Understanding Ethical Standards

To the Editor:

I want to thank the Ethics Commission for reviewing and responding to my complaint about an elected official lying to the public. I understand that they were forced to have their public meeting on the one week that I told them I would be out of town. I appreciate how they were able to make a decision without talking to me. I better understand the ethical standards we require our elected officials to follow, and the checks and balances that are available to ensure our leaders serve the Town of Newtown before their partisan interests. I understand that our officials should have the right to speak their mind to the voters of Newtown, whether they speak the truth or not. Most importantly, I more fully appreciate those elected Republicans, Democrats, and Independents who choose a higher ethical standard. These are people worth our trust. For the others, I appreciate the opportunity that voters have every two years.

With respect to Ms Jacob, I understand when she said that the Board of Education “never discussed” how to build a year-end surplus as the Board of Finance recommended, she wasn’t including the discussion shown in four pages of minutes in three long meetings followed by a unanimous board decision and response that helped build a year-end surplus.

I understand that when she said the board chair voted against putting discussion on the agenda, she really meant that discussion was already on the agenda, but the Republicans voted to stop the discussion and return a negative response to the Board of Finance. Newtown should be thankful that the Republicans failed in this vote, and in the end, the Board of Education voted to returned a surplus to the town, as the Board of Finance requested.

I understand when Ms Jacob declares something a “simple statement of fact,” she means something quite different, and I will certainly be cautious about her statements of fact in the future.

Tom Bittman

17 Rose Lane, Sandy Hook                                          August 10, 2010