No Room For Secrets

To the Editor:

It was with great dismay and concern that I read the recent Bee article regarding First Selectman Rosenthal’s reaction to private citizens meeting with state officials concerning Fairfield Hills. It appears Herb is angry and aghast that these citizens attended this meeting without his knowledge or approval, and that one of them is an active Legislative Council member.

The last time I checked Newtown was still a democracy where the citizens are in charge and volunteering to serve on the Legislative Council did not remove someone’s constitutional rights. The question that begs an answer is why these three citizens felt the need to go in the first place? Could it be that they, like most people in the community, are frustrated with this administration’s lack of action on this matter? Possibly they felt as citizens and taxpayers that they are being kept in the dark by the current administration’s clandestine approach to government. Perhaps they, like many people in town, feel it is time to bring closure to this issue. We have studied the Fairfield Hills issue for close to ten years; isn’t it time we made a decision?

If in fact more time is needed to study this, then the very least we citizens can expect is to be kept well informed of the proceedings. This is the largest single issue to face our community. Where is the plan?

The other selectmen and the Legislative Council should demand and require a regular status report from the first selectman on the progress of these studies and negotiations, and a timeline that clearly shows milestones and a final closing date. There is no room in government for secrets; that type of approach is reminiscent of a former administration. The result of that administration’s actions or lack thereof was Garner Correctional Institution. It is time to move forward on Fairfield Hills and keep the flow of information to our community continuous and factual.

Sincerely,

Robert Cascella

53 Copper Creek Circle, Newtown                               July 29, 2000