Date: Fri 03-May-1996

By ANDY GOROSKO

Published: Aug 11, 1999 12:00 am

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDYG

Quick Words:

FOI-Baumer-Booth-Libary

Full Text:

FOI Dismisses Baumer Complaint

B Y A NDREW G OROSKO

The Connecticut Freedom of Information Commission has dismissed a complaint

filed last year by a local man alleging that a public hearing held by the

Borough Zoning Commission violated the state's right-to-know law.

The FOI Commission endorsed its hearing officer's recommended dismissal of

Edwin Baumer's complaint, an FOI spokeswoman said Tuesday.

In his FOI complaint, Mr Baumer, a next-door neighbor of the Booth Library on

Main Street, alleges that a June 13, 1995 Borough Zoning Commission hearing on

the library's site plan application for its expansion project violated aspects

of the state's right-to-know law.

Mr Baumer alleges the zoners: reconvened a closed public hearing without

proper public notice; failed to record the votes of its members; and

improperly convened in executive session.

After a public hearing and review of Mr Baumer's complaint, FOIC hearing

officer Carolle Andrews determined that the Borough Zoning Commission didn't

violate the Freedom of Information Act.

In a related matter, Mr Baumer has a lawsuit pending against the Borough

Zoning Commission over approvals which it granted to allow Booth Library to

expand. The lawsuit is Mr Baumer's latest effort to prevent the library from

expanding. This lawsuit follows a judge's dismissal of two earlier lawsuits

filed by Mr Baumer that sought to stop the library expansion project.

Mr Baumer claims an expanded library will damage his quality of life through

increased activity at the library. The library recently broke ground for its

expansion project.

In Mr Baumer's most recent lawsuit, he alleges the Borough Zoning Commission

acted illegally, arbitrarily and in abuse of the discretion vested in it

because: the approvals the commission granted for library expansion amounted

to "spot zoning"; the approvals were not uniform for each kind of building in

the zone; the expansion of a non-conforming building was allowed; the amended

zoning regulations don't meet standards to protect the public health, safety,

convenience and property values; the amended regulations promote street

congestion, compromise light and air quality, overcrowd the land, and fail to

conserve the value of buildings; the amended regulations, in effect, amount to

an illegally granted a zoning variance by the Borough Zoning Commission; and a

traffic study should have been performed for the project.

In the latest lawsuit, Mr Baumer seeks: that the court sustain his appeal to

the library expansion project; that the court order the Borough Zoning

Commission to rescind its amended regulations pertaining to the library; and

that the court grant other relief it deems fit.

Mr Baumer is represented by Attorney Randall Carreira of Bridgewater. The

borough has a May 28 court answer date on the lawsuit in Danbury Spuerior

Court.

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The editorial took no position on the budget going up or down so you're reading things into the editorial that simply aren't there. The turnout is tied to the lack of passage, in that people who came out to vote last time did not this time, indicating a lack of support on their part. Perhaps it wasn't spelled out clearly enough, but that's what the editorial was driving at, people showing lack of support by not casting a vote. The editorial did address likely concerns among voters that may have led to lack of support and lack of turnout. This lower turnout also follows increasing turnout over the past four referendums in three years (meaning it is an aberration from that), and increased turnout is something that I do push for regularly in editorials. Any disappointment you might be seeing is at the break in that trend, not at whether the budget passed or not. I'd rather see more people come out and vote "no" then not vote at all.

Lower Turnout Results In Two Budget Defeats

Clearly, property owners no longer want to bear the burden of expenses while the state does not meet it’s responsibilities. Rising costs must be addressed by actions that do not include yearly increases of property owners’ taxes. The state of CT must meet its share of the educational costs, and other costs.

Town And School Budgets Fail At Referendum

This feels like an oddly misleading headline and narrative, particularly coming from the Editorial Board. The headline "Lower Turnout Results in Two Budget Defeats" pushes a misleading narrative regarding voter turnout, and then seeks to tie the outcome of the referendum to that misleading narrative. Sure, voter turn out for this year's referendum, 18%, was lower than last year's. However, last year's turnout, 25.4%, represented the highest turnout in the most recent 10 budget referendums. If you take the time to examine turnout percentages between 2017 and 2026 (2017: 19.9, 2018: 15.7, 2019: 17, 2020: 0, 2021: 8.98, 2022: 7.7, 2023: 8.8, 2024: 15.1/17.49, 2025: 25.4, 2026: 18), this year's turnout was actually the third highest in the past 10 cycles. Perhaps the headline of this article should say "Lower Voter Turnout Than Last Year", which is more accurate, rather than creating an impression that this year's turnout is some type of aberration - a narrative that the turnout numbers, in all their binary glory, simply do not support. Further, the headline of this article appears to tie the "lower turnout" to the defeated budgets. Sure, that could be true. But, perhaps, its more likely that Newtown residents are feeling the squeeze of multiple economic influences. In Newtown, we've experienced property revaluations and increased municipal spending. Eversource continues to raise rates. The state legislature gives PURA the authority to impose Public Benefit charges that benefit a tiny percentage of the public (and subsequently burdening the rest of us). At the national level, inflation has run rampant for years and many of those costs remain high to this day. In short, the data tells a far less dramatic—and far more honest—story than the headline suggests. This wasn’t an electorate vanishing in apathy; it was a fairly typical turnout delivering an verdict that, perhaps, some at the Editorial Board didn't like. At some point, it’s worth considering that residents aren’t confused, disengaged, or misled by turnout; they’re simply doing math at their kitchen tables and concluding that “no” is the only responsible answer left.

Enjoyed the forum which only confirmed my support for Brandon Moore as the Democratic candidate to run for the state representative position. Brandon Moore did not waiver about his duty to all the people, if elected, when an issue presents itself that requires that he voice a difference of opinion for the wellbeing of Newtown residents. If Michelle Ku’s 16 years have led to her loyalty being to other elected officials, as she implied, then Newtown is going to continue to witness actions that do not protect its residents. She could not unseat republican, Mitch Bolinsky, during a Blue Wave, and once again, will not do it now. Winning that seat is critical for all. That explains why her previous campaign committee now campaigns for Brandon Moore. It explains all the endorsements he has received from local elected democratic officials. It’s why we need Brandon Moore to be the democratic candidate to run for state representative.

Second Newtown DTC, League Of Women Voters Candidates Event Planned

Appreciated the opportunity to hear from both candidates as we were present for the College Dems forum but only heard from Brandon Moore. It was an opportunity to see who can unseat the Republican incumbent and there is no doubt that Brandon Moore should be the Democratic candidate. One concerned parent posed a question about discrimination unaddressed by the school district and interestingly enough, Michelle Ku, who proudly speaks of her Board membership years, said little, while Brandon Moore passionately addressed the issue along with his experience as an Apache Helicopter Commander. This family is supporting Brandon Moore. We need change and someone who is not afraid to disagree, especially about the rising costs of living in Newtown.

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Date: Fri 03-May-1996

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