The new fairness standard Mayor Sherwood refers to must be a test of whether or not the group is made up of a bunch of radical socialists. I have little doubt that if their organization's purpose was to hand out free condoms, birth control pills or drug needles, Mayor Sherwood would have offered this organization the keys to the city, but since their group is made up of the hard working people who are paying the bulk of the taxes that actually pays for this building, the attitude is clearly that they can go straight to hell.
The New Britain Citizens Property Owners Association (CPOA) can no longer use City Hall as a meeting place.
For years the group has met to conduct meetings there, and are unhappy about the new administrations decision. “This is ridiculous. City Hall is for the people. Usage by CPOA occurs when City Hall is open for other meetings. There are no costs,” said Michael Wanik, CPOA president. “Previous administrations had no issue with this practice so there is no ‘longstanding’ practice of denial.”
“It’s a matter of fairness,” said Phil Sherwood, deputy chief of staff. “Previously, exceptions were made for select non-profits and community groups, but it is not fair to give preferential treatment to certain organizations and not others. This administration and Property Management feel, in the interest of fairness to the hundreds of private organizations and non-profits in the city, that we abide by a reasonable and uniform standard for all.”
Sherwood added that, “the increase in the amount of official city meetings being conducted after regular business hours, and the increase in the number of citizen commissions and boards, make it impossible to offer the use of city hall to all private entities who wish to use it, without severely compromising official city business from being carried out.”
Michael Wanik disagrees. “I doubt “hundreds” of organizations use the meeting spaces and the easy access/parking/security after hours,” said Wanik. “The CPOA just donated $1,000 to the Police which the Mayor (Tim O’Brien) was happy to take; yet doesn’t support the works of the taxpayers. Now we must meet in the Stop and Shop conference room which they have been gracious enough to allow. Maybe when everyone is laid off there will be room.”
At 85 years of age, CPOA is the oldest taxpayer organization in Connecticut. It states its mission is to “foster, encourage and promote interest in all activities of local, state and regional agencies by local taxpayer groups as those activities affect the taxpayers of New Britain and the State of Connecticut; also to develop and establish an agenda in support of certain legislative initiatives which would affect greater economy, efficiency and effectiveness in our state and municipal governments and disseminate information regarding such state and regional agency activities and legislative initiatives to the state’s and New Britain’s taxpayers.”
I hope the CPOA finds a space to meet. I do however agree there should be a uniform standard for all outside organizations. Perhaps the city could make money by charging outside groups? The city employee unions have to rent space in city hall - why would the CPOA exptect to get preferencial treatment?
Mike, Why should CPOA getting special privledges over other groups? Who decides yes you are in or no you are not?
If one is to stick by the conservative credentials of the CPOA than you should question why taxpayers should subsidize a private organization or nonprofit.
The city employee unions have to rent space in city hall - why would the CPOA exptect to get preferencial treatment?
perhaps because the union represents people who bleed the city like leaches while the CPOA is made up of the people who actually pay their salaries by working hard and paying taxes--a concept liberals don't seem to grasp since so many of them live free off the rest of us and never pay a dime in taxes in their lives.
The space is public. Just as Scouts use schools at night for meetings (already open & functioning); groups attempting to better the City should be able to as well. CPOA is a gem of the City, made up of D's and R's.
Apparently only those groups that Mayor Sherwood agrees with are going to be allowed to use city hall for their meetings in the future. I guess Sherwood's assistant, O'Brien, has nothing to say on this matter because it would go against the wishes of O'Brien's commander, Sherwood.
To the idiot that says it costs the city money to use the facility you are wrong! City hall is open until 11pm every night of the week. The custodial employees and security staff are there during that time and the building is open for all to utilize. Partisan town committee meetings are held there monthly so why the adversarial relationship with the CPOA? Because its president Mike Wanik has spoken out against this administration and its juvenile practices. Keep it up Phil that which harms us only stands to make us stronger! Time to speak up people chastize this administration for their lack of transparency and censorship! Come to a council meeting and tell them what you think! Most of them can't understand normal thinking anyhow!
The new fairness standard Mayor Sherwood refers to must be a test of whether or not the group is made up of a bunch of radical socialists. I have little doubt that if their organization's purpose was to hand out free condoms, birth control pills or drug needles, Mayor Sherwood would have offered this organization the keys to the city, but since their group is made up of the hard working people who are paying the bulk of the taxes that actually pays for this building, the attitude is clearly that they can go straight to hell.
