I am a third term incumbent member of Town Council, a former member of the Streetscape Steering Committee and the Planning and Zoning Commission. A 22-year resident of Middle Haddam, I am the owner of Weintraub & Company (weintraubdesign.com), a graphic design and marketing firm I founded in 1982. I was the Public Information Officer in charge of a 30,000 student college program in Long Beach California, worked in communications at a 520-bed hospital in Long Beach, and was a reporter for The Hartford Courant.

I believe in giving back to the community. I volunteer for the Middle Haddam Library, community food banks, was on the historic home tour to raise money for the Middle Haddam Library and Middlesex Historic Society, and hosted a fundraiser for the Rivers Alliance of Connecticut.

Why Am I Running?

Over the last two years, a week hasn’t gone by that I get stopped and asked “Why do you do it?”

We need to stand up for what we believe is right and protect our neighborhoods. For most of us, our biggest investment is our homes and we seek the best quality of life we can afford. I love East Hampton. It is a town that has it all: small-town character, beautiful natural resources, strong family values and a colorful history. Our natural resources are outstanding: Lake Pocotopaug, state parks and the Connecticut River. And one of our town’s best kept secrets? The good, talented and caring people of this community.

I see how great this community can be. I’ve worked with board and commission members who are volunteering for the right reasons. Professionals who give generously of their time and expertise to make East Hampton a better place to live. Neighbors who work together with a common goal to improve their neighborhoods.

I am also asked “Why do you run with the Chatham Party?” I am a lifelong Independent. I don’t endorse parties; I endorse the person—how someone thinks and what they do. Chatham Party members are Independents, Democrats and Republicans who share the same common goal: Community First. They are experienced, pragmatic and work for the good of the people.

Priorities

Some elected officials have publicly complained how frustrated they are that they can’t get anything done. It’s a bit puzzling since they have had the majority vote and control of the Town Council for years.

Where others see “problems,” I see “challenges” and “opportunities.” Let’s share ideas, debate and find innovative solutions.

Our first priority is to recruit a professional, visionary CEO with a stellar track record in team leadership, management, accountability and proven partnerships in the marketplace. We must look at all the facility and service needs of our community – our schools, town hall, police department, fire stations, senior center, community center, library, parks and transfer station and create a working, affordable plan to meet and exceed our collective goals.

We must identify, develop and promote what makes our town unique and attract viable new businesses to broaden our tax base. We must continue to heal Lake Pocotopaug and improve our watersheds. We must offer more diverse housing for our first home buyers, young families and seniors. We must continue repairing and maintaining our roads and bridges and ensure our water/sewer/utility infrastructure supports a town master plan.

Controlling Taxes. We must explore regionalization to improve services and control costs. We must aggressively review services and purchasing to make sure first, that they are needed; and second, that they are being delivered as efficiently, cost-effectively and as sustainable as possible.

There is more to be done and the Chatham Party has the candidates and the know-how to make it happen. Every action I take will continue to be for our Community First and not private interests.

Accomplishments

• East Hampton:
I am proud to have stood up for what’s right, and with the support of the majority of the town, reinstated our Police Chief and helped remove our former town manager from Town Hall.

• Town Annex:
After reviewing the proposed Goff House to be purchased by the Town to relocate Town Hall Annex offices, I felt this was not in the best interest of East Hampton and researched other, more viable solutions. Toured various buildings and identified the Palmer Building for the best location, features and cost efficiencies. After much debate, the Town Council voted for this unanimously.

• Village Center Sign
Currently working with local businesses and EDC to design signage for the East Hampton bell sign on the corner of Route 66 and Main Street.

• Town Council FOI Violation
I warned the Town Council and our town attorney in executive session and in public session that they should have notified Chief Reimondo if they were going to discuss his job/performance. He had the right to attend and/or have the executive session held publicly. A complaint was filed against the other Town Council members and they were found to have violated FOI regulations.

• Seniors and Disabled: Researched, initiated and implemented East Hampton’s first Property Tax Freeze Relief Program for qualifying Seniors.

• Seniors and Disabled: Researched and helped reduce East Hampton’s Housing Authority’s taxes by 50% which provides about $10,000 annually for capital needs of the affordable apartments for seniors and the disabled at Chatham Acres and Bellwood Court.

• Senior Congregate Housing: As Liaison to the Housing Authority, I asked questions about the housing needs of seniors in our community and discovered that back in the 80s they were in the process of building assisted living apartments for seniors when State funds were stopped. We already have the land, two working wells, completed environmental studies and blueprints. I suggested and helped with a survey distributed to East Hampton and neighboring towns to identify the need. The Board is back on track moving this forward.

• Skate Park: Instrumental in giving our kids a safe place to skateboard. Spoke to community Parks & Rec directors who ran successful skateboard programs in other communities. Provided policies, helped raise $900 for materials and helped the kids and parents build ramps.

• Affordable Housing Control: Met with the Building Dept. Administrator, the Town Manager and P&Z Chair to present research and reasons why East Hampton should pursue the $50,000 Affordable Housing Incentive Zone state Grant. I called other Town Planners and received copies of their successful grant applications. We were able to quickly adapt these applications and secure a $50,000 grant to hire a consulting firm to help East Hampton take control of affordable housing development.

• Purchasing Power/Smarter Spending: Researched and recommended new policies to be used to save money with vendors that the town uses on a regular basis based on the State’s success. Estimated a $350,000 to $750,000 savings. They would not pursue.

• Conservation Commission: As liaison to Conservation Commission, I researched and helped schedule a free Open Space workshop to explain options the Conservation Commission has when reviewing development applications.

• Conservation Commission: As Town Council liaison I networked and asked resident Emily Wilson who does mapping for the UCONN Center for Land Use Education and Research (CLEAR) to assist the Conservation Commission with completing its open space inventory mapping required by State Statute and invaluable for Town planning.

• Community Signs: As a member of the Streetscape Committee, recommended, researched and designed a Wayfinding Destination Signage program unanimously approved by EDC, Design Review Board and Town Council. The first phase of 20 destination signs have been installed. We also had money left in our budget to refurbish the East Hampton historical cast metal sign and install a new enclosed bulletin board to post notices in front of Town Hall.

• Quality of Life: Assisted neighbors with a parking lot light pollution issue that had been plaguing them for more than four years without resolution. While town staff said nothing could be done, I contacted DEP, DPUC and CL&P and it was successfully resolved.

• Quality of Life: Working with neighbors to control noise I provided information to town staff regarding workshops at a local university to train local police and health department officials to correctly operate noise level meters. In addition I located an acoustics consultant who can review application plans and offer guidance to help regain peace and quiet for East Hampton residents. Researched and wrote a draft ordinance that would give our PD tools for town-wide Noise Control while keeping the fees, waivers and enforcement at the local level.

• Quality of Life: Residents called and complained about unsafe boating speeds and related noise on Lake Pocotopaug. I brought forward an existing Town Ordinance which limits boat speeds and gives the power of enforcement to our local police.

• Reduce Government Spending: Researched how the town of Branford successfully saved over $630,000 with school staff salaries and benefits without directly reopening contract negotiations with the unions. Presented this to the Board of Education, the Board of Finance and Town Council so that we can learn from other municipalities’ achievements to reduce government spending.

• P&Z Notice Publication: Researched and received full approval to publish notices in the Rivereast News instead of the Middletown Press.

• P&Z Plan of Conservation & Development: Designed, assisted with editing, provided photographs for the POCD and coordinated the printing.