Circumventing The Law

While Blaming Others

To the Editor:

Looking at Fairfield Hills from a different perspective, accusations by the FFH Authority and selectmen that local citizens seeking information from state officials cost the town $662,217 is ridiculous. (Bee, 7/10/09.) Remaining anonymous is almost impossible, and town leaders were well aware of communication among contractors, workers, and citizens. $662,217 cited by town leaders is the result of their own failure to meet the requirements of the state Departments of Environmental Protection, Health, and Labor, and poor supervision of contractors.

Local government planned to lease Bridgeport Hall to contractors to abate and renovate, and then lease it back to the town to avoid the Connecticut prevailing wage law (Federal Davis-Bacon Act) that municipalities must obey unless they use sneaky ways to circumvent the law. Wisely, others convinced the selectmen this was inappropriate for a town hall. However, town hall Phase I costs were kept out-of-town by O&G Engineering and largely unavailable. Selectmen Borst reversed this procedure, and new finance officer, Robert Tait, now answers inquiries promptly.

When Phase II work began this January, hammering was necessary. Plaster began falling from the ceiling; several workers left the job and reported the dangers. The DEP sent in the Best Tech firm to properly abate and clean up the mess left by the previous company. Incompetent oversight! The town was billed $108,745.

The Greenwich Hall demolition costs increased because the state required asbestos testing of plaster samples from each room, walls and ceiling, not just one sample per building. With no money left, the selectmen struck a deal with the NYA. They had the owner borrow $3 million for the project, and the selectmen agreed to repay him $3 million at $21,645.78 monthly from the town budget for 20 years at six percent without a voter referendum. This way the town could avoid paying prevailing wages for the combined parking facilities serving the NYA, town hall and future recreation center, but an alert Department of Labor interceded. (DOL letter 9/19/08 — see IPN website) The selectmen approved the $14,000 legal fees to appeal this ruling. State Senator McKinney helped to broker a deal. The town must obey the prevailing wage law for the town-parking portion, and the NYA may pay nonprevailing wages for its portion.

Arrogance, evasiveness, and ignorance, not anonymous phone calls, generated additional asbestos testing and delays. Had they played by the rules instead of circumventing the law and ignoring public safety, FFH would now be a place of beauty and town pride.

Po Murray is not a “whistleblower”. She openly sought to confirm rumors circulating in town!

These leaders seek to blame Po for their own errors and use this issue to try to defeat Po in November; that’s what it’s all about. Po has the courage and tenacity to seek the truth and obey existing laws. She is a good citizen model for our children and our democracy!

Ruby Johnson

16 Chestnut Hill Road, Sandy Hook                              July 15, 2009