ReplyDeletemust be more of those evil rich people who need to be demonized by the left!
ReplyDeleteSherwood should be fired for his edict against the CPOA'S meeting space at City Hall.
ReplyDeleteMayor O'Brien didn't refuse their check for the Police Department, during the Triad Breakfast, that was held at the Senior Center of New Britain.
Reading the story that appeared in the City Journal should place pressure for the Mayor to take immediate action.
The New Britain Citizens Property Owners Association (CPOA) can no longer use City Hall as a meeting place.
ReplyDeleteFor years the group has met to conduct meetings there, and are unhappy about the new administrations decision. “This is ridiculous. City Hall is for the people. Usage by CPOA occurs when City Hall is open for other meetings. There are no costs,” said Michael Wanik, CPOA president. “Previous administrations had no issue with this practice so there is no ‘longstanding’ practice of denial.”
“It’s a matter of fairness,” said Phil Sherwood, deputy chief of staff. “Previously, exceptions were made for select non-profits and community groups, but it is not fair to give preferential treatment to certain organizations and not others. This administration and Property Management feel, in the interest of fairness to the hundreds of private organizations and non-profits in the city, that we abide by a reasonable and uniform standard for all.”
Sherwood added that, “the increase in the amount of official city meetings being conducted after regular business hours, and the increase in the number of citizen commissions and boards, make it impossible to offer the use of city hall to all private entities who wish to use it, without severely compromising official city business from being carried out.”
Michael Wanik disagrees. “I doubt “hundreds” of organizations use the meeting spaces and the easy access/parking/security after hours,” said Wanik. “The CPOA just donated $1,000 to the Police which the Mayor (Tim O’Brien) was happy to take; yet doesn’t support the works of the taxpayers. Now we must meet in the Stop and Shop conference room which they have been gracious enough to allow. Maybe when everyone is laid off there will be room.”
At 85 years of age, CPOA is the oldest taxpayer organization in Connecticut. It states its mission is to “foster, encourage and promote interest in all activities of local, state and regional agencies by local taxpayer groups as those activities affect the taxpayers of New Britain and the State of Connecticut; also to develop and establish an agenda in support of certain legislative initiatives which would affect greater economy, efficiency and effectiveness in our state and municipal governments and disseminate information regarding such state and regional agency activities and legislative initiatives to the state’s and New Britain’s taxpayers.”
I hope the CPOA finds a space to meet. I do however agree there should be a uniform standard for all outside organizations. Perhaps the city could make money by charging outside groups? The city employee unions have to rent space in city hall - why would the CPOA exptect to get preferencial treatment?
ReplyDeleteThe unions at City Hall are there 24x7x365. CPOA meets ~90 minutes, ten times a year. It consumes and interferes with nothing.
ReplyDeleteMike, Why should CPOA getting special privledges over other groups? Who decides yes you are in or no you are not?
ReplyDeleteIf one is to stick by the conservative credentials of the CPOA than you should question why taxpayers should subsidize a private organization or nonprofit.
The city employee unions have to rent space in city hall - why would the CPOA exptect to get preferencial treatment?
ReplyDeleteperhaps because the union represents people who bleed the city like leaches while the CPOA is made up of the people who actually pay their salaries by working hard and paying taxes--a concept liberals don't seem to grasp since so many of them live free off the rest of us and never pay a dime in taxes in their lives.
bad breath wanick is a whiner.
ReplyDeleteJoke. That says it all...
ReplyDeleteThe space is public. Just as Scouts use schools at night for meetings (already open & functioning); groups attempting to better the City should be able to as well. CPOA is a gem of the City, made up of D's and R's.
ReplyDeleteApparently only those groups that Mayor Sherwood agrees with are going to be allowed to use city hall for their meetings in the future. I guess Sherwood's assistant, O'Brien, has nothing to say on this matter because it would go against the wishes of O'Brien's commander, Sherwood.
ReplyDeleteTo the idiot that says it costs the city money to use the facility you are wrong! City hall is open until 11pm every night of the week. The custodial employees and security staff are there during that time and the building is open for all to utilize. Partisan town committee meetings are held there monthly so why the adversarial relationship with the CPOA? Because its president Mike Wanik has spoken out against this administration and its juvenile practices. Keep it up Phil that which harms us only stands to make us stronger! Time to speak up people chastize this administration for their lack of transparency and censorship! Come to a council meeting and tell them what you think! Most of them can't understand normal thinking anyhow!
ReplyDelete