Town Boards Are Full

Of Dedicated Volunteers

To the Editor,

I have attended and spoken at several of the Board of Finance and Legislative Council meetings this past budget season. I am very impressed with the dedication exhibited by these groups.

The Board of Finance was asking questions of even the smallest of budgets. They were not looking at the line items and saying well that has stayed the same so it must be OK. The members were actually analyzing why we need some of the items. They are working on a procedure to verify the need and use of the money Newtown gives to nonprofits and whether we actually need to belong to some of the organizations we belong to. Nothing is being left off the table.

The town side of the budget is subject to line item cuts as well as general cuts for the Board of Selectmen to figure out. I was very impressed at the obvious amount of time given to their volunteer commitment.

The same questions were applied to the education side of the budget. The obvious struggle was with the lack of ability to cut line items. I know they made recommendations for some of the money cut from the education side, but the only one to control the education dollars is the Board of Education.

While watching this painful process, you saw not only the dedication of these volunteers, but also the pain they felt for the cuts they needed to make. These members are not there because they have nothing better to do with their time. They are there because they care about Newtown and are trying to preserve the town we all refer to as home.

I attended the Democratic Caucus on July 27 and was very proud to cast my vote to endorse all the current members of the Board of Finance. They are working for a better Newtown, not a better political party. I am very pleased that they all have agreed to run for office again this November. There have been many things said about this group of men, but in truth they are dedicated citizens giving their all. I think it is about time we said thank you for all they do. (I do believe they were the ones to figure out how to pay for the roof at the Middle School.)

Sincerely,

LeReine Frampton

6 Pebble Road, Newtown                                            July 28, 2009