"Shall the sum of $350,000 for the Costs of Establishing a Softball Field on Town-Owned Property on Hoyden's Lane and Authorizing the Issuance of Bonds to Finance Such Appropriation be approved?"
This question is being petitioned to be presented on a referendum ballot to the electors of the Town of Fairfield.
Many Fairfielders are hurting financially. Some have lost their jobs. Some have had hours reduced or a salary frozen. Every week another home foreclosure appears on the list of property transfers in Fairfield. Taxes keep going up. Yet on Monday the RTM approved the bonding of $350,000 for the construction of a new softball field even after $3 million was cut from the education budget, cuts to first responders equipment needs, police cruisers, fire department radios, and teachers taking no pay increases.
The RTM’s Republican majority was elected after promising fiscal responsibility. Bonding for nonessential projects is NOT fiscally responsible. Republican Majority Leader Jamie Millington called in January for the RTM to restrict spending on “quality of life enhancements” to reduce the burden on taxpayers, however he voted in favor of spending this money.* Many of the RTM members did keep their promises, working to be financially responsible and support the best interests of the majority of taxpayers. However, they were defeated and it is clear that those RTM members who voted in favor of borrowing this money - do not represent the priorities of THE MAJORITY of town taxpayers who did not want this expenditure! This referendum seeks to allow the majority of Fairfield’s taxpayers’ voices to be heard.
This referendum is also a call to the RTM to better police itself and establish a policy for Representatives to recuse themselves when they have a conflict of interest on a particular vote. This additional town borrowing was passed after at least 4 members voting for it had proudly announced to the RTM and described their clear conflicts of interest before the vote. They are officials, coaches, umpires in the leagues affected and their private organizations will benefit directly from this expenditure of taxpayer dollars and additional town debt. Assistant Minority Leader Harold Schwartz, as reported in the Fairfield Citizen, said in his comments of support for the new field that he would personally profit financially from the field as a paid umpire and would recuse himself. But when the final vote became close he cast his vote for it. That is bad government.
If you want to help get this question to a referendum ballot please email for more info on when and where signatures will be being collected.
Or visit http://nomorebonding.blogspot.com for the latest on when and where to sign.
* The actual RTM vote breakdown on this resolution:
District 1:
David M. Becker (R) - No
Bruce Challinor (R) - No
Carolyn Richmond (R) - No
Eric G. Sundman (R) - No
Michael Herley (R) - No
District 2:
Peter Ambrose (R) - No
Alexis P. Harrison (R) - No
Jeffrey R. Steele (R) - Yes
Chad Stewart (R) - Yes
Keith Storm Varian (R) - Yes
District 3:
Edward J. Bateson, III (R) - No
Thomas P. Conley (R) - No
Francis "Hank" Ference (R) - No
Mary I. McCullough (R) - No
Richard L. Santalesa (R) - No
District 4:
Joseph M. DeMartino (R) - No
Richard Parker (R) - No
Stephanie Parker (R) - No
Arthur G. Hug (R) - Absent from Meeting
Joseph J. Palmer (R) - Absent from Meeting
District 5:
Joshua Garskof (D) - Yes
Ruth A. Smey (D) - Yes
Ann Stamler (D) - Yes
Joseph Gall (D) - Absent from Meeting
Christopher M. McAleese (D) - Absent from Meeting
District 6:
Christopher J. Brogan (D) - Yes
Brenda Kupchick (R) - Yes
Joseph M. Luciano (D) - Yes
Sheila H. Marmion (D) - Yes
Cristin McCarthy Vahey (D) - Yes
District 7:
David L. Cullen (D) - Yes
Keith L. Hoffkins (D) - Yes
William Llewellyn (R) - Yes
Timothy C. Lynch (R) - Yes
Harold G. Schwartz (D) - Yes
District 8:
Kathryn L. Braun (R) - No
Elizabeth P. Hoffman (R) - No
Lawrence C. Kelly (R) - Yes
Thomas E. McCarthy (R) - No
James Takami (R) - Absent from Meeting
District 9:
Faith Dillon (R) - Yes
Joseph L.A. Felner, Jr. (R) - Yes
James Millington (R) - Yes
Mark McGinty (R) - Absent from Meeting
Nicholas D. Mirabile (R) - Absent from Meeting
District 10:
Erin E. Harrison (R) - No
Michael Mears (R) - No
Matthew Rubino (R) - Yes
Carol J. Way (R) - Yes
Brian R. Farnen (R) - Absent from Meeting
