Question 6: What is the appropriate staffing level for a town like Verona and what would you do to get us there?
Carrie Ford: Verona depends on town personnel in all departments to provide important services in our community. Sometimes it can seem they do their jobs so well that the full range of their achievements and responsibilities turns invisible, and can be underappreciated. It’s so important to recognize the work of Verona’s municipal employees and to understand how much they are responsible for doing, maintaining, and contributing. Whether responding to emergencies, plowing streets, maintaining municipal grounds, investigating crimes, organizing recreation activities, managing town affairs, the work performed by town employees is crucial to the success of our community. Their work affects all of us.
Although longtime vacancies in our police force have finally received attention, the current Council has eliminated positions vacated by attrition, added responsibilities to existing roles and has sought to replace full-time positions with part-time personnel. While these are cost- cutting measures, the Council must be mindful not to sacrifice the needs of our community in order to simply change the math on paper. In some cases this approach may have worked, but due to part-time status and seemingly below-market wages, filling these positions has proved difficult. This has led to prolonged vacancies which in turn has required highly trained full-time personnel to fill these entry level positions. This is the very definition of resource wasting.
Moreover, since many of the employees are also our neighbors and fellow tax payers, residents benefit from personnel’s’ “off-the-clock” contributions, which is not quantified or even considered in the current Council’s assessment of the town’s personnel needs. Let’s take a moment to appreciate some of the unpaid work town employees contribute on their own time: 1) being available for residents questions at their child’s school pick-up, 2) being on hand to explain processes and procedures while sitting poolside with their families at the Verona Community Pool, 3) volunteering with the rescue or fire departments, 4) calling in concerns they observe around town. Our municipal employees are devoted town boosters, and we need them. The more we respect and appreciate the dedication of town employees, the more likely residents will want to fill those town personnel positions. And this benefits everyone, because when town employees are also Verona residents, they are motivated to minimize the tax burden for us all.
If elected, I will advocate for common sense and strategic long-term planning in all aspects of town management. It’s essential, in assessing our personnel needs, to engage all departments in meaningful discussions about how they can best meet the demands of their roles. Without that understanding, decisions and objectives are arbitrary and risk diluting services. If elected, I look forward to working with our town manager, department heads and employees to ensure that our town personnel feel respected and that their concerns are heard by the Town Council, and to reduce all wasteful spending while prioritizing efficient and robust municipal services.
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