Howard Lasser
Board of Selectmen

Email: Brookfield2009@charter.net

POSITION
I am seeking a position on the Board of Selectmen. Brookfield needs leadership with vision and competent management experience to bring about positive changes in our community. For too long we have heard members of Boards and Commissions tell us what we as a community cannot do while watching our roads crumble, our town services decline and our investment in education reduced. There is no limit to what we can achieve if we have leaders with vision, the competence to implement that vision and the integrity to follow-through on their commitments.

I have over 30 years of business experience, coupled with 25 years of involvement in various town Boards and Commissions. I have been instrumental in bringing specific accomplishments to the people that have contributed to more open government and improved the quality of life in our town. I am confident as your Selectman, working with the rest of the Board of Selectmen and other commissions I will expand on that record of accomplishment.

Some of the ideas I will pursue are:

• Better communication to the public.  Improve and increase the use of the town’s web page to include such things as monthly financial reports.
• Create a long-range plan integrating operational objectives with financial plans and timelines for implementation.
• Build trust and respect in our government.  Improve the working relationship among town offices and commissions encourage communication, cooperation and consistency in the pursuit of our goals and in the application of town ordinances.
• Evaluation of Town and Educational needs, promoting budgets that are cost effective and support the goals and objectives of our Boards and Commissions.

Working together there are no limits to what we can accomplish!

Click here to read Howard's Caucus acceptance speech.

UPDATES

From time to time I send out emails that are designed to explain issues facing the town in a factual manner. Here as my current communications. Please feel free to contact me with any perspectives or questions.

Open Space and Other issues — 9/1/09

BACKGROUND

Personal information:

• Has lived in Brookfield for 28 years.
• Lived in Rollingwood condominiums for five years and then settled in his current residence on Tower Road in 1986.
• Wife of 30 years: Catherine
• Two Children: Benjamin and Elyse, both of whom have gone through the Brookfield Schools systems, K-12
  

Education:

• Bachelor of Arts from State University of New York at Binghamton
• MBA from American Graduate School of International Management

Business Career:

• Entrepreneur.
• Owned and operated his own business.
• In a career spanning over 30 years, has held various positions in accounting, planning and computer systems including Controller, Treasurer and Chief Financial officer in companies such as: Chesebrough Pond’s, Playtex, Revlon, Halston, Benetton, Lynn Chase Designs, illy Caffe, Carolee LLC.

Volunteer / Community Activity:

• Youth league Soccer Coach
• Served on the Board of Directors and as Treasurer:
• Planned Parenthood of Connecticut
• The Brookfield Theater for the Arts
• Coordinator for Connecticut Youth Ski League
• Served on various Town Boards and Commissions:
• Zoning Commission – 8 years alternate
• Board of Finance – 8 years, 6 years as Vice-Chairman
• Board of Finance – 1 year, appointed to fill vacancy
• Ad-hoc Committees:
  —1986 Committee for Senior Tax relief
  —1994 Water Advisory Committee
  —2004 Committee for Senior and Veterans Tax Relief
  —2005 Charter Revision Commission
  —2007 Committee on Ethics - Chairman