My Fellow Newtowners:
Thank you to those of you who have expressed your support over the past few weeks as I have started my term as First Selectman. To say the least, my introduction to the highest office in our town has been trial by fire.
You have likely heard and read many things about how I am addressing the issues at Fairfield Hills. Rather than let others tell my story through the media, I wanted to address my position directly to you the taxpayers and voters of Newtown.
I am not enamored of the proposed new town hall at Fairfield Hills. I would much rather see the money for that project used for a community center, which was the originally designated use for Bridgeport Hall. That does not mean that I do not understand the need to honor our town's commitments to move the town hall project forward.
I pledged during my campaign to review the town hall project and other activities at Fairfield Hills to assure you that everything is in order and is moving forward appropriately. I am doing my best to honor that pledge. Despite what some have asserted, we are moving forward with the new town hall project as scheduled. I am also in the process of working with the town attorney to transition the letters of intent for commercial investment at Fairfield Hills into leases. We are in the midst of discussions with each developer to complete lease agreements that are in the best interests of both parties.
With both these initiatives, I am taking the appropriate time to evaluate our current position and ensure that we are making the best decisions for our town. I will not waiver from this process of due diligence despite the tremendous pressure being placed upon me to do so by some past and current members of our town government.
I am not as talkative as some of the other elected officials in our community. I probably have not expressed myself as clearly as I could on this issue and I apologize for that. However, I don't believe I was elected for my way with a phrase. I was elected because people wanted someone to take a fresh look at how we are doing business as a town and how we run our government.
Some people have asserted that I favor a specific political point of view or that my resistance to acquiesce to pressure indicates that I am hesitant in this new position. Both of these viewpoints are wrong. I appreciate the support I have received from the voters and it has been expressed to me to be true to what I think is right. As for my abilities to get the job done, those who interpret my methodical approach to these issues as uncertainty could not be more mistaken.
Finally, I urge all those who are fueling the heating discussion of the past few weeks to take time to reassess your actions and ask yourselves if your conduct is in the best interests of helping to resolve the issues we face together as a community.
My door is open to any citizen who wishes to stop by to discuss these or any other town issues, no matter what their political persuasion. I hope this communication has been informative. I wish you and yours a happy and healthy holiday season!
Sincerely,
Joe Borst
First Selectman
Elected to a two year term, the First Selectman is the Chief Executive and Administrative Officer of the Town. The First Selectman presides over meetings of the Board of Selectmen and is an ex-officio member of all boards and commissions of the Town, but is without vote except on the Board of Selectmen.
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