Vote For Change

To the Editor:

Town-side capital requests have increased from $25 million to $94 million. This does not include the educational side! Who’s going to pay for that?

The public works director is asking for $2 million to repair roads and bridges and he stated the town has “not been able to fund projects for a long time.” Why not? The voters approved ~$2 million for road and bridge repair last year. How is that money being spent?

Why are so many of our roadsides and storm drains still cluttered with last year’s debris, posing flooding and ice hazards this year?

Selectman Herb Rosenthal was outraged that $12 million could be proposed for a new Police Department facility because the current one is outdated and small. Many of us felt similarly when Mr Rosenthal defied the taxpayers and proceeded with a new town hall that cost about the same amount (plus about $100,000 in A/V equipment that was just added). Why was Mr Rosenthal not outraged that middle schoolers, their parents, their grandparents, etc, could not sit in the auditorium for recitals, performances due to its deterioration while serving as the Board of Education chair and first selectman all those years?

Mr Rosenthal also stated, “It looks like we don’t know what we’re doing,” Agreed! Who was leading the town for the last ten years before Mr Borst was elected? Where is the long-term planning for Newtown? Who is looking out for the taxpayer’s interest? Town officials nominate each other annually and feel entitled to spending your money, but, not listening to your input.

The Bee reported that historically the Legislative Council approves the CIP based on the Board of Finance recommendations. The Board of Finance was initially appointed by Mr Rosenthal, then elected, unopposed, as they are again this year. This group of uncontested BOF members offers financial advice to the fiscal authority, the Legislative Council. Why is it that so many council members rubberstamp the BOF decisions?

I do not trust that the good old boys (and girls) already serving on the town boards are making responsible decisions to protect the interest of the taxpayers. For this reason, I have decided to seek the Legislative Council position in District 1 with the Independent Party of Newtown. I am a registered Republican; however, I believe it is the IPN who will ensure that town government is more accountable, properly plans the town’s future, and listens to its taxpayers.

If you are dissatisfied with the lack of input you have regarding your tax dollars in Newtown, I invite you to vote for change on November 3, look for upcoming letters to The Bee regarding new strategies, behaviors and actual long-range planning for all of us and visit www.independentpartyofnewtown.com to begin participating in the change that’s coming.

Sincerely,

Robert Hennessey

IPN candidate of LC, District 1

21 Sleepy Hollow Road, Sandy Hook                   September 2, 2009