Newtown

Deserves Better

To the Editor:

The Bee article about town officials critical of the superintendent’s budget update is another indication of a Board of Education out of control. Town officials seem to be in agreement that the budget update sent home with the children violates the spirit of the election laws. These officials have openly criticized Superintendent Pitkoff, who seems to have no problem with his apparent underhanded activity.

Yet another sterling example of Board of Education arrogance was the comment by Mr Nanavaty, who said town officials “have too much time on their hands.” Maybe he should attend one of the schools he oversees so he can learn about what government officials are supposed to be doing — that would be seeing to the integrity of the government of which he is a part. According to Legislative Council Chairman Will Rodgers this is an outrageous misuse of public funds. The chairman of the Finance Board Mr Kortze called it “divisive and politically motivated” and in the end it seems the document was also manipulated by the Board of Education to slant it in favor of their budget.

I think Newtown deserved better than this. The Board of Education and the superintendent should be above such petty and cheap underhanded behavior. The superintendent should resign and take his yes-man Nanavaty with him. If they don’t resign, then the town should begin legal and proper action to remove them. Taxpayers are being confronted with hikes in the state income tax, personal property taxes, and a record-breaking budget. We should not have to swallow all of that and improper action on the part of those involved in the budget process too! Pitkoff and Nanavaty must go!

Michael A. Marsalisi

3 King Street, Newtown                                                 March 26, 2007