Not The Whole Truth

To the Editor:

In last week’s edition of The Bee, John Voket’s article [“Town Attorney Critical Of Prevailing Wage Decision, The Newtown Bee, 2/20/09], Town Attorney David Grogins “disputes the DOL findings.” He states “We’ve got two letters from the DOL clearing this project (Greenwich House) from prevailing wage requirements. This demolition and parking lot (development) are part of a lease for a private piece of property.”

In a letter dated June 12, 2008, from Mr Grogins to Sandra Barrachina of the Department of Labor, he stated just that:  “The Town does not believe that the demolition and construction are subject to the ‘prevailing wage’ provisions because they will be for the benefit of and constructed by a private party who has a long term lease of the property.”

Well, yes, that is partially true. What Mr Grogins failed to mention, is that the parking lot will benefit a private party (Newtown Youth Academy), as well as public places, including the baseball field, the new town hall, and the future recreation and senior center. Is it possible that Attorney Grogins was unaware that the parking lot would also serve these municipal spaces? Absolutely not. The master plan modification, dated September 2007, states: “In the future, Greenwich House will be demolished resulting in the probable reconfiguration of the parking to serve all uses in this section of the campus.” The NYA Ground Lease of November 28, 2007, provides that “Said parking shall be large enough to support both the Recreation Center and any other shared use (‘Shared Parking’).” Even in Herb Rosenthal’s letter to The Bee (9/30/2008) entitled “Half Truths and Outright Falsehoods” he writes “The $3.5 million referred to is not related to the office project, it is for demolition of Greenwich House and construction of parking for the NYA, a new playing field and the future recreation/senior center.”

Mr Grogins has reasserted that prevailing labor rates could increase the cost of demolition and construction by 30 percent. Could this be the reason behind his own letter of “Half Truths” to the DOL?  One would hope that the town attorney represents Newtown with honesty and adherence to the law, regardless of the bottom line, thus avoiding the perception of impropriety.

Gianine Crowell

26 Canterbury Lane, Sandy Hook                       February 25, 2009