First Selectman Candidates Debate Monroe's Future

Phyllis Kansky envisions a Monroe that maintains its roads and infrastructure, "adequately" funds its schools, builds its business sector under the leadership of a full-time economic development director and offsets taxes with grants.

First Selectman Steve Vavrek says the town is already making strides in improving its roads and infrastructure, questions what Kansky means by "adequately" funding the schools, contends Monroe's commercial base is growing without an economic development director and says town department heads are already aggressively pursuing grants.

These were just some of the positions expressed by the first selectman candidates in the League of Women Voters' sponsored debate at the Masuk High School auditorium Thursday night.

Vavrek, a Republican, is seeking a second consecutive two-year term, while Kansky, a Democrat, is vying to defeat him in the Nov. 8 municipal election.

Kansky, a former Town Council member who has been employed in the public sector for 37 years, believes she has the track record and experience to guide Monroe through tough economic times without hurting its school system or its rural character.

Vavrek, who served on the council and several other town bodies, has also been involved in organizations such as the Monroe Jaycees and the American Youth Soccer Organization over his 24 years in town.

"I don't just go out at election time and stand in front of Dunkin Donuts," Vavrek said of his community involvement.

Public Sewers

Questions had been submitted by town residents prior to the debate. The first one dealt with Monroe not having public sewers along commercial routes 25 and 111, something often cited for limiting the town's ability to attract larger businesses.

Vavrek said he was in Bridgeport to discuss the matter earlier in the day.

"Mayors in Stratford, Trumbull and Bridgeport will sit down together after the election and talk about the sewers," he said, adding that Newtown has "vital" shopping centers with community septic systems and the town also has to look at that.

Phyllis Kansky said, "We need to continue to talk with Bridgeport and Trumbull to make a workable situation for everybody."

She said past first selectmen, Thomas Buzi and Andrew Nunn, both fellow Democrats, had tried hard to accomplish this during their tenures.

"I don't know what the current administration has done," Kansky said. "We have to work with the WPCA's of Bridgeport and Trumbull."

In his rebuttal, Vavrek said he started up Monroe's Water Pollution Control Authority again in 2009 and "we are working with Bridgeport. I was just there today."

CL&P and Irene

Tropical Storm Irene knocked out power to over 90 percent of Monroe and it took several days before the entire town was back on the grid. Both candidates were asked how they believed Connecticut Light & Power handled the situation.

"I don't think they did a good job," Kansky said. "And I think even the state representative said that," she added, referring to Republican State Rep. DebraLee Hovey's strong criticism of the power company.

By contrast, Kansky, who works in the Human Resources Department at Bethel Town Hall, said that town had upwards of 19 trucks working to repair power lines.

"We do have some work to do with CL&P," she said.

Vavrek said he spoke with the Bethel first selectman and that he could not say there were 19 trucks. "We had 13," Vavrek said. "I went out with them. There were crews from different states."

Kansky defended her assertion that Bethel had upwards of 19 trucks, saying she spoke with Bethel's first selectman about it on three occasions.

"Again, 'upwards,'" Vavrek said. "I was out 16-17 hours a day with crews."

New Programs

One resident had asked what new programs each candidate would propose if elected.

Vavrek touted his First Selectman Journals, encouraging people to read them to see how the town is working with regional entities.

"This is a bad economy," he said. "It's best to look where we can share programs with other communities and work together to save taxpayer money."

Kansky said she would change the hours at Monroe Town Hall. Some Democrats have criticized the first selectman's decision to make summer hours, in which Town Hall closes at 1:30 p.m. on Fridays, year-round. Vavrek had said town employees are still working the same number of hours and that it is a perk for staff members who seldom get a raise.

Kansky said the hours should be convenient for residents, not employees.

She also said she would explore having town boards, including education, holding some meetings at shopping centers so officials could tell townspeople what they do.

Future Planning

If elected, Kansky said she would hire an economic development coordinator who would work to attract businesses that are suitable for the town. That she would maintain the town's roads without hiring a consultant with a no-bid contract. And that she would take advantage of grants such as STEAP, energy and ones that assist senior citizens in staying in their homes longer, keeping taxes down because seniors require less services. Kansky also said she would make sure education is "adequately" funded.

Vavrek said the town had a grant writer in 2006, but that town department heads are now very efficient in applying for grants without one.

"Only 16 towns in the state have an economic development director," Vavrek said. "We only lost an average of 56 businesses a year. Before I was here it was 176."

