LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF WESTON ONLINE VOTERS GUIDE 2011
NEWS
SWEARING IN CEREMONY 2011-2013 TOOK PLACE TUESDAY NOVEMBER 15, 2011
AT 6PM IN THE TOWN HALL MEETING ROOM...
ELECTION 2011 RESULTS
LINK TO LWV OF WESTON 2011 VOTERS GUIDE
Election Day Tuesday, November
8, 2011 - Reminder
to bring ID
THE
BALLOT: 24 columns...1-11 on the front and 12-24 on the
back...Democrats on Row 'A' Republicans Row 'B'
What the ballot will actually look
like...link to Secretary of the State's website here: DON'T
FORGET TO VOTE ON BOTH SIDES OF IT!
The Weston
FORUM
attended and will report fully. Online now, to be on Channel 79
soon - viewing times to come...more pictures here (non-League
site)
POLICE
COMMISSION & BOARD OF SELECTMEN DEBATE VIDEO
Total
Length: 2 hours 0 minutes 11 seconds
Best viewed
via Internet Explorer, which will automatically open Windows Media
Player and begin playback while the file downloads. Other web
browser
programs may not start playback until the download completes, which may
take a considerable amount of
time (depending on your connection speed).
FOR CLOSE UP
PHOTOS OF
CANDIDATES, NON-LEAGUE SITE, CLICK HERE
MORE TO COME,
INCLUDING NEWSPAPER COVERAGE...2 weeks left in the campaign.
Police
Commission candidates started the double-debate (@45 minutes)...and
there were
so many questions for the Police Commission that some thought we should
revisit this discussion
after the election for the community to get their queries out...
THE SELECTMEN
DEBATED FOR AN HOUR AND A QUARTER...
The
final debate was Board of Selectmen. It probably was long enough
to give those present an idea about the familiar as
well as the one new candidate.
Weston FORUM text of reports on Finance debate Or click here
for online story including
pictures...
Considering
that the Town Hall parking lots were full when League was setting up in
late morning, the crowd and candidates managed to arrive in time!
BOARD
OF FINANCE DEBATE
SATURDAY, OCT. 15, 2011 AT 1:30 P.M. IN TOWN HALL MEETING ROOM - ALMOST
EVERY SEAT TAKEN!!!
Televised
live and re-run daily on Channel 79 4p.m. First question from
League: "How
does the Board of
Finance balance
Weston's unique character with the need to remain fiscally
viable?"
LWVCT Moderator in charge!
During the course of questions and answers, this was the scene in the
Town Hall Meeting Room. Blow up same view - Parties checking up
on each other's facts and quite intense as the debate progressed.
IN
WESTPORT
Democrat Steve Ezzes reports how Board of
Finance works in Westport, where he was a member for 10 years prior to
moving to Weston some years ago and two years ago being appointed to
replace David Muller, when Selectman Muller was elected to the Board of
Selectmen in 2009..
Ezzes goes first on the ethical
issue. Reply
from Republican Jerry Sargent...
Board of Ethics advisory report discussed; comment that "two
boards have found
this a conflict" - leads Jerry Sargent to point out that as of October
15, today, only one "board." (Town Attorney was of divided opinion.)
David Finkel responds
Candidate explains that all work is
finished and the payment in dispute is in effect the result of giving
the Board of Education two years to pay instead of billing when the
work was completed this past summer.
How
the Town of Weston and Board of Ed. work together
Republican
Michael Carter, giving credit to Insurance Advisory Committee, of
which he was a member under Chairmanship of Democrat Mike
O'Brien, explains how Weston grew its surplus from $2 million to $7
million and why, as well as how the Board of Education is able to have
funds to go back and forth on difference types of insurance plans (you
can't do this unless you have funds to pay off "tail" or bills that
come in after the change is made).
After an hour
and a half of questions and answers, the debate was over!
RESULTS OF BALLOT LOTTERY SEPT.
14TH
@9:15a.m.
LAURA SMITS
(D), SUSAN MORAN (R), REGISTRARS OF VOTERS
Ballot
Lottery's importance explained to assistants Teresa Brasco (R) and
Francine Goldstein (D).
LEAGUE
DEBATES:
CAMPAIGN 2011
LWV sets up three debates - which will be recorded and repeated on the
Town TV Channel 79 until Election Day November 8.
- The
first is just for the Board of Finance,
on Saturday, October 15, 2011 at 1:30pm, at Town Hall - over now!
- The
following
Saturday, October 22, 2011 in the morning, is a special LWV DOUBLE DEBATE,
beginning at 10:30am with
the Police Commission and then the Board of Selectmen, at Weston
Library's Community Room.
2011
CAMPAIGN AS IT BEGINS: 32
candidates - 13 Democrats
and 19 Republicans
Republican petition
for Board of Finance - David P. Finkel
Both Parties
complete Caucus process.
Democrat's Certificate
of
Party Endorsement here
Republican's Certificate
of
Party Endorsement here
Weston ethics board asked for opinion on
conflict of interest question
about candidate
Weston FORUM
Written by Kimberly Donnelly
Wednesday, 14 September 2011 11:49
The Weston Board of Ethics has been asked to look into whether a
candidate in November’s municipal election would have a conflict of
interest if he were to be elected.
