About Allegations

To the Editor:

In the March 5, 2009 edition of The Newtown Bee, Mr Rosenthal’s letter [Letter Hive, “Orchestrated False Allegations”] defends Town Attorney David Grogins as “very honest and competent.” I appreciate that Mr Rosenthal has come to the defense of his longtime colleague, someone who has served many years as town attorney under Herb’s tenure as first selectman. However, rather than substantiate his claim of “honesty” in regard to the prevailing wage dispute, Mr Rosenthal chose to attack those who question the integrity of town politics, characterizing the letters as “vitriolic, containing false allegations, half-truths and personal attacks.”  

Well, Mr. Rosenthal, I wish to categorically disagree with you. Unlike your letter, I supported my opinion by providing concrete examples based on research from pages of information related to the prevailing wage issue and construction of parking at Fairfield Hills, including the following: correspondence between Grogins and the Department of Labor’s Sandra Barrachina and Gary Pechie; the Newtown Youth Academy ground lease and lease amendment; the master plan modification of September 2007; and meeting minutes from both the Board of Selectman and Fairfield Hills Authority. I suppose it is utterly ironic that Mr Rosenthal’s letter to The Bee (9/30/2008), in which he states that the $3.5 million “is for demolition of Greenwich House and construction of parking for the NYA, a new playing field and the future recreation/senior center” contradicts Grogins’ own statement to the Department of Labor that parking “will be for the benefit of and constructed by a private party who has a long term lease of the property.”

 I maintain that there was nothing scathing, false, or personal about my letter. I simply pointed out that while it has been communicated, in more ways than one, and by everyone involved, that permanent parking would serve the NYA as well as the adjacent baseball field, and future Park and Recreation Center, our town attorney failed to provide this vital information in his letter to the Department of Labor.

 Mr Rosenthal’s tirade would have been more credible had he been able to cohesively and rationally rebut at least one of his so-called false accusations. His digression is unbecoming of a veteran town leader. As for the title of Mr Rosenthal’s letter “Orchestrated False Allegations,” I believe that summarizes his empty, unsubstantiated accusations perfectly.

Respectfully submitted,

Gianine Crowell

26 Canterbury Lane, Sandy Hook                               March 11, 2009