For A More Accountable

Local Government

To the Editor:

The Bee’s editorial last week accusing town officials of having executed a long-range plan for Fairfield Hills, including housing, before unveiling the plan to the public should not be a surprise. The Kabuki Dance, as The Bee called it, references a process with entirely and totally prearranged outcomes (an all too familiar process here in Newtown).

Most of our majority party elected officials have been fond of saying we have a representative form of government. That means to them that you elected them and they get to make all the decisions with little voter input, thus the Kabuki Dance. It’s all predetermined and we are along for the ride. Here are some recent examples: 1. $425,000 appropriation for demolition that the town attorney said we have no right to vote on 2. Last year’s budget referendum with no advisory questions allowed, 3. No separate vote on the education and town budgets. 4. Housing at Fairfield Hills. The list could go on and on.

The sad thing is the number of elected officials that seem to have a role in the dance. Rather than discuss issues in public, decision are made in the old “smoke-filled rooms” and then it is presented to the public as a Kabuki Dance. Many others become unintentional participants by readily publicizing each act of this elaborate play. When our leaders overreach like this without voter participation, they are effectively governing against the people that they represent. .

 The Newtown Bee has done the taxpayers of Newtown a huge favor by exposing this nontransparent predetermined process. The Newtown voters deserve a process that is more transparent, with more checks and balances and significantly more accountability.

Bruce Walczak

12 Glover Avenue, Newtown                                           March 2, 2011