To the Editor:

I encourage town residents to vote Yes for the town and education budgets, and vote Yes for the six referenda projects.

Although I can't agree with the procedure by which the Legislative Council majority leadership implemented the budgets, a vote  No  would not correct the process performed, and do more harm by likely further reducing an education budget that is already postponing safety repairs. These school safety repairs were presented to the Board of Finance, which endorsed the need. The Legislative Council majority cut the dollars needed to address those safety repairs.

Worrisome was the Legislative Council's procedure whereby a proposal was created by the chairperson, shared with a select few, then set on other council members at a budget meeting where little more than a quorum was present. Despite a member's request for time to digest, study, and receive public input on the proposal, the request was denied and the matter voted on, even though the budgetary process was not completed - further budgetary meetings were scheduled and further budgetary votes were had.

Substantively, this proposal reduced money from the education budget, removed money for road repairs and Edmond Town Hall repairs, and resolved that if grant money is received some of the items cut might be partially restored. Unfortunately, this is neither the statutory nor Charter process by which the town budget is to be presented to the voters. Voters are entitled to total transparency - voters are entitled to know exactly what are the products and services they are voting for on the town side. This is why the Board of Finance and Legislative Council have line item authority on the town side of the budget. Hopefully, next year this practice will not be repeated.

I encourage Yes votes for 1) the Hawley School Roof - recommended to be repaired in 2003; 2) the middle school boilers replacement - over 60 years old; 3) the senior center - in discussion since 1998 (despite the concerns about the community center and the current proposal - according to the prior survey the present proposal is one of the least favorable scenarios the public endorsed, and not what many envisioned when voting to accept the GE gift) - the senior center is an attachment to the community center such that no matter what community center is built the senior center remains a constant; 4) the police station - this is for the design so that we can get "Facts First" - see exactly what is proposed and what it will cost; 5) the road improvements speak for themselves; 6) the high school auditorium improvements are long awaited and are actually Phase II of work already in progress.

In short, please vote Yes!

Please also note, these are my own thoughts, and not those of any board or office that I may hold.

Thanks for your kind attention to these important matters.

Sincerely,

Jim Gaston

18 Main Street, Newtown         April 19, 2017