Support the Neubert/Lesser Team
on November 3rd! Doing What’s Right for Easton
Easton Democratic Platform — 2009:
Schools: A top education system with the programs and resources
to help Easton's children succeed
Seniors: Continued leadership on Senior Tax Relief and improved
services
Finance: Careful
fiscal management, allocating resources to your priorities
Preservation: Stewardship
of Easton’s farms and rural integrity
Environment/Energy: Pro-active
leadership in environmental conservation and energy efficiency
Community: Diverse,
innovative social and recreational opportunities
Leadership: Leaders who listen and take a stand
SCHOOLS
A top education system with the programs and resources to help
Easton's children succeed.
Education
is the foundation for Easton’s future. The Easton Democratic Party’s
goal for our schools is to restore what was lost in previous Republican-led
budget cuts, maintain what we have now, and make improvements to the school
system each year. We believe it is the town’s obligation to give the
children of Easton the tools necessary for an excellent education through:
Taking cost-effective steps forward each year. We will strive
to make important improvements to our school system to achieve parity with
our peers and prepare Easton students to compete with their Redding counterparts
at Joel Barlow High School.
Maintaining moderate class size and retaining quality teachers.
Supporting educational proposals that will show results in real time,
use budget dollars in a responsible manner, and lead directly to success
in the classroom.
Improving test scores with adequate remediation and enrichment. We
will pursue innovative educational solutions to address weaknesses in the
schools, such as the addition of both a Math Specialist and a Writing Specialist
to the K-8 system.
Responsible building maintenance. We support pro-active and
cost-efficient planning for the long-term care of our school facilities.
SENIORS
Continued leadership on Senior Tax Relief and improved
services.
Under Democratic leadership, the bipartisan Tax Relief for the Elderly Commission revised our town’s senior tax relief program to provide more aid, through a variety of options (e.g. deferral and abatement), to seniors who need it. Because of these innovations, Easton now has one of the best senior tax relief programs in the entire state. Democrats on the Board of Finance have been strong advocates for services at the Easton Senior Center, and for adequate funding for maintenance and supplies in our newly-renovated building. The Easton Democratic party is firmly committed to keeping our town an affordable and livable community for seniors.
FINANCE
Careful fiscal management, allocating resources to your priorities.
The
Easton Democratic Party has identified two primary areas as the focal points
for our fiscal policy.They include:
Funding
for high-quality public schools and town services
Strategies
for limiting tax increases and creating a more efficient and cost-effective
town government
Education/Town Services: We will work with Boards of Education and public to provide the necessary tools and support for Easton students to exceed state-targeted proficiency levels. We will adequately fund and enhance town departments and services, including the Library, Senior Center, Police and Fire Departments, EMS, Parks and Recreation, and Public Works.
Strategies for Limiting Tax Increases: There are two ways to limit property taxes: 1) reducing town costs, or 2) finding additional sources of revenue. The Easton Democrats have a fiscal plan that will achieve affordable taxes using both approaches.
On the cost-side: We are committed to limiting tax increases in this tough economy. We can achieve this goal through better long-term municipal planning, more effective problem-solving, cost-savings and creative efficiencies in the schools and town departments, and more prudent financing.
On the revenue side: We will examine alternative revenue-generating
opportunities that would offer relief to the Easton taxpayer without jeopardizing
the town’s unique rural character, such as:
Rental uses of town facilities, such as unused portions of the old Staples
building
Other uses permitted by current zoning statutes, such as private schools,
riding stables or other athletic facilities, art galleries, and country clubs
Investigating the sale of permits to out-of-towners for activities that utilize
Easton’s unique resources, similar to Fairfield’s beach passes.
PRESERVATION
Stewardship of Easton's farms and rural integrity.
