LEAGUE of WOMEN VOTERS of WESTON :
Last year, in the national election, Weston won the Democracy Cup (for turnout) - more here!

Contact the League by clicking above, left.  Steering Committee 2010-2011, r.

Interested in issues?  Fair elections? Good government?
CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE LWV OF WESTON!

TABLE OF CONTENTS:  Election 2010 page here.

Party Primaries (Tuesday August 10, 6am to 8pm);  election information here.            INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL NEW LOCATION FOR PRIMARIES
DEMOCRAT PRIMARY BALLOT (l) and REPUBLICAN PRIMARY BALLOT (r)


Report from the LWV of Weston "action agenda"...
UNANIMOUS VOTE "YES" JUNE 28, 2010;  EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2010!

Observer Corps invites you to read the text of TOWN PLAN OF C&D 2010 



SPECIAL JOINT MEETING:
BOARD OF SELECTMEN, BOARD OF FINANCE  AND  BOARD OF EDUCATION

FROM 8:14PM UNTIL 9:50PM
League members in the audience heard ideas for Strategic Planning with consultant leading the process
mentioned by First Selectperson as one idea, Charter Revision as another possibility (to make budget process
work more responsively);  no more bonding for a while...

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NOT  LWV of Weston SPONSORED event, but recommended by Annual Meeting!


State Rep John Stripp and Finance Board Cahir. Mike O'Brien

Weston Budget symposium: A look towards the future
Written by Patricia Gay, Weston FORUM
Friday, 18 June 2010

The state’s fiscal health is doing poorly and may be in need of life support, but Weston is holding its own, according
to speakers at the Budget and Fiscal Health Symposium hosted by Weston For Fiscal Responsibility (WFFR)
earlier this month.

The symposium featured guest speakers State Rep. John Stripp and Mike O’Brien, chairman of the Weston Board
of Finance, who shared their views on the current economy and the future.

Mr. Stripp, who is retiring this year after 18 years of public service, recited some sobering statistics about the state
of Connecticut’s fiscal health.

“In the past 20 years, from 1989 to 2009, the state’s population has grown 6.8%, while state spending has
increased by 270%. Connecticut lost 97,000 jobs since March 2008, and 3,000 businesses closed in the first
quarter of this year,” Mr. Stripp said.

In addition, the state’s unemployment fund went to zero in October, and the state lost some borrowing power
when its bond rating was recently downgraded, Mr. Stripp said.

“The state’s economy is not going to snap back tomorrow,” particularly when Connecticut has the dubious
distinction of being one of the top five worst states to do business with, Mr. Stripp said.

As for solutions to the state’s economic troubles, Mr. Stripp said he was reminded of a line from the film, A Few
Good Men. “You want the truth? You can’t handle the truth,” he said.

Some solutions could include borrowing for the current year’s expenses, which Mr. Stripp believes would be a bad
thing to do; increase taxes on the wealthy, which Mr. Stripp said would drive wealthy people from the state;
increase taxes on businesses, which would drive even more of them away from Connecticut, he said; or cut
expenses. Mr. Stripp said he favored cutting expenses.

Weston’s health

Mr. O’Brien said that while Weston is doing fine at present, the town needs to pay close attention to its future.

Fortunately, he said, the town has many decision makers who are working together in a bipartisan fashion on fiscal
 issues.

He said the total town and school budget is projected to increase from $63 million to $87 million in the next 10
years.

With Weston being a bedroom community and most of its tax revenue coming from residential property taxes,
there is some cause for concern, according to Mr. O’Brien.

He said the town’s grand list would need to rise significantly to cover increased taxes, but with the economy the
way it is now, property values are going down.

Mr. O’Brien questioned if taxes could be raised high enough to cover a $24-million increase over the next decade.

There are a lot of issues the town needs to consider, he said. Is the projected $24-million increase realistic? Will the
town be able to maintain two-acre zoning and keep its rural character — and can the town afford it? And how will
the town fund repairs to municipal buildings as outlined in the Kaestle Boos report?

In light of the recent bonding for the new middle school and library roofs, he didn’t see the town bonding again in the
near future.

Mr. O’Brien said now is the time to review the town and school budgets and expenses such as pensions and health
benefits. He noted that town employees have readily adopted HSAs (health savings accounts), which are less costly
to administer than traditional health insurance plans but that school employees were just discovering the benefits.

