As an independent business owner, Gwenne provides the much needed view point of the entrepreneur who manages a growing and successful business from her home. The Board needs this perspective as we struggle to meet Killingworth's responsibilities with our limited means. She has a strong business sense and good common sense. She's not afraid to speak up and never afraid to ask the direct and difficult questions. She respects her co-board members, she listens and considers input from all sides and she consistently acts in what she considers to be the best interest of the entire community.

Gwenne is a self-starter, community orientated, and generous with her time and her talents. I support her along with the rest of the democratic slate and will vote to re-elect her to the Board of Finance on Tuesday, November 3rd. I hope that you will do the same.
Louis C. Annino, Sr.

The fire department has a new vehicle and public works has new replacement equipment due to our "pay as you go" policy. Continuing this policy will assure the forward progress of our town with fiscal responsibility.

It is for this reason that I endorse Jerry Baron for First Selectman. His financial background and experience on Killingworth's Board of Finance will enable him to continue the fiscal responsibility and accountability to the good people of Killingworth established by the present Republican majority.

Return a Republican majority to the Board of Selectman by voting the top line of Baron, Cabral, and Dudek.
Rich Cabral
First Selectman

Their energy and commitment to Killingworth is extraordinary. While working on various Boards and Committees, Cathy and Rick have been instrumental in working with others to produce positive results for the town.

Each has a unique set of skill-sets that will benefit Killingworth. Cathy has demonstrated a special talent for studying the issues and asking the right questions, thinking outside the box, and bringing people together. Rick adds his unexcelled historical perspective and knowledge to current town issues and institutions. These skills, accompanied with their network of State and regional leaders, will enable them to make informed decisions on behalf of the people of Killingworth.

Besides Iino and Albrecht, Killingworth residents have an opportunity to vote for the entire slate of Democrats who bring a wealth of experience and community involvement to the town. It is a well balanced and all encompassing ticket. Effective and capable, the Democratic team led by Iino and Albrecht deserve your vote and I ask that you support them on November 3rd.
State Representative Brian O'Connor, 35th District

The current Charter Section 8-6 states "the First Selectman is the Director of Public Works". Paragraph b of 8-6 states "the Director of Public Works (First Selectman) may appoint Deputies or Assistants as needed or remove same". Clearly, we already have a mechanism in place if the First Selectman feels he or she needs the assistance of another person. So, since this is already stated in the present Charter, why are we making it a permanent position in the proposed revised Charter? Additionally, along with other removal of duties of the First Selectman, this proposed revision to create a new position of Director of Public Works drastically reduces the effectiveness and ability of the First selectman to properly manage the Town of Killingworth.

The current Charter Section 8-13 states "the Assessor shall serve a term of four years". This is changed in the revised Charter to a one year appointment in keeping with the appointments of the Dog Warden, Tree Warden, etc. No one can compare a Dog or Tree Warden to the required knowledge and enormous workload of a certified Tax Assessor. No other town in Connecticut has an Assessor appointment term less than four years. Most towns are open ended, or appointments with terms of four years or longer; so what reputable Assessor would sign a contract for one year, and if he or she did, how good could they be?

The revised Charter includes the positions of, Section 8-14, 'Director of Finance', and Section 8-16, 'Administrative Assistant'. Both of these positions are currently being performed by the same person, so why do we need create another position? The current Director of Finance was originally hired four years ago as an Administrative Assistant (without any formal interview process or legal notice of the job opening). The Selectmen at that time wanted and did change the position of Administrative Assistant to Director of Finance, which also included a large increase in pay. Additionally, in the revised Charter, Section 8-16 'Administrative Assistant', is another new position that must be filled immediately because the first sentence of the section states "the office of the First Selectman shall have an Administrative Assistant". 'Shall' is a mandate...it means 'must'.

The questions you may want to ask yourself before voting are:

1. Do you fully understand the changes and ramifications of the revised Charter?

2. Will the salaries of the First Selectman and Finance Director be reduced proportionately with the reduction of their duties? If not, then why should the taxpayers be required to pay the same current salaries for half of the workload?

