Good to hear from you. I thought this was interesting as a “from the other side” point of view angle.

I know this guy, he is a political operative, he was working for Rob Simmons last I saw him. So I was also, helping him out and giving him some exposure and a wider audience, you know help his google rank.

There is a down side to the constant video cameras, it is getting harder and harder to get honest non-scripted answers out of candidates, when they are being video taped 24/7.

It’s just the way it is and it’s not going to change.

Unrelated, I like the new site layout.

I saw this issue as being the one topic that could have certainly caused a NO vote on this year’s budget. The question now will be whether or not the remaining budget package is supported by the general public. It features a slight decrease on the part of the Board of Education, partly due to a retirement, but will the lack of teacher concessions cause people to continue to question whether we could do even better? Not sure, but that will be up to the taxpayers to decide on in May.

I would encourage EVERYONE to follow the budget process closely and to become educated about what our Town leaders are doing.

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As a point of clarification the reduction in funding for the Lifeguards was proposed in the Board of Selectmen Budget, not the Board of Finance…..

From Midge Denno

Dear (editor),

As a member of the Commission on Aging, I would like to provide futher information on the first two items.

First, the estimated $100,000. is projected over a 7 year period!

More importantly, the Board of Selectman passed the Ordinance for Tax Relief. The next step is required by Connecticut State Statute. It requires an independent committee to study the economic impact on the community.

While the Board of Selectmen has advertised for volunteers, to date there is no study committee.

In correspondence from Riva Clark, Board of Selectmen, to Dennis Hawrlko, Chairman of the Council on Aging, she said ” I am seeking a Democrat and enlisted the help of the Town Clerks for imput.” She does have Republican volunteers.

At this point in time the process is stalled for tax relief. Once information is received from the economic impact committee, the Citizen must vote on the ordinance.

Only when all these steps are met can this be considered as a budget item. So far the citizens of Marlborough have not approved the Ordinance.

Second, the Commission on Aging does see a need for administrative support at the Senior Center .

Vi Schwarzmann, as director, meets many needs of the community. Robin Hodge who worked 10 hrs a week at the Senior Center has been terminated. (The van drivers and individual answering the phones are paid thru grants).

At our meeting yesterday, this topic was discussed.

We are aware of the economic need to contain costs. For fiscal 2010/2011 the administrative support will be provided by volunteers and unpaid college interns.

At the upcoming Board of Finance meeting next Tuesday, this information will be presented to the Board of Finance.

Apparently no speculation on who the Dems might run.

Manchester is a heavy Democrat town, I talked with Blackwell after his election loss to Mary Ann Handley, “just too many Democrats in Manchester”. He took Marlborough and Glastonbury and I believe Bolton.

Blackwell might be up for another shot, he would have name recognition.

I hope some good people run, not party hacks, but people with experience in the real world.

The Senior Citizens will miss Mary Ann Handley