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(Date Posted:12/07/2007 08:22:14)
From the Republican American: Friday, December 7, 2007 12:35 AM EST <!-- [include_if:news:video.inc] --> Misused mandate?
Winsted has a lot of problems dating at least to the Flood of '55. Many public buildings are in disrepair, and the town's mutually beneficial relationship with The Gilbert School is frayed. Government borders on dysfunctional.
Provided with a strong mandate Nov. 6, Republicans on the Board of Selectmen decided the best way to launch a revival in Winsted would be to get rid of Town Manager Owen J. Quinn Jr., who happens to be a Democrat. Given that he has received satisfactory performance reviews and has not vowed to obstruct specific GOP initiatives, this is a puzzling priority, especially in the context of the Republicans' stated intent to eliminate the position by revising the Town Charter. Bruce H. Gresczyk, a former New Hartford first selectman who served as agriculture commissioner under Govs. John G. Rowland and M. Jodi Rell, will be interim town manager. He's well qualified, but doesn't want the job permanently.
Dollar for dollar, it doesn't look like much of a deal for taxpayers. They'll continue paying Mr. Quinn his full salary and benefits, plus $8,505 for unused sick and vacation time, through Feb. 15. Mr. Greszcyk will get the same salary Mr. Quinn was getting — the equivalent of $84,588 per year — during the same period. So the Republicans essentially doubled the cost of the town manager for the next two and a half months and will follow that up by appointing someone yet unknown, for a potentially short-lived position unlikely to attract top candidates. Republicans really need to explain to taxpayers how this substantial personnel cost and future managerial uncertainty serves the public interest.
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"Watch the pennies and the dollars will take care of themselves"
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