East Windsor Selectman's Report - Nov. 1, 2016

EAST WINDSOR, CT — Here is the latest Selectman's report from Jason Bowsza, from the meeting of Nov. 1, 2016:

On Thursday, 10/20, the 250th Anniversary Celebration Committee met. The special guest for the evening was noted Connecticut historian Bill Hosley, who shared some wonderful insight into the history of East Windsor and surrounding communities. As a former curator of the Wadsworth Atheneum, Bill is a wealth of knowledge about Connecticut history. It would be great to include him in planning as we move forward.
On Tuesday, 10/25, the Planning and Zoning Commission met and held a public hearing on the final Plan of Conservation and Development. congratulations to the commission, and to Town Planner Laurie Whitten, on the completion of a true 10 year plan for the Town. The process has been a long one, but incredibly inclusive as well.

On Wednesday, 10/26, the Board of Education met. They appointed Kate Carey-Trull as a new board member. Kate is a journalist by training who has covered board of education in several states. She is also on the School Governance Council. Congratulations, Kate, and thank you for your willingness to serve.

That same night, the board was presented with a petition from parents who were concerned about the lack of transparency associated with selecting a new superintendent. The board maintains that they followed the process outlined by board policy for the selection, although the policy states that "the board will conduct an active search...". I don't see how that could have been accomplished in such a tight timeframe, but even if it has been, there is certainly a sense that "the fix was in" amongst some parents. I continue to believe that the assistant superintendent, the board of education, the schools, and the town would all be better served by an open, competitive and transparent process. Hopefully, the board will reconsider and conduct a thorough search including more than one candidate.

On Thursday, 10/27, the Pension Board met. The Town's pension investments earned 10.06% over the last 12 months, which is down 23 basis points against our benchmark. This is due, in part, to international market performance. We may adjust the benchmark moving forward to better reflect the asset distribution, including a more realistic international allocation.

Next Tuesday is Election Day. Don't forget to vote!!

Respectfully submitted,
Jason Bowsza
Selectman.

Photo credit: Mia Jensen