Isn't Selectman candidate of the year John "WMD" Buccarielli, the one who ignores getting permits for anything on the Board of Ed? If he can't effect change on the B of E, what's he going to do on the B of S?

Your taxes only went down because of depreciation. Wait until the revaluation and your house goes down 30% in value but taxes go up because of the attack on the grand list. Do you know what revaluation and grand list mean?

Imagine how much lower taxes could be if Davis and his republican cronies didn't cost this town over $500,000 in overtime, favoritism, lack of bidding, perks and screwups, and not reducing staff because they're "friends and family", not to mention squirreling away $14 million in reserve accounts that are still being funded.

Forget Sippy, at least he has college degree and a PhD, Lets talk about the police pension perk that's only gone to republican first selectmen, jobs given to republican friends and family and out of control finances under the control of a republican finance chair and first selectmen.

Stop drinking the Kool Aid and pick up a dictionary, it's the only place you'll find "Competence" and "Republican" in the same location.

Carol and crew are doing an excellent job of trying to keep Davis, Sarosky and Michaels honest. Taxpayers don't complain, those who have something to hide do.

So what is your stand on the out of control spending by the BOE.

How did the Republicans endorse Bucciarelli? My stand on the Board of Education is that Buccarelli needs to be out of political positions after reading this 2007 order from the State Banking Commissioner:

"WMD Task Force, Inc. and John A. Bucciarelli Directed to Refrain from Regulatory Violations Following Claims of Unregistered Stock Sales

On February 6, 2007, the Banking Commissioner entered a Consent Order (No. CO-2007-6918-S) with respect to WMD Task Force, Inc. of 340 Main Street North, Southbury, Connecticut and its president John A. Bucciarelli. The Consent Order alleged that, between May 2002 and 2005, WMD Task Force Inc. and John A. Bucciarelli violated Section 36b-16 of the Connecticut Uniform Securities Act by selling unregistered common stock to one or more investors. In entering the Consent Order, the Commissioner acknowledged that the corporation and its president had supplied documents indicating that they did not have the financial wherewithal to pay the fine that otherwise would have been imposed by law. The Consent Order directed WMD Task Force, Inc. and John A. Bucciarelli to cease and desist from regulatory violations."

Can anyone in your so called Responsible Tax Payer group answer a simple question about the BOE and why they would give Sippy and wife lifetime healthcare? Anyone but davis can't seem to comprehend the question either. Are you are ok with the BOE and the VERY well compensated administrators of REG.15

River, are you brain dead? What did your candidate Bucciarelli do to stop any of the out of control spending by the Board of Ed.

The First Selectman has NO CONTROL over that spending, so the Southbury Reps to the Board of Ed are the people you need to address your issue to. That would be John "WMD" Bucciarelli. What did HE DO to stop this benefit package...Nothing!

No I'm not brain dead, I was just trying to find out if Carol and crew had any thoughts on the way BOE is spending our hard earned money and if she had any suggestions on how we can initiate change. I guess all they care about is trashing all SRTC members and elected officials. I started posting questions thinking that I may get some constructive comments from other people, but all replys are rants about Davis and crew. I understand that you think Davis and all SRTC members are incompetent, etc. I have come to the conclusion that the Concerned Taxpayers Group are nothing but the smear division of the SDTC, why else would Edelson want to sign a no negative campaign paper, he has you people to do it for him under the auspices of Concerned Taxpayers. You would be referred to in political circles as USEFUL IDIOTS (this is a political term). By the way, I asked John B. and he voted against Sippy's gold plated health package.

OK River, I'll play. The real problem lies in the Regional school system and the towns inablility to have any control due to state laws removing that control. While we agree, it's hard to argue about their budget when the highest percentage is contract mandated salary.

The focus here is more about Davis and the SRTC because they are in the news daily.

I am not a henchman for anyone and my opinions are solely my own. Maybe we just come to different conclusions about what we read. The current administration, while keeping the budget status quo, is causing serious problems for the future with ignoring issues that are great budget cuts this year and a more expensive problem next year. Other towns learned that lesson years ago, Southbury is always a day late and a dollar short when it comes to innovation and change. We are in deep trouble in 2 or 3 years because everything put off the last 3 years is going to come due.

