Newtown’s Top Concerns

To the Editor:

Pat Llodra, candidate for first selectman and I, Will Rodgers, her running-mate candidate for selectman, have met, door-to-door literally thousands of voters this campaign season and write to inform you what those voters have told us are the most critical issues facing Newtown, and just what we hope to do about those issues if elected.

Far and away, the most-voiced concern was rising residential real property taxes. Significantly, people did not tell us, in large numbers at least, that they begrudged either side of the budget, municipal or educational, the monies necessary to provide quality services. What they did tell us, however is that they did not see enough services and/or results to be convinced that money was being spent wisely.

We agree and will make financial responsibility and accountability our number one priority. While decreasing taxes is not realistic, with the cooperation of the other relevant boards, we can certainly decrease the rate of growth of local taxes. We can do so by working on controlling and restraining spending, improving efficiencies in governmental services, exploring collective purchasing, and encouraging commercial development consistent with our town’s character and existing infrastructure.

A distant second concern was the future of Fairfield Hills. People were divided as to whether they approved of the town bond monies spent there to date. Many were confused or misinformed about developments at the campus. But the most common lament we heard was confusion as to why development appeared to be so controversial and stalled.

We will have a reexamination of the master plan conducted. There will be appropriate public input. Then we will move forward the will of the majority decisively. Frankly, we suspect that the realization will come that we have no choice but to defer all but the contractually, legally or practically required work there for the moment, but our minds will be open to where a fair discussion leads us.

We anticipated the two above issues as the town’s top concerns. The third we encountered, however, was a bit of a surprise, not in terms of its existence, but its relative priority. People were upset about the tone of politics in town, and perceived, resulting in dysfunction at top levels of leadership.

We do not anticipate dysfunction will be a problem if we form a majority of the Board of Selectmen. While Pat and I are not political clones of each other, we both view each of ourselves as moderate centrists who are, above all, fair in our conduct in political discourse and decisionmaking. Notably, we are the only team running that can say we have actually worked collaboratively together on a municipal body.

As to the overall tone in town, that is only partly within our control. We can, and have through the course of this campaign, set the example, but all players must respect fair processes and refrain from inappropriate, unfounded, or personal accusations as to motives and personalities.

We welcome your support election day and hope this election, regardless of outcome, marks the beginning of increasing truth to the slogan “Nicer in Newtown.”

William F.L. Rodgers

208 Hattertown Road, Newtown                             October 27, 2009