Sunday, October 2, 2011

OUR VIEW: Thanks, Mr. Mayor Stewart - The Bristol Press (bristolpress.com)

Posted by Frank Smith at 2.10.11

15 comments:

NB Voter said...

There are more accomplishments to Mayor Stewart's tenure, too frequent to mention herel.
Mark Bernacki will follow in Tim Stewar's footsteps in making New Britain a great place to live and work.

Thank You, Mayor Stewart!

October 2, 2011 at 12:04 PM
Anonymous said...

OUR VIEW: Thanks, Mr. Mayor/ Tim Stewart!

New Britain Mayor Timothy Stewart, who will be stepping down after four terms in office, took a good-natured ribbing recently at a testimonial dinner in his honor, where he showed he had both a thick skin and a good sense of humor as he laughed at parting shots from friends and erstwhile foes alike.

The highlight, however, was an emotional tribute by his daughter, Erin, who put most of the event together, and who will be following her dad into politics this November as a candidate for the Board of Education.

We’re glad to see such a nice send-off for a guy who — even those who don’t ever agree with him must admit — loves New Britain and has put his mark on the city.

The most recent example of his efforts to better his hometown, bring in jobs and shore up the tax base is the Costco project, now before the city’s Planning, Zoning and Housing Committee. He has worked with the company to bring a mega-store, 200 jobs and nearly a half million dollars in new taxes, to Hartford Road and, faced with opposition, has been flexible enough to propose alternatives that pushed the project forward. This, of course, follows his leadership in bringing Celebration Foods, with its 300 jobs, to the city in 2007.

But what has made him most popular with city homeowners is that, in his entire four terms in office, he’s never presided over a hike in property taxes.

“The only taxes that were raised was out of my control and that was during re-evaluation in 2007,” he told the Herald recently. “It didn’t raise everyone’s taxes. Single-family homeowners saw a decrease.”

Other observers, both in the city and nationally, have been impressed with his campaign to end homelessness, a partnership with the business community, nonprofits and various other entities.

Since the Mayor’s Work Plan to End Homelessness was created in 2008, 39 homeless people have found jobs in the city and 45 have found homes. The next focus, Stewart said, should be housing for homeless veterans.

Also during Stewart’s tenure, the city was twice awarded a higher bond rating and he oversaw the introduction of a single-stream recycling program.

In the face of this record of accomplishment, we are left wondering what more could have be done if the mayor and the city’s largely Democratic Common Council had been able to work together over these eight years without the bitter partisanship that’s gripping the country.

That’s one aspect of the job we’re sure Mayor Stewart won’t miss as he takes a well-deserved breather — but we hope to see him again soon ... perhaps reinvigorating the state Republican party with his proven leadership and love for his
hometown / New Britain CT!

October 2, 2011 at 12:48 PM
Anonymous said...

This just exemplifies how extremist the Herald really is. The Bristol Press, owned by the same people, recognizes how spectacular a mayor Tim Stewart was, but the Herald can't bring themselves to print anything positive about someone unless they are a radical socialist...

And they wonder why by all honest accounts, their paper if failing?

October 2, 2011 at 7:10 PM
Anonymous said...

CHAIRMAN DTC/A View of Costco Real Estate Action:

A plan to allow Costco to build one of its warehouse mega--stores near Westfarms Mall was being re-considered by the Common Council and City Boards in New Britain durning the month Sept. 2011.

The Stewart Administration’s attempts last spring to railroad the original Costco proposal through the city approval process was thwarted by the Council amid strong, bipartisan concerns over the conversion of deed-protected parks, open space and traffic issues.

A Costco in New Britain represents a significant economic boost with the potential to bring more than $400,000 annually in tax revenues, 200 jobs and a land sale that could exceed $4 million. At issue is how or whether protected Stanley Park land can be used for the development under a deed donating the land to the city.

Representatives of Costco clearly covet the land adjacent to the Target store because of its proximity to Westfarms Mall and Corbin’s Corner, one of the state’s biggest retail centers. The original plan, however, would have taken A.W. Stanley’s pristine park land and moved three holes of the 27-hole Stanley Golf Course across Hartford Road to allow Costco a site adjacent to the Target store.

But, Council President Mike Trueworthy, Ward 4 Ald David DeFronzo and Mayoral Nominee Tim O’Brien, among many others, questioned the original plan that has now given way to a substitute plan involving the acquisition of state land in town of Newington and a re-configuration of the golf course on Hartford Road.

The public has offer public comment at the City Hall meetings, including the Finance Board, the Common Council, the Parks and Recreation Commission, and the Council’s Planning Zoning and Housing Committee, and on Wednesday, October 12, Common Council vote on purchase and sales agreement with COSTCO?

October 2, 2011 at 10:02 PM
Anonymous said...

APPROVE OR REJECT SALES AGREEMENT / COSTCO?

After months of political bickering and behind-the-scenes maneuvering, the proposal to build a Costco mega-store south of Westfarms mall is likely to go to a make-or-break vote in the coming weeks.
City leaders could vote as early as Oct. 12, 2011 on whether to sell part of the municipal Stanley Golf Course for the project.

