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Right Person to Lead

On Nov. 7, I will be voting for Carl Fortuna for first selectman, Scott Giegerich for selectman, and Bob Fish for treasurer. I sit on the town’s Pension & Benefits Board, which meets once a month. Carl, in addition to all his other nightly meetings, also attends these meetings, which are usually at least two hours in length.

Having watched Carl manage town government in these difficult economic times, I am more confident than ever that he is the right person to lead Old Saybrook over the coming years. Carl has worked hard changing town employee benefits to be more in sync with the real world, i.e., the private sector. All town employees are on a high-deductible health plan, which has helped slow the cost of the health insurance price increases. Most important, we have changed the town pension from a traditional pension to a 401k-style pension. This will have a hugely positive impact on the long term fiscal health of Old Saybrook.

While this all may seem pretty straightforward and common sense, these types of reforms are not always favored by state and municipal workers or their unions. These reforms were bargained in the negotiating room and it is a good thing Carl was in there representing the Town of Old Saybrook.

Aside from all this, based on my review of town finances (I am a tax attorney), it is clear the town has been well prepared by this administration for whatever happens at the state level. On Nov. 7, I encourage your readers to join me in voting for Carl Fortuna, Scott Giegerich, and Bob Fish.

Ray Muratori

Old Saybrook