Minutes of the public hearing held by the Legislative Council on Wednesday, March 26, 2008 in the Middle School Auditorium, Queen Street, Newtown, CT. Chairman Rodgers opened the hearing at 7:30 p.m.
PRESENT: William Rodgers, Francis Pennarola, Daniel Amaral, John Aurelia, Jan Brookes, Jeffrey Capeci, Gary Davis, Joseph DiCandido, Joseph Hemingway, Patricia Llodra, Christopher Lyddy, Po Murray. ALSO PRESENT: First Selectman Joseph Borst, Financial Director Ben Spragg, members of the Boards of Finance and Education, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Janet Robinson, Schools Director of Business Ron Bienkowski, approximately thirty members of public, three members of press.
Mr. Rodgers advised that the public was invited to discuss the proposed budget for FY 2008-2009 including the proposed High School expansion project, though he noted that a more appropriate forum to discuss the High School project would be at the Board of Finance meeting tomorrow night, the Legislative Council meeting on April 2 and the Board of Selectmen’s meeting thereafter.
Ruby Johnson, 16 Chestnut Hill Road, thanked the Board of Education for installing the assisted hearing devices. She supports the High School expansion. Objected to the Legislative Council’s approval of the $1 million resolution for the Community/Senior Center because there were no restrictions on the funds. There was $400,000 for demolition of Litchfield Hall but demolition is not in the resolution. Mr. Rodgers noted as he had at the previous Legislative Council meeting, that “demolition” appears in the body of the resolution not in the title. She has grave reservations about the $300,000 debt service for lights on the Fairfield Hills ballfield. She said that the Fairfield Hills Authority does not have enough money for the lights because they spent the money on something else. She said that the
original bonding resolution allowed up to $600,000 for playing fields, but that the baseball stadium will cost almost $1 million if they are given this $300,000. She said that you are not providing an equivalent amount for computers at Middle Gate and Head o’Meadow; let’s get our priorities straight.
Maria Horvath, 220 South Main Street, supports spending for the chemistry and physics departments. Her son had to finish some projects at other high schools because Newtown did not have the equipment he needed. She said that when a teacher resigned from Newtown he took some equipment with him.
Ben Roberts, 19 Farrell Road, distributed “Possible Cuts to Proposed 2008/09 Selectmen’s Budget for Consideration by the Legislative Council (as prepared by the Budget Committee of the Independent Party of Newtown, march 26, 2008)” (Attachment A to original minutes. He said that the IPN feels that there was not enough effort to justify line items in the budget. He suggested that department heads break out what is discretionary spending from non-negotiable items. Some departments could have funds cut and the money put to the High School, such as Public Works, Library and Police. Also repaving the parking lot at Edmond Town Hall could be eliminated. Family Counseling and Youth Services merged; their budget increased and should have decreased. Also eliminate Contingency because the Town has reserves
available. Cut tech park consultants and Fairfield Hills Authority maintenance and security.
Heather Smith, 22 Wills Road, supports computer and technology spending. She does not want larger class sizes and supports the High School expansion.
David Gallassie, 151 Huntingtown Road, said that Middle Gate has the same type of experience with their computer lab. He said that in comparing the two budget sheets listed in The Bee, the 3/26 issue showed that the Selectmen’s amount increased from $29 million to $35 million and the Board of Education’s Share of the Dollar declined. Also that the Board of Ed should be $66 million not $59.6 million as was listed on 3/26. He asked why the difference? Why did the Board of Ed debt service increase by $740,000 and Town debt service by ¾ of a million since the Board of Finance hearing?
Janet Swierbert, 45 West Street, said that the Head o’Meadow PTA voted unanimously to support the High School project.
Eric Ziegler, 53 Charter Ridge Road, said that your decisions will affect our children and our property values will decline if education declines. He supports the High School expansion.
Mary Ann Jacob, 65 Mohawk Trail, said that of the 5.1%increase in the Board of Education proposed budget 4.9% is for fixed costs. Head o’Meadow may not be able to upgrade its technology. She noted that the Education Subcommittee of the Legislative Council voted to pass the budget onto the Finance Committee untouched. Please do the same.
Michelle Hankin, 16 Greenleaf Farms Road, said that Dr. Robinson put forward a very respectable budget. She is frustrated that the Board of Finance made cuts that she said will bring us below status quo of last year. Put back the money and let the people make the decision.
Kirk Blanchard, 8 Plumtree Road, said that our budget increase is higher than our neighbors’ each year. How does Newtown compare to other communities?
Debbie Leiblein, 29 Littlebrook Lane, said do not cut the Board of Education any further. She is concerned with class sizes. Do not cut technology. She supports the High School expansion.
Robert Melchionno, 4 Charter Ridge Drive, said that when the budget is published, there is a lack of real transparency and people do not see what is going on. It would help to know what are wants and what are needs. Are we sacrificing classroom size for what is not needed? We need to maintain accreditation. Explain better where the money is going, what is optional and what is not. He wants to spend on education but not on items that we do not need for accreditation.
Ruby Johnson, 16 Chestnut Hill Road, again said that “demolition” was not in the $1 million resolution. Mr. Rodgers again stated that “demolition” was in the body of the resolution and not in the title. Mrs. Johnson thanked him for clarification.
Elaine McClure, 32 Ashford Lane, is Chairman of the Board of Education. She said that the teacher Mrs. Horwath referred to who took equipment when he left the school system owned that equipment. She said that the Board of Education must look to where they can cut the $900,000 that was removed by the Board of Finance and that this is a desperate budget. Technology is not equal at all of the schools because of cuts in previous years.
Frank Lansky, 46 Cedar Hill Road, said you should put back the $900,000 for computers and take the money out of the $1-2 million for road repairs.
Tracy Tenney, 48 Charter Ridge Drive, moved to Newtown because it had a blue ribbon school. We are on a slippery slope. It was stated that we cannot guarantee continued employment of the first and second year teachers and others may leave the system. Class size is getting larger in the lower levels. Send the budget to the voters as is.
Maria Horvath, 220 South Main Street, said that her son wanted to take drawing two, drafting and engineering but the school could not fit this in because there are not enough classrooms. In Hungary education was excellent in math and physics. Reconsider the budget.
Mary Ann Jacob, 65 Mohawk Trail, said that last year Mr. Rodgers gave the PTA a mission to get the vote out and this did not happen. Monday night there is a meeting at the High School; attend and get the word out to vote.
Ben Roberts, 19 Farrell Road, asked that consideration be given to a task force to consider tax reform for seniors and lower income residents.
Mr. Rodgers closed the public hearing at 8:35 p.m. He noted that important meetings to attend are the Board of Finance tomorrow night, the Legislative Council on April 2 and the Board of Selectmen thereafter. He said that it is good to hear that a special effort will be made to get out the vote.
Ann M. Mazur, Clerk
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