Lay Off

The Lies

To the Editor:

Tax and Spend IPN Board of Finance Candidates McNerney and Roberts fail to understand the function of the Board of Finance (BOF) and the Fairfield Hills parking issue as it applies to the BOF. Moreover, they either deride our military or laud the present BOF with the greatest praise by referring to it as the “Old Guard.” The “Old Guard” is the 3d US Infantry Regiment in the US Army and one of the most respected Infantry Regiments. It has the awesome responsibility of guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. I am honored just to be mentioned on the same page as these guardians. As a BOF member and guardian of taxpayers’ money, thank you for the compliment.

McNerney and Roberts state that the town entered into a lease/loan agreement with NYA regarding the parking lot which was debt service in 2008, and accuse the BOF of remaining “mum” until March 2009 (when Mr Kortze and I admonished the selectman at a televised budget meeting for not moving it through the Capital Improvement Plan [CIP]). To state that the BOF knew of the matter prior and was “mum” on the matter is an absolute lie! But of course this is not surprising for I Prefer Nastiness candidates.

Here is perhaps the most shocking of all… Po Murray did know of the lease/loan agreement debt service in 2008. In her May 29, 2008, letter to the Connecticut Department of Labor she writes, “If the lease deal is accepted, the demolition of the Greenwich Hall expected to cost $2 million and the demolition of Litchfield Hall expected to cost $650,000 and the plan is to construct 275 parking spaces. The town is entertaining a close-end lease agreement where the town pays rent to Mr D’Amico for 15 years costing the town $6.59 million.” Why she never informed the Board of Finance remains a mystery. More importantly, here is a Legislative Council member who knows of the debt service, knows that the debt service is not contained in the December 2008 CIP, never mentions it in the Legislative Council discussions or debates on the CIP, and votes on the CIP knowing the parking lot debt service is not in the CIP! No wonder IPN candidates attempt to shift the blame!

Two years ago the BOF did make inquiry as to its role as to Fairfield Hills. It was informed that the supervisory role was for the Board of Selectmen. Commencing in January 2009 (well before the elections) I (and other members of the Board of Finance) again made inquiry to review the Fairfield Hills financials as future requests for funding beyond the initial $21.8 million was anticipated. To date it has not happened, however, the circumstance is beyond the BOF to compel.

Next time Misters McNerney and Roberts decide to run for office, perhaps they should lay off the lies, misdirection, and overall pulp fiction.

Thank you.

Jim Gaston

Democratic Candidate for Board of Finance

18 Main Street, Newtown                                           October 10, 2009