Stand Up for Jewett City

[This article was originally published on January 25, 2007.]

The Charter of the Borough of Jewett City was adopted by the people on July 18, 1895. The Connecticut General Assembly created a community within a community by granting the residents of Jewett City the authority to have a self-regulated government which is independent from the dictates of the town portion of Griswold.

A Jewett City resident appeared before the Griswold Board of Selectman on Tuesday, January 23, 2007 seeking to dissolve borough services and consolidate Jewett City and the town portion of Griswold under one government -- the Griswold Board of Selectman.

Ron Ward, has made a pledged to "Stand-up for Jewett City" as Warden of the Borough. Ward is the Jewett City Party (JCP) candidate for Warden in the upcoming May 7, 2007 municipal election.

"As Warden, I will oppose adopting any measure that will dissolve borough services," he explained. He continued by stating, "I will defend the Borough Charter against any effort that takes away our right as residents of Jewett City to have a self-regulated and autonomous government."

Taxes in the borough and economic development in the town are the reasons given to do away with the Jewett City Charter. In May of each year, Borough residents and taxpayers vote on the referendum which establishes the budget and mill rate for Jewett City.

As for economic development in the town, Ward stated, "Under my administration, the Jewett City owned sewer authority will be a willing partner in efforts to promote commercial development so that we can increase the grand list and lower the property tax burden for all residents -- those living in the borough, as well as, those living in the town."

Ward made the following comparison, "Loyal fans of a baseball team unhappy with a lack-luster season would not dissolve the franchise and bulldoze the stadium. Instead, they would work together and develop a winning approach."

In contrast to his pledge to "Stand-up for Jewett City," the position of the other two candidates for Borough Warden has not been made known or has been flip-flopping.

The incumbent Democratic Party candidate for Warden has changed her position twice.

• ''I think a lot of people don't know what's here,'' said Ms. Kata of Jewett City, which is part of the town of Griswold. ''All of sudden they find out they're paying extra taxes, and they say, 'What for?' But then you have people like me who've been here for 50 years who like it.'' (quote from New York Times, March 21, 2004).
  

• Jewett City Borough Warden Cynthia Kata said she also favors "dissolving the borough services," and having one government run both municipalities. She said that would streamline the process for businesses to move into the Borough. "It was presented to the people for a vote, and four times the town of Griswold people turned it down," she said of the referendums on the issue in the last 20 years. (quote from Norwich Bulletin, August 21, 2006).

• "You can't get rid of something and give it to the town," said Kata, who did not say whether she supported or opposed the idea. Kata said since she began working for the Borough in 1983, she has served on at least four committees to study the idea. All four times, the idea flopped at the polls. (quote from Norwich Bulletin, January 9, 2007).

Even though the Republican Party candidate for Warden has not made her position known, the First Selectman of the Town of Griswold, who is the top-elected official of the Republican Party, is an advocate for putting an end to the right of the people of Jewett City to self-govern their own affairs.

• Griswold First Selectman, Anne Hatfield, who has no jurisdiction over Jewett City's government, said she is very interested in revitalizing the borough. "I'm fully in favor -- it's a question of how far my authority can go," Hatfield said, saying she advocates a consolidation of the borough of Jewett City and the town of Griswold. (quote from Norwich Bulletin, August 21, 2006).

• In a December 7, 2006 letter addressed to the chief-elected official of Colchester, our local First Selectman requested and received a blue print on how to dissolve the borough and put Jewett City under one town-wide government.

Residents, taxpayers and community members are encouraged to contact Ron Ward with questions or comments on this issue.

JCP Candidate for Warden "Opposes" disolving Jewett City borough services

[This article was originally published on January 29, 2007.]

Jewett City Party candidate for Borough Warden in the upcoming May 7, 2007 election has made a pledge to "Stand-up for Jewett City."

Ron Ward, stated, "As Warden, I will oppose adopting any measure that will dissolve borough services." He continued by stating, "I will defend the Borough Charter against any effort that takes away our right as residents of Jewett City to have a self-regulated and autonomous government."

The Norwich Bulletin made a mistake when it published an article on Sunday, January 28, 2007 using the word "supports" instead of the word "opposes."

The Norwich Bulletin acknowledged the mistake by publishing on Monday, January 29, 2007 on page A2 the following correction:

• Ron Ward, candidate for borough warden and founder of the jewett city party, opposes consolidation of the borough of jewett city and the town of griswold. His position was reported incorrectly in a brief on page B2 in the Sunday Bulletin.

Norwich Bulletin publishes column written by Incumbent Borough Warden

Column: Jewett City borough is run well
By CYNTHIA KATA - published April 24, 2007

I, Cynthia Kata, as warden of the borough of Jewett City am beginning to wonder whether any of the people running against me know anything at all about the borough. I am all for an open election, but learn about the job before you apply.

Residents are upset about the increase in the water bill. Guess what, the water company is private. We have absolutely nothing to say about its budget. The officials in Hartford set the rate. I spent many hours with attorney Richard Duda trying to change the minds of the people at the Department of Public Utilities in Hartford, but because we have the fire hydrants in the borough, we fall into what they call a fire district and the fee is set.

