Where Did We Find The Money?

To the Editor:

The Newtown Bee [“Animal Control Officer Still Awaits Her Return To the Pound,” 8/14/09] reported that our animal control officer, Carolee Mason, has not been put back to work at the dog pound as directed by the panel of selectman at the end of the hearing which reinstated her last June.

Instead we have two persons filling the position and being paid for the job! In difficult times like these, when town employees were not given a promised raise — Where did we find the money?

It appears that Ms Mason could have been additionally trained for a short time and then returned to full-time duty. She was apparently performing her job, animal control officer, well since everyone approved of her performance for the past few years. If all this extended training was required, why didn’t her immediate supervisor Chief Kehoe demand the training before she started? By the way, does her replacement have all this training?

There is a serious problem here, one that needs to see the light of open government immediately. Is there something we, the taxpayers (and your employers), don’t know about?

Regards

Chet Hopper

131 Boggs Hill Road, Newtown                                  August 19, 2009