Newtown officials are happy to report that the first full day of "Phase 1" reopening has generally gone smoothly for local participating businesses as well as their patrons, while state officials announced additional business opening news and details about absentee voting for the upcoming primaries.
Just over two years since the devastating macroburst in town, the Board of Selectmen finally completed allocating $2,001,532 in FEMA disaster reimbursements that were distributed to the town about a month ago.
As Newtown businesses and facilities falling under Governor Ned Lamont’s Phase 1 reopening program begin to welcome customers and visitors, Heath District Director Donna Culbert is continuing to stress all the basic safe practice messages that have helped get the community to this threshold.
In a 5-1 vote at its latest meeting with member Matthew Mihalcik opposing, the Board of Finance agreed to permit the School District to tap its nonlapsing fund to cover the cost of the engineering phase of the Hawley School HVAC project.
The voters certainly spoke — and I respect the outcome — but let’s not forget that a “majority” doesn’t mean everyone agreed. Many of us are deeply concerned about the rising cost of living here. Supporting schools and services is important, but so is ensuring that residents can afford to stay in the town they love.
We all want Newtown to be a great place to live, but lately, it’s starting to feel less like “Nicer in Newtown” and more like “More Expensive in Newtown.” That’s not sustainable, and it’s not a criticism of the town itself — it’s a call for responsible budgeting and long-term planning that doesn’t rely on tax increases year after year.
I hope future decisions will reflect not just the desire to maintain services, but also the need to ease the financial burden on residents.
I appreciate the passion behind this message, and I absolutely understand the desire to invest in our town. That said, I voted no — not because I don't care about Newtown, but because I do. Fiscal responsibility is not about ignoring problems, it’s about making sure we address them in a sustainable and transparent way.
It’s frustrating to feel like every year there’s a new “urgent” reason to raise taxes, with little serious effort to curb spending or prioritize needs. I worry this just sets the stage for another round of increases next year. That doesn't mean I’m against education, safety, or our town’s future — it means I believe in accountability and in asking tough questions about how our money is managed.
Voting no wasn't a rejection of Newtown — it was a call for more thoughtful, balanced leadership. I hope future conversations can include all perspectives, not just those willing to write a bigger check.
The voters spoke, loud and clear that they support our schools and municipal services. The majority vote was a mandate to keep delivering well rated education services and keep it" Nicer in Newtown."
Thank you LeReine, for speaking out about this. The list of public servants who are unfairly targeted for abuse just for doing their jobs has been growing. It is a testament to the power of propaganda that otherwise good and well-meaning people can get so emotional as to act out in this way.
