Democrats expand BET transparency and efficiency
During the campaign leading to Greenwich’s 2025 municipal elections, Democratic candidates for the Board of Estimate and Taxation (BET) promised to make changes in processes and procedures to promote greater clarity, collaboration and efficiency. Since winning the majority vote in November, the new Democratic BET leadership is fulfilling that promise.
Take the BET’s Budget Committee, chaired by Laura Erickson and composed of Doug Fenton, Harry Fisher and Joe Kelly. Some of the changes are built on existing practices, others are newly instituted. Altogether, they create a more efficient, transparent and collaborative budget process that benefits residents, town staff, and elected officials alike.
They have clarified goals
One of the first steps taken by Democratic leadership has been to clarify expectations at the outset of the budget season. On their first day in January, the Budget Committee sent a written budget framework memo to department heads. While many of the principles in the memo were familiar, putting them into a single, clearly written document has helped codify expectations and establish a shared understanding of priorities and procedures. This has set a constructive tone for the work ahead.
They have streamlined workflow and improved participation
Rather than requiring every department to appear before the Budget Committee, members focused their time where it would be most productive. This approach respected staff time, reduced duplication, and allowed for more focused discussion—without sacrificing oversight or accountability.
For the first time outside of the COVID period, the budget public hearing on January 27 was accessible via Zoom.This gave residents the ability to present their comments remotely. Written and in-person comments were accepted as well. To ensure that as many voices as possible could be heard, individual speaking time was adjusted from three minutes to two, a change first tested during the Capital Projects hearings last fall and retained after proving effective. There is a second budget public hearing slated for March 26.
They have improved transparency
Under Democratic leadership, agendas and minutes of all budget hearings are now posted publicly—something that did not occur consistently in the past.
Greenwich Community Television (GCTV) has provided an important advance toward greater access as well. Through the volunteer efforts of Don Conway in the control room and Horst Tebbe, editor, recordings of budget hearings are now organized by department and posted on YouTube for later viewing. This allows residents to engage with the process on their own schedules and to focus on the departments that matter most to them.
They have fostered a collaborative work environment
A notable example is the January 13 Budget Committee meeting. All 12 BET members attended to hear an Old Greenwich School Building Committee presentation for an interim request. By bringing everyone together at once, questions were addressed efficiently, professionals avoided repeat appearances, and both time and taxpayer dollars have been saved.
The Democratic BET leadership has implemented changes that emphasize good governance, clear communication, efficient use of time, expanded public access, and a renewed focus on collaboration. These thoughtful process improvements will lead to better outcomes for the entire Greenwich community. It’s what we promised.
The PAC behind the paper
As conversations about transparency and journalistic integrity grow louder in Greenwich and around our country, one issue deserves scrutiny: the overlap between a town newspaper and a political action committee (PAC).
For the past three years, Peter Barhydt has served simultaneously as editor of a weekly newspaper, the Greenwich Sentinel, and as Chairman of a registered PAC, the Republican Roundtable of Greenwich.
Numerous State Elections Enforcement Commission filings show that Barhydt’s PAC has received contributions from current and former Republican candidates and officeholders—including Lauren Rabin, Harry Fisher, Joe Kelly, Tina Courpas, and Leslie Tarkington—individuals who also receive frequent favorable coverage in the Sentinel.
The overlap is not a minor footnote. It raises real questions about whether residents are receiving independent local journalism—or partisan messaging dressed up as news.
A doctored photo and a false claim
Last week, concerns intensified. The Sentinel’s print edition ran a doctored photo from a YWCA Greenwich forum honoring Coretta Scott King and Dr. Martin Luther King. Democratic Selectwoman Rachel Khanna, who was seated in the front row, was inexplicably edited out of the image.
Rather than apologize for running the altered photo, the Sentinel posted an editor’s note claiming Khanna had “specifically requested” not to be included. That claim is false and there are receipts.
Public officials don’t ask to be excluded from news coverage and images—and reputable newsrooms would not grant such requests because it would interfere with accurately reporting the news. In reality, after the Sentinel republished a December editorial without her consent, Khanna simply requested they ask permission before reprinting letters she had submitted to other newspapers. Yet, the Sentinel went so far as to remove Khanna’s name from the list of YWCA Women Who Inspire Award recipients in a February online version of their news story.
Democracy depends on trustworthy journalism
With the recent loss of dedicated town reporters at Greenwich Time, residents have limited local news options. A thriving democracy depends on fair and trustworthy journalism, and it’s up to all of us to stay informed about who is shaping our news.
What we’re reading
Our Democratic elected officials have been speaking up against a proposed bill in the Connecticut General Assembly that could gut much of our town’s local zoning authority. SB151 would limit our ability to regulate residential lot size, setbacks, building height limits, and subdivision of lots.
State Representatives Steve Meskers and Hector Arzeno both appealed to the Housing Committee on Tuesday to oppose the bill that would impose lax zoning rules on towns—ignoring impacts on neighborhoods, the environment, and local utility and sewer capacity.
As Selectwoman Rachel Khanna noted in her written testimony, “Local governments are better informed about how much additional density their infrastructure can handle, and where to locate it.” Follow her here.
Action Calendar
February 25. Connect.
Are you a Democrat in the town of Greenwich? Then join your people for our regular monthly meeting, 7:30–9 p.m. in the Cone Room (second floor), Greenwich Town Hall, 101 Field Point Road.
March 3. Learn.
Register for insights on accessibility, inclusion and community-wide transportation from Call-A-Ride, Share-the-Fare Program, Compassionate Companions Program, Norwalk Transit District and the Transportation Association of Greenwich (TAG). At 6 p.m., Greenwich Library Marx Family Black Box Theater, 101 W. Putnam Ave.
March 6. Engage.
Join Selectwoman Rachel Khanna for coffee and conversation at Coffee for Good. Hear about what’s happening in town and bring your feedback and questions. 1 p.m., 48 Maple Ave.
March 11. Prepare.
Join Selectwoman Rachel Khanna to find out from CT Comptroller Sean Scanlon what Connecticut can do to prepare for changes to Medicare and Medicaid. Mazza Room (first floor), Greenwich Town Hall, 11 a.m., 101 Field Point Road.
| Volume 4, Number 34 • February 19, 2026 |
| Paid for by the Greenwich Democratic Town Committee. |
| Greenwich Democratic Town Committee P.O. Box 126 Greenwich, CT 06836 |