To the Editor:

Pat Llodra’s explanation of how she filled the recent opening on the Fairfield Hills Authority, resulting in five Republicans on a board of eight, is troubling to say the least. Her explanation is that the Democrats were late to make an endorsement and she felt it inappropriate to make an exception. The real issue is why did Ms Llodra send a unaffiliated candidate, who applied directly to the first selectman well within the time limits,  to both the Republican Town Committee and the Democrat Town Committee to be interviewed for an endorsement. The first selectman then used a late endorsement as the reason for not considering the candidate. This appears to be forcing unaffiliated or members of any other political party to ask for and get the endorsement of one of the major parties in order to be appointed to the authority. This is clearly in violation of the Town Ethics Policy. In addition the Newtown Charter has no role for political parties in the appointment process for an open seat except to insure minority representation. The First Selectman should have interviewed the unaffiliated candidate since it was an open seat and given the individual the same consideration as other candidates endorsed by the two major parties. 

One is left with the impression that this was a preordained decision to stack the authority with yet another Republican Party member, rather than selecting the best candidate. In fact the individual appointed brings with him  a long history of making money off Fairfield Hills, including  the questionable $3.5 million dollar parking lot scandal, creating a history of possible conflicts of interest. Pledging not to be involved in any further financial gain off the campus activities is hardly sufficient to resolve these conflicts. 

Ms Llodra should withdraw the appointment, apologize publically to the unaffiliated voter who was denied a fair opportunity to be considered for appointment, and finally create a new process to give all voters an equal chance at service on appointed commissions.

Bruce Walczak

12 Glover Road, Newtown                    September 22, 2015