How Well Are Your Representatives Representing You?

Election season is just about to begin, and we are reminded of the famous Woody Allen quote, “80 percent of success is showing up.”

So Patch, using minutes from meetings, looked at the attendance rates of elected officials in the Representative Town Meeting, the Board of Finance, the Board of Education and the Board of Selectman over the past year.

A few highlights:

Most elected officials showed up. Each board had members who attended every meeting, and most officials showed up to meetings at least an 80 percent rate.

Of the four looked at, the board with the lowest attendance rate was the RTM. Also, the RTM had two members, Timothy Sullivan and David Cattanach, who attended one regular meeting between the two of them (Sullivan went to one, Cattanach didn’t go to any). Both are seeking re-election in November.

Also, a few quick notes. Patch used the most up-to-date minutes posted online. In the case of the Board of Education, the last posted meeting minutes were from May 26, so we went a year back from that date (May 27, 2010). Also, special meeting minutes of the RTM were not posted online, so we just looked at attendance at regular meetings and the three-day budget workshop in May.

Also, just something worth pointing out: First Selectman Dan Steward receives a salary, and his two selectmen receive approximately $1,500 a piece for serving. The rest of the members of the boards serve for free. 

Board of Selectmen; 26 meetings between Aug. 1, 2010 and Aug. 2, 2011

Dan Steward attended all 26 meetings for a 100 percent attendance rate. Steward is running for re-election in November.

Paul Suprin attended 24 of the meetings for a 92 percent attendance rate. Suprin is running unopposed in November.

Paul Konstantakis attended 25 of the meetings for a 96 percent attendance rate. Konstantakis is running unopposed in November.

Overall, the board of selectmen members had a 96 percent attendance rate.

Board of Education; 10 meetings from May 27, 2010 to May 26, 2011

Don Blevins attended nine meetings for a 90 percent attendance rate. Blevins is running for re-election in November.

Kevin Brunelle attended six meetings for a 60 percent attendance rate. Brunelle’s term is running for re-election in November.

Sheri Cote attended nine meetings for a 90 percent attendance rate. Cote is running for re-election in November.

Tim Egan attended nine meetings for a 90 percent attendance rate. Egan’s term is not up in November.

Kathleen McCarty attended eight meetings for a 80 percent attendance rate. McCarty’s term is not up in November.

Jessica McLaughlin attended nine meetings for a 90 percent attendance rate. McLaughlin is running for re-election in November.

Jody Nazarchyk attended all 10 meetings for a 100 percent attendance rate. Nazarchyk is running for re-election in November.

Anne Ogden attended nine meetings for a 90 percent attendance rate. Ogden’s term is not up in November.

John Taglianetti attended all 10 meetings for a 100 percent attendance rate. Taglianetti’s term is not up in November.

Overall, the board of education members had an 86 percent attendance rate.

Board of Finance; 18 meetings between August 1, 2010 and August 14, 2011.

J.W. “Bill” Sheehan attended all 18 meetings for a 100 percent attendance rate. Sheehan is running for re-election in November.

Alan Wilensky attended 16 meetings for an 89 percent attendance rate. Wilensky is running for re-election in November.

Norman Glidden attended 15 meetings for an 83 percent attendance rate. Glidden’s term is not up in 2011.

Ron Fedor attended all 18 meetings for a 100 percent attendance rate. Fedor’s term is not up in November.

Rosalyn Dupuis attended 13 meetings for a 72 percent attendance rate. Dupuis is running for re-election in November.

Brian Vachris attended 17 meetings for a 94 percent attendance rate. Vachris’s term is not up in November.

George Peteros attended 16 meetings for an 89 percent attendance rate. Peteros is up for re-election in 2011, although will not run for the board of finance. Instead, he will seek a term on the RTM.

Overall, board of finance members had a 90 percent attendance rate.

RTM; between Aug. 2, 2011 and Aug. 1, 2010; five regular meetings and all three days of budget workshops (special meetings not counted)

Kimberly Alfultis attended all eight meetings for a 100 percent attendance rate. Alfultis is running for re-election in November.

Thomas Ammirati attended five of the meetings for a 63 percent attendance rate. Ammirati is running for re-election in November.

Robert Brule attended all eight meetings for a 100 percent attendance rate. Brule is running for re-election in November.

Michael Cannamela attended seven meetings for an 88 percent attendance rate. Cannamela is not running for re-election in November.

David Cattanach attended no meetings for a 0 percent attendance rate. Cattanch is running for re-election in November.

Thomas Dembek attended all eight meetings for a 100 percent attendance rate. Dembek is running for re-election in November.

John Doroski attended four meetings for a 50 percent attendance rate. Doroski is not running for re-election in November.

John Foley attended seven meetings for an 88 percent attendance rate. Foley is not running for re-election in November.

Steven Garvin attended four meetings for a 50 percent attendance rate. Garvin is running for re-election in November.

Gerard Gaynor attended six meetings for a 75 percent attendance rate. Gaynor is running for re-election in November.

Mark Gelinas attended five meetings for a 63 percent attendance rate. Gelinas is running for re-election in November.

Michael Hannan attended seven meetings for an 88 percent attendance rate. Hannan is running for re-election in November.

Andrea Kanfer attended all eight meetings for a 100 percent attendance rate. Kanfer is running for re-election in November.

Brendan McGuirk attended five meetings for a 63 percent attendance rate. McGuirk is running for re-election in November.

Richard Muckle attended all eight meetings for a 100 percent attendance rate. Muckle is running for re-election in November.

Theodore Olynciw attended all eight meetings for a 100 percent attendance rate. Olynciw is running for re-election in November.

Sharon Palmer attended all eight meetings for a 100 percent attendance rate. Palmer is running for re-election in November.

Rondey Pinkham attended seven meetings for an 88 percent attendance rate. Pinkham is not running for re-election in November.

Timothy Sullivan attended one meeting for a 13 percent attendance rate. Sullivan is seeking re-election in November.

George White attended four meetings for a 50 percent attendance rate. White is not seeking re-election in November.

Teresa Wilensky attended seven meetings for an 88 percent attendance rate. Wilsensky is not seeking re-election in November.