Free Speech, Free Press, and Tomorrow

To the Editor:     

It was heartwarming to read so many “letters to the editor” supporting free speech and a free press. Clearly, the writers supported our time honored Bill of Rights and US Constitution. I wish our citizens had been just as outspoken about the sanctity of our Town Charter. It is written to establish the limits of power and scope of responsibilities of the local executive and legislative branches of Newtown’s government. However, in two recent instances our Charter has been circumvented because it was considered too restrictive by some.

First, our Charter clearly states that the Public Building Committee is charged with the “control of supervision and construction of building projects … to be used for public purposes…” (p 15). They were responsible for the demolition of Watertown Hall to make room for the Reed School. After that, the Town Attorney was asked for an opinion. Are town officials required to use the Public Building Committee to oversee (choose the firm to act as “clerk of the works” for town buildings? He ruled the Charter could be ignored.

That ruling allowed the Board of Education and Legislative Council to hire Connecticut Building Solutions to oversee the Reed construction for about $1 million. More recently the FFH Authority bypassed the Public Building Committee again by hiring Bartley Associates to oversee removal of hazardous soil and O&G Associates to oversee other demolition work at FFH. All were no-bid contracts!

Second, our town charter states, “The sale, abandonment, lease or other disposition of Town-owned real property … shall be made only by the Town Meeting…” (p 34) Approval of a Town Meeting is no longer required because the new FFH Authority created by the State Legislature trampled on our Town Charter. This action by the State Legislature is similar to Congress passing laws to restrict freedom of the press or free speech. Our Charter should be diligently protected and obeyed. The methods to change the Charter are clearly spelled out and should always be followed. Defenders of these attacks on our Charter seem to believe they are wiser than the citizens and were elected to make all the decisions for us.

Because most of the offices to be filled in the November local elections have no opposing candidates to vote for, the issues that face the town in the next 25 years will be largely ignored. Assured of re-election, most of the candidates will simple smile nicely. Thus, I intend to discuss issues like emergency response facilities, science and technology education, housing, senior population, Edmond Town Hall, the Booth Library and the fallacy of economic development as a way to lower taxes.

Please join me in the discussion of these pressing problems. In November, only the Council seats are contested. Let’s not vote for candidates who lack a grasp of the issues of today and have faulty vision for tomorrow.

Ruby K. Johnson

16 Chestnut Hill Rd, Sandy Hook                         September 6, 2005