Phil Pessina
In my role as Minority Leader on
the Common Council, I will continue to
bring dedication and loyalty to our slate and display my continued support and
defense of the Mayors positions and proposals. I will continue to
foster critical thinking based upon our own opinions and share them at the
caucus; however, we need to display our commitment and support for our
Republican agenda translating it into our community agenda! We
always need to keep in mind what is best and cost effective for our community!
We need to actively listen to our residents to gage their community
support and concerns on issues of city services, safety, infrastructure and
fiscal concerns. I have realized that we do have opportunities to disagree at
times on issues at the council level; but this has to be tempered with a need
to support our Mayor on critical issues, so he can move his agenda forward!
I am a strong supporter of a bipartisan approach to government and believe
that at times we need to hang up our party coats outside the chamber and
address city issues that affect our residents, i.e. management appointees,
budgets, reorganizing and downsizing city government efforts (which we need to
institute during these present economic conditions; we need to critically look
at regionalization.
My
Top Three Priorities
Priority #1: I will continue to bring my advocacy for our city
government and council to be more than one dimensional; in the area of
‘transparency’ to the public we serve; i.e. Town Hall Type Meeting on the
Budgets & Community Conversations. I believe I have managed to
achieve this priority over my past two terms on the council. My second term
goal will continue to try and facilitate our (council, commissions & city
departments) to begin to reach out to our community and listen to public
opinion; in essence, allowing our stakeholders (residents & taxpayers) the
opportunity to engage in deliberations and be part of the decision making
process. This openness in a transparent way, has worked in Community
policing, so there is no reason why it can’t work in city government!
Priority
#2: I will continue to advocate for a business plan for the city,
which is more consistent, supportive and inclusive of small businesses and
industry. With our present economic condition, we will need to
continue with lean and responsive budgets, to include a plan for increased
funding of our Reserve Fund. I am confident that we can meet this
challenge by providing prioritized city services; avoid duplication, combine
services, look for opportunities for regionalizing purchasing and
services, support and advocate for ‘shared services’ at the
interdepartmental level. This plan would include development
opportunities to expand our tax base, which would be tempered by support for
continued open space, recreational opportunities and waterfront development
for our residents. It would be built upon opportunities to form
partnerships within our city’s business and industrial communities,
concerning a more open and transparent bid process, which would provide for a
balanced approach in selecting local companies and businesses on city
projects; in essence, providing more opportunities to our local stakeholders,
who pay taxes in our community and become part of our city’s growth process!
Priority #3: I will continue
to work hard and be a strong contributing member and advocate for our city’s
Senior Citizens in my role as Vice Chairman of the Eckersley Hall Community
Senior Center Building Committee. Our
committee’s goal is to ensure that the renovation of the historic Eckersley
Hall Building will offer to our Senior Citizens a broad range of programming
and activities that will enhance their quality of Life.
This project will also provide open office and meeting space for our
city government and residents. We
need to provide nothing less for our Senior Citizens, as they are and have
always been the foundation of our community of Middletown!
Political
Philosophy:
Community and Conservative Politician with fiscally minded, open
transparent government, with labor and management and bipartisan experience.
I
currently serve on several city commissions:
Public
Safety Commission
Government & Finance Committee
Park
& Recreation Commission
Harbor Improvement Commission
CVH
Advisory Committee
Senior Affairs Commission
Citizen
Advisory Committee
Current
Vice Chairman of the Eckersley Hall, Community Senior Center Building
Committee
Member
of the city’s BRAC Army Reserve Commission
Founding
member of the Community Conversation Committee
Vice
Chairman of the City’s 350th Parade Committee
I have
also served in several elected offices in the Town of Haddam where I learned
and participated in community forums and the need for transparency in
government.
2nd
Selectman
4 yr.
Vice Chairman of Regional District #17 Board of Education
20
years of volunteer coaching combined in School & Recreational sport teams.
I
served 33 ½ years in the Middletown Police Department retiring at the rank of
Deputy Chief of Police.
During
this time I was extensively involved in youth education, preschool through
high school DARE Coordinator, Safety Education & Youth & Law
.
I authored the Community Policing Program for the department
.
I participated in community ‘Quality of Life’ involvement in the
Business, Residential Neighborhood Communities
.
I also experienced neighbor and city mediation and Community
Relations/Crime Prevention for the community
.
I was the Liaison Officer to the city’s Emergency Management Team
I am currently employment as Deputy Chief of Police on the campus of Southern
Connecticut State University. My duties there include:
Campus
Community Policing duties
Emergency
Management, currently the Planning Chief for the Incident Management Team
As a
communicant of the Saint Sebastian Church Community, I serv as a Lector
and
Eucharistic Minister
.
I also serve on the St. Sebastian Feast Committee, Chairman of the
Liturgical Committee
.
I am a former School Board member
and former Finance Committee member.
Organizations:
Chamber
of Commerce
Downtown Business District
Chamber
Auction Committee
Holiday on Main Street Committee
Served
on the Car Cruise, Motorcycle Mania Committees
Lion’s
Club
Knights of Columbus, Council#3 past Exalted Ruler
Vietnam
Veterans Committee
American Legion Post#75
8 year
Volunteer Dragon Football Coach at Middletown High School
Former
member of the Elks Lodge, Italian American Civic Order
Education
and Family Background:
I was born, raised and educated in the
Middletown Community, Class of 1966 Middletown High School; football and track
athlete.
I have a Master’s in Criminal
Justice, Minor in Forensic Science and a Bachelor Degree in Criminal Justice
Administration, graduating in 1980 from the Univeristy of New Haven.
I am currently married 38 years to my
wife Shirley, 3 daughters Carrie, Kristy & Traci and 4 grandchildren.
