Letter: Prospect needs to enter the 21st century

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To the editor,

One of the reasons that people love Prospect so dearly is that unlike many area towns we have managed to hang onto much of our nostalgic charm. Traditions die hard up here on the hill, but eventually time catches up with everyone and everything. While one may be able to justify keeping the town’s 1984 International dump truck on the road, unfortunately the same can’t be said for an even more vintage accounting process.

That process involves a file drawer with decades of handwritten notes, an adding machine and a keyboard used as a typewriter. While that combination may have been a workable solution back when Bill Gates was still in school and Jimmy Carter lived in the White House; it doesn’t do too well today. Figuratively speaking, Prospect relies on a compass to navigate in an increasingly complex financial landscape while other towns utilize GPS.

Deeply entrenched and unwilling to entertain change, the Mayor’s Office conducts business the same way it has for the last 40 years. As a consequence, even Prospect’s Town Council sometimes waits weeks or even months for requested financial information. In a family-owned business “close enough” might be considered “good enough,” but when you’re responsible for over $30 million of taxpayer money, it shouldn’t be managed like a family business and the standards need to be more professional.

On Nov. 7 the voters will have an opportunity to decide if it’s more important to bring Prospect’s financial controls up to 21st century standards or to simply elect someone for his 21st term.  Please make no mistake, these are two mutually exclusive choices and they will yield two vastly different outcomes.

Thomas Galvin

Prospect

The writer is a Republican member and chairman the Prospect Town Council.

2 COMMENTS

  1. Naugatuck needs to get in the 20th Cenutry, forget the 21th. Old,uneducated, Democraps leaders drove the town to the worlds record 49 mill rate. Un F-ing believable.

  2. Cudos to Mr. Galvin for calling out the dinosaur mayor Bob for archaic thinking and management. But, Mr.Galvin, you are part of the problem along with your entire Republican party. You have been there through out old man Chatfield’s rein. If this has been an issue for you, all these years, why does your party continue to back him and support his neo-nazi leadership tactics!!! You only need to look at his support or should I say lack of support in the Region 16 school system. Talk about archaic management!!! Lowest teacher salaries in the entire surrounding towns, declining enrollment because only over 55 housing developments being permitted are driving out the best of the best when it comes to superintendents, administrators and teachers.
    So, Mr. Galvin, your party supported Trump, another blow hard, racist autocrat and where has it gotten our country? Stand up and stop the “party” mentality, be a free thinker and actions speak louder than words!!! This is 2017 and your beautiful bedroom community is going to be left behind!!!