A few suggestions
As of Sunday, a new administration has taken office, the result of the November 7 election. Dorinda Keenan Borer is the new mayor and controls the City Council and under-ticket offices, both of which are in the complete control of one party. We will not sugar coat it, our history with a 12-1 (the charter demands at least one minority member) has not resulted in good decisions in our history. It is a flaw in our charter that such majorities are allowed.
As we begin a new era, we wish the new officeholders well, and hope the call for “change” that was so much a part of both Republican and Democratic campaigns does not fade in the push to take power. With this in mind, we offer these suggestions to the new administration:
City over Party – The Democratic Party has run this city for 34 years and counting. In that time, we cannot say the leadership has been sterling. In fact, many of the problems and difficulties have been engendered because party, not what is best for the city, has been the rule.
For too long, new administrations saw wins to “get their people in.” It would not be an exaggeration to say the factionalism in the Democratic Party has resulted in a revolving door of the same faces hired and rehired, with no appreciable benefit to the residents of the city. That must change.
We hope the new administration, a product of the party’s factionalism, can rise above the pettiness and move the city in a positive direction. That was what was campaigned upon, that is what we expect.
Real reform – Piggybacking on that issue, we hope the new administration will work with the Municipal Accountability Review Board and bring about a reform of city practices. It no secret the MARB and the last administration were constantly at loggerheads over getting reform done.
Those unreformed practices were a major reason former city and state official Michael DiMassa, and company were able to create dummy companies, and embezzle millions. Yes, the crime was discovered, but it showed the way the city does business needs to change.
Real responsiveness – One of the issues that taxpayers increasingly complain about is the lack of responsiveness in having their concerns addressed. We see it in columns in this newspaper, we hear it in the phone calls to the office, and it is addressed by speakers at council meetings and town halls.
Department heads, down to desk workers, must understand residents have real concerns and want answers. We understand people can be busy, but that does not mean real concerns from taxpayers become part of the paper shuffle, and never get addressed.
Residents pay some of the highest property taxes in Connecticut and are right to expect city officials will treat them with respect and timeliness. No, there should be no abuse or disrespect, and that should be called out. Most people, however, want someone to listen, and offer a solution or advice. It is not too much to ask.
We offer our congratulations to Mayor Borer and her team. We wish them well, and hope for much success in the coming weeks and months.
They have been given the opportunity to put into practice the promises they made during the recent campaign. Best of luck!