Kansky said, "I thought the question was, 'What are your plans for the future,' not mine."

"I thought I did answer the question," Vavrek replied, adding some of Kansky's comments were "erroneous."

"We have gotten grants and added 29 new businesses this year alone. We are doing a great job," Vavrek said. After the debate he said there are actually 30 new businesses.

Honest, Ethical Behavior

Both candidates were asked, if they found a public official was not displaying honest and ethical behavior, what they would do to correct it.

Vavrek said he thinks all town board and commission members have the highest ethical standards.

Kansky said ethical behavior is putting the needs of the community above personal gain and having transparency.

Vavrek then said how proud he is of all of his First Selectman Journals because they show everything that has been going on in the town. Democrats had accused him of using the journals for political gain.

AMEC Recycling LLC

AMEC Recycling LLC had filed a zoning application to move into the former Stevenson Lumber property on Route 111, but neighbors strongly opposed it after learning the operation would include trash hauling. AMEC withdrew its application, but could come back.

Kansky and Vavrek were asked what they would think of the company renewing its application.

"I certainly hope not," Kansky said. "There was enough of an outcry from the public against this."

She said the operation would have involved hundreds of trucks driving along routes 111 and 34.

If AMEC does come back, Kansky said she would be vocal in her opposition to it and "transparent," something some Democrats charged that Vavrek was not.

On opposing AMEC, Vavrek said, "I agree 100 percent with Ms. Kansky. In three months of trips it was presented as a recycling facility. Then at a neighborhood meeting, garbage was mentioned."

If it were a recycling facility, Vavrek said he would be for it. He said emails obtained by Democrats through the Freedom of Information Act prove that town officials were up front and honest about AMEC's plans.

"Everybody knows I'm available 24/7," Vavrek said. "The people who spread these rumors have not been in my office. The bottom line is this was made political. It never should have been and that's the truth."

Passive Recreation

In light of the nuns of Marion Heights intention to sell their property on Monroe Turnpike, both candidates were asked what they think of opportunities to acquire land for passive recreation.

Anytime there is such an opportunity, Vavrek said the town should look into it.

"The castle is one of the most beautiful buildings in Monroe," he said of an historical building on the property, which has fallen into disrepair.

The first selectman credited the Monroe Land Trust and other volunteers for researching the property.

Vavrek said some want it and some do not, and that town officials will talk with the nuns after the election.

Kansky said it costs more money to develop land and provide services than it does to preserve it for passive recreation and open space.

"I would have to look closely at it," she said of the Marion Heights property. Because of the difficult economic times, Kansky said there may be grants the town could pursue.

Vavrek said volunteers are already looking at five or six grants.

Daycare, Fire Departments

One questioner asked how the candidates felt about the town subsidizing the daycare at Chalk Hill for teachers. Some Town Council members had contended that the town is simply leasing the space to a private daycare — not subsidizing it.

"We want to keep teachers in our system," Kansky said. "It's also available to town employees."

"I agree 100 percent," Vavrek said. "That's why we did it."

In response to another question about why the state Health Department closed down the facility, Kansky said there was a licensing issue so the town never had the right to agree to a contract with the Monroe Learning Center.

Vavrek said State Rep. DebraLee Hovey has worked with the state on the daycare's behalf and that it would reopen soon. He also said the town did nothing wrong in entering into the contract, adding it was done so the town could make money on the lease.

One question was whether the town should have more oversight of its volunteer fire companies.

Vavrek said the fire companies are doing well and have consolidated services and that the government should only intervene if absolutely necessary. Kansky pointed out that Monroe realizes tremendous savings by having volunteer departments who give back much more than they cost the town.

Bonding

The plan to pave, maintain and repair town roads involves bonding every year. The town is also bonding for the renovation and expansion of the police department, and plans to bond to replace the Monroe Town Hall roof and to replace its HVAC system.

"I am not against bonding, but we do need to realize it's a credit card," Kansky said of the interest taxpayers will have to pay over time.

At the same time, she claimed Vavrek had promised to spend $100,000 more on roads than he put into the last operating budget.

Vavrek thanked the voters for allowing the town to have $747,853 in the capital budget, which he said was more than the past six years.

"We're not bonding $2.5 million," he said of the roads. "It's $2.2 million and it will be lower. I cut back a little because the governor's budget was egregious."

With historically low interest rates, Vavrek said bonding is the best way to tackle Monroe's long-term needs.

