Pomfret needs checks and balances for better decision making and full accountability

 

Why is our town an outlier in the State, only governed by a single ordinance? 

 

Without updating the way Pomfret Town government operates, we will continue to suffer from lack of transparency, virtually no checks and balances and an autocratic governing style that results in secret deals, questionable decisions and spending that keeps increasing.

 

FACT: The new Town budget raises taxes again while spending continues to grow, including pet projects most residents don’t want and will not benefit from. Worse, by dipping into the reserve fund to balance the budget, we are increasing the risk of insufficient funds in the future for unexpected costs. Who is looking out for our elderly and working parents that can’t afford thousands of dollars in new taxes?

 

FACT: Allowing an outside group to construct extreme sport biking obstacle courses in the Pomfret Forest appears to violate the easement with the State and may be subjecting the Town to serious liability risk. How did this happen and why are they not paying Pomfret something?

 

FACT: Closing a popular road and spraying herbicides around town roads, including next to streams shouldn’t be by executive mandate. Why should a single elected official be able to make these decisions with no input or oversight?

 

FACT: Our administrative staff continues to grow and, when the money from other sources like State and Federal funds and grants runs out, Pomfret taxpayers will be left holding the bill.

 

FACT: Our Town and State are dominated by single party rule, and that means no one from Pomfret is pushing back on unfunded mandates or warped ideologies like boys competing with our girls while invading their privacy. Their policies have produced the most expensive electricity in the continental US and one the highest costs of living.

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Solutions

Here is how we can reform the way Pomfret is governed; for the people, and by the people.

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1.    Budget: Pomfret taxpayers deserve to have all the facts and a budget process that is open, transparent and that limits spending to essential services.

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• Work together to Increase Revenues: Initiate discussions with the private schools to increase their contributions. Our private schools are a wonderful asset for our Town in many ways. At the same time, they pay no property taxes or other fees. We will initiate and open and collaborative discussion to find a new approach which is fair to all Pomfret residents.

• Individuals and groups using Pomfret’s assets and property need to contribute to our Town: Allowing private individuals and groups to use our Town’s property without compensation is wrong and not fair. We will not allow Town assets to be used without fair compensation.

• Reorganize and Relaunch a coordinated group focused on attracting businesses: The Pomfret Economic Planning & Development Commission needs to update its mission to include quantifiable goals and an action plan. Their work can be integrated with the Pomfret Proprietor's network and resources. With a united and more focused organization, Pomfret can broaden our tax base to help relieve the tax burden on individual property owners.

• Reduce & Remove Roadblocks for new businesses, especially entrepreneurs: With new Pomfret Town leadership focused on the people, this will include reforming our regulatory agencies who must reprioritize service to our residents, especially our businesses as their number one goal.

• Implement bottom-up, “zero based” budgeting & objectivity: Many Towns, review all departments and budgets assuming everything must be reevaluated and prioritized. This is often referred to as “Zero-based” budgeting and, while it takes more time, it provides a ground-up review of all spending assumptions and helps identify the range of priorities possible in maintaining or even reducing spending.

 

2.    Checks & Balances: The Town should not be making decisions that affect all residents without transparency. From closing Town roads and failing to maintain them and spray herbicides around town, including our streams to giving away the Pomfret Forest to an outside mountain biking group, our Town needs a more deliberate, inclusive and thoughtful way to make important decisions.

• Transparency starts with all residents knowing their elected officials respect their duty to serve the voters and their rights to information about the Town’s activities, actions and plans: A prime example is Board of Selectman meeting minutes and records. Resident access to records about Town business is an uphill battle today. The minutes of Selectmen meetings are usually carefully edited by the First Selectman to avoid any details that could raise questions. 

• As a component of the reform of the Office of Selectmen, we will initiate a process to amend the single Pomfret Ordinance: These needed updates will provide the opportunity to require more review and resident input on key issues, as well as requiring majority, and in certain cases, super-majority votes of all the Selectmen for critical issues like major spending.

 

This has been a problem for years;

“In Pomfret, many of the decisions that have been made in the last four years have been made unilaterally by (First Selectwoman Maureen Nicholson) — all of which she has the authority to do, but it makes it very frustrating for second and third selectmen.”

 

https://www.norwichbulletin.com/story/news/politics/county/2015/09/07/outgoing-pomfret-selectman-plans-to/33577110007/

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• Ethics: Today, if a resident of Pomfret or a Town employee has a complaint about their treatment or a concern about unethical actions, there is no independent and confidential resource to turn to. The Town has no Code of Conduct for its employees and elected officials, so questionable behavior is unchecked. In many cases, we hear reports of people not speaking up or saying anything for fear of retribution. We will empower an Ethics Commission modeled after other Connecticut towns like Enfield.

 

• Residents Deserve a Fair Vote: Our annual budgets need to be voted on with a full day of voting via a townwide referendum. For a budget of +/- $15 million dollars there is a more democratic and transparent way to give all residents confidence in the process and a fair vote. Many working couples and parents can’t make a single, early evening meeting announced with minimum legal notice, that was poorly advertised, and with conflicting dates being communicated. We will amend the current Town regulations make this fairer.

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For more details fill out the form below to receive a copy of our plan

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Not Just Pomfret. The High Cost of Connecticut must be considered!

 

Our state is not doing well. 

Our residents are saddled with one of the worst economic conditions in the nation. Connecticut is plagued with affordability issues, being among the worst states for business, with high property taxes, a poor tax climate, and steep electricity rates. Due to the high taxes, the state experienced a net loss of 21,000 people between April 1, 2020, and July 1, 2023. The outflow continues making Connecticut one of only seven states with a declining population trend since 2016.

 

Here are some links to learn more:

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•  One of the Highest Electricity Rates in the Country

• ·One of the Lowest GDP Expansions in the Past Five Years

• One of the Highest Property Taxes in the Country

• One of the Worst States to Start a Business

•  CT Lost 21,000 People Due to High Taxes

• Ranked 15th Best State --- But 48th in Fiscal Stability

• A Weak Return on Investment in Terms of Government Services

• One of the Most Burdensome Overall Tax Climates 

• Several CT Cities Among Worst to Raise a Family 

• One of the Worst Places to Take a Summer Road Trip 

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