Wallingford: ashamed – my letter to the editor regarding the veterans and the Wallingford ShowMobile

As published in the Letters to the Editor section of the Record Journal on Sunday May 27, 2012

Editor: Regarding the recent issue with Mayor Dickinson’s decision to deny the use of the showmobile to the veterans, I came to the Wallingford Town Council meeting expecting this to be solely a cost issue where Dickinson didn’t want to expend additional funds. I came prepared to make that payment to the town as I received pledges of a donation as part of the effort to resolve this issue and get the veterans use of the equipment.

The end result, when I specifically asked the mayor: “if there is a way to remove the additional financial component of using the showmobile for the ceremony, can the vets get the permission to use it?” — was that Dickinson responded “no.” His reason was “he doesn’t believe using the showmobile as a reviewing stand is the proper use for the stage” — but why does that matter? If the vets want to use it, and it is going to otherwise sit in mothballs for the day unused, and we had people willing to make the donation to remove additional monetary burden from the town, then why not let them use it?

The veterans served this country, protected its freedoms, and preserved this way of life we have today. All they asked for extra this day was the use of the showmoblie that is otherwise going unused. At the time they served, they were asked to give their everything — and, if needed, their lives. “All gave some, some gave all,” but Wallingford will not lend them use of a portable stage, now that they are in their 70s, to have them be a little more comfortable on a day we are supposed to be paying thanks to them and remembering the fallen that never returned.

That is not my Wallingford — and I am ashamed.

MY TAKE - Dickinson denies vets use of ‘showmobile’

For the details and back ground on this you can see my prior two posts “Letter to Mayor Dickinson from the Veterans Memorial Committee regarding his decision to not to let them use the Show Mobile for the Memorial Day services on May 28th at Doolittle Park” and the email I sent to Town Council Chairman Parisi, as well as the story from The Record Journal which outlines the end of the story presently where in Mayor Dickinson denied the use of the showmobile to the veterans.

I came to the Town Council meeting expecting this to be solely a cost issue where Mayor Dickinson didn’t want to expend additional funds.

I came to the meeting to make that payment to the town as I received pledges of a donation and was going to pledge some myself as part of the effort to resolve this issue and get the veterans use of the equipment.

The end result when I specifically asked the Mayor “if there is a way to remove the additional financial component of using the showmoblie for the ceremony can the vets get the permission to use it” was that Mayor Dickinson responded “no”.

Now he has given his reason of “he doesn’t believe using the showmobile as a reviewing stand is the proper use for the stage” but why does that matter? If the vets want to use it, and it is going to otherwise sit in mothballs for the day unused and we had people willing to make the donation to remove additional monetary burden from the town, then why not let them use it?

It is a mystery to me and I find it in very poor taste but that is just my opinion.

The veterans served this country, protected its freedoms, and preserved this way of life we have today.

All they asked for extra this day was the use of the showmoblie that is otherwise going unused.

At the time they served they were asked to give their everything and if needed, their lives.

“All gave some, some gave all” but Wallingford will not lend you use of portable stage now that you are in your 70s to have you be a little more comfortable on a day we are supposed to be paying thanks to you and remembering the fallen that never returned.

That’s not my Wallingford and I am ashamed.

My follow up email to the Council Chairman regarding the denial of use of the Show Mobile to the Veterans Memorial Committee for the Memorial Day services on May 28th at Doolittle Park

Please see the prior post at Letter to Mayor Dickinson from the Veterans Memorial Committee regarding his decision to not to let the use the Show Mobile for the Memorial Day services on May 28th at Doolittle Park for the details.

I sent the following via email to Council Chairman Parisi:

 

Mr. Chairman,

It is too late to add this item for discussion to the agenda formally but I believe we can waive rule 5 to add it for discussion.

If I am remembering this correctly then I would like to do this at tomorrow's meeting.

If this cannot be done via rule 5 please let me know and I will speak about it during public question and answer as a resident if necessary.

Thank you

Jason Zandri
Wallingford Town Councilor

 

We’ll see how I make out.

If this is something that concerns you or that you might support I encourage you to come to the Wallingford Town Hall tomorrow Tuesday May 22nd at 6:30PM for the regular Town Council meeting.

Letter to Mayor Dickinson from the Veterans Memorial Committee regarding his decision to not to let the use the Show Mobile for the Memorial Day services on May 28th at Doolittle Park

This is not an item on the agenda but I will be bringing it up at the Council meeting on Tuesday the 22nd to discuss as the Memorial Day services are less than a week of way.

More lead time would have been nice but I just got this via email tonight and they might not have gotten much lead time on this either.

 

WALLINGFORD VETERANS MEMORIAL COMMITTEE

May 17, 2012

Honorable William W. Dickinson, Jr.
Mayor, Town of Wallingford
45 South Main St.
Wallingford, CT 06492

Dear Mayor Dickinson,

I am writing to you on behalf of the Veterans Memorial Committee. The committee recently had a discussion regarding your decision not to let us use the Show Mobile for our Memorial Day services on May 28^th at Doolittle Park.

We used the Show Mobile two years ago for our services. It not only gave our older veterans and members a shady place to sit with a flat, roomier surface to walk on, it lent a more “finished” appearance to the service.

