The New East Haven Board of Education….Take a listen, you’ll like what you see and hear!

Last night, I attended the East Haven Board of Education meeting and was treated  to what should be on every board and commission in this Town, a bi-partisan spirit. After Tom Hennessey was sworn in he gave the best speech I have ever heard by any elected official in my 16 years being a resident. Tom spoke very clearly about holding everyone, including the Administration accountable and he didn’t care for the blame game, grandstanding and finger pointing. He told the East Haven Board of Education members that they were a team, not here for the Democrats, Republicans,  their own personal agendas but only for the children of the Town and the Taxpayers. 

Tom echoed the words I have been saying for years, that it doesn’t matter what party you belong to that affiliation is to be checked at the door.  Maybe just with that type of management of the Board of Education we can finally get out of the bottom of the pile and get to work! Tom was also very serious about controlling costs and spending and he put his words into immediate action by placing BOE approval on any purchase order over $2,500.00. AMEN! AMEN! AMEN! Finally someone in Government is walking the walk and talking the talk! This decision was based on the expenditure of $11,000.00 on mulch that no one knows where it went to.  Frankly, this practice has been going on for years at the Board of Education and with a man like Tom Hennessey at the controls I think the East Haven Board of Education may just have had its star born!

As for the Town side of the budget Mayor Maturo and his rekindled Administrators should take a close look to what Hennessey is doing up at the BOE. Making wise financial decisions is going to be the key to trying to roll back the 17% tax increase everyone is talking about.  It’s going to be a very personal and somewhat delicate balance between what is best for the Taxpayers and conducting the business of the Town.  Hard choices will have to be made based on business decisions not vendetta and politics. It will be very hard for this cast of characters because their past motive of operation is just that, vendetta.  Joe Maturo, though, I think is getting it. I must say so far he is doing the right thing. In a meeting with the Police Union officials he told them what happened 4 years ago is in the past and we’re going to leave it there. AMEN! AMEN AMEN! That was the best thing Mayor Maturo could do for the Police Department and the Taxpayers. Stop the war with the EHPD and let them do their jobs!

Over the past 4 years this Town has been ripped to shreds because of partisan bickering between the Democrats and the Republicans. You see figures like  Democratic Town Chairman Gene Ruocco  make everything about the Democrats and how they can do no wrong when in fact they were doing many things wrong. This blog was born because even the newly electronic news feed jumped on board with the Democrats and began to promote their agenda. This Town should have only one agenda and that is how can we help each other to increase the values of our homes, make East Haven a safer community, and improve our schools and our community so we can once again be the town of choice along the shoreline. Today, almost like the civil war we are so divided and angry. It’s time to stop the bickering and come together. I am so tired of fighting. Honestly, the Capone Administration wore me down to the bone and I don’t think I could have handled another two years of arrogance and contempt for the people of East Haven.

So on this eve of Thanksgiving lets count our blessings. Heal the wounds of bitter partisanship and realize that we are all a community here. We are all in this together and the only way out is to work like Tom Hennessey said, like a TEAM.

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, going forward this blog will make every attempt to try and promote the good of East Haven but with more of a watch dog approach.

Tomorrow, I will be attempting to practice what I preach by being  at the East Haven Community Center tomorrow at 8am. I will be working with the East Haven Rotary making sure that some of my neighbors will have a solid meal for at least one day and one night.  It’s a step in the right direction we should all take notice of and realize that we are all neighbors and friends.  Stop down and lend a hand we’d love to see everyone!

 
Happy Thanksgiving