No Reservations In Taking Credit

To the Editor:

In a Bee article on March 14 [“First Selectman Gives Himself Passing Grade After First 100 Days], Mr Borst stated that after his first 100 days in office “he could look back on the success of getting a commercial lease signed by Hawley Realty for Danbury Hospital” to have a location in Newtown Hall at Fairfield Hills. Huh?

The people who deserve the credit for Danbury Hospital having a presence at Fairfield Hills are the Fairfield Hills Authority members, the former Board of Selectmen and two of the current Selectmen, Mr Rosenthal and Mr Mangiafico.

At the first meeting of the newly elected Board of Selectmen on December 3, 2007, Mr Mangiafico moved a position statement “that the Board of Selectmen would encourage the commercial use of the duplexes, Stratford Hall and Newtown Hall as currently planned,” thereby ratifying the decision made by the previous Board of Selectmen. The motion carried with Mr Borst voting No.

At the next several meetings, Mr Rosenthal and Mr Mangiafico repeatedly asked Mr Borst if he intended to sign the leases once the town attorney had reviewed them. Mr Borst was reminded that by charter, it was his duty to carry out and implement the decisions of the majority of the members of the Board of Selectmen. Mr Borst’s answers were always “probably” and “under duress” and “with reservations.”

Now he wants to take the credit.

Jan Andras

16 Poverty Hollow Road, Newtown                             March 31, 2008