Submitted by Jennifer Andrews, D6 RTM
“Science and hard data? No thanks, we know better!”
This is the motto of the Republican BET, and it’s causing great harm to our town.
Example #1. The $4.1M cut to the school budget, a budget that was passed by a bi-partisan BOE. The main drivers of the requested increase in the BOE budget were contractual salary obligations and Special Education costs. Both of those items are REQUIRED BY LAW. The BOE did the very hard thing with their back against the wall and found several unthinkable cuts to try and get to the BET’s random number. Even with ignoring scientific date about adolescent sleep schedules and changing high school start time to 7:30, cutting foreign language for 3rd grade, consolidating houses at GHS, and a host of other terrible changes, they STILL cannot meet this $4.1M gap. The BOE combed over this budget meticulously. The BET, not so much. They used flawed analysis (Fassuliotis Facts) that has been proven wrong by hard facts and data. They refused to reopen the budget and come to a compromise.
But the Republican BET members know better.
Example #2. Geothermal system at Hamilton Avenue School. The BOE, RTM and experts in this field have all overwhelmingly chosen the less expensive to run geothermal system rehabilitation. The BET decided they know better, and do not care what the experts say. They put a condition on the money to fix the HVAC system, stating it has to be a conventional HVAC system, or they will not release the money for the project. Oh, and the funds for the project? $4M, which doesn’t even come close to covering the cost of a traditional HVAC system. Once again, in the face of facts and data….
But the Republican BET members know better.
Example #3. West Brother’s Brook project. The West Brothers Brook project is not on the Flood and Erosion Board’s top 10 emergency projects. It is an estimated $30M project that would span over 10 years or more. The Department of Public Works has stated publicly and in the CIP plan: “Many of these projects are located on private property or within CTDOT jurisdiction which will complicate the ability to complete these projects and may have an impact on the costs.
It should be noted that the completion of the projects identified, and removal of the restriction will have little to no impact on this floodzone.
If and when those improvements are made, those upstream may see a minor reduction in the depth of the flood zones, but the floodplain will still flood.”
Of course, we feel for our neighbors in these areas and the flooding they have to deal with. Perhaps a better plan would be to spend $30M helping them raise their homes and other flood mitigation tactics that will actually work. Again, in the face of facts and data from the experts…….
The Republican BET members know better.
Are you sensing a pattern here? What is happening to our country on the national level is also infecting our town. The almighty mill rate rules supreme with the Republican BET members. Let’s see how they feel when their property values go down because the town does not invest appropriately in its schools or infrastructure.
Please remember this in November, it’s more important than ever: The party that receives the most total votes receives the Chair position and the tie breaking vote on all BET decisions.
Do NOT vote for all 12 names on the ballot. When you are in the voting booth, only vote for the 6 people you believe will do the work you want done in this town. If you care about public schools, rising sea levels, safe roads and a host of other issues…..
The Democratic BET members know better!
Respectfully,
Jennifer Andrews
D6 RTM