02/20/08 - News Reports From Greenwich Time

Port Chester Mayor Dennis Pilla

Tesei meets Port Chester counterpart
Their constituencies couldn't be more different.

Flag day Football league prepares church for King film
Stephaugn Frazer and other teenagers rolled new coats of white paint on the ceilings and walls of the basement at Bethel AME Church in Greenwich, where they gave up a day of their school vacation to spruce up the parish's Lake Avenue building.

Tesei wants police probe
First Selectman Peter Tesei is calling for a police investigation of a possible scam involving the production of counterfeit beach cards, parking stickers and marina permits.

Honulik: Promotion, damages should be honored
Countering the town's legal assertion it is free to promote whomever it pleases, a Green-wich policeman asked the Connecticut Supreme Court yesterday to uphold a court decision this fall ordering his promotion to captain with back pay and damages.

BET approves money for nor'easter repairs
Nearly a year after an April nor'easter ripped through Green-wich, town officials said they are ready to start repairs on bridges, parks and other infrastructure damaged by that storm.

10/28/07 - Land use priorities vary among candidates

Three of the four Board of Selectmen candidates believe Greenwich Point, Greenwich High School and Greenwich Library are among the town's best assets while all four see traffic-clogged streets as among the worst.

Though they share some similar perceptions of the town, the candidates differ on what they believe should be the town's top priority for the next 10 years when it comes to land use planning.

Republican Selectman Peter Crumbine believes the central business district should be the top priority while Peter Tesei, Republican candidate for first selectman, believes community facilities, such as schools, parks and civic centers, should top the list.

Democratic selectman candidate Lin Lavery, on the other hand, believes natural resources are the most important while Frank Farricker, Democratic candidate for first selectman, has community character as his top priority.

As consultants ask residents for input on Greenwich's new 10-year Plan of Conservation and Development, Greenwich Time asked the four candidates to weigh in on the issues. The Board of Selectmen would be key in helping to carry out the plan.

Participating in a similar exercise the consultants, Avon-based Planimetrics, employs during neighborhood meetings, the four candidates were asked to respond to three questions. First, they were asked to name up to five places they would be most proud to show off to out-of-towners. Then, they were asked to name up to five places they would avoid. Finally, from a list of a dozen topics, candidates were asked to rank one as their top priority, two as second-highest and two others as third-highest.

Crumbine said the central business district is a top priority because it makes both land-use and economic sense. Advocates, such as his wife, Bea, have pledged to privately raise the $25 million needed to turn the historic Havemeyer Building, now home to the Board of Education, into the new Greenwich Center for Arts.

Original Norwalk Advocate article: Land use priorities vary among candidates

09/24/07 - Police Department Appeal - Farricker And Tessi Both Say "Forget About It"

HEADLINE:

Candidates want appeal dropped

STORY:

Republican and Democratic nominees for first selectman in this fall's election said challenging a court decision forcing the promotion of a policeman to captain will hurt public safety and cost more than legal fees.

First Selectman Jim Lash intends to seek an appeal of the verdict in the case of Lt. Gary Honulik if attorneys cannot reach a settlement in the case.

Two weeks ago, State Superior Court Judge Michael Shay ordered Honulik to be promoted, and slammed the town for illegally manipulating its hiring policies to deny the 34-year veteran a promotion to captain in 2003.

The ruling also directed that Capt. Michael Pacewicz, the man promoted instead of Honulik, be returned to his former rank, with Shay ruling that Pacewicz was promoted illegally.

The appeal would negatively affect the police force by extending a block on promoting senior police commanders, worsening a leadership void and threatening public safety, Republican nominee Peter Tesei and Democratic nominee, Frank Farricker said.

'I think the situation is a very sad saga for the individuals involved, the Greenwich Police Department, the town, and I don't think we should exhaust further resources appealing the decision,' said Tesei, chairman of the Board of Estimate and Taxation. 'We need to move forward.'

Farricker, a member of the Planning & Zoning Commission, said the appeal would be another in a line of ill-chosen battles, part of a wider pattern of the town aimlessly taking cases to trial when settlement would appear wiser, and alienating employees by disregarding town policies.

In compliance with copyright and fair use standards, this story has been truncated. Please click on the Source URL link below to read the entire story.

Source: Stamford Advocate

Publication Date: September 24, 2007

Reporter: Martin B. Cassidy

Source URL: http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/local/scn-gt-a1hondosep24,0,2787109.story