Sunday, July 11, 2010

OUR VIEW: It’s time to reconsider how we run our cities - The New Britain Herald (newbritainherald.com)

New Britain and Bristol both have good Leadership

11 comments:

The Thorn said...

I am glad to see that the Herald appreciates the fine leadership we have with Tim Stewart as Mayor, but I disagree with their conclusion that a town manager is the right way to go.

At least under the current system, a strong mayor form of government, the mayor is accountable directly to the people.

If you want to see how dysfunctional a town manager form of government can be, take a good look at what has been happening in East Hampton. Basically you have a situation where 3 female employees in town hall reported sexual harassment complaints against the town manager, and after the police chief did his job and forwarded the complaints to the town attorney for an investigation, the town manager subsequently terminated the police chief, and the 3 women who filed the complaints, while all the time claiming their positions were being eliminated for financial reasons and not retaliation for the complaints.

The basic problem with a town manager is that he is a super power who answers to no one and can do whatever he wants unchecked by anyone. They are not elected and usually have a contract that prevents even the council from getting rid of them and thus they can do whatever they please. In this situation, the police chief is appealing his termination, and the same town manager who fired him in the first place is going to be the impartial hearing officer to decide if the chief was treated fairly--sound fair to you? Hartford went through decades of dysfunction under such a system until they finally corrected the problem by returning to a strong mayor form of government.

Those who don't learn from history, are destined to repeat it!

Let's just hope that Tim Stewart stays with us for a long time, and then the town manager will not be needed!

Anonymous said...

The best way to keep out city running well is to elect more Republicans to the council. Isn't it about time the public woke up to the childish games these Democrats have been playing for way too long?

Anonymous said...

wouldn't a town manager work directly for Sherwood and Trueworthy?

Chilling thought!

Anonymous said...

CONGRATULATIONS MAYOR STEWART!

YOU HAVE STILL SUCCEEDED WITH YOUR HAVING TO NEGOTIATE THROUGH THE DEMOCRATIC MINE FIELDS.

I AM SURE THE DUO, SHERWOOD AND TRUEWORTHY ARE PUZZELLED THAT THE PAPER THEY SEEMED TO CONTROL HAS TURNED ON THEM.

Anonymous said...

The democrats in New Britain must be very ticked off.

Anonymous said...

How do you feel after the Herald didn't go your way Alderman Sherwood?

Anonymous said...

Even the liberal media is finally awaking from their slumber and recognizing that Sherwood and Trueworthy are not the solution, they are the problem.

Anonymous said...

Kudos to the Herald for admitting that New Britain would be in serious trouble if it ever lost Tim Stewart as its mayor!

Anonymous said...

Boy oh boy if the Herald keeps this up I may just take back my home delivery. I canceled it a couple of months ago because of all the BS. Well let's see if they keep printing the facts and do some bipartisan reporting, maybe Ill give them a call

Anonymous said...

Keep up the good work, Mayor Stewart. Even the Herald editor recognizes it will be a sad day for New Britain if the city ever loses your leadership!

Anonymous said...

How did the paper print such a story without defacto editor Sherwood's approval????

Web Tracking
Online Florist