Two recent letters in local news publications by Portsmouth residents, James Banks, and Town Council Candidate, Lenard Katzman vilify performance of the 2010-2012 Portsmouth Republican Town Council

To the Editor;

Two recent letters in local news publications by Portsmouth residents, James Banks, and Town Council Candidate, Lenard Katzman vilify performance of the 2010-2012 Portsmouth Republican Town Council. These two gentlemen may be unaware of that Council’s accomplishments. I proudly served with that Republican majority of Keith Hamilton, Liz Pedro, Paul Kesson and Judi Staven. Together we pulled Portsmouth government, then mired in 1960’s, small town era of rampant cronyism, public corruption, poor management and disregard for the Town Charter into the 21st Century. I would like to see a comparable record of a Democrat Council.

Among other things, we:

• Stopped habitual overspending of Department budgets and mid-year Town budget increases
• Rebuilt the Fund Balance to a never before seen $4,866,838
• Initiated replacement of line firefighter dispatchers with less costly civilians
• Initiated reforms to eliminate insolvency threat of $52M unfunded Pension Liability
• Committed to protect the Glenn for future generations
• Established Municipal/School Departments initiative to consolidate non-educational services
• Replaced Democrats’ environmental legal council to challenge RIDEM sewer demand
• Conducted a professional search and hired an experienced, highly regarded new Town Administrator
• Engaged Portsmouth’s first labor attorney to consult/represent the Administration and taxpayers on collective bargaining issues/agreements
• Initiated operational audits of all Town Departments
• Accommodated annual road maintenance in the operating budget
• Conducted First ever, yet Charter required, Town Administrator Performance Review
• Established first 5-year Capital Improvement Plan and annual budgeting for Town infrastructure projects
• Conducted first residential mosquito control spray in 25 years
• Implemented Town-wide emergency, resident communications system
• Lowered tax levy increases from 3.74% to 3.2% then 2.3% despite economy driven decline in Town and State revenues
This is the performance of a Republican led Portsmouth Town Council. Our work is unfinished. Voters who appreciate the 2010-2012 Council record should vote for Republican Town Council candidates; Paul Kesson, Liz Pedro, Keith Hamilton, Larry Fitzmorris and Tom Vadney, and Debra Cardoza

Joe Robicheau