The
Easton Democratic Party strongly believes we must preserve Easton’s
farms, wilderness, and watershed lands, and is deeply committed to our role
as stewards of Fairfield County’s water supply. While 40% of Easton’s
open space is protected, there are still 2,500 acres of undeveloped private
land in town, 1,000 of which represent farms or other large tracts that are
vulnerable to unwanted and potentially hazardous development.
Easton Democrats support a pro-active approach to town and land use
planning. Better planning will prevent costly legal battles with
developers, which do nothing to ensure the ultimate protection of the land.
We will:
Pursue
local, state, and private funding sources for land acquisition, open
space conservation, and farmland preservation.
Fund
through appropriate means a meaningful Land Acquisition Fund.
Work
with P&Z and Conservation commissions to strengthen existing regulations
to help preserve open space and farms, and adopt best practices
for watershed protection.
Encourage
uses consistent with Easton’s agricultural heritage.
Work
with local landowners to promote more private conservation easements.
Open
to public debate and decision any opportunity to buy a large tract of land
within town borders, rather than having the First Selectman unilaterally
decide whether or not a parcel is desirable.
Furthermore, we support working with the Conservation Commission and Parks & Recreation to build additional trails for walking, hiking, and horseback riding on existing open space, to increase the public’s enjoyment of our town’s unique rural setting.
ENVIRONMENT/ENERGY
Pro-active leadership in environmental conservation and energy efficiency.
The
Easton Democratic Party has an unwavering commitment to environmental conservation
and to a progressive energy policy for the town. We will actively pursue an
environmental agenda with the goal of making Easton the “greenest”
town in Fairfield County by:
Expanding recycling programs to reduce the impact of solid waste.
Partnering with neighboring towns to combine conservation ideas and
efforts to create a “greener” Fairfield County.
Hosting informative programs for residents on a broad spectrum of
issues ranging from conservation easements to composting to encourage individual
involvement in conservation issues, and setting a leadership example
through our personal involvement in environmental conservation activities.
Promoting clean energy by pursuing such initiatives as:
o Acquisition of clean energy for public buildings and hybrid vehicles for
town use.
o 20% personal property tax credit for hybrid vehicles.
o A non-binding resolution to encourage “green” building practices
for all new developments.
COMMUNITY
Diverse, innovative social and recreational opportunities.
Quality-of-Life: Preserving
Easton’s unique small-town charm and rural character is of utmost concern
to the Easton Democrats. We strongly believe that we must meet the needs of
ALL town residents (families with children, seniors, empty nesters, singles,
etc…). To that end, we will explore ways to enhance the quality of life
and social connectedness of our whole community, such as:
Creation of walking, hiking, and biking trails in suitable areas in Easton,
e.g. near the reservoirs and on the Morehouse Road property.
Increased use of town recreational resources (parks, tennis courts)
by improving the facilities, services, and programs.
LEADERSHIP
Leaders who listen and take a stand.
Preserving
Easton’s unique small-town charm and rural character is of utmost concern
to the Easton One clear difference between the Democratic and Republican leaders
in Easton has always been that your Democratic officials do not hesitate to
take a position on the major issues confronting the town—from budgets
to land purchases—and to communicate it clearly to residents. The Democrats
in our town government listen to public input. They act on the community’s
values and priorities, not their own pre-determined agendas.
Remember, the Easton Democrats have led the way on issues that are important to you:
Spearheading
Easton’s improved Senior Tax Relief program
Leading
on energy conservation with Easton’s 2010 Clean Energy initiative
Introducing
healthier food to our children while supporting our farms with the farm-to-school
initiative
Fostering
business connections during difficult economic times with Business Networking
Events
Helping
those in need with the Hurricane Katrina food/clothing drive and Habitat for
Humanity workday
Consistently
taking public stands on every major town issue, from budgets to land purchases
PLEASE SUPPORT OUR EXCEPTIONAL TEAM OF DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES ON NOVEMBER 3rd!
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© 2002 - 2005 Easton Democrats. Paid
for by the Easton Democratic Town Committee,
Marvin Gelfand, Treasurer
