Learning From The Process

To the Editor:

I don’t normally write about someone else’s letter, but “The High School Mess” submitted by Bill and Pat Smith last week [Letter Hive, 10/29/10] deserve it. One of the purposes of the letter was to praise their neighbor, a Newtown volunteer and head of the Public Building and Site Commission, and I respect that (and him). But the other purpose was to place all kinds of misdirected blame on the Board of Education.

First, the high school expansion was not a “grand monument to themselves.” The largest voter turnout ever in Newtown voted overwhelmingly for the expansion (and it was discussed in detail in countless public meetings). It’s our expansion, we needed it, and we approved it. I realize that some people voted against it, but come on — that was more than two years ago.

Second, they blame the Board of Education for lack of penalty clauses in the building contract, delays in construction, design problems, the greenhouse issue, on and on. However, the Board of Education isn’t responsible for building contracts or construction supervision — that’s the responsibility of the Public Building and Site Commission for the Board of Selectmen. In fact, in the January 22, 2009, joint meeting with the Board of Education, one selectman stated, “You have control over the education specs, but we have control over the project.”

Personally, I think it was a mistake not to include penalty clauses. I think the contractor should cover a part of the costs of the greenhouse replacement because they told us they could move the old one. I would have liked the expansion to be done on time, because our high school is greatly overcapacity (affecting my kids), and our football team, marching band, etc have suffered because of the delays. On the other hand, it’s nearly done, and it did not go over budget (the greenhouse is an ugly exception, but because nothing else went over budget, contingency covers it).

Let’s try to be constructive, and learn from this process. And if you feel a need to strike out and attack someone, please get your facts straight before you blast volunteers in this community — they’re your neighbors, too.

Tom Bittman

17 Rose Lane, Sandy Hook                                        October 29, 2010