Letter to the Editor 10-31-14

Influence or incompetence?

At the Winsted selectmen’s meeting on Monday, Oct. 20, Republican Mike Peacock, then-chairman of the Planning and Zoning Commission, was voted out of his office by the Republican majority of the Winsted Board of Selectmen. Besides being a “you what?” moment, the same Republican selectmen voted in an inexperienced Gerald Martinez as Peacock’s replacement, with an equally inexperienced Chris Palmer as alternate. The three Democratic selectmen were justifiably flabbergasted, along with a great deal of the Winsted voting public.

Immediately, suggestions of collusion and outside influence were cast. Was this an example of the recently ousted pretender to the Winsted mayoral throne operating behind the scenes, “pulling strings?” The Republican committee padding a board for their own future use, or abuse? Perhaps. The Republican selectmen aren’t saying, other than they have “a plan” that will be revealed in good time. OK. But let’s think about this possible “plan” a bit more creatively. 

I have worked as a financial analyst for a world-known manufacturer for the last 16 years. Prior to that, I performed much the same function at a national medical device distributor for eight years. I’ve worked with presidents, vice presidents, directors, managers, heads of sales programs. I’ve seen them come, seen them go, seen programs start and fail, start and succeed, and generally morph over time for better or worse. Invariably the successful programs — albeit with proper and viable market conditions and a considered strategy — were those headed by experienced, competent people who were promoted up through the ranks, or were hired from the outside, but only if they had equivalent and successful experience. 

Now, Candice Bouchard knows this, or should; she was once a high placed and experienced manager or director. Glenn Albanesius should as well, having worked in sales for an office supply company for two decades, I believe. Jorge Pimentel works in the manufacturing and services world as well, so he is at least aware such people and programs. I have no idea about Dan Langer.

Their experience, as well as mine, should tell them that the worst thing you can do to a company is hire someone with no experience to fill a position that requires great experience — say, putting a branch sales rep with six weeks of local sales experience in charge of a national government sales program that requires an extreme depth of knowledge and expertise. For you military types, it’s like promoting a PFC fresh from basic training to command a company — or, even worse, putting a rear-area “pogue” in charge of a line-combat outfit. 

Out of their league and guaranteed to fail. 

But no, these selectmen have a plan. They know what they’re doing. 

My bet is, they don’t. They’re incompetent. Or someone else is calling their shots, and they are not saying who. 

Lynn Kessler

Winsted