There were letters about the electric rates in the borough. In case you missed it, we have the lowest rates around. This is because the residents in the borough own the electric utility. If you save $15 per month on your electric bill, that comes to $180 per year. For an average homeowner, that pays your borough tax bill.

Because we have the hydrants in the borough, your home owners insurance is reduced based on how close you are to a hydrant. Believe me, you are closer to a hydrant than people out in the town. That alone should save you $100 per year or more.

Now onto the sewer authority. Does anyone remember when were had a moratorium on building by the state. Then it was going to make us update our old sewer plant. This was going to cost the people in the borough $7 million. Through the town officials at that time and Joe Dudek and his commissioners, we applied for grants. The state told us if we could make the project a tri-town job (covering three towns), it would fund us almost $18 million. The borough would still own the plant, but we had to service three towns.

This went through. Lisbon paid any expense incurred to tie in and now it pays for any dumping into our plant. Same thing with Griswold.

When we first went on-line running the plant, we were told it would cost between $5 and $9 per cube. We decided to go with the $5, but after the first year, we found out it should have been the $7.

Once the new commercial projects go in on Route 164 and the houses on Pleasant View, it will be more money coming in.

I have one more thing to say. Since I have been warden, the mill rate has gone from 3.5 to 2.5 and held for eight years. No other municipality I know can say that.

"Can't tell you. It's a surprise!"

[This article was originally published on January 17, 2007]

When the Publisher's Clearing House is on the way to your home with that "big check" and a bouquet of roses, it's ok for your in-the-know neighbor to keep the arrival a surprise. But, if what is headed to your home is another rate hike in your electric bill, then forget about the "surprise" and let's have community involvement in the decision making process.

Ron Ward, Jewett City Party candidate for Warden of the Borough of Jewett City, has a plan that gives consumers served by the Jewett City Department of Public Utilities (JCDPU) a seat at the table where the decisions are made. Ward stated, "By creating the JCDPU Consumer Board of Utility Control, rate payers will have a role to play in the management and performance of the Jewett City Department of Public Utilities."

As a candidate for Borough Warden, Ron Ward emphasized, "Introducing and passing an ordinance creating the Consumer Board of Utility Control will be a priority for my administration." The Board of Warden and Burgesses will immediately address how best to lower both the electric and sewer rates.

The JCDPU is publicly owned by the residents of Jewett City. It is governed by a three member Board of Commissioners. These commissioners are appointed by the elected Board of Warden and Burgesses of Jewett City. State of Connecticut statutes and regulations that created Citizen Advisory Councils for Cable Television providers will serve as a model for the proposed Consumer Board of Utility Control.

There is a good reason that the fox isn't put in the hen house to keep a watchful eye on the hens.

Jewett City Public Utility hikes sewer rate by 77%

[This article was originally published on January 7, 2007]

While Jewett City residents and small business owners have been digging in their pockets to pay sewer rate increases, the Jewett City Department of Public Utilities (JCDPU) has been accumulating cash-on-hand exceeding $5,000,000 (five million) dollars. Audited financial statements for the JCDPU Sewer Division for the period ending June 30, 2006 indicate that cash and cash equivalents totaling $5,687,334 were being held on deposit.

On June 30, 2006, JCDPU commissioners imposed a 44% retroactive sewer rate hike and re-calculated consumer bills going back to January 1, 2006. When added to the rate hike of 23% imposed three years ago, the previous rate of $3.08 per hundred cubic feet of water has increased $2.38 to put the current rate at $5.46 per hundred cubic feet.

Back in June 2006, the Norwich Bulletin reported that rate payers speculated that the JCDPU set the June 30th meeting on the Friday before the July 4th holiday to keep attendance low. Jewett City Party Founder, Ron Ward, believes that the June 30th meeting date was timed to coincide with the last day of the JCDPU fiscal year.

Because the rate hike was retroactive, Jewett City Public Utilities was permitted to reflect the "new" revenue on their balance sheet for the 2005-2006 fiscal year. JCP Founder Ron Ward, stated, "Once again, the consumer's pocket has been picked by the hand of the corporate balance sheet. This time around, the flagrant deed was exceptional because the "pick pocket" is publicly owned by the residents of Jewett City!"

Public Accountability

The Jewett City Department of Public Utilities is governed by a three member Board of Commissioners. The Commissioners are charged with the public responsibility to be the overseers for both divisions of the JCDPU: Electric Power and Sewerage. These Commissioners are appointed to their positions of public trust by the Board of Warden and Burgesses of Jewett City.

The wallets of Jewett City residents and taxpayers are not well-springs from which to quench the Board of Commissioner's thirst to increase the Jewett City Public Utilities balance sheet. Elected officials of the Borough of Jewett City have cast aside the needs of Jewett City residents by "turning a blind eye" to the actions of their appointees that serve as Commissioners of the Jewett City Department of Public Utilities.

Election Day - May 7th 2007 - is "eye doctor" day for elected officials. Voter's will have the opportunity to prescribe a new set of eyeglasses for Jewett City.