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Kelso leaves finance board feeling privileged, no regrets
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| Bob Kelso, Board of Finance member and former Chair set leave on December 1st |
Written by Justin Reynolds
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Wilton Bulletin
© Copyright 2009 by The Hour Publishing Co. All Rights Reserved.
Published On November 24, 2009
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A face on the Board of Finance for the past decade — four of those years as chairman — Robert Kelso’s term is set to expire on Dec. 1. Because of term limits, he was unable to run for re-election.
The Bulletin recently asked Mr. Kelso, a Republican who lives on DeForest Road, a number of questions regarding his 13 years of public service — 10 years on the Board of Finance, beginning in 1999, after three years on the Zoning Board of Appeals — and future plans.
“For me, it has been a privilege to serve on the boards and I have no regrets for having made the commitment,” Mr. Kelso said in an e-mail message to The Bulletin. “I would like to think that in a small way, I have contributed to the town. One thing that has impressed me during my years of town service is the quality and the commitment of the individuals who serve on the boards. They are the backbone of the town.”
Warren Serenbetz, Board of Finance chairman, said it was a pleasure working with Mr. Kelso for three and one-half years.
“I thought he did a great job leading the board as chairman. I enjoyed working with him and, you know, I think a lot of important stuff got done during his tenure,” Mr. Serenbetz said. An example, he said, was setting up guidelines for funding the unfunded pension liability. “It was a big decision that was made while he was on the board, funding it in excess of requirements so we could move it forward faster.”
Al Alper, chair of the Republican Town Committee and himself a finance board member, echoed Mr. Serenbetz’s sentiments on Mr. Kelso’s tenure on the board.
“There will be a great void on the board with Bob’s leaving,” Mr. Alper told The Bulletin. “His tenure is a case study in selfless volunteerism, applying intellect and compassion as he meted out Wilton’s cost burdens on her citizens — taking no one and nothing for granted.”
“Bob’s Reagan-esque style of compassionate conservatism has been something I’ve relied on to backstop my early years on the board, and while I cannot hope to fill his shoes, I will work to live up to the standards he has set,” Mr. Alper continued. “It has been an honor to have served with and under him, and I am proud to call him friend.”
Despite hanging up his cleats with regard to the finance board, Mr. Kelso said he wishes to continue serving the town, a place he and his wife, Luisa, have called home for 30 years.
“I would certainly like to stay involved with the town after 13 years of participation,” Mr. Kelso said. “I will be staying on the town’s pension investment committee, having just been appointed for a two-year term. Other than that, I have no town commitments but I am certainly willing to volunteer for new opportunities.”
In light of a recent trend for Wilton’s first selectmen having served on the Board of Finance before being elected to the town’s top spot — including the town’s four most recent, William Brennan, Paul Hannah, Robert Russell and Burton Jones (the first three jumped from chairman of the finance board to first selectman) — The Bulletin asked Mr. Kelso if he had any interest in that position.
“As for running for first selectman, I assure you I have no interest,” Mr. Kelso said. “Bill Brennan is doing a good job and he puts in an unbelievable number of hours, more than I think I would be able to. We live to travel, to see our grandkids and to see the world ... and that would be difficult to do if I were the first selectman.”
Mr. Kelso was also asked what key issues he thought the town was facing and would need to be solved.
“I think the biggest issue is the slowdown in the town’s revenue growth,” he said. “When I first joined the board, revenues, principally from property taxes, were growing in excess of 2% a year reflecting the housing boom, and as a consequence the town and schools were more easily able to add staff, new programs and benefits.”
“More recently, the town’s revenue growth has slowed to a rate near 1%, which means that we will be facing a more austere future,” he said. “The slowdown rate reflects the general economy, but it also reflects the maturation of the town. In that regard, I certainly would like to see high quality commercial development along the Route 7 corridor encouraged so as to broaden the tax revenue base.”
Mr. Kelso commented on highlights during his tenure on the finance board.
“I would stress that credit belongs to all who were members of the board at the time,” Mr. Kelso said. “I am very proud of the fact that the town’s voters approved the annual budgets by sizable majorities during my terms as chairman. That we were able to slow down the rate of growth in the tax rate during this period probably has something to do with this.”
“I am also pleased that the town’s financial position has remained strong as evidenced by Moody’s continuing to give the town its highest rating and by our outside auditor’s favorable reports,” Mr. Kelso said.
It hasn’t been all smooth sailing, Mr. Kelso said.
“One of the more difficult times during my tenure was the year Moody’s put the town on a negative credit watch, as that meant having to budget for an increase in the general fund, something which had seldom been done,” he said.
Mr. Kelso said he also participated in “several special projects, such as the tri-board committee that dealt with the underfunded school medical insurance program a few years back, the joint study with members of the Board of Selectmen and Education of the town’s IT capabilities, the search committee for [Wilton’s former Chief Financial Officer] Joe Dolan’s replacement and the oversight of the pension program as a trustee and as a member of the investment committee. I also view starting the internal audit program as an accomplishment.”
When asked if Mr. Kelso’s presence will be missed on the board, Mr. Serenbetz said “absolutely.”
“I think whenever somebody has 10 years of experience on the finance board, it’s difficult. We’ll miss his perspective, his ability to look back over the years and know what worked and what didn’t work in the past, and be able to provide advice along those lines,” Mr. Serenbetz said. “When you have somebody with all that expertise that leaves, it’s hard to fill.”
Mr. Kelso offered his advice to the Board of Finance who will be in charge of next year’s budget — Mr. Serenbetz, Mr. Alper, Lynne Vanderslice and Gail Lavielle, all Republicans, and Andy Pforzheimer and Jim Meinhold, both Democrats.
“The only thing I can say is to wish them good luck. It’s undoubtedly going to be a difficult year,” Mr. Kelso said. “The board will have to make some difficult choices, sorting out what is truly important from what can be deferred or eliminated without long-term damage.”
Ms. Lavielle, who along with Mr. Serenbetz and Mr. Pforzheimer won a four-year team on the finance board earlier this month, will be the board’s newest face.
Mr. Kelso said he and his wife have no plans to leave Wilton.
“We really like it here for a lot of reasons and we hope to stay here for many more years,” Mr. Kelso said. “Our friends are here and our community experience has been a very positive one. Also, we like the proximity to the city and the many things it has to offer.”
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