Strike A Deal With Becker & Becker

To the Editor,

While I have no interest in, nor connection to Becker and Becker Associates, I would like to echo the sentiments of so many other Newtown residents who have come to the conclusion that the Becker and Becker proposal is head and shoulders above the others. It is also infinitely better than the town purchasing the Fairfield Hills property.

The prospect of the town managing the planning and renovation is really frightening. Those who are unfamiliar with the scope of this project, or the limited resources of the town to manage such a project, might believe, in the interest of civic pride, that the town government is capable of such management.

With all respect to my fellow Newtowners who would prefer that the town buy Fairfield Hills, have you ever heard of the Newtown Police Station? It is one relatively small building and has been a problem for years. It also does not maintain the character of our beautiful Main Street but detracts from it.

Let’s get real. Let’s quickly agree on what we need in the way of a sports complex, and the new school, and let’s agree to the Becker and Becker proposal.

Having renovated the Hawley Manor at the time of the library expansion (remember the library expansion?) and at the time of the sewers (remember the sewers?) I know firsthand that we would see a third millennium come and go before the town could complete the renovation of Fairfield Hills. Renovation is far more difficult than new construction.

The naivete of those who say that Becker and Becker wants the project to be “a money making venture” evidences how unprepared this well-intentioned town group is to guide the fate of this beautiful piece of property. It has to be a money making venture.

Herb Rosenthal needs to exercise the leadership he has demonstrated in the past and guide the town to a smart deal with Becker and Becker to give us what we want and need. It may not be the political thing to do with all the sentiment and town pride associated with town management of the project but it is the right thing to do. It makes fiscal sense.

This is a monster project. It’s not an emotional decision. Let’s quickly (by Christmas) identify what we need. Let’s stop jerking those companies around which have made very expensive proposals to our town in good faith only to be told, “Well, maybe we’ll do it ourselves.” This is unconscionable and borders on the unethical. At the very least, it is uninformed and naïve. Those who are speaking the loudest for town control should be prepared to endure a lifetime of substantially increased taxation to cover the town’s lack of expertise.

I agree with fellow resident Gary Grey who pointed out in The Bee two weeks ago that only Becker and Becker takes into consideration the character of Newtown, preserves the historic structures and is sensitive to the needs of our community. This is not a town government project. How can anyone believe that our town could handle such a project without at least the “partnership” of a major developer like Becker and Becker?

Respectfully,

Tom Belli

Taunton Hill Road, Newtown                                      November 29, 1999