Meet The Candidate for Windsor Locks First Selectman: Dennis Gragnolati

Name: Dennis Gragnolati

Age:61

Political party: Republican

Position you’re seeking: First Selectman

Information about your family: Wife; Kathy(McCann), Son; Ian, 13, in 8th grade at Windsor Locks Middle School

Occupation:Retired educator, teacher, Business manager and principal, at present grant writer and data analyst

Political Experience:

Member-Windsor Locks Board of Selectman, Windsor Locks Police Commission, Windsor Locks Park Commission, Windsor Locks Fire Commission (Secretary), Windsor Locks Sewer Commission                                                                               

Chairman Windsor Locks Charter Revision Commission, 2 different commissions, vice chairman, 2 different commissions

Town building comittee 

Other Experience:

 Co-secretary-Windsor Locks Dollars for Scholars, member Long Range Planning Committee                                                                                               

Treasurer-Member Board of Directors-Grove Cemetery Association, Windsor Locks                                    

Groundskeeper-St. Robert Bellarmine Roman Catholic Church-Windsor Locks 1974-present                                    

Youth soccer and baseball coach- Windsor Locks Parks and Recreation    

President/Treasurer-Windsor Locks Men’s Softball League- 1978-present                    

Why did you run for office? I believe that we can do better as a town. We need to use the input from all residents if we are going to move forward as a community. We need to work together with the goal of improving the quality of life in town. 

If elected, what would be your primary areas of focus? 

• Increase communication between town officials and residents. Special meetings will be scheduled immediately after my election as First Selectman and throughout my term to receive input on issues that concern the residents.

• Establish a long range planning committee so that as grants become available, the town can submit grant proposals to reduce the large backlog of repairs and upgrades needed on town roads, buildings and other infrastructure.    

• Business and Industrial Development-Aggressive outreach program to seek new businesses, as well as work with those already here to improve the business climate for the benefit of all.

• Pursue new town contracts carefully to ensure the town, under the competitive bidding guidelines, obtains quality goods & services for the best possible price.

• Allow Boards and Commissions to function as empowered by state law and town charter. The First Selectman should assist Boards/Commissions as needed and requested. Ensure that town policies and procedures are current with accepted practices for municipalities..

• Hiring of new Police Chief should be conducted in accordance with the best practices for Police Commissions in Municipalities.

• Fiscal management – To reduce costly downtimes of town buildings, regular inspection of HVAC systems of Town Buildings, by a competent HVAC firm,  be done on a periodic basis to evaluate the operational capabilities of the systems.  Maintain prudent fiscal management throughout all town activities & functions.

• Blight Ordinance --- this ordinance needs improvement beyond the recently enacted changes, especially in the enforcement area. Enforcement should be focused first on blighted commercial properties. When dealing with private homes the ordinance must be considerate of those who are sick or elderly and need assistance.

• Increase public participation in town activities by videotaping for viewing on public access television of important town meetings and functions.  

• Hold monthly meetings with Safety/Emergency Departments to improve communication & coordination of safety & emergency operational methods.

• Cooperation with other towns to share resources.

• Study the applicability of Solar/Geothermal/going green in town buildings.

What do you feel is the biggest issue facing Windsor Locks today? Lack of effective communication between the residents/ business community and elected and appointed officials as well as lack of effective communication between various agencies of the town resulting in lack of long range planning causing the overlapping of functions, gaps in services and less effective usage of taxpayers' money than there would be otherwise.   

What skills do you have that you could bring to the community? Data analysis skills, willingness to listen to different opinions, budgeting skills, willingness to look at solutions besides " we have always done it this way"

Anything else you would like to share? I have been involved in town government for over 30 years and have a wide range of experience that will perfectly fit with the role of the First Selectmen position.