To the Editor:

Newtown has a complex budget process; before residents get to vote in the April referendum, the budget has to go through all three of our town’s governing boards. With the budget problems we’re facing this year, it’s a good thing there are many minds working on figuring out how to best serve Newtowners. It’s not something one person should decide on their own.

The curbside recycling pickup program is a good example. Many residents of Newtown use this convenient program every week. It’s extremely costly; more than $800,000 of tax dollars go to curbside recycling.

The town formed a committee to study how to manage escalating costs for solid waste and recycling. The committee recently recommended maintaining the curbside recycling program in the budget until they could finish their research and come up with recommendations for a cost effective alternative. However, the program was cut from the First Selectman’s budget. Why would he go against the recommendation of the committee while they’re still trying to find the best solution for Newtown?

The Board of Selectmen voted to restore that funding to the budget to give the committee and the other boards more time to come up with a plan. Private haulers are required to include recycling in their fees, but not everyone has private haulers, and this is not Newtown’s current model; it will take time for the haulers to adapt their equipment.

This also gives residents the opportunity to weigh in on this program before it changes. Do you have an opinion about the curbside recycling program? Do you have any ideas for a more cost effective program? Newtown residents, the other town boards, and the recycling committee should all have a say in this.

Let’s make sure we know the whole story about recycling and our town’s budget, and that everyone gets a chance to weigh in, before anyone makes a decision that we may regret.

Betsy Litt

Newtown