Our System Of Government Is Broken
Our System Of Government Is Broken
To the Editor:
The Legislative Council, the Board of Selectmen, and the Board of Education received the stateâs projections in 1998 for a high school enrollment of 1,694 in 2005-06. Today, the enrollment is 1,688 â very close. All three of these representative bodies ignored the predictions and did nothing substantive to prepare for the high school crunch.
The Save Fairfield Hills for Newtown group was organized in 1998 and proposed the town purchase of Fairfield Hills for future municipal needs, such as a future school. Important elected officials opposed the purchase of FFH, preferring to have a developer take the land for commercial purposes. As a special interest group, the Save Fairfield Hills people (now the Friends of Fairfield Hills) continued to push for long-range planning for the town. Finally, others joined the crusade, and the selectmen yielded to public demand to buy Fairfield Hills. Thatâs what special interests groups do; they focus awareness on problems hoping to force sleeping governments to action.
Playing fields advocates joined the crusade to buy FFH. Some dreamed of soccer and baseball fields with an indoor swimming facility and oversize gymnasium â a real recreation center. Others pushed for a community center and a cultural arts center. When the first selectman refers to the issue of seven playing fields, he is responding to a major constituency of sports-minded citizens. He needs their support to be reelected. The message is clear; playing fields trump education facilities.
Commercial interests in town want businesses at Fairfield Hills; it is a business-to-business direction. Businesses feed off of other businesses, but commuters do not share in the extra profits. The Fairfield Hills Authority is intent on creating business space at FFH. Business trumps education.
The cost estimates for FFH prepared by the consulting firm allocated $8 million to renovate Shelton Hall for town offices. During the long delay in the transfer of FFH to the town, Shelton fell into a state of neglect. Now the authority must find another solution, but money is short. Too much of the $20 million bond money has been frittered away such as developing a master plan budgeted at $200,000, but spending $374,835. Poor advice trumps education.
Special interests groups like the Friends of the Library have been forced out of Fairfield Hills â no more book sales there. The council chairman seeks to discredit Ms Murrayâs efforts to speak for a special interests group. More power to Po Murray!
By now, readers must realize our system of government is broken! In his recent letter to the editor, Frank Gardner called for a town manager form of government, led by a well-trained and experienced municipal professional who is not dependent on pressure groups to be reelected. With all the challenges facing Newtown, itâs time to discard a broken system and set our house in order. Who will lead the way? Carry on Po.
Ruby K. Johnson
16 Chestnut Hill, Sandy Hook  March 8, 2006