Let The People Decide

To the Editor:

Mr Borst, our new first selectman, explained his Yes vote for the high school expansion project with the philosophy, “Let the people decide.” In doing so, he took a major step toward restoring democracy to Newtown. If Joe Borst had been first selectman earlier, citizens would not have had their No vote on the Master Plan for Fairfield Hills ignored. He would not have declared the No vote only an advisory referendum after the votes were tallied.

In February of 2007, over 400 citizens attended the Legislative Council meeting at the middle school to protest the plan to convert Bridgeport Hall, the former patient dining hall at FFH, into a new town hall. Town leaders ignored the public protest and proceeded with plans to spend $10 million and counting on this project. When more than 75 citizens petitioned the Legislative Council to place limits on the powers of the FFH Authority, the petition was ignored.

“Let the people decide.” 1. Spend $23 million to buy and develop FFH in hopes of luring high taxpaying businesses to Newtown? 2. Buy FFH and save the land for 21st Century municipal needs — future schools, emergency services, senior center, recreation center, and the unknown?

“Let the people decide.” 1. Convert Bridgeport Hall into a town hall? 2. Keep town offices in Edmond Town Hall and buy an existing home on Main Street and establish a town hall annex? 3. Buy the Kendro building for town offices? 4. Buy the Numade building at 30 Peck’s Lane for town offices? 4. Renovate Woodbury Hall for town offices 4. Construct a new town hall at FFH?

“Let the people decide.” 1. Convert Bridgeport Hall into a community/recreation center? 2. Renovate Plymouth Hall for a recreation or cultural arts center? 3. Build a new recreation/senior center? 4. Support a Senior Center in an existing building at FFH? 5. Construct a new Senior Center? 6. Construct a new recreation center?

“Let the people decide.” 1. Approve the proposed high school expansion? 2. Reduce the size of the expansion? 3. Use portables? 4. Construct a new high school at FFH; move the middle school to the high school; convert the middle school into a town hall? 5. Do nothing?

Cost/benefit analysis figures for all these proposals should have been in place long ago. In a true democracy, the pros and cons would have been debated, citizens would have voted, and we wouldn’t be addressing these challenges at the eleventh hour. We need sober, results-oriented discussions about education, town offices, recreation, etc — recognizing those who are struggling. Town leaders must listen to the people.

Mr Borst can only do so much. The town is in a mess. Citizens must make it clear, they expect cooperation and problem solving, not confrontation. Let everyone remember it’s our town. “Let the people decide.”

Ruby Johnson

16 Chestnut Hill Road, Sandy Hook                          March 26, 2008