New Advocacy Group Sparks Debate And Criticism

By Susan Coney &

John Voket

In an effort to instigate action on school space needs, a group of Newtown residents has joined together to push for “long term” and “educationally sound” decisions. The leaders of Newtown’s Boards of Selectmen and Finance, as well as the Legislative Council chairman, however, have mixed reactions to the special interest group.

The grassroots group, WECAN, (WE Care About Newtown), formed about two weeks ago when residents Po Murray and Gary Davis began brainstorming about concerns they had on space needs, which both previously discussed on the record at public meetings and in letters in The Newtown Bee.

“It was born out of necessity,” Mr Davis said. “Po has been working diligently, attending meetings and writing letters to the newspaper. She inspired me. We recognized that people are trying to send a message to the Board of Education and the other town boards.”

Ms Murray agreed, saying, “We became frustrated that our voices weren’t going anywhere.”

“We began with about 12 members and are now up to approximately 30,” Mr Davis said. “We are in it for the long term. We have focused on and are dedicated to it even though we are juggling busy schedules. The timing to do this now is crucial, because the Board of Ed may be making a decision on March 7 about the high school.”

First Selectman Herb Rosenthal told The Bee Wednesday, however, that he does not agree with the premise WECAN is using to justify its claims. He said numbers on state reimbursements for school projects that Ms Murray was using to illustrate a downward trend in reimbursements selectively omitted the latest state figures that shows a marked increase.

“In 2003-2004, the town was receiving state education reimbursements at 34.6 percent,” Mr Rosenthal said. “That rate dropped to 31.4 and 30.3 over the next two years, driven down by Newtown’s wealth rating. However, in 2006-2007, the state reimbursements have reversed upward to 32.8 percent.”

The first selectman added that 70–80 acres that would be required to build the facility at Fairfield Hills could compound the problems facing local Parks and Recreation officials who are constantly faced with a shortage of playing fields. He also pointed to the bottom line, which architects have told the Board of Education could top out at as much as $150 million.

In a conversation about proposed school projects several weeks ago, Town Finance Director Benjamin Spragg preliminarily indicated that such an expenditure, combined with the costs to deliver other contingencies proposed by WECAN, could generate anywhere from a seven to more than ten mill increase in taxes over the next ten years.

“Their plan is too costly,” Mr Rosenthal said Wednesday. “Even if it were affordable, no case has been made that [a new high school at Fairfield Hills] is the best solution.”

Finance Board Chairman John Kortze said he was always happy when citizens get involved, and work to learn more about the processes of town government, encouraging anyone to get up and be heard.

“It’s their right, and to an extent, their responsibility,” he said. “I salute their efforts and welcome their questions.”

The finance board chairman added that it is, however, challenging for public officials to balance the large population of Newtown with its small government.

“Large issues can be affected by smaller grassroots movements, so clearly, it can have its downside, if [elected officials] don’t agree with them,” he said.

Mr Kortze said he offered to demonstrate to Ms Murray the impact of a decision to build a new high school, and described many of the assertions she made in a release announcing the formation of WECAN as “steadfastly inaccurate.”

“I would want to have all the information, if I were her, before I assumed it was affordable. To make the assumption that we’re going to put all the town office space in the middle school in a vacuum is very short sighted. You certainly can’t make those broad sweeping statements without knowing the ramifications,” Mr Kortze said. “She may not like that there is a plan for a town hall at Fairfield Hills but that was set in motion a long time ago.”

The finance board chairman pointed to “many debatable assertions in her release.”

“She once said in a letter that the Board of Finance disregarded the town’s needs, and then admitted to me later that she had never been to a Board of Finance meeting,” he said.

Legislative Council Chairman Will Rodgers said he shared similar concerns with Mr Kortze.

“What sort of disturbs me is that Ms Murray has elevated herself to leading a formal group. When you’re representing others besides yourself, you might want to become more judicious,” Mr Rodgers said. “It’s advocacy being presented as facts.”

Mr Rodgers said Ms Murray was off-base in some of the assertions she presented as facts.

He said when she spoke at a recent Board of Education’s public hearing asserting she “saved $42 million off the high school costs,” $30 million was already built-in from state reimbursement.

“But the [additional] savings of $10 million from not having to build a town hall doesn’t take into account any costs related to improving the middle school or moving, or even the suitability of moving it to another location. I don’t think that made it into her release,” he said.

Mr Rodgers also shared Mr Kortze’s concerns about the actual numbers of taxpayers being represented by WECAN.

“If, in fact, WECAN represents a significant number of other people, I hope we will see the input of more than the core group of individuals who have already aligned themselves with Ms Murray in the past,” he said.

To date the group is still in the preliminary stages of forming and hopes to show a strong presence at the Tuesday, March 7, Board of Education meeting. At press time no formal meetings have been held or scheduled, Ms Murray said.

On Monday, February 27, WECAN sent a letter to the Board of Education endorsing the concept of constructing a new high school at the Fairfield Hills complex and urged the Board of Education at its March 7 meeting to recommend such a solution to the Board of Finance and the Legislative Council.

“A new high school facility provides a long term space solution to overcrowding at the current high school, and provides the district with long term options to deal with space issues at our middle and elementary schools and space for school administrative offices,” Ms Murray said. “It offers the town the option of using current school facilities to meet non-educational town needs in a more cost effective manner, such as the potential renovation of the current middle school for use as a new town hall and a senior center. With some innovative thinking on the part of our elected officials, we firmly believe a new high school is something our town can afford once we look at the real cost of such a facility,” she added.

Ms Murray, who recently resigned as the secretary of the townwide PTA Council, told The Bee Wednesday that she did so in order to form her own special interest group.

“My intent was never to do this on my own,” Ms Murray said. “I totally believe in what the PTA Council is doing, but I came to an assertion at a certain point that the PTA Council isn’t ready [to address space needs]. I was way ahead of them, and I’m not sure they can catch up. I have strong opinions, so I pulled myself away because I’m not sure their by-laws would allow me to make public comments.”

Ms Murray said her association with the PTA Council was “limiting.”

“So therefore I have spoken to many likeminded people who wanted to go forward with our charge. There are a lot of voices in town but many of them are too busy to get involved. I hope more of them get involved,” Ms Murray added.

For more information about WECAN email: WECANewtown@aol.com.