Nina Daniel, of WFFR, who helped organize the symposium, said the evening gave her a lot to think about.

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ANNUAL MEETING, ELEVENTH BETTY HILL FORUM


Terrific food, air conditioning and a knowledgeable speaker!  More here...


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DID SOMEONE SAY "HEALTH CARE?"  HERE'S NEWS FROM CT!

WATCH  THIS  IMPORTANT DISCUSSION!

Who's Who at the LWVCT:  http://www.lwvct.org/members/LWVCTBoard2010-2011.pdf

LWVCT FALL CONFERENCE DECEMBER 5, 2009

This year’s LWVCTEF Fall Conference was held at a new venue: South Congregational Church,
277 Main Street, Hartford. 

The topic, “Health Care in Connecticut: What’s Next?” brought out more than 70 members of the public to
hear from 3 speakers:  The Weston LWV offers it for your information here online!


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OBSERVER CORPS:

AGENDA FOR SELECTMEN'S MEETING COMING UP HERE

NOW THE LAW TO POST THESE MEETINGS
Town of Weston website for official notice of meetings (televised and otherwise).

"Know Your Town ON-LINE."

Not-exactly-a-blog 


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B A C K G R O U N D   O N    L E A G U E  :


Planning The League of Women Voters of Connecticut's 90th Anniversary Celebration(s)

The LWVCT is planning to celebrate the 90th Anniversary of our organization’s founding with a series of events
beginning in January 2010, the year of the founding of the national organization, and continuing thru the early part
of 2011, the founding the CT League.

Using the Anniversary to Keep Your League Visible

Does your local library or historical society host displays of community organizations’ memorabilia?  If so, the
2010-2011 anniversary celebration is the perfect time to put your League, and women voting, front and center. 

What is your town’s history on suffrage? 

Did it use the Connecticut law to let women vote in local elections before the government of the United States gave
us the right in federal elections? 

Did the precursor of your League hold local marches or rallies?

Please consider calling your historical society now to work on a display that could be ready for next year.  It could
be on suffrage, on women’s suffrage, on the League, or on just your local League.

Local level:  community outreach, publications
LWVCT research:  the economy,  knowing your Capitol, citizen's right to know and participate
Click here for latest news of "Steering Committee."
Scroll down for complete background.

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LWV OF WESTON, CONNECTICUT -  PUBLICATIONS:

NEW for 2010 is Know Your Town Directory, available at Town Hall, Town Hall Annex, Board of Education Central
Headquarters (to be distributed from there to each of the 4 school buildings):  and new version soon online at the Town of Weston
website.

• "Know Your Town Directory" print edition at the Town Clerk's Office or online at the Town website;
• "online, short version" with LWV Monitor report changes to major Boards and Commissions here;  
• as well as "Guide to Local Elections";
  
• click here for "Guide to Government"
  

WESTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Numbered prints by Mary O'Reilly Sowinski for sale (some still left!) depict Weston in 1979!

Notecards commissioned by LWV of Weston available from the League;

• Test your knowledge of Weston...what is depicted in the print above? 
  
• Is this scene still there?
• Why is this view of particular importance for Westonites?
  

With the economy turnng down, this was a very important forum:
"MUNICIPAL SHARED SERVICE:  THE ROAD AHEAD"
A Symposium Presented by:

• The Connecticut Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations
• The Connecticut Office of Policy and Management
• The League of Women Voters of Connecticut

 

Take a tour of the Capitol with official League Guides--"Capitol and Information Tours" (C.I.T.)

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Video of LWVCT Convention 2007 (long and short versions)...
L W V C T    C O N V E N T I O N    R E P O R T  - E-AWARD to Weston!


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By others:

SUSTAINABILITY

Professional journal above can be obtained here.

THE SUSTAINABLE ENTERPRISE FIELDBOOK:
WHEN IT ALL COMES TOGETHER..."Transitioning To Green" forums upcoming!

The Transitioning to Green initiative is committed to helping you find your place in the world of the new green economy. 
Headed by Dr. Jeana Wirtenberg, this organization exists to empower you to transform yourself not only in your career
choices but also in how you choose to live the rest of your life.

Are you looking to transition into a greener career? Attend the Transitioning to Green Forum, a highly interactive, unique,
one-day event with subject matter experts (SME’s) in sustainability and green jobs.

Click here to read more about the Forum and to register!

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 News of some previous speakers at LWV of Weston event!

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