More Comments from our Readers on Campaign Promises

"West Haven Lover", an avid reader, also had this to say on August 16th (sorry for the delay):

What a difference a year makes….

I found this article in West Haven News from last year during election time. I thought it might be interested for your readers to see how really far off election promises can be! I have added comments about the status of each promise after his quote. [Editor's note: I've put those comments in green italics].

11/04/2005
Picard quotes: West Haven News
John Picard, Democrat

John M. Picard has served on the West Haven City Council for four years, two of which he has served as Chairman of the Council. He is currently employed as a financial advisor for American Express Financial Advisors, and holds licenses for registered representative, certified financial planner, and life/health insurance.
"Leadership, responsibility, and accountability - I believe those things are sorely missing in West Haven right now. The only way to improve West Haven is to improve leadership, and to surround yourself with good people - on boards and commissions that will think for themselves," said Picard.

(Based on today’s New Haven Register article, Picard’s Finance Director “shook one of her employees” when she did not understand a departmental policy – now that’s the kind of “good people” we need working in our City Hall)

What is the most important issue facing West Haven and what are your plans to address that issue?
The most important issue facing West Haven is the enormous tax burden. West Haven tax payer's have faced both the reduction in City services and a growing Mill Rate because of the total lack of leadership & borrowing and spending practices of the current administration, the lack of fiscal responsibility, the enormous debt, and the dismal economic growth. We need to address the mill rate by controlling spending, holding our elected officials accountable, and improving our economic development. None of this will be possible without a change in leadership.

(My taxes have increased by $1,000 per year. I have heard now that Picard’s plan is to kill us with taxes this year, and then next year – an election year – lower the rate dramatically. I don’t know if it is true or not, but I for one will not forget the pain I am feeling this year.)

The Savin Rock Urban Renewal Plan, a 40-year redevelopment plan that preserves the shoreline area as open space and free of development, expires in March 2006. What plans do you have for the shoreline area?
The shorefront is West Haven's most precious natural resources and needs to be preserved. To preserve this commodity, we need to place this area in the Land Trust to protect it from being developed for years to come. The current administration has had the last 14 years to protect this land and has failed to do so. Other protection options, such as working with the planning and zoning department, are not sufficient to preserve this undeveloped tract of land because of the liberal waiver and variance options afforded businesses and residents.

(To date, Picard HAS NOT signed the Land Trust Agreement, one of his key issues with the former administration)

What plans do you have to encourage economic development in West Haven?
To improve West Haven's Economic Development we need to go back to the basics of business. The Mayor needs to be the biggest advocate of our town, knocking on business owners and encouraging them to come to our City. We need to improve the ease of doing business in City Hall. By lowering our debt to ease the tax burden, offering incentives to attract new businesses, a lot of hard work by the Mayor, and revamping the economic development office; West Haven will be able to improve it's economic development.

(One of Picard’s first acts when he got into office was to close the Economic Development office, I have heard lots of comments about this during Council and City Budget meetings.)

What is your position on the property revaluations required by the state within the next two years and the current mill rate, which is the third highest in the state?
Property valuation has been used by the local politicians as an excuse for growing taxes. When property values increases, city's that control their operating budget should be able to lower the Mill Rate proportionally. In West Haven, as property values increased, the Mill Rate also increased or stayed the same. The politicians would like you to believe that your tax bill is higher because your property is worth more. However, a fiscally responsible government would allow a proportional reduction in the Mill Rate so that your taxes would remain the same regardless of the increase in property value. It's appalling that West Haven has the 3rd largest Mill Rate in the State. Our tax situation is directly attributed to the current administration's total lack of leadership and their borrowing and spending practices. We need to control spending, ensure a fiscally responsible and accountable government, and vastly improve our economic development.

(No comment)

Currently the city's overall debt is at an all time high, what will you do as mayor to reduce this burden?
West Haven is the more than $250 Million dollars of debt burdening our City and our taxpayers. We need to have a full forensic audit of finances by an independent audit firm to identify the wasteful spending and opportunities for debt reduction. We also need a year-round qualified finance board that can help guide the Mayor and City Council to make the best decisions with respect to our finances. We need to start doing the little things right, for example, by saving 2 cents on every dollar we would save $2.6 Million dollars a year, we need to ensure every contract goes out to bid, and we need to put a system of accountability in place, beginning with the Mayor and Finance Director.

(I think the Mayor is doing a good job to try and reduce the debt; however he is certainly not taking all contracts out to bid.)

What other issues do you think will be important to the upcoming mayor's term?
In addition to the issues above, West Haven's Mayor in the next two years will face many challenges including, the question of fire district consolidation, the challenges of delivering the best education to our City's youth, and maintaining and restoring City services to help improve the quality of life of all citizens. However, the most challenging issue for the Mayor will be managing change. We've all heard the empty promises and campaign slogans of the current administration. In desperation, my position relative to certain issues is often distorted by my opponents. I am looking to re-establish an open and honest government, to ensure the best people are in place and to hold them accountable, and to convince the business community that West Haven is a booming City with optimum potential.

(This is where I take the most issue with the Mayor’s performance so far. He has cut services – including now underfunding our Education System, the one thing that can really draw new (tax-paying) residents. As a person with students in the West Haven System, I find this deplorable. I am willing to pay slightly more taxes – just don’t cut the services)