Candidate challenges opponents to debate issues

In a letter to the editor from Harry Shortway entitled ”Shortway, Pier, Benda for Vernon Residents” published Sept. 24, 2009, Mr. Shortway writes that the retaining basins and the property owned by Sally Rinker, the Independent candidate for a two-year town council seat against Mr. Benda, is of utmost priority as to “not to take responsibility and liability for the retaining basins.” Now without a shadow of a doubt, I can say that the issue of these retention basins and associated properties owned by Sally Rinker near the Maple Grange town park is not an issue in this Nov. 3 election. It just goes to show you that Mr. Shortway and his team have not been keeping up with the debacles which have put our town in financial peril. What do retention basins have to do with Vernon election issues? Nothing, absolutely nothing except to take a few cheap shots at someone who Harry isn’t even running against. I, Harry Shortway and Michael Pier are running for the two four-year seats, which will be vacated by Mayor Austin Carew and Gary Grey. Mr. Shortway hasn’t gone on the public record in town hall for any issue and although he comes from a political family, he has not been actively involved in questioning the real issues that Vernon is facing. Mr. Pier has not made any public appearances, statements or gone on public record for anything either. None of the “team” has been questioning the disturbing issues that Vernonites have had to face. None of them have made themselves vulnerable and we don’t really have a clue as to where they stand on any single solitary issue. The Victory for Vichiconti campaign once again challenges Mr. Shortway and asks Mr. Pier to debate the real issues. News of the Ameripay mishap which the mayor says cost $170,000 but may be more, the results of a forensic audit that cost us $50,000 to hire a certified public accounting firm has basically stated that we have acted like a bunch of kids in a candy shop, a new deputy manager hired when we have a hiring freeze, the most recent update of $14 million in missing tax dollars from Main Street, no water or sewers as promised and the list goes on and on and Mr. Shortway is concerned about retention basins. Frankly, it is my opinion that Mr. Shortway and his ”team“ are playing the wrong game on the wrong field. Does the team know that the volunteer firefighters need a new engine? Does he know that they are trying to push sewers and a contract with United Water on us now without a referendum or that Great Gorge is having an emergency situation with their water, which is unusable? “The Shortway Team” is not addressing real issues. For more information log on to www.vernontwp.com to the town council minutes. Mary Ellen Vichiconti Independent Candidate for Vernon Town Council