Griswold selectman hopefuls face bevy of competing goals

Griswold - How to promote the town's assets, keep spending and government in check, update infrastructure and stimulate local economic development weigh heavily on the minds of the candidates for town's first selectman and selectman this election season.

While the three candidates for first selectman, incumbent Democrat Philip Anthony Jr., Republican-endorsed challenger Theresa I. Madonna, and petitioning Republican Edward C. Berdick, may vary on how to accomplish the goals, they share the desire to succeed.

As do the three candidates for selectman: incumbent Democrat Steven T. Mikutel, Republican Brian E. Baker and petitioning candidate Roland J. Harris, who is not affiliated with a political party.

The two lowest vote-getters in the first selectman's race will compete with the three candidates in the selectman's race for the final two seats on the board.

Anthony, who is completing his first term, said he's proud of what's he's accomplished, citing work done to 36 roads, the establishment of a 15-year Capital Improvement Plan and a committee to review the proposal as examples.

Anthony said he spent much of the beginning of his tenure "correcting past mistakes" but has managed to create positive working relationships between town boards and commissions and start "laying the foundation" for commercial growth.

He referred to the ongoing demolition of the privately owned section of the former Triangle Plastic Wire & Cable mill and the plan to extend sewer lines up Route 201 to the Interstate 395 on-ramps near Exit 86 as two examples.

Incumbent Selectman Mikutel shared Anthony's desire to continue to work at keeping taxes as low as possible, expanding commercial development to the highly traveled areas of town and staying on top of road and bridge maintenance.

Yet their challengers don't think enough has been done.

Madonna said two years may not be long enough to get a large project accomplished, but it is plenty of time to establish a plan, begin soliciting for developers and market what businesses currently exist.

Madonna said there needs to be a master plan from which all departments and invested community members work.

Madonna also wants to involve more people from the community in various efforts. She said many residents have special skills that can be applied voluntarily if it betters the community. Those resources have not been tapped, she said.

"We need to make them feel part of the conversation, feel like they're part of the process," she said.

Berdick said the town needs to make a concerted effort to improve the public image of the borough by asking for the businesses along Main Street for help before starting a marketing campaign.

"We need to make Jewett City the front door, not the back door, and encourage people to take pride in their town," Berdick said.

The petitioning candidate has his own ideas on what needs to be done before fall 2011.

Berdick wants to establish a tax freeze for all Griswold residents 70 years and older, regardless of income. He said after canvassing the town and borough, he's realized there are many, many people struggling to make ends meet.

Another reason for the proposal is to ensure that elderly residents are protected if key municipal boards that manage finances are controlled by people sympathetic to the school system.

Berdick said the measure will allow the schools to be sufficiently funded, but by taxpayers with children in the schools or recent graduates covering the costs, not those who have already paid for their children's education.

He said he supports the schools, but while they are important, they are not everything in a community.

Madonna, a school board member, disagreed with Berdick's fear of the school district taking control of the town.

Madonna said in addition to her public and private work experience, she'll be able to take lessons learned from the school board to the first selectman's office to benefit the whole community, not just a select few.

"The schools are very goal-oriented. They set a goal and make a plan to achieve it. Then, at the end of the year, they evaluate what has been done," Madonna said.

Madonna said good management practices can be applied so that the town starts to show quantitative, and not just qualitative, results.

When it comes to money, all three candidates agree that changes must be made and that the town needs to look for creative ways to pay for services for residents.

To Harris, all these ideas sound like a repetition of issues he faced as first selectman 16 years ago.

"Leadership is about doing the right thing. If you're a true leader, people may not like what you do, but if you're doing it for the good of the town, it can't be wrong," Harris said.

Admitting that two years is not enough time to accomplish much, Harris said possibly the most important thing the board should do is restore public confidence so that when the board no longer exists, residents can continue on with a plan.

"All the rhetoric doesn't mean anything," Harris said. "Give me a platform and a road map and let's do it."

In addition to improving infrastructure and watching the budget, Baker said the town needs to consider evaluating the present form of government, specifically, the board acting as a human resources manager.

Baker said a recent $1.3 million judgment against the town on behalf of a former selectman's secretary who was fired proves the need for someone educated in the field to handle employee affairs.

m.bard@theday.com