Very Funny

To the Editor:

The one trait I have always most admired in Bill Brimmer is his sense of humor, and I want to personally thank him for the entertaining letter to the editor that appeared in last week’s Bee [“What The GOP Has Already Done”]. According to Mr Brimmer the Republican Party is responsible for everything positive that has occurred in Newtown since …forever.

The guidelines to ensure reserve levels was implemented by the entire Board of Finance (BOF) made up of three Democrats and three Republicans. The BOF itself, by the way, was implemented by the tri-partisan Charter Revision Commission in 2001. At the time the Republican leadership was against it. The following Charter Revision Commission chaired by an unaffiliated voter and co-chaired by a Democrat implemented the change suggested by Moody’s to allow the BOF to maintain the reserve levels. The CIP was implemented and approved by the BOF and the Legislative Council (except for the IPN representatives), comprising an equal number of Democrats and Republicans on both.

The person who first pushed for and continued to champion the purchase of open space was Herb Rosenthal; I know Herb is a friend of yours, Bill, but that doesn’t make him a Republican.

The review of monthly budgeting again was a unanimous request of the BOF. The senior tax relief program, also Republicans and Democrats from both BOF and LC. In fact Jim Gaston, Democratic vice chairperson of the BOF, proposed an additional tax relief measure for seniors, which died in the Republican council. The virtually flat budget that was presented to the taxpayers was a bipartisan effort; the chair of the council and the chair of the council finance subcommittee, both Republicans, voted against it. They also voted against the high school expansion and the taxpayers’ right to vote Yes or No on the additional funding.

At a televised joint meeting of the BOF, BOE, and LC the rebid of the high school expansion was first suggested by Jim Gaston and Joe Kearney, Democrat and Republican. The Democratic vice chairperson of the BOE was next to follow. There was virtually unanimous agreement after that.

Bill, did you know that the Republican Board of Selectmen candidates did not create the Facilities Committee? Rather, it is affectionately referred to as “Danny’s Committee” by the members of the committee because it was originally the idea of Danny Amaral, a Democrat!

I’ve wondered why the RTC chose the candidates they did to head up their ticket; now I know. If each of them was on one side or the other of any issue, Mr Brimmer as chairperson can now claim that “they” believe in whatever the issue is. Is he right? The budget: one for, one against. The high school expansion: one for, one against. Letting the voters decide on the additional $6 million: one for, one against.

We just lived through two years of Republican leadership on the Board of Selectmen who didn’t agree on anything. Do we really want to try that again?

Thank you.

Joe Hemingway

10 Overlook Knoll, Sandy Hook                                  October 6, 2009