Six Persistent Untruths                  

To the Editor:

The IPN claimed there was a $12 million surplus in the budget. False, no apology. IPN attacks the apolitical Ad Hoc Legislative Council Maintenance Study Committee as politically motivated; insults Dan Amaral, Jan Brookes, Paul Lundquist, Pat Lodhra, and myself… the report is actually due after the election, no IPN apology.

IPN Po Murray intentionally takes out of context a statement of mine as to a CIP placesetting of $10 million for the high school expansion some six years ago, it had nothing to do with the actual cost of the high school expansion, it was just a placement position as no estimate had been provided by the Board of Education yet, she knew it, no apology for intentional taking the statement out of context.

Three times the IPN candidates for Board of Finance falsely stated that the Board of Finance covered up, or were “mum” on the Fairfield Hills/NYA lease-parking issue despite the Board of Finance being legally out of the loop (an IPN Legislative Council member had actually immersed herself in it). The assumption of most people was that the money was coming from the remaining FFH bond proceeds (including apparently the IPN member now); the IPN’s false accusations against the Board of Finance remain without an apology. The simple fact, if you wrongfully punch the bear in the face five times without provocation, one should expect to get bitten back with the truth.          

Of value was Po Murray’s recent letter to the editor asking voters to review candidates’ past recorded statements and minutes [ “Believe In A Better Way,” Letter Hive, 10/16/09]; here are some that demonstrate the policy of IPN from its founding member:

Tax and Spend, IPN — 9/4/07 IPN Press Release — make school a top priority by reallocating funds in the five-year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP);

9/9/07 IPN Press Release — Po Murray, “all school requirements should come before municipal requirement...we also believe the five-year CIP needs to be reevaluated to maximize spending of our valuable tax dollars by accelerating school repairs...”;

3/1/06 BOF Minutes — Po Murray urged “the BOF to work on the top line and not to focus so much on the bottom line; Gary Davis — urging the BOE to look at the long term...and not worry about the dollars and cents;

2/7/07 Legislative Council minutes — Po Murray, “Build a new high school at Fairfield Hills rather than paying $40 million for repair job,” estimate close to $200 million dollars;

9/27/06 BOF Meeting — Po Murray favors new high school despite cost;

12/5/06 BOE Minutes — Po Murray — doesn’t like high school expansion, too small...reduce the $6.8 million for senior center and pool and give to new high school;

1/17/07 Legislative Council Minutes — Po Murray, in addition to new high school, “middle school should become the new town hall and new middle school (far more than $10 million — probable $80–$100 million) should be built.”

Food for thought for this election.

Thank you.

Very truly yours,

Jim Gaston

Candidate for Board of Finance

18 Main Street, Newtown                                           October 19, 2009