By MARJORIE NEEDHAM
Michael McCormack
Middlebury’s Democratic candidate for first selectman, Board of Finance Chairman Michael McCormack, said Tuesday, “I think Middlebury is a wonderful, beautiful town and my job will be to make it competitive and to give the taxpayers the greatest value for their tax dollars without giving up the beauty and friendliness we have.”
His campaign signs say McCormack will bring a new vision and a new direction to the town. He said, “My vision is to try to bring the town into the 21st century. We need to adapt ideas that work, like going to a lock box. It’s happening all over.” He said if interest rates return to 2.5 to 3 percent, the town would make $30,000 a year in interest if it used a lock box. (A lock box immediately puts tax payments into a bank account to start earning interest.) With the current manual system, checks sometimes take 10 days to clear.
He also noted that moving the town’s police dispatch to Prospect saves the town $350,000 a year. “Our 911 calls were the second lowest in the state at 1.5 calls per shift,” he said, “so it cost $300 every time a local dispatcher picked up the phone.”
His new direction, he said, is for the town to look at the way we do business and exercise more fiscal discipline. He said the per capita cost to run Middlebury is $1,350 compared to $900 in other towns.
He also said the town hasn’t marketed the new Oxford Airport Enterprise Zone. “I think we need to do more than we are doing now,” McCormack said. “If we just stay with things the way we have done them, we’re not going to be competitive.”
However, new systems won’t mean eliminating employees. “The thought is to make it more efficient, not eliminate employees,” he said.
Looking at the defeated proposal to have a Dunkin’ Donuts on the corner of Glenwood Avenue and Middlebury Road, he said. “The place was going to look beautiful. It was a sit-down restaurant with no drive-through. I thought it should have gone through.” He said the first selectman can help set a vision for the Planning and Zoning Commission.
He said taxes are high in Middlebury because the town continues to overspend. Southbury’s new asphalt roof for its community center cost $218,000; Middlebury may spend $600,000 on a new slate roof for Shepardson Community Center. “Maybe we can’t afford slate anymore,” he said. “Shepardson was built in 1920. It’s not an antique.”
“We have to think more about the value. If we get value, we get the town fiscally disciplined and we become more competitive. Housing prices go up, we attract industry and everybody is happy.”
He said he isn’t limiting himself to one term but wouldn’t want to serve 10 to 20 years and become an institution either. “I’m looking to come in and change things and move on. Whether that takes one term or two terms I don’t know,” he said.
He is willing to work for half the salary to show he has a real commitment to get the town on the right financial footing. That doesn’t mean he will work half the hours. “I’ll work as much as I need to to get the job done,” he said.
As for Region 15, he said he is an observer at their contract negotiations and is chairman of the Middlebury-Southbury-Region 15 self-funding medical insurance committee. He also attends the region’s budget workshops.
He said, “I think Region 15 is a great asset for the towns of Middlebury and Southbury … With any organization that has a $60M budget, there are places you can make changes and make cuts.” He believes those cuts can be made without giving up premium services. And he plans to participate in Region 15 activities as a first selectman. He may not have a vote but, he said, “You have influence. You have the bully pulpit.”
McCormack said of his chances of winning Nov. 3, “I think I’ve done a very good job as chairman of the Board of Finance. I think I’ve been very visible. I think the people who want fiscal responsibility will vote for me. I think I have a good chance of winning.”
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