Town Should Take Up

9/11 Resolution

To the Editor:

Regarding the proposed 9/11 Resolution in support of the Family Steering Committee for the Independent 9/11 Commission, the town attorney has informed me that “if this is a nonbinding resolution then almost any council could pass it.” He further stated, “I have no reservation that the Legislative Council or Board of Selectman” could adopt this resolution.

The 9/11 Resolution is indeed a nonbinding resolution, the language of which may easily be adapted to express the sense of a particular board of council. Or, it could be passed by Newtown voters themselves at a special town meeting, using the existing language as shown at www.911resolution.org.

I asked the town attorney if a special town meeting could only be held for the purpose of voting on binding resolutions involving finance and ordinances. His answer was no, a town meeting can indeed be called in order to vote on a nonbinding resolution. As an example, he cited the referendum on whether to adopt the Fairfield Hills master plan, saying it was “an advisory referendum with no binding effect except to express the political and moral authority of the voters.”

Granted, the Fairfield Hills master plan has clearly been a very prominent local issue. The principle, however, is the same: according to the town attorney, consideration and action upon the 9/11 Resolution is within the purview of a town meeting and within the purview of both the Legislative Council and the Board of Selectmen. In the case of such a town meeting, the cost would be negligible. The level of turnout would likely be such that a hand vote or the use of paper ballots would suffice. According to the town attorney, the first selectman has the authority or ability to call such as meeting –– as was the case with the Fairfield Hills plan.

“The Family Steering Committee for the Independent 9/11 Commission is very appreciative of the support of the 9/11 Resolution initiative.” This statement by the FSC should guide us in moving forward with this issue.

All members of the Family Steering Committee responded with great enthusiasm to my suggestion that the resolution be placed on the World Wide Web where anyone could copy it and go get it passed in their town or city. So I created the website: www.911resolution.org. I invite readers to go see the Resolution and Addendum A. The wording of the resolution is based on direct input from 9/11 widows and family members on the Family Steering Committee.

A growing number of residents understand and support this resolution. Those of us who have organized this initiative appeal to all residents and especially our community leaders: make a brief call to the first selectman’s office at 270-4201. Voice your support for the 9/11 Resolution and for bringing it to a vote at a special town meeting or at a meeting of the Legislative Council or Board of Selectmen.

According to the Family Steering Committee, “Some things about September 11th just don’t make sense in light of intelligence gathered and established protocol and procedures in place prior to 9/11, so the Family Steering Committee has submitted questions to the commission on a wide range of topics. To date, none of our questions have been answered…We should not have had to fight our government for an independent commission. Each subsequent misrepresentation or manipulation of facts by government officials has caused further erosion of trust.” (FSC website: www.11independentcommission.org).

Members of the Steering Committee are publicly expressing severe doubts and discouragement. These widows and families need your support, and this resolution makes pure common sense. Help them right now: pick up your phone and dial 270-4201.

It will make a difference.

James Allen

Main Street, Newtown                                                October 20, 2003