Having no way of knowing the ramifications of the changes in the revised Charter, I urge you to vote NO this coming Tuesday.
Sincerely, Mike Board

Cathy exemplifies all of the positive attributes of why someone should enter public service. I had the pleasure of observing her speak to a group of children explaining why politics is a noble endeavor. She explained how public service is how you do good works and help people. She not only believes this but demonstrates this in her actions and words. Listening to her and watching her non-partisan approach over her many years of service to our town gives me back the faith in politics that I had as a child. The children she spoke to felt that too. It is rare that this kind of person comes along to serve our town. Cathy and her running mate Rick Albrecht deserve our vote. Please vote on Tuesday.
Jamie Lehane

While I have only recently come to know Cathy, what I have found out is that Cathy is smart, energetic and dedicated to our town. She is committed to an accountable town government, one which is inclusive and one in which we (the residents) come first. This is why I believe, if Cathy says she will preserve the rural character of our town, she will do just that. It is also why, for the first time since I have lived here in Killingworth, I am inspired to get more involved in our local government. This is an exciting time for our town and I encourage everyone to get out and support Cathy Iino and all the other Democratic candidates on Tuesday, November 3rd!
Stephen Anderson

Jerry and I have been married for 17 years. I lived in Manhattan, and moved to New Jersey to be near his beautiful daughters attending public school. When the Baron girls graduated from university, we spent a long time researching this area before deciding on Killingworth. We have loved living here from Day One, eight years ago. You will not find anyone stronger than Jerry to maintain the rural character of our town.

Jerry knows that trade-offs require research, particularly the trade-offs among taxes, development and open space. We were both vice presidents of equities research for major companies. We made economic decisions, and we were always aware of our huge fiduciary responsibility to our firms and our clients. We both published hundreds of reports and articles on finance and economics.

There is no doubt that Jerry is a problem solver, judging from the stream of people who consult him about things big and small. He drops everything when anyone calls, and seriously works until the problem is solved. He will be even more serious as Killingworth First Selectman when he evaluates Town projects that spend your tax dollars.

I have written professionally since I worked my way though graduate school. I started as public relations writer for Indiana University and was assistant editor of the Kelley School of Business. My M.B.A. is summa cum laude. I was offered a fellowship to study for a doctorate, but chose to be an economics researcher and writer. I left the world of numbers and followed my heart into the art world. I wrote the first book on a Hispanic-Connecticut artist, F. Luis Mora (1874-1940). My article on Mora was just published in American Art Review. I am also a museum curator, and soon will post an invitation to be a personal docent to Killingworth citizens.

People ask me how I made such a dramatic switch, from economics to art history. Although I am introduced professionally as an historian, Jerry has always been the historian in our family. He not only has an MBA, he has a history degree and he reads history books by the dozens. I doubt I could have accomplished my publications had not Jerry shared his bountiful knowledge of history. He will share his bountiful knowledge of many fields with our town as First Selectman.

He will also share his sense of humor. Our girls kept their baby nicknames, Abbi and Becki. Jerry signs his emails and cards, "Love, Daddi." About our grandbaby, Hannah, Jerry says he is already "spoiling her rotten." That he is a man and the majority of Town Hall workers are women, he's remarked, "I believe in gender diversity in the workplace, don't you?"

Jerry is highly-educated and an independent thinker, and has made a real mark as a member of the Killingworth Board of Finance. Tomorrow's election should not be about singing "Kumbaya" or who better likes volunteers. We all greatly appreciate volunteers. Now, however, we are in tough economic times, and there is only one candidate who has the skills to move us forward and to protect taxpayers. I urge you to vote for my husband, the problem solver, Jerry Baron.
Respectfully,
Lynne Pauls Baron

The good news is that under Republican leadership and with Jerry Baron on the Board of Finance, this town has been able to fund and accomplish numerous major projects without a penny of increased taxes in the past two years.

Jerry Baron has all the formal education and professional training and a lengthy career in planning, budgeting, analyzing and managing, which means he has a lot more to offer than just good intentions and a volunteer spirit-he knows how to get the job done, moving forward with fiscal sense. We cannot afford to pass up the opportunity to elect a true leader with proven professional skills and a successful track record. As little as I know about the other candidate, I know that Jerry is just the right person for First Selectman.

I would also recommend voting for the entire Republican ticket. The KRTC has done a tremendous job in endorsing the best and most qualified candidate for each office, and in the KRTC's spirit of bipartisanship this includes two members of the other party. I would encourage everyone to give all these candidates top consideration as the best choice for this town's government. Disclosure: I am also running for re-election to the Fire Commission as a Republican, and I am proud to be associated with the KRTC team. Vote Line A.
Mike Butler

The proposed Charter does not add any major expensive new positions.

