Vision for Trumbull

I am enthusiastic about Trumbull and all it has to offer. I am also thankful to all who have helped to create and protect this wholesome and vibrant community. The opportunity to serve Trumbull as its First Selectman is one that I take seriously and personally. I have lived in Trumbull my entire life and served for 11 years on the Planning & Zoning Commission before becoming First Selectman.

During my campaign, I ran on a platform of fiscal responsibility, promising to reign in spending and shake up the status quo by setting out an ambitious agenda. I am proud to say that we are well on our way. In the first two months of my administration, I have looked closely at our business practices, expenses and income levels. As a result, numerous steps have already been taken by this administration to reduce our costs and increase our revenues.

These are challenging times for all of us. In many ways, they are unprecedented and caused by regional, national and global changes. They have forced us to implement new ideas and approaches and adjust our processes here in Trumbull. While we must make sure we preserve our heritage and solid foundation, we must also innovate as we go forward. We must be more eficient in our processes, and we must listen and be responsive to the changing needs and challenges of our citizens and businesses.

My vision for Trumbull is to be a recognized community of choice for individuals, families and businesses. This is achieved through a strong school system, excellent public health and safety, recreational activities for our residents, responsive and responsible government, a strong business climate, and a demonstrable sense of unity, pride, and quality of life. In order to realize this vision, we must build on our foundation while finding new approaches to respond to the changing needs and challenges of our community.

The mission of this administration is to act as stewards and leaders to protect and strengthen Trumbull’s community and environment; provide uncompromising public health and safety; offer high quality and efficient services; ensure excellence in our educational system; respond to our citizens’ needs and interests; exercise fiscal responsibility; build and support our local business economy; and implement and uphold open, innovative, and ethical practices.

To work toward the vision and the mission of this administration, my key objectives for 2010 and beyond are as follows:

Excellence in Educational System:

  • Develop a plan to implement Full-Day Kindergarten by 2012
  • Expand technology capabilities in our schools
  • Oversee and complete a successful renovation of Trumbull High School that is on time and under budget

    • Exercise Fiscal Responsibility:

  • Identify areas of opportunity for savings, and operational efficiencies
  • Keep tax increases low, at modest and predictable levels
  • Implement a comprehensive purchasing policy

    • Provide High Quality and Efficient Services:

  • Enhance the Town’s website to be more informational, service-oriented
  • Streamline processes within departments that eliminate red tape and better serve taxpayers
  • Increase inter-department communications

    • Respond to our Citizens’ Needs and Interests by making citizens part of the process:

  • Find cost saving opportunities through engaging our citizens to serve on citizen audit committees
  • Engage residents and businesses and act on their input
  • Preserve and expand recreational and leisure activities and venues

    • Provide Uncompromising Public Health and Safety:

  • Work with retail business owners to facilitate enhanced security efforts that protect residents
  • Ensure new development projects adequately consider public safety resources
  • Implement a regional emergency dispatch system

    • Employ Open, Innovative, and Ethical Practices:

  • Develop an ethics policy to administer expenditures and revenues of the town
  • Ensure civil service applicants are treated according to standards and without preferential treatment
  • Implement a ban on political contributions from town contractors
  • Increase information flow between Town Departments and the community at large

    • Build and Support our Local Business Economy:

  • Identify projects and programs to increase the Grand List
  • Expand resources and programs to support and retain our existing business community
  • Revitalize Trumbull Center
  • Facilitate the completion of Westfield’s $35 Million renovation project
  • Implement a comprehensive revitalization of the Merritt Boulevard Corporate Park

    • There is much work to be done. I have met with town officials and boards and I am encouraged by a sense of unity, collaboration, and common goals. We have already made headway and met success. I am confident that this will continue and our goals will be achieved and our long-term vision will be realized.

    Sincerely,

    Timothy M. Herbst