Special kudos go out this morning to our friend, newly minted Middlebury First Selectman Tom Gormley who is featured in today's Voices article titled "New First Selectman Keeps Taxpayers' Concerns in Mind."
It isn't easy running a municipal government these days because of all of the unfunded mandates handed down from Hartford. However, easing the local tax burden is a top priority of Tom's, and I appreciate his concern for the taxpayers. Here is the article:
New First Selectman Keeps Taxpayers' Concerns in Mind
By: Jaimie Cura
01/02/2008
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MIDDLEBURY - The white board in First Selectman Thomas Gormley's office has four phrases written under the topic "Four Major Taxpayer Concerns."
"I see it every day," said Mr. Gormley.
While visiting homes during his campaign and during the first three weeks in office, Mr. Gormley said he learned that the top concerns of taxpayers are overdevelopment, taxes, Region 15 costs and Oxford Airport growth concerns, noise and safety.
Mr. Gormley said his first month in office has been busy due to the number of people who visited to discuss their concerns during the first few weeks and, now, the typical first selectman duties and responsibilities as liaison to the town's commissions.
The Board of Selectmen members, at the Tuesday, December 4, special meeting, each became liaisons to the commissions and committees in town, as part of an effort to become more involved.
The first item on the list, overdevelopment, is a concern to residents who want to maintain Middlebury's small town feel, said Mr. Gormley.
He said he already spoke to Planning and Zoning Chairman Terry Smith on looking over land use regulations, to see what needs to be done to protect Middlebury.
The burden of taxes may be somewhat alleviated by placing the burden on the town to educate residents, said Mr. Gormley. "I think we have to, in my own mind, do a better job of selling the services we give to the taxpayer so they know what they're getting," he said.
Mr. Gormley discussed the breakdown of a tax dollar, with 65 cents going toward the Region 15 school system, leaving the remaining 35 cents to run an entire town. He cited the importance of police protection and the Public Works Department.
"People have to realize they're getting bang for their buck - we're not hiding anything," he said.
Mr. Gormley said every town is facing an energy crisis, with rising fuel and heating costs. He said the town is trying to cut costs where it can, citing the decision made during the previous administration to lessen hours of operation at the Middlebury Public Library.
"I don't want to cut any more people," he said.
The third taxpayer concern, Region 15 costs, has the status of being both a blessing and a curse - Mr. Gormley said property values are based on a good school system, but residents have concerns that Middlebury is not paying a fair share to the region, which consists of Middlebury and Southbury.
"We started an Equity Analysis Committee to take a look at the equity issue," said Mr. Gormley. He said the issue is not the per pupil cost, but rather how large Southbury's population is in comparison to Middlebury's population.
According to the Region 15 website, Southbury's population is approximately 18,500 people, while Middlebury's population is approximately 6,450 people. "There's got to be something to address the size issue," said Mr. Gormley.
The fourth item on the board has been a concern of Mr. Gormley's throughout his campaign - Oxford Airport's growth and the subsequent noise and safety issues that arise.
"Yeah, the airport has been here a long time, but the intensification has increased," he said.
Mr. Gormley pulled out the Waterbury-Oxford Airport noise study packet given to him from the Department of Transportation at a Friday, December 7, presentation and pointed out the proximity of the runway to the Triangle Hills neighborhood in Middlebury.
"God forbid, if something happens, there's nothing but 81 homes there," he said, saying that if something went wrong with a plane on the runway, the homes in the neighborhood are the closest structures around.
Triangle Hills residents who spoke with Mr. Gormley said they are concerned with noise, safety and obtaining fair market value for their homes. One resident said that is all they want and if they receive it, they are moving out of the neighborhood.
Mr. Gormley also cited the possibility of the power plant being built in Oxford, and wondered how the stacks on the building that emit smoke will impact the airport and flying patterns of planes.
Mr. Gormley said he spoke with Christopher Murphy, D-5, who said he will try and help find a solution. Mr. Gormley said he hopes to schedule a meeting with Gov. M. Jodi Rell.
One item that is not on the white board but on Mr. Gormley's mind is, in the future, avoiding a specific part of Middlebury's past - the demeanor during the 2005 municipal election.
"A lot of people expressed concerns, saying "please don't let things go ahead as they did in the 2005 election," said Mr. Gormley.
He said the election was an ugly one and the town is in the midst of a healing process.
He acknowledged there are tough times ahead, with energy and housing crises, and the town residents and officials will need to work together to get through the trying times.
"There are people on tight incomes; we want to see those people stay in Middlebury," he said.
Mr. Gormley said the town has a responsibility to make every dollar count and do everything that can be done to lessen the burden.
"I just wish peace and prosperity for all our citizens," he said.