The position of Director of Finance is currently part of the structure of our Town and by all accounts is a valuable and cost-saving position. The proposed changes to the Charter merely summarize the duties of the Director of Finance for continuity in future administrations. If at any time the Board of Finance and the Voters determine that the Town cannot afford to budget for a Director of Finance, that position will not be funded.

The Administrative Assistant is currently called the First Selectman's Secretary, who plays a valuable role in the continuity of each administration. With the possibility (and in recent past, inevitability) of a new administration every two years, this position is extremely important for the good of the Town. As such, it is necessary to document the duties and responsibilities of this position. Documenting these duties in no way eliminates the First Selectman's role to oversee personnel scheduling or any other administrative duty of the First Selectman. As well, including these duties in the Charter does not mandate this position. If at any time the Board of Finances and the Voters determine that the Town cannot afford to budget for an Administrative Assistant, that position will not be funded.

The position of Director of Public Works is also currently part of the structure of the Town. Currently, the duties of this position are the responsibility of the First Selectman. Under the proposed Charter, the duties of this position are the responsibility of the First Selectman. Our Town is growing in population, in the number of town-owned properties, and in the amount of money that we spend on roads, bridges and other infrastructure for the good and safety of our residents. The Charter needs to allow for the continual growth of our Town. Given the growing need for experience in this type of position, the proposed Charter allows for these duties to be delegated to an experienced engineer, IF the Board of Finance and the Voters determine that the Town can afford to budget for a separate Director of Public Works. Currently, the Town spends thousands of dollars each year for outside engineering services simply because the Director of Public Works (our First Selectman) is not required to have the expertise to oversee many of the complex projects that our Town requires. If the Board of Finance proposed to budget for a separate Director of Public Works, much of the expense of hiring such an individual would be offset by the reduction of these outside engineering services.

In summary, the inclusion of these positions in the Charter does not necessarily mean that they will be budgeted for each year. If the Board of Finance budgets for them and the Voters approve the budget, having these positions described in the Charter saves money so a new incoming Board of Selectman does not have to waste valuable time learning the ropes and reinventing the wheel.

I urge all residents to go to the polls to vote YES for the Charter.
Joan Reed Wilson
Charter Revision Commission Member

You could hike for miles in the woods, with your dog or with a group from St. Lawrence Parish on their Walk against Hunger. You could take home a DVD or a best seller from the library or download an audiobook. Living in Killingworth is a rare privilege, and it is a privilege worth working for with all my heart. I will do my best to protect the quality of life we all love, and I will do my best to make sure that you can continue to afford to live here. It's been a great pleasure meeting so many of you over the last few months. I hope I'll get to know even more of you during the next two years.
Cathy Iino

She has experience teaching and working as an education administrator in private and public school settings, and the sound judgment necessary to make excellent decisions regarding our local school system. In addition, she brings the unique insight of a lifelong learner who has kept up with current education trends. Poornima is a caring, intelligent, and committed individual that will work hard for Regional District 17 Board of Education.
Peter J. Brown

Baron said, "This is the first comprehensive exhibition of Mora's works since 1927. Although Mora is not a household name, there is a strong appreciation for the quality of his work in the art world. Ever since my book was published by Falk Art Reference of Madison, Conn. there has been a growing appreciation of Mora's work by people who simply like and admire great paintings. Mora was a figural painter, whose styles ranged from Academic to the full light and palette of American Impression. He felt his Spanish roots strongly, and his goal as an artist was to bring the techniques of the Old Masters into his modern American painting." Baron is also a featured, invited lecturer on Mora at the University of Connecticut.

F. Luis Mora lived between 1874 and 1940. He was born in Uruguay to a Spanish father and French mother. He was brought to New York when he was six years old, and became one of the leading American painters of his generation. He was the first Hispanic to be elected a member of the National Academy of Design, was highly awarded, and won almost every medal and prize that was available to an American painter. He built a home and studio in Connecticut's Litchfield Hills, and was a founder of the Kent Art Association, still in existence today. Now his works are held by thirty-five museums in the U.S. and Canada. The Mattatuck's exhibition includes paintings borrowed from Yale University Gallery and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, among other major institutions.