Vavrek praised the formation of the Capital Infrastructure Facility Asset Planning Sub-Committee (CIFAP), a subcommittee of the Planning & Zoning Commission charged with compiling and ranking every town capital need. It is meant to be used by the first selectman, Town Council and Board of Finance as a planning tool at budget time.

He said the town also has a vehicle replacement program.

Kansky said five-year capital plans have to be changed with the town's changing needs.

Handling Emergencies

To make sure the town is prepared for emergencies such as Tropical Storm Irene, Kansky said she would see to it that Emergency Management is well trained and that she knows the procedures, that citizens know about Reverse 9-1-1, and that the town is stocked with food and water.

If such a storm hit, Kansky said she would set up camp at Monroe Town Hall with her dog.

Vavrek said, "I did all that. I was out on the trucks and in the community."

Aside from Reverse 9-1-1, Vavrek said town officials communicated with residents through Code Red alerts to their phones, email addresses and iPhones.

"We are prepared," he said. "We learned a lot from this storm."

Working with the School District

Vavrek said the current town budget was approved by voters during the first referendum vote for the first time in 17 years.

"It was a well-thought out, balanced budget," he said.

He praised then Supt. Colleen Palmer and finance directors for Monroe Public Schools and the town for working together for a lean budget. Vavrek said the town and school district have consolidated services and that he looks forward to doing more of that with the new administration.

Kansky said, "If I'm elected, I will get to know the Board of Education really well. The superintendent and I will be joined at the hip. I will know what his needs are and he will know what my needs are."

Of the last budget, Kansky said, "I don't think the first selectman had the cooperation of the Board of Education when this went through."

"It passed on the first try," Vavrek said. "We worked well together and will continue to work well together."

Kansky said, "I doubt Mr. Vavrek had a close working relationship with the last superintendent."

"I support education," Kansky said. "I will fund it adequately. I will also ask for results."

Vavrek replied, "What's adequate?" He said voters approved the budget and that a survey showed parents are happy with the school district.

Due to the debate format, Kansky did not have time to respond.

Energy Conservation

Vavrek said solar companies had looked into the possibility of putting panels on town buildings, but that it was "cost prohibitive."

"But we'll continue to look at these things," he said.

Kansky said, "If elected, I would start an Energy Commission." She said there are grants out there, adding it would be great for all schools to have kiosks where students can see how energy is produced.

"I agree, but Connecticut can't do that now," Vavrek said. He said his employees say it is too expensive and he trusts them.

Kansky said there are grants out there, adding she applied for one for solar panels and kiosks for Bethel's schools, but was unable to get it.

Regionalization

Kansky said some regionalization is good for the community and some is not. She used the Trumbull-Monroe Health District, which she was on the board of, as a good example.

"We need regionalization," Vavrek said. "I am involved with Greater Bridgeport Regional Planning."

He said he is also part of a CEO caucus of leaders from different towns.

Vavrek said the town is looking at every available avenue for regionalization, while not giving up Monroe's autonomy.

Blogging

One of the questions was about what both candidates' thought of how blogs on the Monroe Courier, the Connecticut Post and Monroe Patch are dividing the town.

"I disagree with the premise," Kansky said. "Residents have a right to their freedom of speech. If it turns personal, that's a different story."

She said a debate on the issues on blogs can help officials to make better decisions.

Vavrek said he has nothing against residents expressing their opinions.

"Where it gets a little awry is when what I call the cartoon characters who come out and say people said things they never said and never will say," Vavrek said. "We don't need to have a blog. We have a first selectman who's open. We should all be embarrassed."

Taxes

The last question to both candidates was whether they would raise taxes. Neither directly answered the question.

"Realistically, I can't lower taxes and I will have to get to know what the revenue stream is," Kansky said, adding she would also have to see what grants are available.

She said good planning, prudent spending, a full-time economic development director and grants are the best way to keep taxes in check.

Vavrek said the last budget marked the lowest tax increase in recent years. He said it was 1.88 percent, "and we still got a lot of things done."

Vavrek doubted the need to add an economic development director, when be believes the commercial base is already growing. He also charged Kansky's talking about "adequate" funding for education means tax increases.

"Mr. Vavrek is very proud of his 1.88, but he doesn't tell you he bonded for roads and will bond again for the [Town Hall] roof, so it's more than that," Kansky said.

Vavrek said paying for all of those things in the operating budget would have led to a higher tax increase and that bonding was the best way to go.

Another point of contention was Kansky's charge that Monroe's property values have gone down, while neighboring Trumbull has gone up. Vavrek disputes that.