REDDING REPUBLICAN TOWN COMMITTEE
Town Hall Meeting Room
Monday, August 16, 2004

MINUTES


The Secretary, David Lewson, called the meeting to order at 8:07 PM. The Chairwoman, Peggy Sullivan, was at an emergency Finance Board meeting.

Minutes of July Meeting were approved without changes.

Treasurer’s report: We have $3,400 in the RTC bank account.

The Hon. John Stripp explained in detail how the overall state budget was passed. The details of the individual appropriation bills are now being worked out.

The Hon. Judy Freedman explained details on some of the cuts, the budget negotiations, and the budget vote. She is particularly unhappy with the second year of the biennial budget.

The Hon. Hank Bielawa:
  1. Provided details on the negotiations with the state unions. Regarding the budget, the only good thing to say about it is that the revenue and spending items are realistic. Otherwise, the budget is ugly.
  2. Left a list of vacant state board and commission positions. Please contact Hank if anyone is interested in an open position.

Frank DeSalvo initiated discussion on the draft 2003 Redding Republican Party Platform. There were several comments as to whether the candidates have reviewed and are comfortable running on all the planks of the platform.

(At 8:38 PM, Peggy Sullivan returned to chair the meeting.)

Parker Coates:

  1. Supports senior housing in the platform, but suggested eliminating specific reference to the former Gilbert & Bennett site.
  2. Moved that we wait to vote on the Platform until September RTC meeting so that we can get input from the candidates. Motion approved without dissent.

The Hon. Natalie Ketcham provided a detailed update on the Georgetown redevelopment efforts.

Peggy Sullivan:
  1. Announced a vacancy on Park & Rec. Please contact the vacancy committee if you or someone you know is interested.
  2. Randy Brame is moving and has resigned from the RTC, creating a vacancy. Asking and hearing of no objections to the nomination of Don Takacs for RTC, we will vote on Don at our September meeting.

Jackie Bahr, on behalf of the Registration Committee, initiated discussion on a draft letter to go out to all new Redding property owners welcoming them to town and encouraging them to register as Republicans.

Peggy Sullivan initiated discussion on the November elections. For ease of campaign reporting requirements, the RTC will run all candidates as a slate if that is ok with the candidates. The Events and the Publicity Committees are charged to make a report at our September meeting on how we will introduce and promote our slate. Julian Kien recommended using Larry Kudlow at an event before election day.

Peggy Sullivan announced that the Fairfield RTC is having a Lobster Bake on August 20th.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:13 PM.

Respectfully submitted,
David Lewson
Secretary, Redding RTC