Question 6: What is the appropriate staffing level for a town like Verona and what would you do to get us there?
Christopher Piccuirro: An understaffed department results in a reactive workforce that can only accomplish the bare minimum. An adequate staff can proactively address issues before they become critical, has the resources and training to handle emergency scenarios and typically has a balanced level of experience. These are some of the principles I will follow if I am privileged to sit on the council.
I believe the staffing changes made since the last election are signs we are correcting mistakes of the past. We are making progress to provide proper service to our residents. I also believe there is no finish line. Every year we must evaluate how the town departments are running. The right staff today may not be the right staff tomorrow. We owe it to the taxpayers to move forward, not backward.
I am proud to live in a town that expects high quality service. This requires we trust the council will fight to make sure services are provided in a cost-effective manner. Residents will not be receptive to change if that trust is missing. Our current council has made great progress in recent years to control town spending and restore residents faith in our management.
As I have said since the beginning of this campaign, I want to make sure we stay on the right path as Verona and neighboring towns continue to develop. Controlling spending while maintaining, if not improving, our services will be my focus. My approach to this is to ensure services are running as efficient as possible. At the very minimum the taxpayers in this town deserve to get what they pay for. This is done by budget transparency and operating efficiency.
I believe my software engineering background will help reduce spending in our technical services. Technology improves so fast that it must be revisited regularly, and if monitored appropriately it can result in significant savings. Many companies today are transitioning to “the cloud” because it provides the same, or better, service at a cheaper cost. The cloud is essentially the “shared services” of the tech world. Operating costs are divided between multiple customers using a shared platform. This is just one example of how embracing new technologies is critical when formulating a sound budget.
As an engineer I have based both my life and career around efficiency. As a council member I will operate the same way. On May 9th “walk with me” toward a more efficient Verona.
Dear Verona Friends,
As the former Mayor of Verona, and current Council Member, it has truly been my privilege and pleasure to have served the community I love these past 8 years. While I am not seeking reelection this year, my commitment to Verona remains strong. That is why I am encouraging all of my Verona Friends to join me in my support for Donna McNinch Cannizzaro, and Ted Giblin in the coming election. I believe we need fresh, new voices on the Verona Council, and these two fine candidates will bring a much needed sensible and unbiased perspective to the dais.
Donna is 5th generation Verona. Her father was a proud Verona Police officer, and she and her daughter Shannon are both products of our outstanding Verona schools. She is committed to maintaining transparency, stabilizing taxes, bolstering the essential services our residents enjoy and upon which they rely, and strengthening our public safety programs and policies. She will gather as much information as possible before making any decision concerning our town, and then that decision will be based solely on what is in the best interest of the entire community.
Ted Giblin comes from a family of devoted public servants. His astute financial background will insure the highest level of, and commitment to fiscal management. He is a beloved father of two young children, and devoted husband to his wife Liz. Over the years, Ted has served on numerous committees in town. As a member of my Mayor’s Ball Committee, he helped raise nearly $20,000 which went to support myriad local charities and volunteer organization. His character and integrity are above reproach, and I challenge any of his opponents to prove otherwise.
This is a pivotal time in Verona, and we need serious candidates who will work hard for our residents with no agenda other than what is best for the whole community. I strongly recommend and encourage you to join me in my support, and vote Line 1A, Ted Giblin, and Line 2A Donna Cannizzaro on Tuesday May 9.
Thank you,
Bob Manley