Double Standard

To the Editor:

Two weeks ago, Will Rodgers, the chairman of the Legislative Council and Republican candidate for the state representative seat, participated in an orchestrated Republican attack on two council members.

 According to the Legislative Council’s own Rules of Order, a public attack and questioning of another member’s motive is strictly prohibited. Republicans and Mr Rodgers in particular questioned the motive and agenda of other members of the council. Is he applying one standard for others and another for himself and fellow Republicans? Or perhaps Mr Rogers has launched his political campaign from the Legislative Council’s podium.

It appears that Mr Rodgers has concocted rules that do not exist and suggests that established guidelines are being broken. However, a review of the Legislative Council’s Rules of Order does not contain any such guidelines. In addition, Mr Rodgers has a habit of violating his own guidelines he accuses other Legislative Council members of breaking by frequently identifying himself as a member of the Legislative Council and speaking outside of meetings as if he represents the will of the Legislative Council. Another double standard!

 Mr Rodgers also suggested and was concerned that a council member caused the town attorney to incur unnecessary costs by requesting information on prevailing wage requirements. In fact, the town attorney was already investigating the prevailing wage issue for a month.

 One wonders how appropriate it is for Newtown to purposely try to avoid the prevailing wage legislation. It should always be our priority to function legally, as honesty in town government is critical. The town attorney’s job is not to figure out how to “legally” break the law.

Mr Rodger’s interest in saving the town legal costs is another double standard. Mr Rodgers did not express any public concern when members of the Fairfield Hills Authority, including Mrs Rogers, served illegally for 3½ months and the town attorney was tasked to research and write a long legal brief, rewrite the Fairfield Hills Authority’s motions and actions taken over the 3½—month period when the FFHA served illegally. The town attorney attended the FFHA meeting to rectify this illegal activity. The minutes of the FFHA even tried to hide the reason for this legal action and the minutes had to be qualified a month later. The Newtown Bee participated in a cover-up by not reporting this illegal activity, while they have no problem dedicating a front-page article on the orchestrated Republican attack over the nonexisting council guidelines.

 One has to question why Mr Rodgers orchestrated the attack on the IPN council members. Perhaps his goal is to diminish the credibility of IPN just in case IPN decides not to endorse him for the state representative seat in November.

 The Republican attack on the two Legislative Council members should not be tolerated. I encourage the voters to critically analyze the news in The Bee and decide if a partisan state representative will serve the best interest of Newtown prior to casting a vote this November.

Bruce Walczak

12 Glover Avenue, Newtown                                           June 18, 2008