State Blocks Recount Bid—

Voters Reject $6 Million NHS Expansion

By John Voket

A referendum authorizing an additional $6.045 million to fully fund an over-budget high school renovation failed by a 26 vote margin with 2,421 Yes votes and 2,447 No votes Tuesday, October 7. But a local council representative is reportedly calling the results into question because a moderator at the polls preliminarily mis-read one of the results.

The final number, which represented one less Yes vote from the original statement, was corrected moments later, according to Democratic Registrar of Voters LeReine Frampton.

After the final vote count was validated, the registrars learned that some supporters of the project were calling for a recount. And, she said IPN Legislative Council representative Po Murray contacted the Secretary of the State’s office questioning the final count because of the mis-read number in the moments after a final tally printout was produced.

Town Clerk Debbie Aurelia was also contacted Wednesday by the school district to determine if petitioning for a recount had any legal merit. This resulted in town officials placing a call to the Secretary of the State’s Office, which confirmed the referendum outcome did not qualify for a recount.

“The 26 vote margin does not qualify for a recount, and there is no legal vehicle to petition to force one under state law,” Ms Frampton said. Ms Aurelia confirmed that Secretary of the State’s elections administration officer Arthur Champagne informed local officials that an automatic recount could only be triggered if the margin was less than 25 votes.

“I don’t understand why there is an implication of wrongdoing being registered with the state by one of our elected public officials,” Ms Frampton said. “Every aspect of our election procedure is completely transparent, we posted the results for public viewing at the polls. All documentation is public and readily available for review per Freedom of Information statutes.”

Responding to a request for comment by email, Ms Murray said she unsuccessfully sought information at the polls from Ms Frampton. She then blamed a local daily newspaper article for casting “a hint of suspicion” on the proceedings, inspiring her to contact the state for assistance instead of local officials.

“I asked LeReine directly about the inconsistent numbers and she chose to show me her written note rather than suggesting to me that I look at the tape to verify the machine count. If she had directed me to the tape immediately, there would be no suspicion and I would not have called the State asking for some information,” Ms Murray said.

She said when contacting the state, Ms Murray represented herself to the SOTS office as a private citizen, while acknowledging her concern represented others in attendance at the polls who were also confused by the apparent discrepancy.

Despite the fact that Poll Moderator Nancy Larin announced the tally would be posted immediately after the results were read, and subsequently taped the readout in plain view next to the door of the polling place, Ms Murray said she “had no idea that the tape could be viewed.”

“I am hoping that we all learn from this exercise of information gathering,” Ms Murray said. “Residents and others who attend the vote count should be made aware that the machine count can be viewed on the tape, which is typically posted on the wall. Good to know!!!”

Original Authorization Intact

The original estimated construction budget of $38.8 million, which was approved in an April 22 referendum, was determined and submitted for approval before project bids were sought. In July, it was revealed that those bids came in in excess of $6 million over budget, which triggered the school district’s request for the additional bonding to bridge the shortfall. An aggressive advocacy campaign ensued with presentations being made to parent groups, during school open houses, and to several lead boards and commissions in recent weeks.

Advocates, including members of the Board of Education and school administrators including Superintendent Janet Robinson, believed there was no other way to complete all aspects of the approved project as originally presented.

Besides expanding classroom space to accommodate a maximum projected student population of 2,022, the project also included an expansion and redesign of the gymnasium, an artificial turf field in the stadium, an all-weather track, bringing all sports facilities in line with disabled accessibility requirements, expanding culinary, administrative, lab and arts spaces, and numerous other considerations.

The architects and project management representatives, who appeared at numerous meetings advocating for the expansion, and the extra money required to bridge the $6 million-plus shortfall, blamed global economic factors for the rapid escalation of certain materials costs that contributed to project bids coming in so far over budget.

The referendum vote this week, however, signaled a victory for opponents including, construction industry professionals, who also appeared at recent meetings saying the project was overdesigned, or who believed the construction manager could negotiate lower bids for certain phases of the project to save taxpayers part or all of the extra costs.

Despite the failure of this supplemental referendum, the project will still receive the original $38.8 million that was overwhelmingly approved by local taxpayers in a vote on April 22. The school board scheduled a special meeting for Wednesday, October 8, during which members discussed how to move forward with the project considering the outcome of the previous days vote. (See related story.)

Expressing Pros And Cons

Leading up to the final moments of the referendum at Newtown Middle School Tuesday, voters willingly expressed their feelings about the high school expansion.

Steve and Wendy Odams said they have a daughter who attends Reed Intermediate School, and they heard about the vote on October 7 from the school.

“We’re certainly in favor of it,” said Steve Odams. “We know what the situation is like there, and we know that it needs to expand.”

As a retired teacher at Newtown High School, Mary Thomas said she thinks it is an important vote for the town to attend.

“I was there,” said Ms Thomas, who retired from teaching at the school two years ago. “I saw the crowded halls. I saw students late for their classes. I saw students sitting on the floor.”

Jim Chiravelli, a Newtown resident who has children attending St Rose School, said he would vote No for the Referendum. “I think it’s too little too late,” said Mr Chiravelli.

Newtown resident Diane Capossela came to the school early in the morning with her husband, Tony, to vote.

“In this financial time, I just don’t think it is right,” said Diane Capossela.

Tony Capossela also said he is against the high school expansion project at this time. “I feel as if they are holding us hostage,” he said.

As a mother of a Newtown High School graduate, Debbie Zukowski said the overcrowding at the school affected her daughter’s education while at the high school.

“I have a child who is currently a junior in college,” said Ms Zukowski, “and she could not fit in the classes she needed as a sophomore at Newtown.”

No Money Available

On Wednesday, Finance Board Chairman John Kortze was contacted by Dr Robinson to come to that evening’s school board meeting to offer his insights on moving forward with the plan based on the bonding that was already authorized. But Mr Kortze told The Bee that attempting to move forward at this time, considering the current state of national and global financial markets, would be futile.

“We’re in a situation where there is a complete lack of credit on any level, including for the highest rated creditworthy municipalities,” he said.

“This is a complete game changer,” he said, “which is well above and beyond the call of any party or any individual. Even the triple-A rated municipalities can’t get money.”

Mr Kortze said no matter how the school board decides to move forward, the money to fund the project does not exist today.

“This is not my opinion, it’s the facts. And projecting when this may change, nobody knows,” he said. “The situation is not going back to normal overnight, so we can talk about what we think we should do, but ultimately there is no money right now.”

With no indicator of when the money will be available, the finance board chair asked rhetorically, “And if it does ease up, what will it cost us?” He added, “Bond ratings have no bearing in this environment — there’s no telling what level of risk will be assigned to these transactions moving forward.”