent town-wide fire study that was added by the BET after a unanimous vote. During the BET budget hearings with the fire department, it showed that there were serious gaps in town-wide fire incident and response time data. Lacking sufficient data, of course, makes it difficult to determine effective and required fire department staffing levels. Additionally, the Office of First Selectman and Fire Department’s report to the RTM and BET revealed that town benchmarking data using national standard criteria for response times, including call processing, turnout, and travel times, was either non-existent, non-compliant (e.g., far beyond recommended standards), or excluded data from our important volunteer fire stations located in the area in which the shortfall in service is claimed. Continue Reading →
Filed under: Letter to the Editor, BET, GEMS, Greenwich Fire Dept, Lucia Jansen, RTM
Effros: BOE Lurches from One Costly Fiasco to the Next
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The Greenwich Board of Education has devolved into eight (nxxxxxxxxps) sitting around a table lurching from one costly fiasco to the next. Continue Reading →
Filed under: Letter to the Editor, BET, Bill Effros, BOE, Karen Fassuliotis
Fassuliotis: Why I Did Not Vote for the Town FY 2019-20 Budget
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“Lost in the din of those calling for more taxes are the voices of taxpayers who are pleading for us to lower our tax growth. Adding taxes to an already burdened constituency – and yes, many in town are overburdened with taxes – in a year where Hartford is proposing massive tax increases on everything that moves and every service that is provided – including tolls and cats.” – Karen Fassuliotis Continue Reading →
Filed under: Letter to the Editor, BET, budget, Karen Fassuliotis
Drake: Lengthening Town’s Debts Is Not In Our Interest
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“In the last 12 budgets, we’ve appropriated the massive amount of $664 million to create improved infrastructure… We financed these projects either from cash reserves or with our successful borrowing policy of short maturities. Our general practice is to borrow over seven years: a one-year note rolled over to a second year, followed by a five year bond. The clear advantage of this approach is that the debt is rapidly retired.” – Bill Drake, Republican member of the BET Continue Reading →