Dear Fairfielders,
We hope you enjoyed the holiday season and wish each of you a happy, healthy, and successful New Year.
We are excited about the year ahead and are committed to providing you with information on developments within our government - both local and state - that will impact us all. Importantly, we will continue to share ways you can raise your voice, get involved, and make a difference in our community.
A healthy democracy requires balance of power. With Democrats controlling the state house and senate in Hartford, and the Board of Selectmen, Board of Finance, and RTM locally, our government is lacking the checks and balances critical for sound governance and transparency. That’s where you come in. We encourage you to continue to ask questions and demand answers.
YOU ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE
Your strong response to our last email was effective. Highlighting the alarming mismanagement in Town Hall and its potential impact on tax increases struck a nerve with the Gerber administration. While First Selectman Gerber’s recent newsletter acknowledged the new Capital Planning and Operations department (which he created without authorization), it failed to address the other significant issues we raised. This includes the fact that this department was created outside of the budget process in violation of the Town Charter.
Your efforts made an impact, prompting nearly 100 emails to the Board of Finance demanding oversight and accountability as required by our Town Charter. Thank you for your swift response. The Board of Finance has now added an "Organizational Update" from the Administration to their agenda tonight. We hope this marks a step toward greater transparency from the Administration and the financial oversight expected of the Board of Finance.
We encourage everyone to watch the Board of Finance meeting tonight, Tuesday, January 7th, at 7:30 PM.For the meeting agenda and options to watch the meeting live click here. To watch the meeting live on YouTube click here.
HOLDING OUR OFFICIALS ACCOUNTABLE - HELP AVOID TAX INCREASES
While encouraging, the Board of Finance agenda is just a first step. Fairfield’s Town Charter* requires a formal presentation, justification, and ultimate approval by the Board of Finance for any budget transfers to ensure our tax dollars are used efficiently. Yet, the fact remains, that First Selectman Gerber has added, reclassified, or transferred over a dozen employees without public disclosure or oversight. If we don’t remain vigilant, our government officials will continue to operate in a vacuum of self-serving arrogance, bypassing the transparency and accountability our community demands and deserves.
Write an e-mail to Democratic Board of Finance Chairwoman Lori Charlton, urging her to ensure the Board of Finance addresses these key questions and reiterating our opposition to further tax increases:
QUESTIONS THAT STILL DESERVE ANSWERS
Why is the Board of Finance, under its current Democratic leadership, not holding the Gerber administration to the same standard of accountability and oversight as it has in the past?
Why have the numerous hires and changes been allowed to bypass the required financial review and public disclosure processes?
What is the justification for these additional costs to taxpayers?
Why has Mr. Gerber not shared with the public the actual costs to taxpayers for his unbudgeted new hires and initiatives?
The elephant in the room remains the aging Water Pollution Control Facility-what’s being done to address rising sewer fees?
If the administration continues on this path unchecked for the next 3 years, they will tax many of us out of town. Together, we can ensure that Fairfield’s future is built on responsible and transparent governance.
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