Citizen News, October 28, 2015

And A Big Thank You!

I kicked the hornet’s nest when I revealed that Sherman’s Operating
Budget has increased 20% in Clay Cope’s four years – the largest four
year increase in Sherman’s history. The operating budget funds the
mechanisms of the town, is absent of the debt service and the school
budget, and is created solely by the Board of Selectmen (BOS).

Bob Ostrosky’s recent column attempts to marginalize me, claiming
that I look “too simply” at this. He ventures into expenditures and
asserts that I have not looked closely enough. I have. I have examined
many Sherman budget details. But I spotlight this topic and choose not
to deflect into other issues because it’s critical to you as a taxpayer.
Here’s why: Taxpayers are taxed on the budget. not the expenses. And
that Bob confesses that the town has, in reality, only spent to a 5
increase should be of interest to you. Bob’s thesis is that while the BoS
budgeted for a certain amount it hasn’t spent that much. Fair enough, I say. However, the taxpayer is billed for the BUDGETED amount
including this past budget (2015/16) for which we don’t yet know the expenses. That such a large amount is budgeted the last four years is
something the taxpayer should stay alert to.

First, let’s eliminate the implication that my numbers are wrong. They
aren’t. Any Sherman resident can access them in Town Hall. Here are the
operational budget numbers per each year: 2012/13 – $3,166,504; 2013/2014-$3,456,533; 2014/15 -$3,625,862;    2015/2016 – $3, 802,792.

Second, let me say this about Bob Ostrosky. 1 like him very much on
a personal basis. I look forward to working with him, and he has my
empathy that financial matters fall into his lap since our First Selectman
is unable to speak or write on this critical topic. That’s most unusual
and will return to normal if you elect me. I can guarantee that both Bob
and Eric Holub, our town treasurer, also someone I admire, will enjoy
collaborating with me to keep Sherman strong. Only the hard wall of
party politics can block our working agreeably together and that wall
will not come from me. However, Bob misrepresented me a bit in his
column and for that I will charge him a beer.

There is nothing illicitly wrong with this over-budgeting practice. In
many ways, at least to some taxpayers, it might seem prudent. It becomes philosophical. Taxpayer A may think it’s perfectly fine for the BOS to over-tax because it knows best what to do with his or her money. In this case, the B0S stockpiled the extra tax revenue in a reserve fund. Taxpayer B might be slightly annoyed and wish that her BOS would budget closer to what the expenses are. In her mind, she does not want to “lend” money to the town and feels there’s already enough inert money in surplus. She would rather add to her family’s surplus. Taxpayer C is angry and sees the words “good management” and “surplus” splattered on campaign material and is outraged that good management merely constitutes taxing him extra to inflate accomplishments.

Here’s why this is important: it educates the taxpayer. I want to
provide Sherman taxpayers the opportunity to understand where their
money goes. I would be embarrassed to preside over a 15-minute
Annual Report Town Meeting. At the October 16 meeting, our First
Selectman read from a prepared script. Before the audience could
peruse a couple pages of the Annual Report, it was over. Some folks
took pride in the speed of that. I didn’t. If you elect me, I will assure
you that Town Meetings will be handled with care, offer detailed explanations and presentations, and have a thorough Q & A period.

This will be my last column before the election on Tuesday, Nov. 3. I
am so gratified by the support and well-wishes that Ashleigh Blake and
I have received. I have relished every aspect of it, but’none more than
the fruitful one-on-one conversations I have enjoyed with so many of
you! Thank you! It’ll all be a memory Nov. 4 and the Sherman we love
will remain. And remember: if you have something pressing with the
town, well, you don’t call the Democratic Party. You don’t call the
Republican Party. You call the office of the First Selectman. And when
I pick up that phone I’ll be there for you. Please feel free to contact me
for questions and concerns: dnldlw@aol.com; 860 778 3394. Thank
you for the opportunity to serve you.

Sincerely.
Don Lowe

Citizen News Insert, October 28, 2015. Click either image to enlarge. (If you do not see an image, click this post’s title.)

Citizen News Ad, October 28, 2015. Click either image to enlarge. (If you do not see an image, click this post’s title.)

Citizen News, Letter to Editor, October 28, 2015

To the Editor:

As a person with hearing disability, I am sure that Don Lowe will
accommodate me at the meetings I attend. Don is sensitive to other
people’s issues, he listens and responds, and will be a strong leader for
everyone in Sherman. I feel the same way about Ashleigh Blake who I
am extremely impressed with for all that she does in Sherman. I am a
member of the Conservation Commission and both Don and Ashleigh
have proven themselves to be strong advocates for Sherman’s rural
character. They will also care for every aspect of Sherman including
its Seniors and its budget. I urge you to vote for these two talented
individuals.

Pat Bailey,
Sherman

Citizen News, Letter to Editor, October 28, 2015

To the Editor:

As longtime members of the Sherman community we appreciate
and enthusiastically endorse the candidacies of Don Lowe and
Ashleigh Blake for the positions of First Selectman and Selectman.
They are forward thinking in their plans for the future of our town and
fiscally responsive to the needs of our citizens. Through their many
acts of volunteerism and engagement they have shown interest in and
caring for both the very young and our more senior townspeople.
They will manage our taxpayer dollars carefully and wisely, always
remembering the citizens whom they serve. We urge you to join us in
voting for Don Lowe and Ashleigh Blake on November 3.

