State Commission to Investigate Complaint Against Bethel Sup't

BETHEL, CT — Did the superintendent and school board inappropriately try to influence last month's budget vote? The State Elections Enforcement Commission has decided to find out, the News-Times is reporting.

The Bethel Action Committee, a local watchdog group, filed a complaint with the commission in April. The complaint alleged that Superintendent Dr. Christine Carver and the school board violated Public Act 13-247, which forbids local officials from using public funds or a "community notifications system" to influence a referendum when Carver referenced a pending referendum on the school budget in the April 29 edition of hew newsletter to parents.

The first phase of the investigation will see the commission collecting evidence. Carver and the school board have been asked to provide written statements, according to the News-Times.

The text of the April 29 edition of "Superintendent's News" reads in part::

"At the Town Meeting on April 24th, the revised Town budget was moved to a referendum vote on May 7th. The Town budget contains our maintenance account, school debt for renovations and capital non-reoccurring (band uniforms and resurfacing of track). It is important to remember that the town budget in many ways also supports the schools."

Similar complaints were filed against Carver in 2015, but were dismissed by the SEEC because the date of the referendum had not been set at the time the newsletter was distributed.