The Planning Process Is Broken

To the Editor:

It was reported in The Newtown Bee that John Kortze, the Board of Finance chair, is “espousing an ‘if it’s not broken, don’t fix it’ position” in reference to Gary Davis’s proposal for the Legislative Council to participate in the capital plan deliberations earlier in the CIP process.

Recently, various town department heads presented their five-year capital requests to the Board of Selectmen. The total amount of the requests is $95.5 million. This includes $30 million additional funds for Fairfield Hills (demolition of buildings, utilities infrastructure etc…), $18 million for the P&R community center, additional $10 million for the open space acquisition program, $12 million for the a new police facility, and additional $16 million for road/bridge repair. The Board of Education is expected to present the school-side capital projects on September 14.

It is evident that over the years, the town officials have not provided the appropriate tools for the town and school department heads to successfully plan and complete the necessary capital projects. The lack of an integrated strategic long-term plan has obstructed the town’s ability to provide improved services while lowering the tax burden.

The Planemetrics Population and Buildout Analysis shows Newtown’s population will continue to grow to over 33,000 and an additional 2,433 housing units can be added. Imagine what our schools or roads would look like if we had additional 2,433–4,866 more students or cars.

What is the plan? How will we pay for the infrastructure and services without continually overburdening the taxpayers? Do you trust that the same town officials who supported the new town hall while fighting adequate space for our high school students will plan adequately for our future?

Gary and I continue to fight for an integrated strategic long-term plan to be developed to better address the needs of our growing community. Other council members finally endorsed the idea, however there is absolutely no action. Even the idea of the LC members participating earlier in the CIP process has not been well received.

It has been a great source of frustration to continuously be told by a group of “good ole boys” in town government that nothing is broken. This is the reason why I decided to help establish the IPN and seek a position on the LC two years ago. While I was elated that IPN was able to begin the process of dismantling the oligarchy, I was disheartened when the other IPN LC candidates were not elected. While Gary and I have made noise and established some positive momentum for change on the LC, the two of us alone cannot make the sea-change necessary for Newtown to better plan for our future.

I urge the Newtown residents to support the IPN candidates this year. We are a group of concerned citizens who are Democrats, Republicans, Independents, and unaffiliated. We are determined to put this town back on the right track. We would not be working and fighting so hard if we thought things were not broken.

Po Murray

IPN representative on the LC

38 Charter Ridge Drive, Sandy Hook                   September 2, 2009