Mr. Heim, Who are you really running against?

Your recent letter on the Patch of August 27, 2013 titled “Economic Development 'Facts' Are More Like Fantasy”, it is another letter in which you continue to make statements that are questionable.

First of all, Andy McGeever’s,  Oxford’s  Economic Development Director, statement of “It is estimated that over the next 10 years, some 10,000 jobs will be located within the zone and will net Oxford and its neighbors millions in tax dollars.”   References the creation of the “Business Enterprise Zone” is for the Towns of Oxford, Middlebury & Southbury.  

Your mathematical analysis listed on your “Fact check: It took eight years for employment in Oxford to grow by fewer than 900 jobs—from 1,639 in 2000 to 1,766 in 2008. Does McGeever really think it’s possible for the town to add 1,000 jobs a year, every year for a decade?” is incomplete, it only includes the Town of Oxford, I would suggest reading the article on the Patch posted on January 10, 2013 titled “Oxford Legislators to Focus on Airport Zone” to get yourself more familiarized with this Zone, which towns are affected and what the State is expecting from this Zone creation in relation to Economic Growth.

Second, your “Fact check:  The Current Administration is the only one responsible for Oxford’s economic stagnation.  In the last two years years under MADR, the total Industrial Grand List grew by 15 percent from $115.9 million to $133.2 million”  You state: “Under the Temple Administration, the total Industrial Grand List has dropped by 2.7 percent, from $218.3 million to $217.7 million.”  Based on YOUR NUMBERS NOT MINE, if the total Industrial Grand List at the end of MADR's term was $133.2 million, and has grown under Temple to end at $217.7 million.  Via your numbers that would represent 1.63 X the previous year = Growth. It is obvious that once again your mathematical analysis makes no sense.

Third, your statements about the Economic Growth in Oxford are inconsistent, it seems that you cannot make up your mind if it’s minimal, a decline or stagnant.   Yet you admit and state:  “Since Temple took office, the Grand List has grown by only 1 percent”   a positive growth in revenue is an increase in revenue.    In your analysis you include six years from 2006 and 2012, in the span of these 6 years you include the Palmer, MADR and Temple Administrations how logical is that, not a true comparison at all, and you want to run Oxford like a business!!!

You seem to be overly concerned with Oxford’s Economic Development Director, Andy McGeever, criticizing his background and falsely accusing Mr. McGeever of traveling to Ireland on tax payers dollars.    I spoke to Mr. McGeever, he was on a 1/3 working vacation taking advantage of contacts that he made through the Consul General of Ireland Office’s in NYC over the prior year.  He neither requested or got any reimbursement from the Town of Oxford.   Mr. McGeever was paid his normal Town agreed salary.     I am sure his predecessor (Herman Schuler)  took vacations and got his agreed yearly salary.   I do seem to remember Mr. Schuler getting an increase in salary during his term.