Date: Fri 01-Mar-1996

By KAAREN VALENTA

Published: Aug 11, 1999 12:00 am

Publication: Bee

Author: KAAREN

Quick Words:

tourism-district-Spragg

Full Text:

Review Of Tourism District Finances To Begin

B Y K AAREN V ALENTA

Newtown Finance Director Benjamin Spragg is scheduled to meet with members of

the regional tourism district board on Friday, March 1, to launch a review of

the agency's financial practices.

"I'm looking at this as a constructive thing," Mr Spragg said. "The tourism

agency's expertise is in another area, not in running a business office. It

may be just a matter of adopting the proper procedures and getting them back

on the right track."

Questions about the Housatonic Valley Tourism District were raised recently

when its new treasurer, Joseph Ribeiro, accused the longtime executive

director, Margaret Gagnon, of financial mismanagement. Ms Gagnon has denied

any wrongdoing.

The allegations prompted calls by local and state officials for more oversight

of the district and Connecticut's 10 other regional tourism districts.

State legislators are considering a bill, co-sponsored by State Sen Mark

Nielsen, R-Danbury, and Sen Catherine Cook, R-Waterford, that could give state

auditors the authority to review the financial records of the tourism

districts which received $45 million in state funding last year.

The Housatonic Valley Council of Elected Officials (HVCEO) backed a proposal

made by Danbury Mayor Gene Eriquez, Newtown First Selectman Bob Cascella and

Bridgewater First Selectman William Stuart that Mr Spragg and Danbury Finance

Director Dominic Setaro oversee a thorough examination of the local tourism

district's financial records and practices. The Housatonic district is slated

to receive $627,000 this year, its portion of the state lodging tax collected

by inns and hotels.

The tourism district and HVCEO encompass the towns of Bethel, Bridgewater,

Brookfield, Danbury, New Fairfield, Newtown, Redding, Ridgefield and Sherman.

Mr Spragg said he and Mr Setaro will meet with a committee from the tourism

district's nine-member board on Friday to discuss the plan which, he said,

calls for an examination of the internal controls and business practices of

the agency, but not an accounting audit.

"A CPA (certified public accountant) already said that in his opinion there

were no material areas of concern," Mr Spragg explained. "We want to get a

finer look at internal controls, such as how does the agency generate a check,

how does it generate payroll? What is the documentation?"

Mr Spragg said that, with the approval of the tourism district, he will

solicit proposals to hire an accounting firm that is experienced in examining

the practices of not-for-profit agencies.

"We want an accounting firm that has done municipal audits, one which has

experience writing management letters on internal control," he said.

Once a firm has been hired, the timeline will depend upon what they find.

The auditors will look at records from July 1, 1994, to July 30, 1995, but

could go back further if they decide it is necessary. No member of the tourism

agency's staff will be allowed to be involved with the audit process. Instead,

the process will be handled through Mr Spragg's office in Edmond Town Hall.

Assuming that no major irregularities are uncovered, the process could be

completed and the changes implented by this summer, Mr Spragg said.

Next HRRA Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Event Scheduled In Newtown

Genealogy Club's Next Program To Dig Into 'Dissecting A Civil War Pension Record'

Choral Society Planning ‘Voices Of America’ Performance

Newtown Earth Day Festival Was A Success

Local Fourth Grader To Host ‘Gaming For Change’ On May 16

The editorial took no position on the budget going up or down so you're reading things into the editorial that simply aren't there. The turnout is tied to the lack of passage, in that people who came out to vote last time did not this time, indicating a lack of support on their part. Perhaps it wasn't spelled out clearly enough, but that's what the editorial was driving at, people showing lack of support by not casting a vote. The editorial did address likely concerns among voters that may have led to lack of support and lack of turnout. This lower turnout also follows increasing turnout over the past four referendums in three years (meaning it is an aberration from that), and increased turnout is something that I do push for regularly in editorials. Any disappointment you might be seeing is at the break in that trend, not at whether the budget passed or not. I'd rather see more people come out and vote "no" then not vote at all.

Lower Turnout Results In Two Budget Defeats

Clearly, property owners no longer want to bear the burden of expenses while the state does not meet it’s responsibilities. Rising costs must be addressed by actions that do not include yearly increases of property owners’ taxes. The state of CT must meet its share of the educational costs, and other costs.

Town And School Budgets Fail At Referendum

This feels like an oddly misleading headline and narrative, particularly coming from the Editorial Board. The headline "Lower Turnout Results in Two Budget Defeats" pushes a misleading narrative regarding voter turnout, and then seeks to tie the outcome of the referendum to that misleading narrative. Sure, voter turn out for this year's referendum, 18%, was lower than last year's. However, last year's turnout, 25.4%, represented the highest turnout in the most recent 10 budget referendums. If you take the time to examine turnout percentages between 2017 and 2026 (2017: 19.9, 2018: 15.7, 2019: 17, 2020: 0, 2021: 8.98, 2022: 7.7, 2023: 8.8, 2024: 15.1/17.49, 2025: 25.4, 2026: 18), this year's turnout was actually the third highest in the past 10 cycles. Perhaps the headline of this article should say "Lower Voter Turnout Than Last Year", which is more accurate, rather than creating an impression that this year's turnout is some type of aberration - a narrative that the turnout numbers, in all their binary glory, simply do not support. Further, the headline of this article appears to tie the "lower turnout" to the defeated budgets. Sure, that could be true. But, perhaps, its more likely that Newtown residents are feeling the squeeze of multiple economic influences. In Newtown, we've experienced property revaluations and increased municipal spending. Eversource continues to raise rates. The state legislature gives PURA the authority to impose Public Benefit charges that benefit a tiny percentage of the public (and subsequently burdening the rest of us). At the national level, inflation has run rampant for years and many of those costs remain high to this day. In short, the data tells a far less dramatic—and far more honest—story than the headline suggests. This wasn’t an electorate vanishing in apathy; it was a fairly typical turnout delivering an verdict that, perhaps, some at the Editorial Board didn't like. At some point, it’s worth considering that residents aren’t confused, disengaged, or misled by turnout; they’re simply doing math at their kitchen tables and concluding that “no” is the only responsible answer left.

Enjoyed the forum which only confirmed my support for Brandon Moore as the Democratic candidate to run for the state representative position. Brandon Moore did not waiver about his duty to all the people, if elected, when an issue presents itself that requires that he voice a difference of opinion for the wellbeing of Newtown residents. If Michelle Ku’s 16 years have led to her loyalty being to other elected officials, as she implied, then Newtown is going to continue to witness actions that do not protect its residents. She could not unseat republican, Mitch Bolinsky, during a Blue Wave, and once again, will not do it now. Winning that seat is critical for all. That explains why her previous campaign committee now campaigns for Brandon Moore. It explains all the endorsements he has received from local elected democratic officials. It’s why we need Brandon Moore to be the democratic candidate to run for state representative.

Second Newtown DTC, League Of Women Voters Candidates Event Planned

Appreciated the opportunity to hear from both candidates as we were present for the College Dems forum but only heard from Brandon Moore. It was an opportunity to see who can unseat the Republican incumbent and there is no doubt that Brandon Moore should be the Democratic candidate. One concerned parent posed a question about discrimination unaddressed by the school district and interestingly enough, Michelle Ku, who proudly speaks of her Board membership years, said little, while Brandon Moore passionately addressed the issue along with his experience as an Apache Helicopter Commander. This family is supporting Brandon Moore. We need change and someone who is not afraid to disagree, especially about the rising costs of living in Newtown.

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Date: Fri 01-Mar-1996

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