Letter: Edelson Has Worked For Southbury

Editor,

Southbury First Selectman Ed Edelson’s strategic planning and accomplishments in the areas of emergency preparedness, open space, grant applications and tracking, the training school campus and the proposed community center are just some examples of how Edelson has delivered on his campaign commitments.

I believe Edelson and the entire Board of Selectmen have served Southbury well these past two years.

What some may criticize as a “grab” by Edelson for library endowment money, I see as an example of why we elected him in the first place: to challenge the “we’ve always done it this way” mentality that often flies in the face of good practice.

Imagine the outrage if the public works or parks and recreation budgets fell outside the scope of oversight by Southbury’s boards of finance and selectmen. Treating the library fairly, and no differently than any other town department, is good governance.

While some may criticize approving a town-wide tree trimming contract and a bucket truck purchase without multiple bidders as arrogant uses of Edelson’s authority, I see it as measured responses to needs of a town recently faced with multiple extreme weather events.

Did we elect someone to keep the town closed in a crisis or did we elect Edelson to be more proactive in handling emergencies? Edelson’s actions were permitted by the town’s bidding policy, unanimously adopted by the selectmen before Edelson was elected, for its balance between operational efficiency and appropriate oversight.

It has been suggested by Edelson’s opponents that it’s not too late to redeem ourselves. That incorrectly assumes Edelson’s first two years offer only a list of failures.

To the contrary, visit http://www.select-ed.org/. See for yourself a list of successes proving how Edelson has put Southbury first since he started the job. I think the past two years are worth repeating.

Signed,

Steven Suriani
Southbury, CT