To The Editor:

This budget season, I call on elected leaders and town employees to resolve to improve transparency and public participation in our local government with some simple technology upgrades.

Below are some of the long-overdue improvements that need to be prioritized and accomplished, ASAP!

Remote Meeting Access — Like most Connecticut towns/cities, Newtown figured out how to host town meetings and hearings remotely during the pandemic, using services like Zoom. Unlike other towns, Newtown has eliminated this option. Select boards and commissions still stream their meetings. Some don’t. But that streaming technology is unreliable and does not invite public participation. Install a couple of cameras and microphones, or laptops in all meeting rooms and make a few available for portable use and train someone on each board/commission to operate it. Enable people who can’t get home in time from work, do not have transportation, or the elderly, to participate in local government.

Council Chambers Audio System — A public meeting does not go by without the commissions AND the public struggling to hear and/or complaining about the acoustics in the town’s main meeting room. Has anyone bothered to seek quotes to upgrade to a sound system that works? Has anyone asked any local businesses to step in and sponsor a sound system. Why do we continue to suffer thru inaudible meetings as a town?

Seating — It is appalling that residents, including the elderly, are forced to stand or sit on the floor blocking fire exits at town meetings. Shrink the U-shaped commissioner’s table in the Council Chambers and add more rows of seating for the public. Relocate meetings to a larger room when needed. Why isn’t town staff ensuring everyone has seats at all meetings?

Portable Audio Systems — Why not invest in one or two portable audio systems, and maybe a laptop projector for use in other meeting rooms and auditoriums. Just this past week, the Borough Zoning Commission held a public “Hearing” at the Middle School auditorium, without any microphones — ridiculous!

Digital Access to Applications and Associated Documents — In most cases, applications and accompanying documents are submitted to our Land Use office, digitally. In almost all cases, digital copies exist. Yet, the department “Policy” requires anyone seeking access to drive to their office during business hours. In most cases, the public is required to view the often large-format documents on a 2x3 table that is shared, ironically, with a computer.

Occasionally, at the Director’s discretion, certain individuals are allowed to bring the files to a larger nearby table. The public must photograph the files with their phones, or pay for copies. The Land Use department policy in other towns is to provide digital links to all of the documents associated with an application, so the information can be accessed remotely, at any time. What is the issue preventing public access to these public records in Newtown? Under who’s authority was their “Policy” adopted and maintained? Why are they allowed to continue restricting public access, and hence, public participation in the process?

Dave Ackert

Sandy Hook