Category Archives: Press

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Ann Chiaramonte – Candidate for Board of Assessment Appeals

Letters to the Editor, Press

From Town Tribune, Oct 26, 2017. To the Editor: Ann Chiaramonte’s name will appear on the November 7th ballot as candidate for Board of Assessment Appeals in Sherman, CT. If elected, Ann will represent you in a non-partisan and objective manner. Her 24 years of related property valuation experience, including completing and fulfilling the required coursework and exams for the State Local Appraisal Certification, translates to being a rare and dynamic combination of skills for this position. Ann’s unique blend of expertise eminently qualifies her to serve you unlike any other board member or contested candidate.

Ann intends to bring a new voice and a new vision to the table which will allow you to be heard. Recently the DTC and Board of Selectmen unanimously voted to appoint her to fill a vacated position on the Board of Assessment Appeals until the November 7th election. Their support and display of confidence in Ann was the right thing to do.

If you are looking for a candidate with the proficiency & judgement needed to determine accurate property. valuations in today’s fluid market, please cast your vote for Ann Chiaramonte on Nov. 7.

Virginia Zellner, Sherman

Cricket Valley – A Major Oversight by Cope

Hot Topics, Letters to the Editor, Press

From Town Tribune, Oct 26, 2017. To the Editor:  One of the most important qualities a leader can possess is Honesty, followed closely by Accountability. Neither of those qualities are exhibited by Sherman’s Clay Cope. When the question was asked at the debate “When did you learn about Cricket Valley fracked gas power plant only 3 miles away from Sherman, CT?” Clay stated that he “didn’t recall receiving any letters about it” and he “only recently learned about it”, I was shocked. See the debate video on the Town Tribune website.

Either 1) Clay Cope doesn’t read his incoming mail, as there is an 86 page letter from Eversource (Click here to see the letter)cc’ing him dated February 5, 2016 on public record at  which he “does not recall receiving” AND he forgot about his live meeting with Eversource on December 9, 2015 (also a matter of public record), OR 2) he is not taking accountability for this major mistake in recognizing a potential threat to Sherman. Either scenario is unacceptable in a leader. In contrast, Don Lowe stated that he learned about this matter from a citizen in late August and he has already contacted Congresswoman Esty, Rep. Mclachlan, Rep. Smith, and CT Attorney General George Jepson about this “major source of air pollutants at a state and national level” as described by the EPA in the Environmental Impact Statement on file at the Dover Town Hall. Don raised the Cricket Valley topic at the last 808 meeting as a concern, and it will therefore be discussed at the 808 meeting on Oct. 26. I urge all who are concerned about their air and water quality to attend this BOS meeting and see which of our leaders are knowledgeable enough to figure out how to handle what is not only a Sherman problem, but is also a regional and state concem. This would have been easier to handle had Mr. Cope read his mail 18 months ago. or had the ability to understand that what he discussed at the 2015 meeting with Eversource regarding  Cricket Valley was something he should mention to others in town.

Despite Mr. Cope’s defeatist position that “it’s too late now” the #StopCricketValley team is saying it is NOT too late. Other power plants that were fully built out, have been shut down. Visit  their facebook page  page to see what you can do to help prevent NY from dumping its air pollution on CT in violation of the interstate provisions of the Clean Air Act. CT is currently suing another state for a similar plant dumping air pollutants on CT.

I expect better of a First Selectman whose job is to protect the interests of Sherman. But then again, when you are Mr. Cope and are hoping to leave your temporary rental in Sherman for Washington, DC you might not be so concerned about long term Sherman issues. We deserve better.

Jen Freed, Sherman

Don Lowe for First Selectman

Letters to the Editor, Press

From Town Tribune, Oct 26, 2017. To the Editor: I first met Don Lowe having just returned to Sherman to raise my family in the same special place in which I grew up. Don was a father with children in the school, a teacher of Adult Ed, and a volunteer for Sherman Higher Education Fund. I came to know him through his roles on Planning and Zoning and as the founder of the Land Acquisition Fund Board, on which he still serves as chairman. Over the years, my children have come to know Don through his family and his work in our school as director of Song to Symphony and the Sherman Chamber Ensemble, and in his many years as a Selectman to our town. His experience is rich and robust.

