Resident Questions Borough’s Budget Vote

By Jan Howard

Borough of Newtown Warden Joan Crick on Wednesday answered a charge by borough resident Victor Krochta that the vote May 18 on the budget was improper because no one was asked for formal identification and proof of borough residency.

In a letter to the editor this week, Mr Krochta asks for a revote because of this and because of the small attendance at the meeting.

“We are perfectly legal,” Ms Crick said of the vote. “I’ve looked into it.”

She noted that in a telephone conversation with Mr Krochta she informed him that borough officials knew all the people that voted Yes that evening.

“The point is moot,” she said. “We knew all the Yes votes.”

Ms Crick said all speakers during the meeting gave their names and addresses. “Why would anyone from outside of the borough have any interest in the vote?” she questioned

Ms Crick said the borough is a self-governing unit of government. She noted the forum for Mr Krochta’s question about procedures would have been during the budget meeting or at a meeting of the Board of Burgesses.

She said if Mr Krochta was concerned about the increase in the budget he could have motioned to adjust the numbers.

In his letter, Mr Krochta wrote that Ms Crick told him that formal identification would be required in the future.

Mr Krochta wrote that he contacted the state attorney’s office and the state citizen’s hotline on voting matters. He was referred to the first selectman’s office but was told the borough is a self-governing unit.

The 2004-05 borough budget of $227,143 was approved by a vote of 11 to 9.