Taxes, education and economy prove central to race for Groton Town Council
Fifteen candidates compete for nine seats
Groton— Controlling taxes to keep Groton affordable but attracting business to maintain the quality of life form the challenge of the future, candidates for Town Council said.
Fifteen candidates are competing for nine seats on the council on Nov. 3.
Democratic incumbents Mayor Rita Schmidt and councilors Joe de la Cruz, Bob Frink and Rich Moravsik are seeking re-election.
Democratic councilor Patrice Granatosky, who filled the seat vacated by Genevieve Cerf, and Democrat- the budget process to referendum,” he wrote in The Day online voters’ guide.
The guide asks candidates to describe the top one or two issues facing the winners of the election.
Frink, a retired project manager and consultant, said the overarching question is how to keep Groton affordable while maintaining the quality of life.
“Our problem is that we’ve had it relatively easy in the past with tax revenues streaming in from our strong industrial base,” he wrote in the guide.
Property taxes are the top issue, said Marley-Barber, an assistant casino shift manager.
“We are looking at double-digit increases in our property taxes in the very near future,” she wrote in the guide. Taxpayers cannot afford a new school and the council should direct the town manager to cut the budget, she wrote.
The town still spends as if it were “the good old days” said Moravsik, a retired engineer. “I believe we need to get our house in order before we increase our tax debt,” he wrote in the guide. The town should also invest in infrastructure to attract business, he said.
Morton, a retired municipal human resources director, also said the town must promote economic development. “There is no shortage of ideas on how to spend money, but seemingly little regard for the ability of taxpayers to pay for it,” she wrote in the guide.
Grim, a radiological engineering supervisor, said Groton should reduce duplicate services and ensure the municipal subdivisions are all treated fairly.
“This continues to be an issue year after year and is breaking the backs of our taxpayers, as well as wasting money hiring professionals to settle disputes amongst the subdivisions,” he wrote in the guide.
Schmidt, a retired businesswoman, said she wants to follow through on economic development initiatives in town, including revision of planning and zoning regulations. She’d also like to see more energy savings.
“I think the two things can go hand in glove. People are more willing to go put their money into an area where they know people are willing to provide natural gas, and then just lowering our energy footprint” is important, she said.
De la Cruz, a general manager for Hillery Co., said Groton must invest in the schools and deal with addiction in the community.
“We are losing a generation of young folks that are supposed to be the future of our country,” he wrote. “And although we are late to the game I feel our efforts now can stop this horrible epidemic.”
Flax, director of ticket operations and entertainment for Foxwoods Resort Casino, said the major issue is keeping the tax rate down.
“This one issue is at the heart of every conversation we have in Council,” he wrote, adding that it affects the Board of Education and town budgets, economic development, union contracts and other issues.
Granatosky, a teacher at Ella T. Grasso Southeastern Technical High School, said the town must take care of residents while maintaining services.
“As a parent and teacher, education is a priority and we must find a way to address state mandates while being sensitive to the taxpayers,” she wrote in the voters’ guide.
Taxes and education are top issues to Bonnie A. Nault, a Realtor.
“As a Realtor I see people having to sell at a loss or rent their homes when they leave the area,” she wrote, “and we need to make changes in the local and state level to keep families from leaving the state of Connecticut.”
Brandon Marley, a lawyer, said there are many issues in town, including taxes and spending, property tax reform, charter revision, building new schools, economic development and others.
Smith, a retired business executive, said he would work with the council and Town Manager “to enact sensible, pro-business policies that will help grow jobs and the town’s tax base,” including an airport development zone.
Watson, retired from Pfizer Inc., said the winners of the Town Council race will face tough choices.
“Loss of revenue from all sources puts a greater burden on the local tax base,” he wrote. “Weighing the quality of life and services against how we are going to pay for it will (be) the biggest issue.”
Peruzzotti, a production manager, said town and school departments must account for their spending and the community must deal with its de- teriorating school facilities.
“Unfortunately funding for school repairs are the first thing to be cut from the budget and we need to take preventative action to ensure our schools are safe,” she said. “In order to tackle this issue I feel that we need to submit a reasonably priced school referendum.”