A Need For More Information

On Fairfield Hills

To The Editor:

Your recent issues have had numerous articles on various capital projects facing the taxpayers of Newtown. It’s safe to say that Newtown is facing a critical juncture in its development. What projects the town will undertake and how we are going to pay for them is the over-riding issue. A rational and comprehensive analysis of the benefits and costs of these projects on a prioritized basis should be done sooner rather than later. These projects, as well as future projects that are known to be facing us but are not under immediate consideration, should be viewed as a package and not on a piecemeal basis.

Expensive projects such as the 5/6 school, space needs for town government operations and additional recreational facilities are just some of the immediate expenditures facing the town. Also, how long will it be before we are told that we need even more classroom space for a growing school population?

The more costly issue of whether or not the town should buy Fairfield Hills requires more public disclosure of the financial impact. There is no doubt that the question of how the Fairfield Hills property will be developed will have a profound impact on the future of the town. Quite simply, it is a beautiful piece of land in the center of our great town, and the development of the property will affect the character of the town forever. We cannot afford to bungle this opportunity. On the other hand, can we afford to buy the property when viewed in the context of other municipal projects? I hope we can. It seems to me that the Board of Selectmen, the Legislative Council, Board of Education and the finance director should be able to develop revenue projections and cost estimates of all the anticipated projects.

The residents of Newtown are entitled to have all the information they need to make an informed decision and feel comfortable with it. Also, the town should not expose itself to an unlimited liability for the cost of remediating environmental problems left behind by the State of Connecticut. Let’ s approach these issues in a fiscally responsible manner.

Sincerely Yours,

Richard L. Sturdevant

Six Westwood Terrace, Newtown    February 14, 2000