It isn't easy running a municipal government these days because of all of the unfunded mandates handed down from Hartford. However, easing the local tax burden is a top priority of Tom's, and I appreciate his concern for the taxpayers. Here is the article:
New First Selectman Keeps Taxpayers' Concerns in Mind
By: Jaimie Cura
01/02/2008
Email to a friendPost a CommentPrinter-friendly
Buy Photo
MIDDLEBURY - The white board in First Selectman Thomas Gormley's office has four phrases written under the topic "Four Major Taxpayer Concerns."
"I see it every day," said Mr. Gormley.
While visiting homes during his campaign and during the first three weeks in office, Mr. Gormley said he learned that the top concerns of taxpayers are overdevelopment, taxes, Region 15 costs and Oxford Airport growth concerns, noise and safety.
Mr. Gormley said his first month in office has been busy due to the number of people who visited to discuss their concerns during the first few weeks and, now, the typical first selectman duties and responsibilities as liaison to the town's commissions.
The Board of Selectmen members, at the Tuesday, December 4, special meeting, each became liaisons to the commissions and committees in town, as part of an effort to become more involved.
The first item on the list, overdevelopment, is a concern to residents who want to maintain Middlebury's small town feel, said Mr. Gormley.
He said he already spoke to Planning and Zoning Chairman Terry Smith on looking over land use regulations, to see what needs to be done to protect Middlebury.
The burden of taxes may be somewhat alleviated by placing the burden on the town to educate residents, said Mr. Gormley. "I think we have to, in my own mind, do a better job of selling the services we give to the taxpayer so they know what they're getting," he said.
Mr. Gormley discussed the breakdown of a tax dollar, with 65 cents going toward the Region 15 school system, leaving the remaining 35 cents to run an entire town. He cited the importance of police protection and the Public Works Department.
"People have to realize they're getting bang for their buck - we're not hiding anything," he said.
Mr. Gormley said every town is facing an energy crisis, with rising fuel and heating costs. He said the town is trying to cut costs where it can, citing the decision made during the previous administration to lessen hours of operation at the Middlebury Public Library.
"I don't want to cut any more people," he said.
The third taxpayer concern, Region 15 costs, has the status of being both a blessing and a curse - Mr. Gormley said property values are based on a good school system, but residents have concerns that Middlebury is not paying a fair share to the region, which consists of Middlebury and Southbury.
"We started an Equity Analysis Committee to take a look at the equity issue," said Mr. Gormley. He said the issue is not the per pupil cost, but rather how large Southbury's population is in comparison to Middlebury's population.
According to the Region 15 website, Southbury's population is approximately 18,500 people, while Middlebury's population is approximately 6,450 people. "There's got to be something to address the size issue," said Mr. Gormley.
The fourth item on the board has been a concern of Mr. Gormley's throughout his campaign - Oxford Airport's growth and the subsequent noise and safety issues that arise.
"Yeah, the airport has been here a long time, but the intensification has increased," he said.
Mr. Gormley pulled out the Waterbury-Oxford Airport noise study packet given to him from the Department of Transportation at a Friday, December 7, presentation and pointed out the proximity of the runway to the Triangle Hills neighborhood in Middlebury.
"God forbid, if something happens, there's nothing but 81 homes there," he said, saying that if something went wrong with a plane on the runway, the homes in the neighborhood are the closest structures around.
Triangle Hills residents who spoke with Mr. Gormley said they are concerned with noise, safety and obtaining fair market value for their homes. One resident said that is all they want and if they receive it, they are moving out of the neighborhood.
Mr. Gormley also cited the possibility of the power plant being built in Oxford, and wondered how the stacks on the building that emit smoke will impact the airport and flying patterns of planes.
Mr. Gormley said he spoke with Christopher Murphy, D-5, who said he will try and help find a solution. Mr. Gormley said he hopes to schedule a meeting with Gov. M. Jodi Rell.
One item that is not on the white board but on Mr. Gormley's mind is, in the future, avoiding a specific part of Middlebury's past - the demeanor during the 2005 municipal election.
"A lot of people expressed concerns, saying "please don't let things go ahead as they did in the 2005 election," said Mr. Gormley.
He said the election was an ugly one and the town is in the midst of a healing process.
He acknowledged there are tough times ahead, with energy and housing crises, and the town residents and officials will need to work together to get through the trying times.
"There are people on tight incomes; we want to see those people stay in Middlebury," he said.
Mr. Gormley said the town has a responsibility to make every dollar count and do everything that can be done to lessen the burden.
"I just wish peace and prosperity for all our citizens," he said.
1 comment:
i'm a voter from oxford, and i just picked up my absentee ballot from town hall today (i leave to go away to university this afternoon), and so i'm researching a little about the candidates. thank you for your blog! out of curiosity, your "about me" says that you are a small business owner - what kind of business do you own?
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