Don recognizes our greatest resource, Candlewood Lake, and understands its critical role in our property values, our community, and our economy. He supports the CLA and stays informed. Don cares about Sherman’s small businesses, and he wants to promote a supportive relationship between valuable establishments, like Happy Acres Farm and White Silo Winery, including them in the synergy of our town. Don also has a reasoned approach to issues like senior housing, a hot potato in our community. In recent years, the Sherman Housing commission put tremendous effort into researching viable senior living options for our aging residents, and unfortunately a lot of that information seemed to have been lost on the public, and a viable solution did not result. Don understands that his personal opinion is not that of the town’s. Rather, it is his job to represent the town’s voice, and by that he means to present honest and accurate information to the public to consider, so we may weigh our options accordingly. Don also recognizes that southern Sherman needs sound cell-service options to be investigated, for the safety of our citizens and the work of our local fire department and EMT’s.

What I have grown to most appreciate about Don Lowe is his political balance. A formerly registered independent, has long been one that could easily fall on either side of the political fence. Don listens to all sides, considers facts, and votes on issues outside of party interest.

In that vein, I cannot write a letter in good conscience without addressing something that has been on my conscience as of late. Sherman is a small town. One thing I admire about the Lowe-Keenan campaign is its big integrity. Recently, I’ve been dismayed by both social and political slander that has shown itself on local social media posts and in comments made. As a parent and life-long citizen, I was ashamed that such behavior was being demonstrated by adults in positions of influence. It has run its course through every limb of our town, from the RNC and DNC, to our hard-working Board of Education, and our neighborhoods. Sherman is better than that. We need representatives who focus on the facts and run clean campaigns. That matters to me.

Hannah Roberts McKinnon, Sherman

Kevin Keenan (D): Overview of local government

Press, Press Clipping, Published Article

From Town Tribune, Oct 26, 2017. Local politics is the purest form of governance. It is approachable and readily available. You can walk in your Town Hall (for Sherman that is Mallory Town Hall) and see the functioning of government. The people who collect our taxes, maintain our records, and enforce our local laws and ordinances are there to serve you. You drive the local roads in all kinds of weather and directly see and feel how they are being maintained. If a tree falls or there is a dangerous wintertime road hazard you can call the Town Hall or the Public Works Director to report the problem. The commissions that monitor and regulate the Town assets, all elected or appointed volunteers, convene monthly to work for the Town. Workshops and public hearings are also available to enable people to be involved. To those seniors that take advantage of the programs offered by the Senior Center, you see and experience what local government is about. Providing fields and facilities for the soccer and baseball teams is one more function of local government.

All of this happens through a Board of Selectman that convenes monthly to discuss, among other things, financial health and items that may have a direct impact to the proper functioning of our local government. They propose programs, recommend actions, and disseminate information pertinent to the health and well being of our community. The First Selectman is the point person, the chief executive officer, who is in Town Hall on a daily basis to act as the lead person to know and understand what is needed for the proper functioning of our local government. We should all be able to walk into Town Hall and speak to our chief executive to make suggestions or discuss problems.

Fully aware of all the functions of our local government, I am running for the position of Selectman along with Don Lowe, who is running for First Selectman. I know that Don will embrace the great responsibilities of being a First Selectman. In his six years as a Selectman, Don has consistently displayed his respect for volunteers, elected officials, and residents of this town. His commitment to working on behalf of Sherman is not based on partisan issues or outside agendas. The Board of Selectmen should operate as a cohesive team because we are not Hartford, we are not Washington: we are Sherman. We are local government, and Don and I will be working for you.

View Sherman’s Face-to-Face Candidate’s Debate

Debate, Events, Press

Click here (if not clickable, first click on this post’s title) to view the video of the debate held on October 22, 2017.

It started with opening statements from both First Selectman Candidates. This was followed by questions for these candidates from a Town Tribune panel. Audience members also had a chance to ask questions.

Starting October 27th, the debates will be broadcast regularly on Channel 194 for Charter and 199 for Frontier.

