Patch Candidate Profile: Barbara Ausiello, Avon Town Council

AVON, CT — Avon Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as Election Day draws near.

Avon resident Barbara Ausiello is running for the Avon Town Council as a Democrat.

The following is Ausiello's questionnaire sent to Patch:

Name

Barbara Ausiello

How old will you be as of Election Day?

Does your campaign have a website? If so, include the URL here.

What city or town do you live in?

Avon

What office are you seeking?

Town Council

Please give us your party affiliation.

Democrat

Education

BA English Literature

What is your occupation?

Realtor

Do you have a family? If so, please tell us about them.

My husband Jeff and I have lived in Avon for 16 years and we have two daughters.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Have you ever held a public office, whether appointive or elective?

Town Council 2021-present; Recreation and Parks

Now we'd like to ask a few questions about your reasons for running and your general views on politics and government. First, why are you seeking this office?

I am running for re-election to the Town Council because I care deeply about this town and its success. I want to continue to find ways to build community and make Avon a welcoming home for all residents. Volunteering my time to give back to the town we call home is important to me. I have truly enjoyed my time as a member of the Council over the past two years, as I have been able to meet so many wonderful residents and get to collaborate with the hard-working members of our town staff, schools, and police and fire departments.

Please complete this statement: The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is ___, and this is what I intend to do about it.

The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is the cost of living. As a resident, I want to see taxes kept at the low rates we are accustomed to while maintaining our excellent services and school. Obviously, the increased costs of doing business, and the benefits, pensions, and salaries of town employees impact our taxes. Avon continues to be AAA-rated and the management of debt service is thoughtful and allows for needed infrastructure and facility improvements without a huge impact on taxes. I will continue to support responsible spending and strategic use of our remaining ARPA funds, as well as the procurement of the many grants that are available to us.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

My goal is always to be positive and helpful. I volunteer my time to help my neighbors, regardless of party. I don't engage in fear-mongering and saying negative things about our wonderful community.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

Over the past two years, we have addressed issues regarding our police and fire services. We hired a new police chief and along with two new patrol officers, a dedicated traffic enforcement officer was put in place to combat speeding concerns.

We completed a study of our fire department and created a fire facility building committee to research and make recommendations to upgrade many aspects of our fire department buildings and equipment. A new pumper/tanker and a ladder truck have already been ordered.

Along with the recent completion of the connectivity study, we are updating the recreation and parks master plan. We can then take the recommendations of these studies and thoughtfully plan for upgrades using ARPA funds, grants, and town funding to make improvements incrementally.

Responsible development and preservation of open space continue to be a big issue facing the town. It is important to balance housing supply needs with preserving the open space we have left in Avon. A perfect example of how to accomplish this is the plan to redevelop the old CREC school at 20 Security Drive into apartment living, including dedicated affordable units.

In an effort to increase transparency and resident engagement, the town now has a Facebook page and we have held several informational sessions regarding the connectivity plan as well as a resident forum on public safety.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?