Allegations In Letters

Are Fiction, Not Fact

To the Editor:

I have become more than a little concerned about the misinformation, defamatory innuendo, and accusations of unethical behavior in recent letters to the editor. My concern began during the budget process as each week’s entries became more and more rancorous. I expected such letters to stop once the budget passed, however, the verbal assaults have continued and I am concerned about how our town will be affected by such continued bitterness.

In last week’s issue, several letters were of particular concern. I will admit that my perception is colored by many years of interaction with the people of integrity that you have elected to serve on your boards, commissions, and to administer the town. That includes Herb Rosenthal, who is an honorable man and who has always put the interests of the town and its people first.

Issue Number One: The timing and process for property revaluation is completely controlled by the statutes and regulations of the State of Connecticut. The Board of Appeals is an elected group that is defined in our charter in accordance with those statutes. The first selectman has no control over the process and should not be faulted for the denial of a reduction in an individual appeal. The one thing that Herb could have done to impact the process was to extend the period for appeal. Because of the large number of requests for reconsideration, he doubled the time allotted for appeal so that everyone could be heard. Of all the property owners that challenged their property valuations in the first round, approximately 600 remained the same and about 400 were reduced. In the second round, over 300 appeals were heard and over 100 were reduced.

Second, no one can deny that school administrators in Connecticut are well paid. Actually, our administrators’ salaries are in alignment with those of other administrators in comparable positions in neighboring towns. The sad truth is that fewer and fewer qualified candidates are interested in a career as a school administrator and that is what is driving up the compensation. Cutting those salaries wouldn’t save us one penny; since anyone who would leave, as a result, would be in demand elsewhere and a replacement would likely cost as much if not more than the incumbent.

Finally and most importantly, Fairfield Hills. Over the past several months, the amount of misinformation and misrepresentation about the master plan and the intentions of the officials of this town as described in various letters have truly amazed me. Some are more creative writing than a representation of what has actually transpired. This is the unadorned truth: there is no conspiracy to privatize FFH. If the town adopts the master plan, an authority would administer it. Under the strictures of our charter, that authority could not function effectively; hence the need to create the authority through a special act of the legislature. This was openly discussed with the Legislative Council at several meetings, but was not acted upon in a timely fashion. With the legislative session nearing an end and the likelihood of purchase imminent, Herb urged action on that legislation. There is no plan to “give away” buildings to speculators. No one can develop the property except as the master plan dictates and in accordance with appropriate approvals by P&Z. None of the land can be sold.

As we are approaching an important vote on the master plan and will elect our town officials this fall, I hope that we can all take care to seek out the facts. The rumors with their greed-filled plots and secret meetings make a great story but they are not reality. This is our town and its future, not fantasyland. What goes on in the governance of this town is very mundane. If you want soap opera, look for it on TV.

Amy Dent

10 Country Squire Road, Sandy Hook                          June 17, 2003