I have learned over the years that experience matters. Your town officials are able to deliver services, plan for the future, and answer questions reliably because we have an experienced team that works well together. The world around us is ever-changing, increasingly complex, and has an increasing impact on our town. It is not always possible to solve issues quickly or with one-liners. Sometimes it is wise to seek partners in solving our area’s challenges, such as trying to preserve a full-service Sharon Hospital. Cooperation is necessary to achieve success, from our regional high school system to emergency service mutual aid agreements. The local conspiracy theory that Cornwall is being taken over by a regional government is false. We may, for example, share a senior bus with Goshen, who also allowed us to borrow their extra ambulance when ours was in the shop. Aren’t these good arrangements that help us keep taxes down and services up? Towns in NWCT share common concerns about housing, attracting young families, and health care, but decisions here are made by each town.
Cornwall is fortunate to have two candidates running for the Board of Selectmen with experience. I have enjoyed serving on the Board of Selectmen with Priscilla Pavel. She repeatedly brings citizen concerns to board discussions. For years she has attended every meeting of West Cornwall Wastewater Study Committee, served on the Economic Development Committee, delivered food for the food pantry, and has attended many Cornwall emergency management meetings about Covid containment. Janet Carlson has served on the town’s Board of Finance for years. She has participated in a collaborative process that allowed the town to finance necessary expenditures to improve life here while keeping the property tax rate low. She has also worked tirelessly as chair of the EDC to help businesses in town promote Cornwall and attract new residents. These efforts have helped revitalize our town and reverse a population decline. Experience and effort can help us move forward as a community.
A local wiseman has recently quoted the ancient saying “things must change in order to stay the same.” Our community has written a comprehensive 2020 Plan of Conservation and Development to help guide us onward. It is available for viewing on the town website. Continuing to take prudent steps to capitalize on recent progress will help assure a sustainable future for Cornwall. Seeing more baby carriages around town and empty storefronts coming back to life are very good signs of a town going in the right direction.
Gordon Ridgway
1st Selectman
Cornwall, CT
