A message from the Clinton Taxpayers Association:
In anticipation of the Morgan Building Committee (MBC) bringing to referendum a proposal to build a new school in March or April of this year, the Clinton Taxpayers Association (CTA) has formed the Morgan School Task Force (MSTF) to carefully examine the basis of this proposition. The MBC’s recommendation is expected to rely on alternatives presented in a facility master assessment prepared by the Gilbane Building Company and David Thompson Architects. The CTA MSTF will review these alternatives, conclusions and recommendations in detail to clarify what they mean, include and exclude. A net cost/benefit analysis will inform the Task-Force’s ultimate recommendation based solely on objective facts and probable consequences of each alternative.
The MSTF is nonpartisan and is comprised of taxpayers who bring varied expertise in business, education and construction, including a representative appointed by the Clinton PTA. It enters this process with no preconceived conclusions about any of the alternatives presented in the facility assessment.
The ultimate objective is to provide a facility to Clinton’s high school pupils that is the most cost and educationally effective for the benefit of all stakeholders including students, parents, faculty and taxpayers.
Len Fried, the Chairman said: “The CTA has recruited a diverse panel that is well-suited to thoroughly sort through the alternatives and provide a credible analysis of each to better inform taxpayers on this significant fiscal and educational decision.”
The CTA Morgan School Task Force is comprised of the following members:
Len Fried (U), Chairman – leads the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) site at the Henry Carter Hull Library and works as a volunteer helping provide shoreline residents with free income tax preparation. Len was an engineer and executive for IBM in upstate New York for 38 years. With a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering CCNY, and a Masters in Solid State Physics NYU. Len worked 38 years for IBM Technology Division which develops, manufactures and markets semiconductor chips and electronic packages. He was responsible for managing 5,000 employees in worldwide manufacturing.
Pam Fritz (R)– serves as president of the Clinton Taxpayers Association and Ophthalmology Resources LLC. She also serves on the Clinton Planning and Zoning Commission. She is “one of the 50 most influential women in the optical industry” according to a national poll conducted by Jobson Publishing. She is an expert in Medicare post-op cataract eyewear billing, coding and compliance and serves on three regional DME Medicare Contractors Advisory Boards. She is a popular speaker at Vision Expos on both coasts, the Academy of Ophthalmology and state medical societies.
Antoinette (Toni) Iadarola, Ph.D. (D) - was appointed president of Lauralton Hall in July 2009. Prior to this role, she was the first lay president of Cabrini College in Radnor, PA, from 1992 through June, 2009. Dr. Iadarola, a native of New York City, was raised in Shelton; she holds a bachelors degree from St. Joseph College in West Hartford, where she began her career as a history professor in 1973. A Fulbright Scholar affiliated with the London School of Economics, she holds masters and doctoral degrees from Georgetown University and did post-doctoral studies at Fordham University and Yale Divinity School. During Toni’s 16-year tenure as president of Cabrini College, the College tripled its enrollment and successfully completed three capital campaigns raising over $100 million. She is a strong advocate of community service, has served as a volunteer consultant for the U.S. State Department and the United Nations. Her community service efforts have been recognized by the National Italian-American Political Action Committee, the Order of the Sons of Italy, Philadelphia, and the Boy Scouts of America, in addition to a number of other organizations.
Arthur Kover, Ph.D. (D) – is a leader in the design and execution of advertising research programs. During the 90's, he was the Chairman of the Marketing Department at Fordham University's Graduate School of Business. Prior to entering academia, Dr. Kover spent 20 years directing research initiatives at some of the world's largest advertising agencies including, Kenyon & Eckhardt (now Bozell), Cunningham & Walsh and J. Walter Thompson. Dr. Kover serves as the Editor of The Journal of Advertising Research and is a Management Fellow at Yale University's School of Management. He earned a BA in sociology from Cornell University and MA and Ph.D. degrees in sociology from Yale University. Dr. Kover has been the recipient of some of the industry's most prestigious awards and honors, and has authored or co-authored nearly 100 articles, research papers and books. He is also a noted lecturer, having presented at numerous seminars, conferences and council meetings.
James Staunton (R) – is a highly qualified civil engineer who has served Clinton as Chair of the Water Pollution Control Commission (2001-2008) and was recently elected to the Zoning Board of Appeals. As Town Engineer in East Haven, he was technical advisor to the Planning and Zoning Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals. He also provided grant development and application for state and local programs. He has over 20 years of professional and managerial engineering experience in the private and public sectors. He earned his BS in Civil Engineering from Merrimack College and his MS in Civil Engineering from San Diego State University.
Elaine Lavallee (R)– is Vice President of the Clinton Taxpayers Association. She is a graduate of the University of Connecticut, where she earned a degree in Child Development and Early Childhood Education. She began her sales career with Xerox and later spent many years as VP, Sales for several financial printing companies in New York. She moved to Clinton in 2007 and retired in 2011.
Kirk Carr (R) – is Treasurer of the Clinton Taxpayers Association and was recently elected as an alternate to the Clinton Planning and Zoning Commission. He retired from Dow Jones in 2006 after 38 years in advertising sales and services with The Wall Street Journal. His assignments included sales and management roles in Dallas, Cincinnati, Detroit, Hong Kong and New York. In his final assignment as Advertising Services Director, he consolidated all functions worldwide and harnessed technology and Six Sigma techniques to measurably improve service quality globally and to streamline advertising processing. Kirk was very active in the Business Marketing Association, serving in a number of national roles including Treasurer and Chairman and earned the GD Crain award for service. He also served on the board of the IDEAlliance. Since his retirement he has served as a marketing and sales consultant for organizations including Soundings and Advance Business Checking Solutions. He holds a BBA from Texas Tech University where he was honored as an outstanding alumnus and alumnus of the year. He served on the advisory board of the School of Mass Communications. He also volunteered in the Junior Achievement program in New York’s Chelsea High School.
Anthony (Tony) J. Pinto (R)- is an entrepreneur and developer of health care facilities, wireless cell sites, bank-owned property liquidation, residential and commercial projects and housing manufacturing and mobile home parks. He founded and/or led companies including West Rock Health Care (New Haven), Integrated Wireless Service (Branford), Right Property Management (Wallingford), A. J Pinto (Newport RI), C.S.B (Bristol) and Fusco Corporation (New Haven).
Mark Graveline (R) – serves on the board of the CTA. He is the owner of Saiko Consulting, LLC, which specializes in sourcing and recruiting technical professionals. He earned his BS degree in management information systems from Southern Connecticut University.
Leah Saunders (D) – who represents the PTA and will advise and vote in consultation with PTA leaders, is a 30-year resident of Clinton and a Morgan graduate with a BS in Political Science and a minor in Sociology from Southern CT State University. Leah and her husband co-own a local carpentry business. She is active in various Clinton organizations including, the First Selectman's Task Force on Substance Abuse, and Board of Education sub-committees (Instruction & Public Relations Calendar sub-committee and the search committee for elementary school assistant principal). She serves as the Communications Chair for the Clinton PTA. Leah enjoys raising her two young children and volunteering in their school, including being a part of a pilot Paired Reading Program. Leah also serves as a Brownie troop leader.
The CTA is a municipal association registered with the Clinton Town Clerk, established to facilitate the efficient and wise use of taxpayer monies affecting residents and taxpayers within the Town of Clinton, Connecticut. This organization is a nonpartisan group that is not affiliated with any political party or faction.
