The Elephant and Donkey in the Room

During the public comment portion of the budget meeting at Masuk High School on Wednesday night, Bill Ehlers, a longtime resident, said he was struck by the fact that the Town Council had two separate statements, one from the Republican majority and another from the Democratic party minority members.

"We should be working together as a community," Ehlers said.

Town Council Vice Chairwoman Deborah Heim read a statement from Republican members recommending the re-instituting of $475,000 worth of cuts the council had made to the municipal budget before the Board of Finance restored much of it while making its own revisions.

If First Selectman Steve Vavrek, a fellow Republican, does that, Heim said the majority of the council believes the budget can pass during the second referendum on April 23.

Councilwoman Dee Dee Martin gave the minority statement from the Democrats, taking Vavrek to task over how he has handled the budget process.

She said council members benefited by talking to department heads at town hall about their budgets, but not before Vavrek directed them not to share with the Town Council what their original requests were.

Vavrek acknowledged that the information was released after a Freedom of Information request, but explained that no council member had every requested that information from a first selectman before and that he had to confer with his department heads first.

Martin also criticized Vavrek's attendance at budget workshops.

"Unfortunately what transpired was the first selectman missing three meetings in their entirety and leaving two additional meetings early," Martin said. "Questions raised were consistently not answered by the chief executive officer, but directed to the finance director or other staff. Please keep in mind questioning was from both sides of the aisle and intended to clarify separate line item requests."

Vavrek became angry, saying the process should not be political.

He acknowledged missing some meetings, but said there were good reasons. Vavrek said he represented Monroe at a family event for St. Patrick's Day, had a family issue another night, and had attended a Center for Women & Families event.

Martin said residents of Monroe need to be made more aware of the needs in the community and that the town not only needs "an engaged electorate but an engaged and active leadership."

"It's not too late," Martin said. "We urge the first selectman, as we approach the second referendum, to reach out to the community, not merely by social media but in person, get to the people one on one and in groups, schools, clubs, anywhere people will listen and in any manner possible. Ask to be part of a conversation with any part of the community that will allow you to explain and defend the budget you are presenting to them."

Vavrek said, "Anyone who doesn't think I'm out with the public can come into my office."

The first selectman said social sites like Facebook, Twitter, Eye On Monroe, The Monroe Courier and Monroe Patch have been an effective way of getting information out to voters. He also encourages people with any questions to call his office at 203-452-2821, email him at svavrek@monroect.org or communicate with him on his Facebook page.

"We have a budget we can trust," Vavrek said. "Stop pointing fingers and come out and vote."