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At last night’s Board of Education meeting at Pomfret Community School, much of the discussion centered on the superintendent’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2026–2027, alongside updates on finance, special education trends, facilities, and ongoing regional collaboration. Here’s a clear breakdown of the key takeaways for the community. Finance & Budget Management The board approved $936,451.40  in bills for FY 2025–2026 through January 9th. These approvals covered accounts

Something deeply troubling is happening with our town’s Board of Finance — and it deserves sunlight. On December 19, I formally filed both a complaint  and a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request  as a taxpaying citizen. I did so to enforce a basic principle of local government: transparency . What prompted this action was the discovery of a secret meeting  held by the Board of Finance on December 17 , a meeting that was never publicly noticed, never posted with an agenda

If you followed my campaign, you may remember that I raised questions about the Board of Education’s non-lapsing fund . At the time, I shared information I had heard directly in meetings and found documented in public records. That information was quickly dismissed by some, mocked by others, and labeled as a “misunderstanding of municipal finance.” So let’s revisit this—calmly, clearly, and based on facts. What is a non-lapsing fund? In simple terms, a non-lapsing fund  is mo

Last night, I attended yet another Board of Education training—this time labeled a “special meeting.” At this point, the repetition alone raises questions. Just weeks ago, I spent a full day in East Hartford in an intensive training covering these same topics in far greater depth. I also voluntarily attended a regional FOIA training because I take my responsibilities to the public seriously. So how, exactly, did this special meeting come about? That remains unanswered. The o

While most of Pomfret was enjoying the holiday season, something else was quietly happening behind the scenes. During Christmas week—while I was away on our annual Christmas cruise—the Board of Finance filled a vacant seat. If this is the first you’re hearing about it, that’s not surprising. The meeting wasn’t publicly noticed. There was no agenda posted. No clear announcement. No transparency. And yes—that matters. I monitor the town website and public notices closely. I hav

Over the past month, I’ve had the opportunity to complete my first two Board of Education meetings, participate in an extensive FOIA training, and attend the full-day CABE New Member Orientation in East Hartford. It has been a whirlwind of information, learning, and discovery—but in the very best way. I’m excited to take everything I’m learning and begin aligning it with the materials we receive at each board meeting and committee meeting. There is a lot to absorb, but I feel

The Board of Education met this week to review the district’s financial position, approve the 2026–27 school calendar, discuss enrollment projections, and explore ways to strengthen educational programs while managing rising costs. Below is a summary of the key takeaways for the community. Financial Overview: Budget Pressures Continue The board approved $772,670.38  in expenditures through December 5, covering payroll, tuition, transportation, and software services. Major pay

The Pomfret Board of Education covered a wide range of important topics at its recent meeting—from leadership changes and contract approvals to budget challenges and long-term facility planning. Here’s a clear rundown of the major decisions and discussions that impact our town. Board Leadership & Governance The board unanimously elected its new officers for the upcoming term: Chair:  Leigh Grossman Vice Chair:  Brent Tuttle Secretary:  Peter Lussa These appointments ensure st

The November 17th Board of Selectmen meeting covered a wide range of important issues—from transparency and trail development to ARPA spending and communication concerns within the community. While the agenda moved quickly and touched on many topics of public interest, residents were left puzzled the next day when meeting minutes were posted almost immediately—especially considering the previous meeting’s minutes took more than two weeks  to appear, and only did so after an a

This morning I attended my first Pomfret Board of Selectmen meeting at the Community Center. The Board of Selectmen, also known as the BOS, meet every first Monday at 6:30 p.m. and every third Monday of the month at 8:00 a.m. I felt it was essential to attend this meeting to read and hand-deliver a letter I had sent to the BOS over the weekend, addressing a letter submitted to our Board of Education in reference to a blog I wrote before taking office. You can read that blog

This year’s Board of Education election in Pomfret looked very different from recent years. We had more candidates on the ballot , higher voter turnout , and, for the first time in a while, voters were able to select four candidates from a field of five . When the structure of a race changes like that, outcomes can shift in ways that percentages alone don’t always explain. But when you take a closer look at the raw vote totals  and the number of candidates involved , one thin

It has come to my attention that some Board of Education members are taking to Facebook in a weak attempt to discredit my campaign, members who have an R next to their name. Members I didn't see as people I politically or professionally aligned with from the start, but I still showed them the respect they didn't earn or give to me. I'd like to set the record straight for the public. Some candidates and elected officials may be registered to one party or another, but to me

When Congress passed the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), it gave towns across the country a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reinvest in their communities. These funds were meant to help towns recover from the pandemic — to rebuild public spaces, improve access, and make our towns stronger and healthier for everyone. Here in Pomfret, those funds could have been used to address one of our most obvious and overdue needs: a safe, inclusive, and long-lasting playground for ou

Today the Republican Committee shared a sample ballot on social media: Clearly, this struck a nerve. Shortly after, one of the petitioning candidates' husbands took to social media, accusing the Republicans of wrongdoing by leaving out the "vote for two" caption on the Board of Ed line. Instead of reaching out to see if there was a mistake, he chose false accusations and also took cheap shots at our letters in the Pomfret Times, claiming they were written by ChatGPT. Well,

My son Zachary featured with classmates & their 2nd-grade teacher at Brookfield Elementary School during their senior stroll One of the most memorable and meaningful traditions I witnessed while my four older children attended Tantasqua Regional High School in Sturbridge was the Senior Stroll . Each year, graduating seniors were bused to their respective elementary schools—five in total across the district—where they proudly wore their caps and gowns and walked the halls that

Last night, we had a town meeting to vote on having an Ethics Commission in town. Something that MANY surrounding towns already have in place, INCLUDING the town of Putnam, which we just voted to pass an Interlocal Agreement with our Transfer Station. 202 residents showed up, including some in elected office, and voted NO on creating a town ethics commission. Why in the world would anyone be against an ethics commission? Most professions have one, most towns in our stat

The Pomfret Board of Education held its regular monthly meeting, featuring special presentations, on Wednesday, October 22, 2025 , at Pomfret Community School. The meeting began at 6:00 PM  in the school cafeteria and covered key updates on fiscal stability, enrollment, special education costs, academic progress, and upcoming community initiatives. Here’s a breakdown of what’s ahead for the 2025–2026 school year. Budget Approved: Stable but Dependent on Grant Funding The Boar

Hello Residents of Pomfret and Putnam! A new initiative is on the horizon that could change how our towns handle waste management. The Towns of Pomfret and Putnam are considering an Interlocal Agreement to jointly use the solid waste transfer station located at 10 Nora Lane, Pomfret. This agreement spans from 2025 to 2035 and aims to enhance waste disposal efficiency for both communities. Key Details of the Agreement: Shared Use and Oversight: Pomfret will retain ownership of

Pomfret residents — a Special Town Meeting has just been announced for Monday, October 27th at 7 PM at Pomfret Community School. Please make sure you’re there — your voice matters. Also, a quick reminder — early voting is officially open, and Election Day is November 4th.  Don’t sit this one out — local elections shape our community more than we realize! In this video, I talk about something that really concerns me — our town leaders publicly posting and encouraging residents

Today's Facebook post, written by our town's First Selectman, who is seeking reelection, is quite concerning. First, I'd love to hear a valid argument for why an Ethics Commission would be a bad thing for our town's government? We've had too many violations with our current 'honors system' regarding financial mismanagement, voter manipulation, disregard for easement agreements, slander, and much more. How could an ethics commission make things any worse? The answer is it