Residents Have Their Say at Town Council 'Forum'

Note: On Tuesday, Stratford Patch printed the comments of many speakers favoring the education budget and Honeyspot School renovations. Today, we hear from some of the other speakers.

Stratford Town Council Chairman Thomas Malloy opened the "Public Forum" session by breaking protocol of sorts when he prefaced the first speaker of the evening with a personal tribute to Stratford resident Frank Esposito, who passed away on Feb. 23 at the age of 56. 

Esposito was remembered as an accomplished singer by one person writing in his Legacy Guest Book posted on CTPost.com.  “I will always remember him ... as lead singer for "Fair Exchange," West Side Story, Much Ado About Nothing, Knuckle Sandwich and others,” one out-of-towner wrote. 

A local person added, “I will cherish my pictures that Frank has given me over the years of the beautiful views of Shakespeare Theater and the surrounding grounds,” a sentiment also expressed online by sitting Town Council member Kimberly Meuse.

At last month’s Council meeting, Malloy noted that he had recalled to himself that Frank “was absent. 

“Frank was a regular monthly speaker” at Council meetings, Malloy explained to the gathering that evening, and “they evolved into a regular and almost cherished conversation. 

“ … one sure thing about Frank was his indelible belief in good …  I told Frank that he had become my favorite speaker” and “Frank was always true to his word,” Malloy said. He will be missed. 

First up to the podium to speak was Neil Sherman, chairman of Stratford’s Economic Development Committee, who noted that he has been “serving the town of Stratford for 29 years” in a number of capacities. 

This night, Sherman was appearing to ask that the Council table its resolution on the I-95 Exit 33 resolution. He requested a chance to “rewrite it to take into account various concerns … so we ask that you leave that resolution on the table until we can rewrite it and resubmit to you.” 

Next up was another long-time regular, George Mulligan of Housatonic Avenue.  “I agree” with the tribute to Mr. Esposito, Mulligan began, then launching into a mild attack on the three-minute speaking rule of the Public Forum, “the tremendous amount of waste” in the mayor’s proposed budget and town spending in general. 

“Looks to me like there’s too much overtime in the fire and police departments,” Mulligan said.  All the money going to police, fire and lawyers benefit some people disproportionately, he grumbled. “Why don’t we have public hearings on the fire trucks?” he asked, then quickly changing subjects. Exit 33, Raymark, Shakespeare Theatre – “Why limit the comments to three minutes?” 

Changing again, Mulligan said, “education is a priority” and he supported the Honeyspot School renovation.  “Town spending should benefit “the people who pay their taxes.” And there’s no doubt the town has huge pension related problems, he added.

Linda Palermo of Vought Place was the next non-education budget speaker and talked about her petition of 400 signatures she’s sending to Washington protesting funding cuts. She talked about writing to U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman, the plight of 40-50% of residents on fixed incomes and problems at the Stonybrook Gardens cooperative housing project including drainage.

Palermo said she opposed closing schools, opposed library budget cuts and railed against the last speaker at the Council’s February Public Forum, Micheal Costello of Judith Terrace, who ripped into several Council members at the time. “It was despicable the way he attacked the two female members of the Council,” she said, threatening to take out a lawsuit if the comments are not retracted.

“I am going to give him time to retract his comments or he will see me on the court house steps,” she said, while warning town “Republicans, too, to stop attacking” her and her family.

Doreen Jaekle of Brinsmayd Road was next, but Stratford Patch is going to make Doreen’s comments the subject of our third installment of “As the Public Forum Turns” on Thursday. 

Walter Rimkunas of Second Avenue then took his turn, too, another regular speaker, who, when he spoke at a recent Ordinance Committee meeting received a rousing clapping ovation – from his wife. 

Tongue in cheek, Rimkunas noted that he was remiss in missing the recent building needs committee meeting last Tuesday. “They sent me a copy of what transpired,” he said. He learned that the town has a new system of acquiring new equipment:, he said.  First one applies to the Council, several times. Then you Tweet it. Then you advertise in the newspapers and then on TV. 

He then turned serious. “Safety,” he said, seems to the be the word to use when requesting an item. Safety. “We purchased two brand new fire engines … we spend $100,000 to upgrade, and now you tell me you’re going to save me money by spending $550,000 in these economic times? It doesn’t make sense.”

Rimkunas did want to see the town spend money on Stratford High. “Please think about it so it can be certified next year.” 

Joe Paul of Harbourview Place had the honor of the last word for the Public Forum this night. “We’ve heard a lot of comments here … education is important, but it begs the question: How are we going to pay for this?  

“ ... if we raise taxes, it hurts seniors … if we close a school, it might hurt education …

“… sacred cows,” he said, “we know what they are. 

“The majority of people pay their own pension costs … we shouldn’t be paying more for somebody else’s pension and health care than we pay for our own … 

“It’s happening all over the U.S., we’re getting deeper and deeper  in debt. 

“We need to take a look and stop the free lunches … most important thing is to stop the free lunches and to try to find the money somewhere else.” 

And those were the last “Public Forum” words that evening – and the meeting hadn’t even begun!