SpeakUpLinkPage

1.    Reval: how come assessment went up if nothing was done?
2.    Class size: if it increrases, families will leave town.
3.    Taxes: if taxes increase, no one will move here.
4.    School budget: how about zero increase? Questioned budget approach. (Superintendant of Schools and Vice-Chair. of the Board of Education answered; Chair. of the Board of Finance as well - pointed out that the suggestion was the approach that had been taken.)
5.    School budget: zero increase or people will have to move.
6.    School budget: "arrogance of denial" by administration to financial crisis.
7.    School budget: other towns are cutting down on school expenses - can we?
8.    School budget: what would it take to get to zero increase? (Superintendent of Schools explained the 2.62% increase - which might go down when insurance contract bids come in - is only 0.3% for school program [$900k for insurance at present or estimated prices and $100k or more from reduced special education aid rate.)
9.    School budget: supporter of schools says maybe the time is right to take another look at class size?
10. School budget: philosophic remark.
11. Schools: contract negotiations-binding arbitration question: (Legislators responded, short version, "not likely.")
12. Budget general: time for "Weston first" programs only?
13. Flag: it still flies 24/7 with no light at night been asking for three years); no one seems to care.
14. Financial melt down: general observation of loss of wealth.
15. Cemetery: will we ever get one in town? (First Selectman responds that he hasn't been able to find enough volunteers for yet another try at this - asks if the questioner would care to join...)
16. FAA-air traffic-noise: what's happening? (First Selectman reports that 13 towns are employing the 2nd best attorney to fight the FAA - first best attorney taken by FAA - New York politicians are pushing the flyover routes in our direction, but recently the FAA officials in charge of that agency have been removed because of their bias...)
17. Economy: what will happen when there is hyper inflation (after all the bail-out $$ kicks in)? No answer.
18. Economy: needs v. wants - example of Food Pantry user increase.

In his professional life, Dr. Gilbert retired from General Electric Corporation 2003, where he served as a consultant to GE’s corporate staff and their many different businesses, in the area of employee compensation for its non-executive workforce. He had been with the company since 1986, when GE merged with RCA, where he was the director of salary administration.

Dr. Gilbert holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Penn State University, an MBA from the University of Scranton, a master’s degree in personnel psychology from Columbia University, and a doctorate in educational psychology from Fordham University, where he also served as a member of Fordham’s Educational Psychology Advisory Board. His broad expertise in the area of compensation and labor relations has also led to chairmanships on numerous professional advisory boards, as well as speaking engagements at national compensation conferences in the U.S. and abroad.

He has contributed articles to several professional trade journals, including ACA Journal, The Journal of Compensation and Benefits, and the Compensation and Benefits Review, and has served as a reviewer for the American Compensation Association and the American Management Association.

Many will recognize Dr. Gilbert from his many Weston civic activities. He joined the Planning and Zoning Commission in 2003, and is now involved in helping the board revise Weston’s Plan of Conservation and Development. He was elected to the Republican Town Committee in 2004 and is a member of Weston Kiwanis.

Depending on the time of year, Dan can be found splitting wood for the Weston Warm-up Fund, picking up trash on Weston roads for Green-Up Day, or at Weston Center, collecting food for the Weston Food Pantry, or selling tickets to the Kiwanis Pasta Dinner and Pancake Breakfast.

Dr. Gilbert is an active member of Saint Francis of Assisi Church, where he serves as a Eucharistic Minister, helps serve meals at the Norwalk Emergency Shelter, and helps refurbish local homes in conjunction with AmeriCares Homefront.

Dr. Gilbert’s wife Sharon is also active in town and serves as the archivist for the Weston Historical Society. They have lived in Weston since 1986 and have two grown children, Mary Katherine and Craig, both graduates of Weston High School.

Weston's 16th annual "Speak Up" was held on February 3, 2007. If you missed it, and your computer is of recent vintage, you can watch it here! Or you can go to the Weston Public Library, and borrow a DVD or VHS copy.

Weston's 15th annual "Speak Up" was held on February 4, 2006. If you missed it, and your computer is of recent vintage, you can watch it here! Or you can go to the Weston Public Library, and borrow a DVD or VHS copy.