We would ask that you reconsider your decision, as we feel this is a justified use for the Show Mobile, and there is overtime already being paid for chairs and podium to be put out, police services, etc. We appreciate all your support for the veterans over the years in Wallingford, and feel this small investment will produce a better experience for our aging veterans.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Elise M. Gallup
Secretary
303 Bassett Road
North Haven, CT 06473
(203) 605-8580

cc: Patricia Lizotte, Chairman, Veterans Memorial Committee
Wallingford Town Council

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Please make checks out to: “Wallingford Fireworks Fund” and send to: Wallingford Fireworks Fund, c/o Jason Zandri,

35 Lincoln Drive EXT, Wallingford, CT 06492

AGENDA - REGULAR WALLINGFORD TOWN COUNCIL MEETING for TUESDAY MAY 22, 2012

AGENDA

Opening Prayer – Reverend Margaret Jay, First Congregational Church of Wallingford

1. Pledge of Allegiance and Roll Call

2. Correspondence

3. Consent Agenda

3a. Consider and Approve Tax Refunds (#586 - #594) totaling $2,763.67 Acct. # 001-1000-010-1170 - Tax Collector

3b. Consider and Approve a Transfer of Funds for Republican Presidential  Preference Primary in the Amount of $2,100 from Maintenance of Equipment Acct # 1060-54325 to Telephone Acct # 1060-53000 - Registrars of Voters

3c. Consider and Approve a Transfer of Funds for Republican Presidential Preference Primary in the Amount of $1,200 from Election Expense Acct # 1060-58705 to Rental of Polling Place Acct # 1060-54420 - Registrars of Voters

3d. Consider and Approve a Transfer of Funds for Republican Presidential Preference Primary in the Amount of $1,000 from PS-Program Memory Cards Acct # 1060-56713 to Regular Salaries & Wages Acct # 1060-51000- Registrars of Voters

3e. Consider and Approve a Transfer of Funds for Republican Presidential Preference Primary in the Amount of $700 from Election Expense Acct # 1060-58075 to Regular Salaries & Wages Acct # 1060-51000 - Registrars of Voters

3f. Consider and Approve a Transfer of Funds for Republican Presidential Preference Primary in the Amount of $300 from Continuing Education & Training Acct # 1060-55700 to Regular Salaries & Wages Acct # 1060-51000 - Registrars of Voters

3g. Consider and Approve a Transfer of Funds in the Amount of $18,000 to Chemicals Acct # 43100641 from Power Purchased for Pumping Acct # 43100623 - Water Division

3h. Consider and Approve a Transfer of Funds in the Amount of $15,675 from Sludge Disposal Acct # 46100645 to Various Accounts (8) - Sewer Division

3i. Acceptance of Donation and Appropriation in the Amount of $769 Youth & Social Services Special Fund-Relay for Life to Expenditures Acct # 21340100-58830 and to Donations Acct # 2134002-47152 – Youth & Social Services

3j. Acceptance of Donation and Appropriation in the Amount of $660 Youth & Social Services Special Fund to Expenditures Acct # 26640150-58830 and to Donations Acct # 2134002-47152 – Youth & Social Services

3k. Acceptance of Donation and Appropriation in the Amount of $612 Youth & Social Services Special Fund-Relay for Life to Expenditures Acct # 21340100-58830 and to Donations Acct # 2134002-47152 – Youth & Social Services

3l. Acceptance of Donation and Appropriation in the Amount $50 from of Youth & Social Services Special Fund to Expenditures Acct # 21340100-58830 and to Donations Acct # 2134002-47152 – Youth & Social Services

3m. Acceptance of Board of Education Grants and Appropriation of Special Funds to the Board of Education Budget:

1. ADULT BASIC EDUCATION $13,258 Fund # 235

2. PRESCHOOL $36 Fund # 235

3. ARRA $18,521 Fund # 235

3n. Consider and Approve a Resolution to accept Small Town Economic Assistance Program (STEAP) Grant for roadway improvements along North Main Street Extension and authorize the Mayor to Execute with Connecticut Office of Policy & Management (OPM) an agreement in the amount of $214,200 and to provide such additional information, to execute any amendments, decisions and revisions thereto and to act as the authorized representative of the Town of Wallingford – Grants Administrator

3o. Set a Public Hearing for June 12, 2012 at 7:00 P.M. for Neighborhood Assistance Applications 2012- Grants Administrator

3p. Approve minutes of Regular Town Council Meeting of May 8, 2012

3q. Approve minutes of Special Town Council Meeting Budget Workshop of May 1, 2012

3r. Approve minutes of Special Town Council Meeting Budget Workshop of April 25, 2012

3s. Approve minutes of Regular Town Council Meeting of April 24, 2012

4. Items Removed from the Consent Agenda

5. PUBLIC QUESTION & ANSWER

6. Consider and Approve IAFF Local 1326 Firefighters and Deputy Marshal labor contract Effective July 1, 2012 to June 30, 2013 - Personnel

7. Consider and Approve (new) Job Description for Energy Conservation Specialist - Personnel

8. Acceptance of Donation from the Wallingford Fireworks for 2012 Celebration in the Amount of $23,107 and Appropriation of Funds as follows

A. Consider and Approve an Appropriation in the Amount of $11,627 to Revenue Donations Acct # 100-7042 and to Expenditures – Holidays and Celebrations Acct # 1004015-58234

B. Consider and Approve an Appropriation in the Amount of $11,480 to Revenue Donations Acct # 100-7042 and to the following:

$8,000 Police Overtime Acct # 1002005-51400

$2,000 Fire Overtime Acct # 1002015-51400

$ 900 Fire Marshal Overtime Acct # 1002020-51400

$ 400 Holidays & Celebrations Acct # 1004015-58234 (for BOE)

$ 180 Parks & Recreation Acct # 1005005-56782 (Port-O-Lets)

9. Discussion and Possible Action to initiate an investigation by the Town Council into the illegal cutting down of trees in the parks of Wallingford and the removal of the wood to an illegal disposal site – Councilor Nick Economopoulos

10. Executive Session pursuant to §1-200 (6)(D) of the Connecticut General Statutes with respect to the purchase, sale and/or leasing of property – Mayor