Audience Gets Down to the Nitty Gritty During First Selectman Debates

When it came time for the audience to ask the questions at the Suffield first selectman debates Wednesday night, candidates Ed McAnaney (GOP) and Tom Frenaye (Dem., incumbent) faced some tough issues.

Out of the dozens of questions submitted to moderator Dr. Fred Schweitzer, University of Hartford vice provost and a West Suffield resident, the topics boiled down to money, commitment and priorities.

Here's what McAnaney and Frenaye had to say regarding:

Thoughts on the $1.5 million outstanding reimbursement from the State of Connecticut for the new high school built 10 years ago.

“We need to act aggressively to get that money back,” McAnaney said. “Every step that should be taken, should be taken now… it’s nine years too late.”

Frenaye explained he, too, had been critical of the $3 million balance when he ran for office two years ago, and since then completed the necessary paperwork and submitted it to the state. Last year the town received half of the money.

“They’ve got two years to review the paperwork,” he said. “They’ve got the money and now, they’ve got the ball.”

Regarding the candidate's ability to fulfill a full-time position such as first selectman.

“This is full-time for me,” Frenaye said. “I think I took one week’s vacation in two years as my wife will nod her head at… I’m there to serve you; it’s your choice. To do it right you have to do it full-time.”

McAnaney said his law practice will take a backseat to being first selectman, and referenced his 16 years spent as the town attorney as evidence of prioritizing and practicing privately in the “off-hours.”

On the fundamental difference between them:

“I think it goes to the issue of leadership,” McAnaney said. “The first selectman needs to be a leader.”

He said his many years as a Naval officer provided him with the training to lead through tough decisions.

“I work by consensus and collaboration,” Frenaye offered.

He explained that finding a solution everyone agrees upon means a little give and take and ultimately supporting the group decision. He said the boards and commissions currently spend a lot of time talking to each other and working in tandem.

On determining the top three priorities facing the town:

Frenaye re-emphasized the need to take care of infrastructure including roads, town buildings and land ownership.

“This is not a time for adding new things to the agenda,” he said. He pointed to the management of town finances as a current and future goal.

The final priority “has to do with government. We need to be available and open and talking to each other. The town boards and commissions need to be listening to people.”

McAnaney wants to see sound management of an increasing budget and containment of taxes. “Budgets drift up because we don’t have a plan,” he explained. “Where are we going to go as a town?”

He pointed to economic development as a way to bring in more tax dollars and the ability to pay for infrastructure. McAnaney finally referred to the need for a new coordinator to lead businesses through the process of making Suffield a top choice.

On managing unfunded retirement benefits for town employees, including health care and pension plans.

“You either pay them now or pay them later,” McAnaney said. He added that while current funding is already set, future benefits can be changed during union negotiations.

Frenaye said the town pensions are “pretty well funded” and that changes have already been implemented to take some of the burden off the town for the future. And although health care costs are significant, future negotiations can focus on containment.

On sharing services with other organizations and communities:

Frenaye said the town is looking to work with the school system to share services and also works with other towns to share trash service costs, maintaining the trail system and already has programs for such things as sharing building inspectors.

“Where we can, we find opportunities to work with other towns,” he explained.

McAnaney agreed with sharing of services, making sure Suffield gets what it needs but also cutting costs.

On the topic of continuity in office:

“It’s generally important,” said McAnaney. “However, it’s important to have someone there who will do the job and do what’s required… Consistency for it’s own sake is fallacious.”

Frenaye said he obviously thought it was important to have lengthy periods of consistency and also suggested exploring alternatives to the current system.

“Maybe it’s time to look at a permanent town manager or variety of that… to help manage and keep consistency,” he elaborated.

During closing remarks McAnaney emphasized his experience in the Navy and ability to be a strong leader.

“Suffield is a wonderful town in which to live and I want to move Suffield forward,” he said.

Frenaye said he enjoys every day he spends as first selectman. The town employees are great, he said, and “there’s nothing more interesting than picking up the phone and finding someone who needs something and helping them.”
“I’m a steward of your money,” he explained and cited his accomplishments of getting road repairs moving, fixing the library and moving along the agriscience building. “I’m usually shy about taking credit for that stuff… But I feel very good about it.”

Many of the candidates for town boards and commissions attended the debate, including Board of Education candidate Michelle Zawawi (Dem.).

“I thought the turnout was great,” she said. “It shows the community cares about who is going to lead Suffield into the future.”

She said she was there to listen to the candidates and get to know the community.

“I don’t have a personal agenda. I’m here for the town and for the children.” 

The debate at was divided into two parts, with prepared questions asked first and questions from the audience of about 100 people, written down and chosen by a panel, asked after a break. The questions focused on the economy and attracting businesses to town, a strategic plan for the town’s development, assisting residents harmed by the current economic downturn and supporting farmers and open space preservation.