Barbara Reynolds, chairman of the Weston Democratic Town Committee
(DTC) and Mike O’Brien, Democratic chairman of the finance board, sent
a letter to the Board of Ethics dated Sept. 12 asking for an opinion.
“We are writing this letter to ask the Board of Ethics for an opinion
on whether or not Mr. David Finkel, a candidate for the Board of
Finance, has a ‘conflict of interest,’ as defined in the Weston Town
Charter, with regard to his serving on the Board of Finance should he
be elected,” the letter said.
Ms. Reynolds and Mr. O’Brien say in the letter that Mr. Finkel, a
Republican, “approached the Weston Board of Education to sell the
services of his company, Expense Reduction Analysts, with regard to
purchasing various office supplies... Mr. Finkel’s company will receive
50% of the cost savings that are earned over the next two years.”
Several weeks ago, Jo-Ann Keating, director of finance and operations,
said the school district had been given the OK by the school board to
sign an agreement with Expense Reduction Analysts (ERA); Mr. Finkel is
the client manager for ERA.
By following ERA’s recommendations, ERA estimates the district will see
a total of $164,000 in savings — before fees — over the course of the
next three years, Dr. Keating said. The schools will also get a signing
bonus.
ERA — and thus Mr. Finkel — does earn a fee for its work.
Under a three-year contract, ERA will receive 50% of the savings
realized by the schools for the first two years.
Article 9
“Article 9 of the town charter is very specific on this matter. We
believe that Mr. Finkel’s business with the town of Weston is a clear
conflict of interest and precludes him from serving on the Board of
Finance,” the Board of Ethics request said.
Article 9 of the town charter reads in part: “No member or employee of
any board or agency of the town shall be financially interested, or
have any personal beneficial interest, either directly or indirectly,
in any contract or purchase order for supplies, materials, equipment or
contractual services furnished to or used by the town or any of its
boards or agencies.”
The town’s Code of Ethics also addresses conflict of interest with
regard to financial interests.
“No town official ... or close business associate shall engage in any
town action in which said official ... has a financial or personal
interest which is incompatible with the proper discharge of his duties
in the public interest or which would tend to impair his independence
of judgment or action in the performance of those duties,” the code
reads in part.
When Mr. Finkel announced his candidacy in early August, he addressed
the issue of a possible conflict of interest. He said at that time he
had reviewed the town charter and he believed the conflict of interest
language refers to companies that provide direct supplies or equipment
to the town, and does not apply in his case.
“That said, however, if there is any gray area, I would cease doing
business with the town of Weston If it came to be an issue that is
deemed to be a valid issue — whether I agree or not — I personally
would discontinue my work with the town if elected,” Mr. Finkel said in
August.
That doesn’t mean, he had said, that ERA would have to stop doing
business with Weston, just that he might. He had said he would “hand
over the account” to a partner if he had to.
Ms. Reynolds’ and Mr. O’Brien’s letter states they are requesting the
ethics board hear the case “in a timely manner” since the election is
less than two months away.
Rules and regulations guiding the Board of Ethics say it “shall act as
promptly as feasible to review and provide recommendations and opinions
on all complaints ... understanding that the time required to complete
each review process will be related to the complexity of the issues
being considered, as well as the seriousness of the potential impact on
the individuals involved and the town of Weston.”
The Board of Ethics is required to conduct any investigation
“independent of other town agencies.” A final report and
recommendations is given to the Board of Selectmen.
The ethics board may conduct closed hearings — not open to the public —
if the person against whom a complaint is lodged requests it.
Petitioners
had until yesterday to get on Nov. 8 ballot or to force a primary in
Weston
Weston FORUM
Written by Kimberly Donnelly
Thursday, 11 August 2011 00:00
Yesterday, Wednesday, Aug. 10, at 4 p.m. was the deadline for
petitioning candidates for the Nov. 8 municipal election to hand in
valid petitions at the Weston town clerk’s office.
Potential candidates may petition to either be placed on the ballot as
petitioning candidates — on a separate line — or they may petition to
hold a primary election against an already party-endorsed candidate. If
needed, a primary would be held Sept. 13.
Candidates handing in a primary petition need a minimum of 5% of the
last completed total active voter list for their party.
Town Clerk Donna Anastasia said as of July 21, the active voter list
included 1,886 Republicans (which would mean a minimum of 95 signatures
required for a valid petition) and 2,158 Democrats (meaning 108
signatures would be required).
Different threshold
Candidates handing in a nominating petition (to run on a line other
than a major party line on the ballot) must reach a different signature
threshold.
Someone seeking a single office position (first selectman) requires 1%
of the votes cast for that position at the last municipal election —
that would be 28 signatures, Ms. Anastasia said.
Someone seeking office on a multi-person board or commission needs 1%
of the total number of voters who cast votes for that board or
commission in the previous municipal election. So, for example, someone
petitioning to run for the Board of Finance would need 28 signatures,
Ms. Anastasia said.
The Weston Democratic Town Committee has endorsed candidates for the
Board of Selectmen, Board of Finance, Board of Education, Police
Commission, Board of Assessment Appeals, Zoning Board of Appeals, and
ZBA alternates.
The Republican Town Committee endorsed candidates for the same boards
and commissions, as well as ones for town clerk and tax collector.
As of The Forum’s press deadline Tuesday afternoon, Aug. 9, no one had
filed a valid petition with the town clerk.