Hunsberger Sees a Lack of Leadership. Vavrek Leans on His Record

In his acceptance speech for the Democratic Party nomination to run for first selectman Dan Hunsberger tried to paint incumbent First Selectman Steve Vavrek as a delegator rather than a leader, a town CEO who misses important workshops at budget time, a first selectman who is unresponsive to Town Council members' requests for information and who prefers to conduct the town's business behind closed doors. 

Vavrek defended his leadership style and told Patch he believes voters will see right through his opponent's criticism.

"I think people will see the difference between what we accomplished and what people refuse to see," he said.

All residents have to do is drive on the roads and notice the improved conditions, as well as the improvements to the police station and Monroe Town Hall, which shares the building, according to Vavrek.

"I'm very proud," Vavrek said of his record. "When people drive on their roads, they'll see it's not like before. We have a plan."

Hunsberger pointed to approximately $900,000 in cost overruns in the legal budget as evidence of poor fiscal management.

But the first selectman expressed his belief that the budget passing on the first try for two of the past three years shows the majority of voters see his administration as a fiscally responsible one.

Vavrek points to the debt limit the town has and how CIFAP ranks each building project to ensure the top priorities are taken care of first.

Hunsberger charges the first selectman has not done enough to fix the deteriorating firehouses, one of which houses EMS, and how all of the school buildings' roofs are in disrepair.

Vavrek's Many Hats

As the national economy continues to hit Monroe and surrounding communities hard, a recurring issue among Democrats and Republicans is over the need for an economic development director.

Vavrek currently fills that role, but Democrats contend the town could hire a director and the tax revenue generated from new businesses could more than offset the salary.

Hunsberger wondered how much better Monroe could do if it were able to use a fraction of the approximately $900,000 in legal budget overruns to fund economic development.

"Staffing is not being the town's first selectman, the town's economic development director and public works director all at the same time," Hunsberger said.

Vavrek says Monroe is not doing any worse than other towns, adding there has been some growth.

"We've worked with developers to bring in bigger and better things," he said. "I think people will see that."

The first selectman noted how the Planning & Zoning Commission is updating the regulations, how the town is following the Plan of Conservation & Development and Land Use departments were reorganized to work more cohesively as applications move through the process.

Hunsberger said, "It takes more than putting all of the land use in one area of town hall to make land use efficient and effective. Land Use must be more than a source of information or generating revenue by enforcing rules. Land use must be more property owner/business friendly."

Quality Schools

In his speech, Hunsberger vowed to support quality and affordable education in town, which he said boosts property values.

Vavrek said one of his goals was to open the lines of communication between elected town officials and the Board of Education. "We work very well with the superintendent and the Board of Education," he said.

Vavrek noted how the school system and the town collaborated to change over to Munis financial software together and on allowing Newtown to use the Chalk Hill building following the tragic school shooting in their town.

No Respect

Hunsberger said Vavek often has to constantly be asked the same questions by Town Council members at meetings, which he sees as a lack of respect toward fellow town officials.

Hunsberger said the late First Selectman Thomas Buzi, a Democrat, would admit when he didn't have an answer and would always have one by the next meeting.

"I served as campaign treasurer for our late First Selectman Tom Buzi," he said. "He impressed me in the way he always treated Town Council members with respect. He recognized and appreciated that all Town Council members, whether Republican or Democrat, are your representatives."

Vavrek said most votes on town boards and commissions are unanimous, but praised officials for asking questions.

"I want to thank our elected officials for not being a rubber stamp," he said. "At times members of the Town Council agreed to disagree, but got things done together. I admire and am proud of the fact that our elected officials work together for the best of the community, whether or not we always agree on everything."