Brown Bagging It With Tom

BY MATTHEW O’ROURKE
 REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN
  MIDDLEBURY — The budget has finally passed, but it won’t be long before town offi­cials start to hash out next year’s spending proposal.
  Residents rejected the town’s first three proposals before fi­nally accepting a $9.9 million budget for 2008-09 Tuesday. That figure is 3.16 percent less than last year’s budget.
  First Selectman Thomas Gormley said he was pleased with Tuesday’s turnout of 1,789 voters, but said he wants to begin an outreach campaign to better understand the pulse of the town. One idea is to start brown bag lunch sessions either weekly or monthly to speak with voters face-to-face about their concerns.
  “I’ve had an open-door policy from day one,” Gormley said. “People are free to send e-mails or to call me. I reply to every single e-mail and will continue to do so. We had about 700 people each time who voted no, and despite the 200 people who pushed the budget over, I want to hear from the others.”
  He said he hopes by next year that the town will have increased commercial tax rev­enues, and that a proposed zone change along Route 188 by North Benson Road will be approved to bring in more businesses.
  He added the town is down­sizing the size of the Public Works Department, and plans to sell off more equipment after the department completes work on Mary I. Johnson Park on Maple Drive.
  Board of Finance Chairman Jonathan B. Dayton said it is difficult to predict the situation the town may be in next year, but noted the finance board plans to look at different health care and employee benefit plans for savings.
  “We don’t want to deplete the services already available to employees, but we have to look at every possible way to try to save money,” he said Wednesday.
  Officials aren’t finished with this year’s spending package. Residents have yet to approve the town’s special funds, which include $1.2 million for the Water Pollution Control Authority and $216,888 for other improvements.

End of article.

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One of the hallmarks of Tom Gormley’s administration is his open-door policy he created on day one. Unlike the pass administration, Tom Gormley is extremely accessible. His willingness to sit down with residents just one day after his budget passes, illustrates his commitment to this community. His positive approach to problem-solving and his willingness to meet with taxpayers whether they agree with him or not is extremely healthy for this community.

Brown bag lunch sessions would be a great opportunity for Mr. Gormley’s critics to offer genuine ideas as to how to ease the tax burden for our residents. Mr. DeAngelis may want to consider grabbing a grinder at Chubbas and sitting down with Tom. I’ll even buy.  Its time to get together as a community.

Recovering the $948,000 from the Washington drive deal, downsizing PW, and encouraging businesses to come to Town will all favorably impact the bottom line next budget season. However, unless Middlebury takes a hard look at the Region 15 budget, all of the those potential Town-side savings will come to equilibrium, by unchecked increases in the Region.

No one will dispute that our children receive a first-class education from Region 15.  They do an excellent job. But, like in any organization there is waste, redundant or unnecessary programs and services, as well as top-heavy administrative costs.  There is no reason why these elements cannot be examined.  This is the time to do it, before the next budget is drafted.