In all seriousness, if we total the hundreds of thousands of dollars spent on mis applied pensions, local contractors, police overtime, roads, bidding or lack thereof, keeping non needed employees and appointing a committee for everything from what toilet paper to buy to writing job descriptions when the First Selectman Office is costing us over $300,000 a year in Salary and benefits, for what?

John B. has no business being on either board.

How's that?

Thank You, That's all I was looking for.

This is a serious question. River stated he/she spoke with John B. who said he voted against Dr. Sippy's benefit package. According to the April 25, 2011 minutes of the Region 15 Board of Education at region15.org this is what happened:

"IT WAS VOTED
“to accept the Superintendent’s contract as presented
that includes a one-year extension through June 30,
2014.”
and passed unanimously with Mr. Babarik, Mr. Bucciarelli, Ms. Butkus,
Mr. Drauss, Ms. Elias, Mr. Fitzgerald, Ms. Perry, Mr. Rock, and Ms.
Strange voting “Aye.”

How did John B. vote "AYE" for the superintendents contract and extension through 2014 which includes his salary and benefit package, but tell River he voted against?

The world may never know...

Wow, I guess I should question everything. Thank you for update.

RU, since Davis office secretaries, Naylor and Thompson apparently book the town hall rooms and Naylor is in charge of the website, of course they knew this meeting was taking place.

So, let's say Dr. Sippy is offered medical benefits as part of his retirement. At least he's been here over 10 years (didn't vest after 5) and has shown more leadership qualities than our first selectman, and if anyone actually remembers, Region 15 came in this year with a ZERO percent increase budget see http://southbury.patch.com/articles/region-15-board-accepts-0-budget-increase

How many people are aware of the "special" retirement medical benefit package voted on by the Board of Selectmen in December of 2001 that to be part of the plan which offered Medicare group B benefits to any retiree of the Town of Southbury, you had to be age 65 upon retirement and served at least 5 years? Check the BOS minutes for December 2001, it's right there.

How many people are aware that the only participant in this plan since 2001 has been former REPUBLICAN first selectman Alfie Candido and his wife? This policy was planned in the months before he left office, and he began paying into it about a month after he retired in December 2001. He had it through his death on Dec. 25, 2007. The policy was amended after his death so that only his widow receives the benefit. She remains the only person in Southbury with this benefit, and they are the only 2 to ever have received it.

FACT

That's why I was asking questions. I also spoke to John B. and took him for his word (my research). Sorry for trying to participate in a discussion, I guess I'm just not angry enough.

River, no one is asking you not to participate in discussions. However, you can't shrink away when something you thought was fact is debunked by actual evidence.

Angry isn't the only descriptor. Disgust, bewilderment, distrust, amazement and violation are included in the way most of us feel. Did you read the commentary about the last Board of Selectmen meeting?

The board voted to remove the First Selectman from the police pension. Selectman Turk said no one is aware and no one can find who authorized the perk for first selectmen in the first place. The plan titles are obvious as to who belongs where: "Pension plan for full time employees of the Southbury Police Department" and "Pension plan for full time employees and elected officials of the town of Southbury". The board of selectmen then authorized allowing an attorney to negotiate with Davis so that he doesn't sue the town. FOR WHAT? He was never entitled to the benefit.

After it was revealed last year that the town spent up to $55000 extra for local contractors, Davis stood on a soap box talking about local contractors and saying: "I thought it sent more of a symbolic gesture to our local people that we care about them," and "We do give favoritism to local people. That's one thing I've been adamant about," while at the same time he promoted not giving town employees raises? The man makes no sense.

It is time for SRTC entitlements to end.

Endorsed by 67 eligible, voting citizens, at a well advertised caucus. Not 17 party insiders holding a nearly secretive meeting to make decisions. You continue to miss the mark with your innuendos, violating your candidate's own clean campaign pledge.