To the Editors:
Will town officials listen to the 1,100 people of Wilton who signed the petition to hold a revote of the $50-million Miller-Driscoll renovation?
Town leaders spent the past six years designing a $50-million project for 900 students around a preschool that serves only 30 full-time students. In the meantime, the roof deteriorated into “failure mode” and warranties were not triggered. This not only put 900 pre-K to second grade children and teachers at risk in unacceptably wet conditions where buckets became common school fixtures, it also put taxpayers at risk.
A prompt revote is important because there is an urgent need to immediately pursue less costly renovations to the roof and HVAC system to protect the health and safety of the students. The 900 students can’t afford to wait three years or more to get the roof and HVAC fixed, as proposed by the town.
If town officials hadn’t orchestrated and participated in a “Vote Yes” campaign and spent over $12,000 on Consensus Building/ Outreach/Brochures, would the $50-million referendum have passed? If this is a “value” project, why did the town need to spend so much to convince residents to support it?
The town will most likely spend more taxpayer funds on expensive attorneys to defend their position and create a legal justification, than it will cost to hold a lawful revote.
If town officials think the majority of citizens support the project, then holding a revote is not only the honorable course of action, it is the most cost-effective approach to settling the matter.
Contact us at sensiblewilton@outlook.com or sensiblewilton.org.
Curt Noel
Keelers Ridge Road, Jan. 13