To The Editor:

Below is a letter to the Bee I wrote two years ago. Since then, we’ve made some halting, reluctant and frustrating “progress.” But as our legal fees continue to rise, it’s been a wastefully expensive and unnecessary lesson for Newtown, that only adds to the Town’s challenges.

“Open Government … Open Minds”

Many residents I’ve spoken with feel as if town boards and commissions “just go through the motions.” The lack of a consistent clearly defined public process by some boards undermines the review process. In addition, the inability of residents to access information prior to boards rendering decisions, does little to promote confidence in the public’s eye, as to whether boards and town staff have effectively completed the necessary “due diligence” when reviewing an application. That potential lack of “legal sufficiency,” coupled with residents’ desire for greater transparency in how decisions are made must be addressed.

Because until we acknowledge how these decisions affect residents, impact the Town’s overall quality of life, and insist on a transparent and accountable process they will continue to cost time, money, hard feelings, and lost opportunities.

With this election, many new faces will be joining Newtown’s government, I cannot think of a better time or opportunity for our town to more fully commit to the State’s Open Meeting Law. Just look at what communities as different as Wilton, Brookfield, Westport, Ridgefield and New Cannan have done. The degree of transparency, opportunities for citizen input, records access and documents are readily available.

Why not in Newtown? OML and the resources to make it happen need to be a priority! It underpins the work of what municipal government should be: the framework for all interested residents to participate in, make their voices heard, discuss, reach consensus in addressing the issues, and continue to move Newtown forward as a more dynamic, diverse, and thriving community in the years ahead.

Barney Molloy

Newtown