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The Present Town Hall

To the Editor:

I am writing about my opposition to moving the town hall to Fairfield Hills. I believe that many, many voters showed their frustration to this very subject in the last four votes on the budget. Part of the budget included a bond issue to be floated on December 17 for the new town hall.

There was a vote on whether to purchase Fairfield Hills, which was passed by the majority. There then was a vote on the proposed master plan for Fairfield Hills, which was rejected by the majority. Since than, to my knowledge, the citizens of Newtown have not had the opportunity to express their feelings on the subject at the polls. As a matter of fact, according to the articles and letters in The Newtown Bee, the taxpayers have been dismissed at town meetings as well. Before the beautiful and historic town hall is moved from the center of town, I believe that the citizens should be given a say as to what happens.

The town hall was a gift from Mary Hawley. Mary Hawley wanted the town hall to remain where it now stands and said so by leaving a trust to fund its expenses. For a very long time the trust paid all of the expenses but now only pays about quarter to half of the costs. In Mary Hawley’s will she stated that in order to keep the trust, certain offices had to remain in the building so that there would be easy access to the taxpayers. Those offices named by Mary Hawley are the following: selectman; town clerk; tax collector; and probate. If any or all of those offices are moved from their present location then Newtown could forgo the trust, which is not immense but sizable. The trust should be consulted to see if Newtown will totally lose control over it. The residuary beneficiary of Mary Hawley’s will is Yale University. Mary Hawley also left trusts for the library and Hawley School, both of which she also built as gifts to the town.

It seems to me that the first selectman has decided, on his own, to build a new town hall and he is determined to do so whether we want it or not. If you do not want to lose the present historic town hall, please do something about it. Write to The Newtown Bee and/or Herb Rosenthal. Contact your Legislative Council representative.

I believe that our rights as citizens of the United States should be honored and we should be able to vote on the next steps to be taken in regard to the town hall. If the majority of voters approve of the move, than so be it. At least we will have been asked.

Cathy Sullivan

109 Haley Lane, Sandy Hook                                          June 20, 2007