[click here to read "Commission on Housing and Neighborhood Development: Improving our community by supporting renters and owners" - April 18, 2007 JCP-eBlog! post by Ron Ward]
[click here to read "Can't Tell You, It's a Suprise" a proposal to create a Consumer Board of Utility Control - January 17, 2007 JCP-eBlog! post by Ron Ward]
This Year, Jewett City election A Real Contest
by Megan Bard, published by The Day - April 20, 2007
Griswold — For 10 years, the Borough of Jewett City election has gone unnoticed and uncontested.
Not this year.
On May 7 , two challengers will join four-term incumbent Democratic Warden Cynthia Kata on the ballot. Republican Melinda Seaman Brooks, a political novice, and Ron D. Ward, a registered Democrat and founder of the independent Jewett City Party, will be her challengers.
Kata and Brooks are lifelong residents of Griswold and Jewett City. Both graduated from Griswold High School and have raised their families here. Ward moved to Connecticut in 1990 from Illinois. He's lived in various towns throughout southeastern Connecticut before moving to Jewett City a year ago.
All three candidates say they intend to address concerns about rising utilities rates, among other issues, but they do not agree on how or whether there really is a problem.
Kata, 68, said after more than 30 years of public service to the borough and the town, as tax assessor, treasurer and warden, she stands by her record. Kata said throughout the years she and the incumbent burgesses have been able to keep borough taxes low — this year's projected tax rate is 2 mills — build new sidewalks, and institute the Resident State Trooper program. She lists her greatest accomplishment as the completion two years ago of the $18 million waste water treatment plant, primarily paid for with state grants.
The plant, and the rates associated with running it, is one of the primary issues that infuriates borough property owners, renters and businesses.
Last July the borough's Department of Public Utilities increased sewer rates by nearly 44 percent, retroactive to January 2006. Utilities officials said the plant was operating at a deficit. Kata, who does not have direct authority over the department, said it calculated its rates on receiving a set amount of sewage and on the lowest cost presumed necessary to run the plant. The calculations were wrong.
The plant was built to hold 1.1 million gallons to accommodate the next 25 years worth of development. As of now it is only processing roughly 350,000 gallons, 150,000 gallons less than previous years, meaning fewer people are paying to run the plant.
Kata says once the Route 164 corridor in the town is developed and the multiple condominum projects throughout the borough are completed, more waste water will be processed at the plant and the burden will be shared by more rate payers.
Brooks, 38, a new borough resident, said she will educate the public on the department's community service based initiatives, in addition to working with Director Kenneth Sullivan to determine the best way to handle the increasing rates. Brooks said until she learns more about the process she will not make any promises.
The CEO and sales director of Stratilis LLC of Willimantic, Brooks said her experience in real estate will help attract business to the borough and could assist in the town's economic development initiatives. If successful, Brooks said it will not only help revitalize the borough's downtown but also possibly alleviate some of the burden of paying for the new treatment plant.
Ward, 43, said one way to help lessen the sting of the rate increases is for people to have more input in the utilities department. To “restore confidence” in the department, Ward wants to disband the current Board of Public Utilities Commissioners and replace it with a consumer-based commission. The commission would oversee a utilities board of directors that would work directly with employees of the utility department.
Ward, a law school graduate who has worked in various appointed state positions, as a dealer at Foxwoods Resort Casino and is currently a teacher for Mad Science, has set ambitious goals for himself. On his Jewett City Party Internet blog, Ward regularly posts information about various initiatives, such as restoring defunct borough boards and commissions and creating new ones. Ward wants to increase the involvement of residents who rent in shaping borough policy.
Brooks sees it as the warden's job to advocate for this one-square mile area along the Quinebaug and Pachaug rivers. In addition to focusing on bringing small business to the borough and addressing concerns about blighted property, she wants to enhance recreational activies for youth and seniors.
Although she said she doesn't dwell on the recent town trend to oust incumbents, Kata said in the back of her mind she's concerned the borough “won't get what it needs” if she is not re-elected.
Kata said she's confident that her plans to build sidewalks along North Main Street and finish sidewalks along Carley Avenue will be accomplished along with having her proposal considered to build a new, stand-alone ambulance facility where the Jewett City fire department is now housed.
The projects will be funded by the next round of federal grants the borough is expected to receive later this year. The year after that, Kata intends to concentrate on improving the facades along Main Street and supporting the small businesses along the stretch.
For the most part, in public, the race has been civil. Much of the spiteful banter has involved Ward's and Brooks' internet campaign sites and blogs and a state election's complaint Ward filed against Brooks, which was dismissed.
The only consistent complaint about Kata is that she is in California more than she is in the borough. Kata denies this, saying that her companion Walter Sawicki sold his Golden State residence in 2005 and that the couple has not returned since.
