New Town Hall

Is Not A Wise Priority

To the Editor:

Citizens of Newtown awaken to the irresponsible act that will take place in our name!

Our First Selectman Herb Rosenthal is forging ahead to build a new town hall at Bridgeport Hall in Fairfield Hills for $11 million.

Under “normal” circumstances we should applaud this endeavor to consolidate town services in a facility that is in keeping with our times and needs. Our town has grown and expanded while still maintaining its bucolic charm and attractiveness. And surely Mr Rosenthal, as our first selectman, has played a positive role in our progress. But alas, after five terms in office his ability to rationalize and choose priorities wisely and prudently is seriously hampered. He is going to have his new town hall one way or another. And our esteemed Board of Selectmen utters nary a peep of protest.

These are not “normal” times! The town and education capital needs which have been specifically identified and prioritized for the next five years are pushing $100 million. After funding from the general fund and after accounting for grants we will need to bond $79 million. This amount is staggering considering the fact that it far exceeds (and not just for one year) the town’s self-imposed debt service to revenue cap maximum of ten percent. Both town and education officials must now eliminate and pare down much needed capital requests. It is in this atmosphere that Herb continues to insist that we must move ahead “because it has already been decided to be done by the voters.” That happened several years ago when we were not faced with cutting back a much needed high school expansion ($47 million), capital road projects ($2 million), Sandy Hook Engine 441 ($350,000), police building improvements ($1.1 million), FFH baseball fields ($30,000), etc, etc.

Recently it came to light that the Kendro property at 31 Peck’s Lane, where we currently lease 14,000 square feet for town and education offices, has come up for sale for $5 million including its 24 acres of land. If we really must have newer office why is this not an option for expanded town offices? There are currently over 80,000 square feet available for lease also. It would cost about $240,000 annually for an additional 40,000 square feet. Has this been considered? That’s a lot less than $11 million!

Good management in the private and public sectors requires one to have the ability to see wide, deep and be flexible. This continued “full speed ahead — damn the torpedoes” charge to build us a new town hall is not in keeping with spending our money wisely at this time in light of the other needs. Our Board of Finance is wisely holding firm on recommendations that capital expenditures be pared in order to maintain the town’s fiscal discipline and market credibility. Our first selectman is not above responsible and prudent fiscal management. Our selectmen and council representatives must not become members of a circular firing squad — aiming inward. We must immediately demand, before it is to late, from our selectmen and Legislative Council members that this rush to erect Herb’s Edifice be halted and reexamined in light of our town’s real needs and abilities to fund.

Paul J. Mangiafico

15 Kent Road, Newtown                                         November 29, 2006