District 3 Residents: Help Wanted

To the Editor:

I thank you again for the chance to represent you as one of four District 3 members of Newtown’s Legislative Council. The first couple months have been challenging and filled with new learning, although our most important work lies ahead. For your information, I am also privileged to have been appointed to the council’s Ordinance and Finance & Administration Subcommittees.

Leading up to the 2011 election, I expressed to you my dedication to representative government and pledged to do my best to listen and forward your concerns, suggestions, and positions to the whole council.

As mentioned above, our most important work lies ahead and I felt this a good time to place a rhetorical “Help Wanted” in today’s paper. With the Boards of Selectmen and Education each having submitted their initial annual budget requests to the Board of Finance, we can count the days to their first public budget meeting on February 23, working toward March 14, when the BOF turns over its budget recommendations to the Legislative Council. At that point, we prepare and hold our first public hearing concerning the recommended budgets on March 21. This all leads to an April 4 Legislative Council budget adoption date, culminating in a Tuesday April 24, townwide referendum.

Please take an active role in the process. Download copies of the budgets from town and school district websites. Attend public meetings, write letters to the editor, and talk to your neighbors. If you are one of the many who prefers not to express opinions amongst the more vocal persons at public meetings, remember to make your voice heard through me and/or your other representatives. I can be reached at: MitchforNewtown@earthlink.net or 203-364-0287. If your call rolls to a message system, please leave your name, number and a good time to contact you. Also, e-mails and phone numbers for the other fine members of your Legislative Council may be found at www.newtown-ct.gov/Public_Documents/NewtownCT_BComm/council.

Will I and the other 11 members of the council be able to make everyone happy? Maybe not. But, with your help, we can certainly try to understand your priorities and put forward positions that represent the majority of you, our neighbors.

Thank you,

Mitch Bolinsky

MitchforNewtown@earthlink.net

3 Wiley Lane, Newtown                                              February 6, 2012