To the Editor:

I attended the Borough of Newtown budget meeting on May 14, where the budget as proposed was defeated by a narrow 30 to 26 vote. I urge all Borough residents to attend the next budget meeting and vote No again.

The voters have been told the budget vote has to be an up or down vote, despite the need to cut line items. One such cut would be in the sidewalk line until the Burgesses change the location of any future sidewalk from Route 302, where almost no one walks, to Elm Drive where many, many people walk every day, including youth using the skateboard park at Dickinson Park. I drive both roads every day and see this with my own eyes.

I also opposed the May budget because it basically ignored the massive, accumulated surplus. The new proposal is not much better.

The state reason for the $680,000-plus surplus is to be prepared to evaluate any zoning proposal for reuse of the Inn at Newtown property, a worthy goal. There is legitimate concern that proposals for the site might irrevocably alter the heart and soul of Newtown, which is Main Street in close proximity to the flagpole.

If one wants to prepare to react to bad zoning proposals, we do not need $20,000 for legal fees in the abstract; we need an appropriation for a qualified land use planner dedicated to showing the impact on the town and Borough from any ill conceived use of the Inn at Newtown property.

So my recommendation is to continue to vote No until the Burgesses revise the budget in a constructive way to plan for the future of Main Street.

Sincerely,

Robert H. Hall

5 Nettleton Avenue, Newtown         May 28, 2019