Date: Fri 14-Nov-1997

By STEVE BIGHAM

Published: Aug 11, 1999 12:00 am

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

politics-Rosenthal-Cascella

Full Text:

Rosenthal Looks Forward To Taking Office

BY STEVE BIGHAM

Less than a week after his victory, Herb Rosenthal's name had already been

penciled in on the first selectmen's wall of fame at Edmond Town Hall by

muralist David Merrill.

Mr Rosenthal, who defeated Republican Russ Melita in a landslide victory last

Tuesday, takes over the first selectman's office in just over two weeks.

In the past, a newly elected town leader had two months to prepare before

taking office, but a recent change in the town charter cut the transition time

to just a month.

"There's not much time," he said Wednesday.

As Mr Rosenthal steps into the first selectman's seat, he leaves behind his

chairmanship on the Board of Education. He is also wrapping things up with his

insurance business.

On Monday, Mr Rosenthal made an "unofficial" appearance at the groundbreaking

ceremony at Ashlar of Newtown. He and his victorious running mate, Joe

Bojnowski, had been invited as the town's first selectman- and

selectman-elect.

Mr Rosenthal may end up making a more official appearance as first selectman

at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly expanded and renovated Cyrenius

H. Booth Library. The library project is not likely to be completed in the

time remaining in Bob Cascella's term. The library is now expected to be open

sometime in December, six months overdue.

"I was hoping that project would have been finished by the time I took

office," Mr Rosenthal said.

The Democrat was scheduled to meet with Mr Cascella later this week to discuss

the library issue, as well as other pending issues.

Mr Rosenthal said he has received a friendly reception from residents as he

makes his way around Newtown. He even met a man who said he did not vote for

him but felt he would make a good first selectman. The first selectman-elect

has also received phone calls from the public asking for help with their

issues.

Mr Rosenthal remembers the long hours that his father, Jack, put in while

serving as the town's top official from 1975 into the late 1980s.

"I'm looking forward to it. I have an idea of what it's going to be like, but

until I start doing the job, I really don't know what it will be like," he

said.

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Well that is some spin. The Democrats have a super majority on the LC and passed the Education Budget without serious consideration of if the voters could afford the multi million dollar increase. "Was the request justified?" rather than "is this needed?" and "can the voters shoulder yet another large increase?" The voters rightly sent it back. Then for some reason all the discussion around reductions to the increase seemed to be coming from the classroom, rather than administration and overhead costs. Is this a coercive tactic to manipulate parents into supporting the budget like tacit threat of cutting freshman sports was two years ago? Who believes the Democrats did not caucus privately before the meeting and came in with a number already worked out? This is the Dems budget, they own it.

Education Cuts: Who Voted For What

I think it is important that we do not villainize every black box seen around a home, business, farm, or municipal property. A black exterior station does not always mean rat poison is being used. These stations can hold a number of different products, including monitoring blocks, snap traps, non-toxic bait, anti-tick bait stations, organic salt- or cornmeal-based control products, and newer fertility-control approaches intended to reduce rodent populations without traditional poisons. The better conversation, in my opinion, is not simply “black boxes are bad,” but rather: what is inside them, who is maintaining them, and whether the rodent issue is being managed responsibly. Exclusion, sanitation, trapping, habitat reduction, and careful monitoring should all be part of a responsible IPM strategy. To be fair, on my own property I do use rodenticides, including Bromethalin and Bromadiolone, in secured bait stations. But that is a choice I make for my property, based on my circumstances and the risk I am trying to manage. I also believe property owners should understand the tradeoffs and be encouraged to use the least harmful effective method whenever possible. I support protecting Newtown’s wildlife. I also support giving residents accurate information and not assuming that every black box represents reckless or unsafe pest control. The goal should be responsible rodent management, not fear of the box itself.

Discusses Policy Against Rodenticides

Debora, thank you! I accidentally doubled the project prices by adding the bond to the appropriation. Thank you so much for catching that and pointing it out. With the corrected numbers, the voters approved a combined $1.32 million for a salt shed ($600k) and library pavement ($720k), while rejecting the $1.12 million replacement turf. Regarding the 80s, I truly respect the hurdle of 14% mortgage rates. My point is simply that the math has shifted: in 1980, while the rates were higher, the price of a home relative to earnings was significantly lower. We are facing a different, but equally crushing, financial wall. Ultimately, it is disheartening that voters who recognized safe sidewalks and parking lots as essential, dismissed a playing field in the exact same condition. The turf has passed its life cycle and is just as much of a liability as the library’s pavement, the only difference is that this safety concern affects thousands of children who, coincidentally, cannot vote. These are apples-to-apples needs. I was hopeful our community would agree that all Newtown residents deserve safe conditions, regardless of which facility they utilize. Again, I would be remiss not to mention that when 82% of residents don’t show up, we have to deal with the interests of those who did. Hopefully, the next referendum will have a bigger turnout.

The ‘Me’ Generation

Thanks for the reply. I meant the numbers you presented in your letter. I found one place where other numbers were listed: https://www.newtownbee.com/04232026/get-out-and-vote-on-the-2026-27-proposed-municipal-and-school-budgets/?q=\\\%22advisory%20questions\\\%22. In that article, the numbers were cited as: Treadwell field: $1,125,000 Library: $720,000 Salt Storage: $600,000 As one who started out in the early 80's when inflation was double digits, my 1985 mortgage rate was 14%, and child care costs were comparable (in present value), I shared your grief but never considered the voters ironic or shameful. PS. I agree college tuition is ridiculous. Thankfully, universities are offering (or considering) waiving all or most tuition for middle class families (upwards of $200,000 incomes). Hopefully, they'll also reconsider their need for those funds in the first place.

Sure! Child care costs: https://www.ffyf.org/2022/10/13/data-child-care-prices-continue-to-rise-ahead-of-midterm-elections-outpacing-inflation/ (also from 2021-2025 we had 2 children in a local daycare in Newtown and it cost us $3200 a month, so that's a number I am very familiar with) Home price / median price vs income source: https://www.jchs.harvard.edu/home-price-income-ratios Tuition increase vs inflation: https://feed.georgetown.edu/access-affordability/noting-a-decline-in-middle-class-students-colleges-provide-more-aid/ Hope this helps :)

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Date: Fri 14-Nov-1997

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