Why I’m running
In September of 1992 my wife, Barbara, and our daughters, Liz, age 8 and Kristen, age 5, moved to Old Greenwich. Barbara and I continue to live in the same house. My daughters attended Old Greenwich School (OG), Eastern Middle School (EMS) and Greenwich High School. Liz Zaccherio, a CFA and attorney now lives in Riverside with our two grandchildren, the oldest of whom is now a first-grader at North Mianus. My other daughter, Kristen, president of GHS class of 2005, newly married, is the chief resident of the Emergency Department at Mt. Sinai in Manhattan.
I say all this to point out that not only have I lived in town for 29 years, but my future is here with my daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren. My daughters had great teachers, wonderful recreational opportunities and a wide-ranging diverse group of friends. I want the same things for my grandchildren.
My experience and knowledge of town government includes six years on the Representative Town Meeting, where I served as chair of District 6 for four years. During that time I served on school building committees for EMS, Central Middle School, OG, North Street, Parkway, New Lebanon; the claims committee that has oversight over all town litigation and must approve all settlements on behalf of the Representative Town Meeting where I served for six years including two reappointments; completed a comprehensive study of the fire department for which our threemember committee received a Selectman’s Award and wrote and sponsored a Sense of the Meeting resolution giving priority for the use of fields to the children of Greenwich.
I then served eight years on the Board of Education, where we brought in foreign language in the elementary schools; eliminated all gate-keeping for AP classes increasing the tests given from 400 to 2,200 this year; approved lights for Cardinal Stadium and as chair of negotiations negotiated multiple union contracts including an arbitration with the teachers union in 2006 where we sought to eliminate the antiquated salary structure created in 1920 and institute performance based pay. We lost 2-1 with the 64-page decision stating we were too far ahead of the curve. Performance pay for teachers now exists, in some form in many states and even Connecticut now does teacher evaluations based on performance but doesn’t tie those evaluations to pay.
Subsequently I served four years on the Board of Estimate & Taxation where there was none of the rancor that exists today. We focused on the mill rate and what was feasible and we were successful including during the worst financial times in the recent history of the United States, 2008-09.
My priorities for the town are set forth in the Voter’s Guide of the League of Women Voters. We completed that form 60 days ago and my priorities haven’t changed or evolved. My opponent’s priorities are also set forth there and I encourage you to compare and contrast.
One of our key differences is with respect to public-private partnerships. I believe small donations can be used to gauge interest in a project and I believe accepting larger gifts without conditions is fine. We cannot and should not make decisions on projects on the hope or requirement that a large donation will materialize. If we need to renovate or construct a building we should plan for it and finance it and if a donation comes in that’s great but donations will not and should not dictate or determine our judgments. Additionally, fire protection should be provided to the entire town. Finally, schools should never get to the point where ceilings are collapsing or monitors are needed to measure the movement of exterior walls.
There is much to do in this town and I have laid out in detail my priorities with the news media, the various interest groups and in two live debates. I would only ask that if you have read this far that you please vote on Election Day. It’s a right we have that has been secured and protected by brave men and women who we remember and honor nine days later.