Henry and Eva VonAncken,
Sherman

Citizen News, Letter to Editor, October 28, 2015

To the Editor:

Having retired as Sherman’s Probate Judge and as Chair of the
Planning & Zoning Commission, these last two years are the first in
decades that I have not been on a ballot in Sherman.

Being in office for so many years, I learned much. Running for office requires the process of party affiliation; however, serving in office requires that party labels be dropped and replaced with representation and leadership for all residents. I know this from experience. It also requires restraint from labeling citizens by characteristics intended to diminish and divide us.

Sherman deserves this kind of leadership from our officials. By
electing Don Lowe as First Selectman and Ashleigh Blake as Selectman, partisan politics will end in Sherman. Based on their long histories of service, they will bring a united spirit back to our town, and Sherman will once again thrive with the sorely-needed advantage of inclusion and consideration of many points of view.

Please vote for Don Lowe for First Selectman and Ashleigh Blake
for Selectman next Tuesday, and be assured of representation in
Sherman’s future without regard of your party affiliation. Remember,
every vote counts.

Barbara J. Ackerman,
Retired Sherman Probate Judge 1979-2003;
Planning & Zoning Commission 2003-2013

Citizen News, Letter to Editor, October 28, 2015

To the Editor:
In just a few days, residents of Sherman will have the opportunity to vote for members of the Board of Selectmen and numerous Town Boards and Commissions. I strongly urge you to vote for Don Lowe for First Selectman and Ashleigh Blake for Selectman, as well as the excellent slate of candidates, a number of whom are Republicans, that Don and Ashleigh support.

Don Lowe has proposed an important change in the format of the
monthly Board of Selectmen meetings. Presently, residents may speak
for three minutes at the beginning of the formal agenda and again for
three minutes at the end of the formal agenda. Questions raised
during these three minute statements are not responded to by members
of the Board. It can be a frustrating experience, particularly when you
are speaking about an item listed on the evening‘s agenda. Not
infrequently, one feels that they have been, essentially, ignored. On
occasion, the present First Selectman, Clay Cope, will invite the
speaker to arrange to meet with him in his office during the week so
they can discuss the matter at greater length. This is often a most
unsatisfactory response as the speaker is seeking to have their
comments considered in the Board’s discussion of the topic!

Don Lowe is proposing to include resident comments and questions
during the part of the meeting devoted to that agenda topic – perhaps
even including a well-informed resident in the dialogue not unlike the
present practice that includes comments from Boards and
Commissions during parts of the agenda.

Don Lowe and Ashleigh Blake are committed to engaging residents
and volunteers in the work of the Town of Sherman and to effectively
using the resources of the Town in their administration.

Vote for Don Lowe and Ashleigh Blake. They are advocates of
inclusive, collaborative, open, and effective government for the Town
of Sherman.

Stan Greenbaum,
Sherman

Citizen News, Letter to Editor, October 28, 2015

To the Editor:

The in-depth candidate interviews in the October 14th Citizen News, revealed the best choices for the voters in Sherman.

Don Lowe has it right: The biggest challenge going forward’is “the budget – always”. That’s the correct answer from a First Selectman – always. While other towns have separate boards of finance, Sherman does not. Our First Selectman is also the Chief Financial Officer, and the primary responsibilities are financial. Don Lowe is the only candidate who sees – and understands – the big picture.

Ashleigh Blake also has it right. She outlined tangible opportunities to better serve Sherman, clearly articulating her vision free from corporate
lingo and institutional gobble-de-gook.

Please VOTE next Tuesday for Don and Ashleigh; the right choices to lead Sherman.

Kate Sweetser McConaghy,
Former Sherman Selectman

Citizen News, Letter to Editor, October 28, 2015

To the Editor:

When I returned to Sherman I was not sure what to expect. As I child I grew up here and had great memories of long days at the beach, and hours playing in the woods and fields, and visits to the Library. Those memories, the idea of having my mom and dad just a few miles down the road, seemed reason enough to give the idea of raising our son here a chance.

Sure, the town has changed some over the years, but In many ways it has stayed the same. For the most part, that is a good thing. We do not face over development that plagues so many other towns. We are not overrun by chain stores that are blight on the landscape and on communities of our neighboring towns. We have preserved much of our natural landscape, forests, and some of our farms. This conservation took vision and leadership and an investment in the future. But we can do better. We can and should have a more active and engaged public. We can have civil discourse and a real plan about how to care for our elders. We can do more to support local, farmers and farms. We can have a more active town hall leadership that encourages all of us to do more to make our town be the best it can be. That all requires real leadership and vision.

I have seen just that type of leadership and vision that can not only preserve our past, but move us into the future in Don Lowe and Ashleigh Blake. They have the work ethic, the spirit and the common sense to help all of us make Sherman the best it can be. Sherman is great. It can be even better. Please join me in voting for Don Lowe and Ashleigh Blake, and get help make Sherman the best community it can be.

Justin Molito,
Sherman