Several city council members have been more skeptical, with some warning that they won't be rushed through a decision that could dramatically change the city's northern edge. But their reluctance has receded in the weeks since Costco and Stewart put forward major revisions to the original version of the plan.

Costco wants the site because of the enormous consumer traffic generated by the mall. That's a terrific opportunity for the city, which has largely been shut out of the lucrative retail development around Westfarms, says William Millerick, president of New Britain's chamber of commerce.

Stewart projects that a Costco would pay $475,000 a year in property taxes, and generate up to $125,000 more through a state formula that diverts some sales tax receipts to cities.

Costco has also agreed to reimburse the city for its purchase of nearby undeveloped acreage from the state. New Britain would restore the lost golf course sections on that land. In addition, Costco is promising to reconstruct part of Hartford Road near the Route 9 exit and entrance ramps to reduce traffic congestion.

A few homeowners and environmentalists want Costco to locate its store farther east, where it wouldn't damage the golf course or the relatively unspoiled look of Hartford Road's woodlands. But the powerful wall of opposition has largely eroded, and the company has shown no interest in another round of revisions.

The next major decision point is Oct. 4 at 7 p.m., when the council's zoning subcommittee meets at city hall. If it endorses the project, the full council would get to approve or reject the sale agreement on Oct. 12 at 7 p.m. at New Britain City Hall.

#30#

October 3, 2011 at 10:44 AM
Anonymous said...

Subcommittee Members: The Common Council Planning, Zoning, and Housing Subcommittee member as published on the City of New Britain Website.

Roy Centeno, Chair
Silvia J. Cruz, Vice Chair
Michael Trueworthy
Shirley Black
Paul D. Catanzaro
Phil Sherwood
Louis G.Salvio
Mark H. Bernacki
Mary A. Marrocco

All 15 members of the Common Council are members of the Zoning Sub-Committee and will be notified of meetings where zoning matters will be discussed.

October 3, 2011 at 2:02 PM
Anonymous said...

Several city council members have been more skeptical, with some warning that they won't be rushed through a decision that could dramatically change the city's northern edge.....

These socialists calling themselves Democrats won't rest until they have transformed the North end of New Britain into something that resembles the North end of Hartford!

October 3, 2011 at 4:18 PM
Anonymous said...

Several city council members have been more skeptical, with some warning that they won't be rushed through a decision that could dramatically change the city's northern edge.....

These socialists calling themselves Democrats won't rest until they have transformed the North end of New Britain into something that resembles the North end of Hartford!

NOTE: The deal with the land on northern edge of New Britain were hammer-out with E-mail's and two joint meetings held at Polish National Home in downtown Hartford with O'Brien, the Trueworthy squad, alderwoman from Newington?

October 3, 2011 at 6:56 PM
Lou Salvio said...

"NOTE: The deal with the land on northern edge of New Britain were hammer-out with E-mail's and two joint meetings held at Polish National Home in downtown Hartford with O'Brien, the Trueworthy squad, alderwoman from Newington?

October 3, 2011 6:56 PM"

If this comment (ABOVE) in fact is true, it shows the lengths to which O'Brien and Trueworthy will go to screw the people of New Britain, all for political, selfish reasons. These two Democrats should be run out of town by their own party and the good citizens of New Britain. Who's the alderwoman from Newington?

October 4, 2011 at 8:17 AM
Anonymous said...

NOTE: The deal with the land on northern edge of New Britain were hammer-out with E-mail's and two joint meetings held at Polish National Home in downtown Hartford with O'Brien, the Trueworthy squad, alderwoman from Newington?


Was Tercyak there too since he apparently lives in that neighborhood and not New Britain?

October 4, 2011 at 10:32 AM
Anonymous said...

NOTE: The deal with the land on northern edge of New Britain were hammer-out with E-mail's and two joint meetings held at Polish National Home in downtown Hartford with O'Brien, the Trueworthy squad, alderwoman from Newington?


Was Tercyak there too since he apparently lives in that neighborhood and not New Britain?

October 4, 2011 at 10:33 AM
Anonymous said...

NOTE: The deal with the land on northern edge of New Britain were hammer-out with E-mail's and two joint meetings held at Polish National Home in downtown Hartford with O'Brien, the Trueworthy squad, alderwoman from Newington?


Was Tercyak there too since he apparently lives in that neighborhood and not New Britain?

October 4, 2011 at 10:34 AM
Anonymous said...

Mayor Timothy Stewart stated it could take up to a year for the dust to settle-- before actual work begins on the Costco project.

Stewart also stated that the Mayor of Town of Newington has told him the town has no use for the state-owned land in Newington on Route 9, and would step aside allowing New Britain to purchase the property for the Costco mega-store.

October 5, 2011 at 12:15 PM
Anonymous said...

Cool resource! How can I find your RSS feed?

November 18, 2011 at 11:33 AM
Anonymous said...

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November 25, 2011 at 12:34 AM

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