To the Editor:

I am concerned about the town’s plan to require voters at next month’s budget referendum to approve using GE’s $15 million gift to finance the construction of a Senior Center and Aquatic Center, rather than a Community Center.  It is my understanding that the intention of the caring and very generous people at GE was to provide Newtown with a Community Center.  Personally, I’d like to accept GE’s gift knowing that it will be used only for the purpose GE intended. 

Now I have nothing against seniors. If all goes well, I intend to become one myself.  In fact, I’ve been feeling more and more like a senior with every day that goes by. And I am happy that my taxes currently support a Senior Center on Riverside Road and I would even support a new Senior Center in the future if one is needed.

However, I whole-heartedly reject the town’s approach of forcing upon us a three-phased, conceptual plan which commits GE’s $15 million to the first and only funded phase, which does not include a Community Center or community spaces.  

The “Community Center” component of the project is wholly dependent on future taxpayer support of Phases 2 & 3, which would also require the acquisition of the Newtown Youth Academy under satisfactory terms and community approval on a building design and timing.

I’m not against a larger, long-term three-phased plan, even if it eventually includes a Senior Center, provided that Phase 1, funded by GE’s gift, provides Newtown with the Community Center we do not have today, but desperately need.

When I asked the town if the language of the agreement with GE required that taxpayers approve a detailed plan such as “Phase 1” in order to accept the gift, the town replied “Yes.  The donor has an expectation as to how the funds will be used.  The language is in the contract.”  However, a review of that agreement found nothing to support the town’s position. In fact, the agreement clearly states GE’s expectation of a Community Center.    

I hope that Newtown’s public will join me by requesting the town to revisit this approach of forcing voters to accept a poorly planned project in order to accept this gift from GE. We should never have to vote in fear that unless we approve something, we will lose it forever.  That’s not the case with GE’s Community Center.

Kevin Fitzgerald

24 Old Farm Hill Road, Newtown    March 25, 2015