Candidate profiles: Beacon Falls selectmen

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The Citizen’s News asked candidates running for office four questions. The following are their responses:

Beacon Falls Selectmen

Peter John Betkoski
Peter John Betkoski

Peter John Betkoski

Age: 54

Party: Democrat

Education:

Political Experience: Two years Board of Selectmen; Chairman of Democratic Town Committee; 10 years Planning and Zoning Commission; served on Council of Government.

Occupation: Owner of Betkoski Brothers LLC.

Why are you running for Selectmen? 

“I come from a family of public serving, we were always taught to give back to our community and that is what my serving as selectman is all about. My goals are to give back and help Beacon Falls stay on a positive path for all our residents. “

How would you approach crafting a budget and the mill rate? 

“We are constantly working with the Board of Finance and selectman as a team with input from the treasurer, tax collector and financial administration. With so much input and teamwork we wish to resolve any budget issues we encounter.”

What do you feel is the most important issue facing Beacon Falls today? What should be done to address it?

“Roads’ programs to do our roads every year as necessary and address problems. Economic growth; we try to promote our businesses and encourage more to come to Beacon Falls working with the economic commission.”

What will be your goals and priorities, if elected?

“To keep working on opportunities to have a strong tax base with strong economic development and revitalize downtown and lovely Beacon Falls.”

Michael A. Krenesky
Michael A. Krenesky

Michael A. Krenesky

Age: 63

Party: Republican

Education: BS in Management Information Systems, Bentley University (formerly Bentley College)

Political Experience: Current two terms as Town Treasurer; Two terms as Selectman; Four terms (11 years) Region 16 Board of Education; Region 16 High School Building Committee; four years Economic Development.

Occupation: Senior Project Manager, Affinion Group, Trumbull.

Why are you running for Selectmen? 

“I believe Beacon Falls is positioned for great growth and to achieve this it needs leadership that has the vision to guide the town in reaching this potential. I bring a broad foundation of experience and a proven conservative common sense approach to resolve challenges.”

How would you approach crafting a budget and the mill rate? 

“Over the next decade Beacon Falls will face many funding challenges, which includes maintenance of our road infrastructure, Waste Water Treatment upgrades, and finding new revenue sources. I will work to prepare a conservative budget that balances our base services and puts forward a plan to meet the long range maintenance needs of the town. This will involve building a stronger collaborative relationship with the Board of Finance, Town Treasurer, and Finance Department.”

What do you feel is the most important issue facing Beacon Falls today? What should be done to address it?

“Balancing the expectations of the taxpayers with the necessary long range growth of the Town.  Our roads need repair, we need a workable plan to replace fire and public works vehicles, and we have put off major decisions like building a community center-library.  One area of continual neglect is our town parks. I will push to create a long range infrastructure plan of development that addresses these issues.”

What will be your goals and priorities, if elected? 

“Put to rest: purchase of new fire apparatus; bring to a vote a community center/library building; a comprehensive long range road maintenance program; create a long range plan to maintain and upgrade our town parks.”