Setting The Record Straight

To the Editor:

Donna Montelone Randle’s letter in last week’s Letter Hive [“Politicizing Committees”] was an undeserved attack on the integrity of Pat Llodra, Will Rodgers, and the Legislative Council’s Ad Hoc Facilities Committee. The only political motive of committee members has been to investigate the maintenance of town and school buildings, and make recommendations to improve efficiency and cost effectiveness in this critical area.

In the fall of 2008, Dan Amaral expressed concerns about the expense of several town and school maintenance projects, but he didn’t have time to organize a committee. Mr Rodgers asked Pat Llodra and Jan Brookes to assist him. Because of his background in school finance, Mr Rodgers added John Torok to the committee. This group first met on March 4. With the committee’s recommendation, Mr Rodgers approved the addition of LeReine Frampton and Robert Merola as invited guests to represent the general citizenry. Mr Rodgers suggested that the Board of Finance also be represented. Jim Gaston volunteered. Paul Lundquist replaced Mr Torok on the council and the Facilities Committee at the beginning of August.

Until August 11, the Facilities Committee operated without a chair. At that meeting, Jan Brookes suggested that to finish its work well, the committee needed a chair.

Mrs Llodra expressed hesitation about being chair because she didn’t want the perception to be that she was advancing a political agenda. Mrs Brookes felt that she couldn’t be chair and take accurate minutes. Mr Amaral said that he was too busy to be chair. Mr Gaston suggested co-chairs. Mrs Llodra and Mr Lundquist agreed to serve as co-chairs. Mrs Llodra will take responsibility for gathering the information together so that the committee can determine its recommendations. Mr Lundquist’s primary responsibility will be to present the committee’s findings. — LC Ad Hoc Facilities Committee, Minutes of the August 11 Meeting

At the August 5 Legislative Council Meeting, Po Murray asked to be added to the Facilities Committee. Will Rodgers replied that with seven members, the committee was already large. In addition, the committee had completed two-thirds of its research and had one new member to whom it needed to explain its prior work.

To Mr Lundquist’s credit, although he was the newest committee member, he gracefully accepted the responsibility of being co-chair. Mrs Llodra knew the political dangers, and took on the task anyway because the committee needed her. Throughout, Mr Rodgers suggested or approved new members in accordance with the committee’s needs.

To charge that Mrs Llodra and Mr Rodgers were politically motivated is an unjust attack on the character of two people who have served Newtown well. It’s also an attack on the integrity of Facilities Committee members, and the work they have done.

In submitting this letter for publication, Facilities Committee members are not endorsing any political candidate. We simply want to set the record straight.

Sincerely,

Legislative Council Ad Hoc Facilities Committee

Dan Amaral, Legislative Council, Democratic Candidate for the LC

Jan Brookes, Legislative Council, Democratic Candidate for the LC

Paul Lundquist, Legislative Council, Democratic Candidate for the LC

James Gaston, Board of Finance, Democratic Candidate for BOF

LeReine Frampton, Democrat, Registrar of Voters, invited guest

Robert Merola, Unaffiliated Voter, invited guest

38 Hundred Acres Road, Newtown                       September 9, 2009