Long-Term Planning

Is Overrated

To the Editor:

It has been proposed that the town should solve many of the current problems through the use of long-term planning. I for one place very little faith in long-term planning.

In 1968 when the voters approved bonding to construct the high school located in Sandy Hook, it was generally agreed that when the high school student enrollment approached 1,000 a second high school should be started. This plan was vacated when a 300-student addition was added and now a second addition is on the drawing board.

In 2001 the Friends of Fairfield Hills supported the use of Canaan House to house the town hall. Two years later the support shifted to Shelton House, and now the support has shifted once again to not place town hall at Fairfield Hills.

These are just two examples of planning that changed over time. I have been told that planning for a time period of more than two to three years is seldom brought to fruition.

A brief history of the work of the recent Charter Revision Commission, contained in a three-ring binder, will be filed in the town clerk’s office. This will be done after the voters have voted Yea or Nay on the recommendations for charter change on April 22. It might be helpful to the next Charter Commission to review this history and thus acquaint themselves with the thinking occurring in 2006, 2007, and 2008. But if all goes in accordance with past practices, this history will be lost or forgotten. This does not benefit our town for we should never underestimate the worth of those who have served in the past.

Sincerely,

Alvah R. Cramer

Past Chairman, Charter Revision

5 Partridge Lane, Newtown                                              April 1, 2008