Vote Kevin Keenan

Letters to the Editor, Press

From Town Tribune, Oct. 19, 2017. To the Editor:  We are all aware that there are huge problems and upheaval in our political system. This is true at all levels of government: mostly at the national level, and less so as  we narrow our focus to the local level. But even locally there are similar problems because people are constrained in their thinking by  strong affiliations with a particular political party. In many situations this means that people make their political decisions based on what their party suggests they should think.

What we need in Sherman is someone who is knowledgeable about, and deeply concerned about, Sherman but is able to break the constraints of political affiliation and think of what is best for Sherman rather than what is best for a particular political party.

Such a person is Kevin Keenan. I am fortunate to have known Kevin for all of the 21 years I have lived in Sherman. I admire his dedication to our school system and to our children as a member of our Board of Education, and in several other capacities. Kevin has always impressed me as one who makes decisions only after careful consideration and study of issues.

I still consider the decision to move to Sherman one of the best I’ve ever made. I want Sherman to stay above the divisive political fray and do what is right for its citizens. Therefore I sincerely recommend a vote for Kevin Keenan to serve as a member our Board of Selectmen.  I do believe that our wonderful town would be well served by the election of Kevin Keenan

John Fitzgerald, Sherman,

Vote For Don Lowe and Kevin Keenan

Letters to the Editor, Press

From Town Tribune, October 19, 2017. To the Editor:  Clay Cope is not being honest with Sherman citizens. I say this in response to a recent campaign mailer where Mr. Cope and Mr. Ostrosky seek to take credit for two major capital projects at the Sherman School. This bit of self-congratulation claims that “voters supported our suggested investments in new school boilers and roof repairs.” I was deeply involved with both projects as a member of the Board of Education and worked with the, then, town facilities manager to develop and advance these major improvements. What we encountered in the first Selectman’s office was obstruction, foot-dragging and shilly-shallying. No decision was taken without consulting the town attorney, adding weeks of delay and extra expense. This is poor leadership. If anyone deserves credit for the success of both projects it is former facilities manager Frank Spaziani, former Superintendent Don Fiftal and the Sherman Board of Education.

The flyer goes on to claim credit for new firehouse equipment, public works fleet, senior van and Parks and Recreation assets. I think Mr. Cope could, at least, acknowledge the hard work and contributions of the many town employees and citizen volunteers on all of these projects. He did not. Poor leadership.

Speaking of the town attorney, can anyone tell me who it is? I lost track during the fiasco of the proposed winery regulations when we were paying the Planning and Zoning land use attorney to argue for the regulations when Mr. Cope, unilaterally, hired a another attorney to argue against them! Absurd leadership

A few more examples will stand for many:
1. The Sand Pro purchasing debacle. Clay Cope sought to hide his dishonesty with Sherman taxpayers.

2. Years of sidestepping the water sodium content issue at the school and town center. Weak leadership.

3. Six years of failing to renovate a 2-seat outhouse

4. My pet peeve – an inability to have functioning public address systems for meetings in the town hall and firehouse and this year even for the Memorial Day ceremony at Veterans Field.

Mr. Cope and Mr. Ostrosky give us a motto of “real leadership and real results.” I think it is more like poor leadership and mixed results.

We need a change at the top: new, engaged and active leadership. Please vote for Don Lowe and Kevin Keenan.

Joseph Keneally, Sherman

Affordable Housing…Waiting and Wondering When

Letters to the Editor, Press

From Town Tribune, October 19, 2017. To the Editor:  Yes, I too am amazed that it has been almost 3 1/2 years since the Cope administration killed a referendum on Affordable Senior Housing. The referendum would have allowed Sherman to compete for state funds…a process that would have taken 3 plus years.

I wish I could say the last 3 plus years were well spent. But you know the answer. Nothing has happened and nothing will ever happen under this administration. When our first selectman referred to the project as low income HUD Housing, you knew his heart was not with the people of Sherman.

He demonstrated this just after his re-election almost two years ago, when he announced he was running for the US. Congress, weeks before his inauguration day.

Over the past few years, many seniors have said to me, when are we going to get Affordable Senior Housing in Sherman? They don’t want to leave our town, but they can’t maintain their homes and they fear the isolation that winter brings.

I always give them the same answer. When we have a new administration.

