What's that you say, Mrs. Robinson? Going to the candidates debate...

Laugh about it, shout about it, when you've got to choose...

Well, to help you with that choice; The League of Women Voters - Amity, the Beecher PTO and The Bulletin co-sponsored the usual candidates debate at Beecher Road School last night. The audience was a bit smaller than in past election years, but with a crucial Board of Finance meeting going on across town at the same time, it was hard for residents to know where more action would be taking place!

Democrats Tom Handler (candidate for Woodbridge Board of Ed, pictured at right) and Ed Sheehy (candidate for First Selectman, pictured below) were outstanding as they represented the team to answer questions focused on goals for education, how to balance school funding with other fiscal responsibilities and the need to keep taxes down so seniors and others of limited means can continue to afford to live in town.

There were also questions about the towns' Government Access TV channel and the mediation process now mandated by the DPUC (read more on the Gov-TV blog).

Speaking of Gov-TV -- the debate was recorded by the League of Women Voters and will be in heavy rotation, playing daily along with other town meetings on Cablevision Channel 79 by next week.

Look for it there!

Board of Finance votes on town budget

The room was packed with supporters of public education, as the BOF considered the recommendation from the Board of Selectmen to restore all but $50,0000 to the Woodbridge Board of Education's budget for 2007-08. Out of respect for the Board's time that night, only a handful of community members made public comments at the start of the meeting -- but they spoke powerfully in favor of returning funds to education.

There was lengthy discussion by BOF members, some of whom persist in their criticism of the school's new plans for technology spending. But the biggest concern still seems to be re-hashing the past -- and no amount of patient explanation by the current administration and technology staff of the school seems to sway the members who are determined to limit funding, and thereby impede progress in getting the school back up-to-speed after years of computer line item neglect.

At the end of the meeting it came down to a vote that deadlocked 3-3 with Democrats Laurence Grotheer and Tony Schaffer together with unaffiliated Board Chairman Matt Giglietti in favor of restoring $76,000 to the Beecher budget, and Republicans Janet Barilarri, George Giering, and Michael Luther against. Then in a dramatic turn, Democratic First Selectman Ed Sheehy broke the tie with his vote in favor of restoring funds.

While this does not represent 100% funding of what the Board of Education had requested, as a vote of confidence in the new direction at Beecher Road School, this meeting -- coupled with very positive words and action by the Selectman and the much greater than usual turnout at the Preliminary Budget Hearing -- makes clear that the community is coming together in support of public education.

Onwards and upwards!