Date: Fri 21-Jul-1995

Publication: Bee

Author: KAAREN

Quick Words:

a2-Fetzer-politics-tax-rate

Full Text:

Fetzer Is Not A Candidate For First Selectman

B Y K AAREN V ALENTA

Ending weeks of speculation, Democrat Gary Fetzer announced today that he will

seek reelection to a fourth term on the Board of Selectmen. He won't, however,

run for first selectman, leaving Democrats with the task of choosing a

candidate for the top of the ticket at next Tuesday's party caucus.

"At this time personal and professional obligations make it impossible for me

to consider serving the town (as first selectman)," Mr Fetzer said. "However,

in speaking to the candidates' committee of the Democratic Town Committee, I

am confident that they have several candidates for first selectman, any of

whom I would consider it a privilege serving with."

Mr Fetzer, director of communications at the DATAHR Rehabilitation Institute

in Brookfield, said he is concerned about tax increases, vanishing open space

and the amount of debt which the town will be incurring over the next few

years. If elected to another two-year term, he pledged to vote against any

proposed tax increases.

"Given the current economic climate, and especially in light of the

difficulties that those on fixed incomes, unemployed or with large families to

feed, I believe that we should have a two-year moratorium on any tax increases

even if this means that we as a town are forced to make some tough choices,"

he said. "This does not mean that spending cannot grow to offset increased

costs, but that this growth will be limited to the growth of the grand list."

Last year there was no increase in the tax rate; this year the tax rate went

up by one mill because the Legislative Council opted to put $1 million in road

reconstruction costs into the budget rather than issue bonds to pay for it.

But Mr Fetzer said that annually the town's spending "continues to outpace the

cost of living" and that "every year it is taken for granted that the public

will accept an increase in taxes if it is less than two mills."

"Although I realize that the Board of Selectman has no control over the

education budget, if the voters agree that spending should be frozen on the

selectmen's side of the budget, then a vote for me will send that message."

Mr Fetzer said he also is concerned about the rate at which Newtown is losing

its open space.

"It seems to me that each week you drive through Newtown you see new houses

being built where there used to be a farm or a forest," he said. "While

development is necessary, we need to do a better job of coordinating the

activities of the various agencies, commissions and associations in order to

establish a proactive plan to preserve our forests and farmlands. We have to

put more focus and energy into this."

Mr Fetzer said the third issue he will raise in his campaign is the

"staggering" amount of debt the town will be faced with because of such

capital projects as the new sewer system and proposed school renovations and

expansion.

"I think we could see a devastating mill rate increase because of coming

bonding," he said. "I think that's a lot to ask our children to bear. We must

carefully examine the fiscal impact of each of our actions to determine the

current need and the burden we are placing on those Newtown residents who are

not even born yet."

Mr Fetzer and his wife, Beth Ann, have lived in Newtown for 11 years. He is a

member of the Rotary and produces a weekly television show entitled "Dateline

Newtown" for Channel 21, the public access cable channel. Mr Fetzer also

serves on the town's Aesthetics Committee which was instrumental in recently

removing the White Birch Inn.

An unsuccessful candidate for the State Senate in 1992 and 1994, Mr Fetzer

also has served on the town's Ethics Committee, was chairman of the Charter

Revision Commission, chairman of the Family Life Center, served on the haunted

yard committee of Youth Services in Newtown, was on the campaign cabinet of

the United Way, the Waterbury Ballet Board of Directors and the Board of

Directors of the Children's Community School.