The Mattatuck Museum is located at 144 West Main Street in Waterbury. Museum hours are 10 am to 5 pm daily, except Mondays. The exhibition runs through February 7, 2010. Baron's biography of F. Luis Mora is a hard cover book with 341 pages and 350 illustrations. It is available at the museum and on Amazon.com.

The Charter Revision Commission's objective was to update the Charter, where necessary, and provide an operational framework to meet the needs of the Town now and for the foreseeable future. In this regard the Commission members researched and debated many issues brought to us by Town's people and elected officials. One constant theme came through. That was to find ways to provide greater professional support to our elected officials as the operation of the Town's business becomes more sophisticated and technology driven and as administrations change. After reviewing a number of options we concluded that three areas of expertise were necessary to support these requirements. They included formalizing the position of Director of Finance, a position that has existed during the last two administrations; enabling our Board of Selectmen to implement a position of Administrative Assistant (this position is NOT mandated and would only be filled if or when the Selectmen deemed it necessary and only after the present Secretarial position is vacated through retirement); and enabling our Board of Selectmen to implement a position of Director of Public Works. Let me spend a little time on this position since it appears that the few critics have either not read the outline for this position or have failed to understand the growing need for expertise of this type in the changing environment that our town must operate within now and in the future. Once again this position is NOT mandated and would only be implemented if or when the Board of Selectmen deemed it necessary. Further they would have to have the necessary budget, get approval from the Board of Finance, and approval from a Town Meeting. This position is not simply to manage the road crew as the critics would have you believe but to have responsibilities for the day-to-day operation, budgeting and planning for the Town Office Building its technology and operational systems (including any new office facility that may come into existence in the future), for the growing number of Town owned properties (not covered by some other contract), as well as for the town highways. Further, the person filling this position would be expected to have engineering qualifications and be able to provide such services, as may be required form time to time, thereby reducing spending on outside services. This position does NOT replace or diminish the Highway Forman position. As most people will realize, these responsibilities today and into the future require a greater in-depth knowledge of engineering and technology then can reasonably be expected from our Selectmen

Other facts that you should know are that the Charter you are being asked to approve on Tuesday has made no change to the structure of our Town government. It is still the same Selectmen/Town Meeting system that we have always enjoyed. The elected positions are all still the same and their terms are also the same as they were. It does however "tighten up" requirements that the Selectmen insure the accuracy of job descriptions for Town employees and that annual performance reviews are conducted.

In summary I believe that the document before you (please click on the link below to review it for yourselves) provides our elected officials the necessary and appropriate structure and flexibility to operate our Town now and into the foreseeable future.

I urge you to vote YES on Tuesday.

Dan Perkins
Life long resident and member of the Charter Revision Commission

Click to download Charter Draft

        1. The revised charter does provide for a Director of Finance, Director of Public Works and Administrative Assistant (not mandated) for the Selectmen. The job descriptions outlined in the charter for the three positions are an overview and they, as well as all job descriptions of appointed and hired personnel are supposed be reviewed, updated and modified as needed by the Board of Selectmen. The Selectmen are also supposed to complete annual performance evaluations for all appointed and hired personnel on a yearly basis as well as direct and supervise their performance. (See 7-3a) As for filling the Director of Public Works and Administrative Assistant positions, before that could happen, they would have to be included in the budget, which has to be voted on at a town meeting.

        2. The revised charter does, in fact, add to the duties of the Selectmen as annual performance evaluations will be required.

        Section 7-3a: The Selectman does NOT supervise the Town Clerk and Tax Collector as they are elected positions and governed by State Statutes.

        Section 7-3b: The Board of Selectmen will delegate responsibilities to an Administrative Assistant but then oversees that Administrative Assistant's coordination of personnel scheduling. (See Section 7-3a)

        Section 7-3c: The Selectman IS charged with the coordination and administration of future planning of every Town agency, except for those functions expressly reserved or delegated to Town agencies by law or by the Charter.

        Section 7-3d: The proposed changes to the Charter DO NOT eliminate the Selectman's ability to require reports but rather require the Selectmen to make a continuous review of the current and future needs of the Town including financial and budget requirements.

        3. The change in term of the Assessor to one year to bring this position into conformity with other similar positions is correct. The terms of all other positions that are different are mandated by State Statute.

I hope you go to the polls with me next Tuesday and vote "YES" for the charter revisions.

Richard Pleines, Member Charter Revision Commission