Letter to the Editor: 02.16.2025

February 16, 2025

To the Editor:

The February 13 Council Budget article led me to see the meeting video.  Mr. Raimo does a lot of unnecessary whining.

Seeking to add a $65,900 full--time position for handling Town FOI requests and Public Information is another waste of our resources. His excess spending is bordering on compulsiveness – hiring consultants to help the finance department, outsourcing IT services instead of training employees, and now this.

Each department is familiar with their records. Hiring a person with little knowledge of every department will make FOI requests more difficult for employees to complete.  Just read the FOI request fully and provide all the data the first time.

Mr. Raimo seems to know that FOI is a statutory requirement. Are time management and a lack of FOI understanding the issues affecting town employees?  CCM is offering a one-hour seminar on March 11 at 10 a.m. for municipal personnel, boards, commissions and committee members. I suggest everyone participate.

Town Council meeting minutes lack substance,especially the manager’s report. These meetings lack full transparency and public questions are rarely answered. Seldom do Republican council members hold appreciable discussions, so no wonder there are FOI requests!  They have brought it upon themselves. We the people are not going to accept funding for a new position. We are already fed up with replacing experienced employees with new hires at greater salaries.

If you would hold a fully informative council meeting with public participation at the beginning AND end of the meeting, public trust will return and FOI requests likely will be reduced. Our town website should be more informative and easily searchable. No additional employee is necessary.

Rose Soboleski

Rose Soboleski 456 Davis Street, Oakville, CT 06779

203-217-9786