Politics & Government

Jumpin' GOP

Republicans Figure Out How to be in 2 Places at Once

Republicans have figured out how to be in two places at once tonight.

The Republican Town Committee is meeting at 8 p.m. in Riverfield School to vote on who should be the town's new Republican selectman, while the Representative Town Meeting is meeting at 8 p.m. in Osborn Hill School to vote on the proposed $251.7 million town budget for 2010-11.

About two dozen RTM members also are RTC members, and there initially was some confusion over how they could vote on the town's new selectman and also be at the RTM's budget meeting.

Find out what's happening in Fairfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

James Millington, R-9, the RTM's majority leader, early today advised RTM members who are on the RTC to head to Riverfield School at 8 p.m. for a quick vote on the town's new selectman, then head back to Osborn Hill School for the budget meeting. Republican RTM members would first meet in Osborn Hill School for a caucus before the budget meeting, so they'd first go to Osborn Hill School, then go to Riverfield School, and then go back to Osborn Hill School.

Sources said James Walsh, R-1, the RTM moderator, is almost certainly the Republican who will be endorsed tonight by the RTC to be the town's new selectman and that First Selectmen Ken Flatto and Selectman Sherri Steeneck, who have to approve the new selectman, didn't have a problem with approving Walsh.

Find out what's happening in Fairfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Flatto and Steeneck would vote on the RTC's recommendation at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday in Sullivan-Independence Hall. The Board of Selectmen's agenda for Wednesday's meeting doesn't list a name to fill the vacancy on the Board of Selectmen that was created when Republican Selectman Ralph A. Bowley died April 10.

Some Republicans expressed concern that the RTC may not have a quorum if Republicans on the RTM don't show up at Riverfield School at 8 p.m. But only one-third of the RTC's 72 members - or 24 members - have to be present for the RTC meeting to go forward, according to Republican officials.

Meanwhile, Police Chief David Peck expressed concern today over the Republicans' plan to cut about $145,000 from the Police Department's proposed budget in 2010-11.

The proposed cuts include $68,373 from the department's regular payroll account, which would eliminate the salary of an additional detective; $19,642, which would eliminate health insurance for the additional detective; $991, which would eliminate Social Security contributions for the additional detective position; $10,000 from fees and professional services, which would restore that line item to its current level; $2,000 from maintenance and repair of buildings and grounds, which would level the increase from this fiscal year; $2,500 from maintenance and repair of automobiles, which would level the increase from this fiscal year; $7,500 from education and memberships, which would reduce the increase from this year to 50 percent instead of 100 percent; $7,320 from capital outlay for a radar unit replacement program (Republicans suggest the department explore if grant money is available); and $27,000 from capital outlay to replace an engine on a police boat, which Republicans say should be deferred until the department finds out if a grant is available for a new police boat.

Peck was concerned about the number of sworn officers in the department. He said the department had 108 sworn officers two years ago and was now down to 106. He said the additional detective position would increase the number to 107.

Peck said the department had 100 sworn officers when he joined the force in 1979 and only has six officers more than that now, despite the increased responsibilites of officers, which include investigating Internet crimes, the Officer Friendly program, DARE program, bike patrols, motorcycle patrols and a police substation that was proposed at the Fairfield Metro Center, which would include the town's third train and about $250 million worth of commercial development on 35.5 acres at 21 Black Rock Turnpike. Peck also said the department's Detective Bureau, which has 13 detectives, is buried in work.

Peck provided a chart to Fairfield Patch that shows 112 sworn police officers in the town of Stratford, which has a population of 50,563; 121 sworn officers in the town of West Haven, which has a population of 52,420; 120 sworn officers in West Hartford, which has a population of 60,468 and which has authorization for 130 sworn officers; 135 sworn officers in East Hartford, which has a population of 48,697; 115 sworn officers in Manchester, which has a population of 55,857; and 155 sworn officers in Greenwich, which has a population of 61,871.

Fairfield has 106 sworn officers and a population of about 58,000.


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