Steve Roffwarg, Sherman

Don Lowe (D): I’ve Been Instrumental in the Town Low Budgets

Press, Press Clipping, Published Article

Town Tribune article, Oct 19, 2017. I was interested to see that Bob Ostrosky started his column last week by complaining about “negativity” in this campaign. His column appeared two days after the Sherman Republican Town Committee posted a pretty ugly attack toward me on their Facebook page on behalf of the Cope-Ostrosky campaign. Of course, I’m biased about what constitutes an ugly attack on myself, but in this case I was not alone. The RTC spent all day deleting the onslaught of negative feedback on their own page, much of it from members of their own political party.

In reality, there is always some jockeying back and forth as each candidate tries to position him or herself as better than the opponent. That’s healthy. I mean, why would you vote for someone who doesn’t believe he or she is better than the opponent? I certainly believe that I am better suited for the job of First Selectman than my opponent. However, a candidate attempting to show proficiency on the issues is one thing; personal attacksare another.

We live in a small town where we run into each other at the IGA, stand next to each other at our kids’ soccer games, and find ourselves at the same social events. Part of what makes Sherman special is our citizens’ inclination to step up and work for the betterment of Sherman. And they always deserve respect for that – even when we disagree. All sides can argue vehemently about issues and find ways to respectfully work things out. This is the Sherman I believe in.

Now, on to important town issues: As a six-year selectman, I have the experience to keep your taxes low. I have been a part of six responsible and low Town budgets. Clay and Bob have only been part of two low Town budgets – the two years with me on the board. Their first four together were excessive Town budgets. But let’s get something straight: Putting together the Town budget (and the School budget) takes teamwork. We are fortunate to have a strong support staff in the First Selectman’s office laying out budget parameters and we are fortunate to have Eric Holub as our Treasurer for advice. Our savings, for example, on our debt (the town debt’s interest rate was lowered through refinance) was almost entirely his doing. The only thing the Board of Selectman did was vote a unanimous “yes.” I have no reason to believe Mr. Holub will stop helping Sherman just because I am the First Selectman.

As your First Selectman I will strive not only to keep your taxes low, but will work hard toward building efficiencies and synergy between town agencies to save money and increase productivity. This is missing right now and fixing this is a strength of mine. I would never ignore, for example, the diligent work of our Park and Rec Commission. Instead, I will partner with them to better fulfill their objectives and the needs of town. If you vote for Kevin Keenan, an expert at efficient facilities and infrastructure management, you will make your town even stronger in this regard.

This Saturday, October 21, at 10 am. is our Annual Town Meeting held at Charter Hall (the ESF Building). There will be three items in addition to the first item, which is to receive and act upon the Annual Report. The Board of Selectman will be asking the voters to authorize a transfer of $750,000 from the general fund to the capital non-recurring fund. We will also be asking the voters for authorization to enter into a lease agreement with T-Mobile at Happy Acres farm. We will also be asking for $35k to repair the Fox Run detention basin. I hope to see you there.

Keenan Will Work For You

Letters to the Editor, Press, Press Clipping

From Town Tribune, October 12, 2017. To the Editor:

On November 7th Sherman residents have an opportunity to select their leadership team for the next two years. For the voters in Sherman the choice is a clear one.

The team of Lowe/Keenan offers the town two candidates that understand Sherman and have a clear vision of its future. Since Don Lowe has been a selectman for six years and is well known to most residents, I would like to give you some background information regarding Kevin Keenan.

Kevin Keenan, candidate for Selectman, is a homeowner, pays taxes, has raised three children that have attended the Sherman School, has been involved in town recreational programs, and has volunteered his services to town committees and boards.

He has operated Southview Builders for over twenty years. He knows and understands the needs of commercial businesses. He has served on the Sherman Board of Education for 10 years. He is well aware of the needs of the Sherman School and thoroughly understands the maintenance of the school building.

In addition, Kevin has been active with the Troop 48 serving as a committee member for the last four years. He thoroughly understands what makes the town function and how to best serve its residents.

Why will the election of Don Lowe and Kevin Keenan make a difference for the residents of Sherman? Because they care about – making town government more efficient, seeing that town agencies work together, responding to the peoples’ needs in Sherman, and seeing that our commercial businesses succeed and prosper.

In short, they will work for you!

Bob Gamper, Sherman