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FAIRFIELD, Conn. ? To help our readers prepare for Election Day, The Daily Fairfield sent five questions to each of the candidates on the November ballot. The following response is from Michael Herley, a Republican running for reelection to the Representative Town Meeting (RTM) in District 1.
Why should people vote for you?
I am an active RTM member in District One proudly serving friends and neighbors in Southport, parts of Mill Hill, Southport Woods, Sasco Hill, Old Dam, Pine Creek, Oldfield, Veres Park and Reef Road (West). During my term, I have taken a balanced and fiscally-responsible approach to spending that seeks to preserve, protect and invest in our future.
What are the biggest issues facing Fairfield?
The absence of a sound, townwide strategic plan that details our short-, intermediate- and long-term needs is an impediment to solving many of our problems. Without this strategic framework, many of these same problems will continue to be misdiagnosed when in fact they are symptoms of an organizational system struggling to effectively serve its customers, the taxpayers of Fairfield.
Is Fairfield going in the right direction -- If you are an incumbent, what were your biggest achievements?
We must work harder to keep Fairfield affordable while making the appropriate strategic investments so families, single households and retirees can all continue to live and thrive here as one community.
On a hyperlocal basis in District One, I am most proud of working closely with the residents of Center Street, Pequot Landing, Pequot Avenue and Trinity Parish Nursery School, alongside our police department and public works to bring meaningful traffic and safety improvements to this area of Southport.
On a townwide basis, I am particularly proud of how the current RTM has scrutinized spending. Given the ongoing economic challenges, this was particularly important for taxpayers. And while the process may not have always been pretty, I believe town department heads are now more focused on running leaner operations when setting their annual budgets.
One more item I would like to note requiring gas stations and car washes in town to make recycle bins readily available for their customers was a sound piece of environmental legislation and I was proud to co-sponsor it.
What would you do to involve your constituents in your decision-making process?
The five Republican RTM members from District One held two well-attended community meetings leading up to the budget vote this year. We also have a District One campaign website, each of our candidates has an individual Twitter feed and website detailing our hands-on leadership in District One, and we have recently released a YouTube slide show/video highlighting our work and campaign efforts. To further increase feedback, I would like to undertake a random and representative survey of District One voters in 2012.
How can Fairfield avoid another Metro Center, i.e., a project that goes severely over budget? What will you do to prevent it? Be specific.
Appropriate financial controls need to be in place from the onset of such projects and maintained throughout. The town needs to hire qualified project managers for oversight and we must find firms who can do a better job on the cost estimation side of the equation.
Greater checks and balances across town government are needed and it is crucial that the first selectman bring all contracts and their amendments to the Board of Finance and RTM after they are initially approved by the Board of Selectmen. As the town charter states, This requirement of approval by the Board of Selectmen shall not be construed to eliminate review by other persons or bodies where required by this Charter, by ordinance, or by the General Statutes. See Charter Article VI, § 6.1 (C) (1).
Find all of our candidates Q&As here.
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