Budget Vote Surprises, Elates, Disappoints

WINSTED — To the surprise of and varying degrees of disappointment and contentment among residents, a proposed $32 million budget passed on the first try Wednesday at referendum, with less than 1,000 voters approving the budget by a margin of just 15 votes, 506-491.

Seen as a victory by unaffiliated Board of Education Chairman Rose Molinelli, Thursday’s vote signified a move forward, she said Wednesday morning. "I am elated, I really am," she said. "I’m pleased that we’re going to be able to go on with the educational plan that we put together and I think it will meet children’s needs. I think this also puts us in a new light with surrounding towns. I think people will look at us differently and it’s a positive thing for this community."

Republican Selectman David Cappabianca said he couldn’t disagree more with the outcome, which he said shortchanged vital departments on the municipal side. "Let the grievances begin," he said. "There will be grievances out of the Recreation Department and out of the Building Department. We’re going to be robbing Peter to pay Paul."

Cappabianca said he believes the grievances will come from town employees who will be saddled with extra work because of a controversial cut to the Recreation Department of more than $25,000, which cut director Alesia Corso’s hours in half. Cappabianca said he was also disappointed with cuts to the fire marshal’s office and to police overtime.

So why did the budget pass? "I think what happened was most people thought the budget was going to be turned down by such an overwhelming margin that they were lulled into a false sense of security," Cappabianca said. "That is what I feel accounted for the low voter turnout." The total turnout of 997 voters represented less than 15 percent of eligible voters. Cappabianca noted that more than 700 people signed a petition supporting the reinstatement of Corso’s hours, but less than 500 showed up to vote "no" on the budget.

Despite her joy in seeing the budget passed on the first try, Molinelli agreed that low voter turnout is a problem. "I have difficulty as an educator with low turnouts," she said. "I’m not sure if people appreciate the beauty of this community — not just the natural beauty but the people and what it has to offer, and the vision of what it could be. Coming from somewhere else and seeing what’s here [Molinelli hails from New York] you can really appreciate the difference. I’m hoping people can realize they have a vested interest in the town and it’s important to be heard."

Nonetheless, Molinelli said she’s "on cloud nine" and full of enthusiasm for the coming 2007-08 school year. "We’re off and running," she said. "The superintendent and I have made some plans this morning and we intend to work very hard to make the most out of this budget and make sure every penny is spent wisely. Blaise [Salerno, superintendent] has said he wants to make Winsted a lighthouse district and we’re going to work hard to make that happen."