Politics & Government
LTE: Without Rules, We Have Chaos
Sign the Petition: A bipartisan group has recently backed a petition to reverse the decision to dissolve the Parking Authority
The following Letter to the Editor is from former Fairfield RTM moderator Pam Iacono:
To the Editor:
Democracy is built on rules that ensure transparency, fairness, and public trust. When those rules are ignored or suspended, we open the door to chaos, confusion, and decisions made without accountability.
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That’s what happened when the Representative Town Meeting (RTM) voted to dissolve the Fairfield Parking Authority. In doing so, the RTM suspended its own rules and bypassed the standard process for proper notice and public input. This is not just a technicality, it’s a serious breach of democratic procedure.
Regardless of your feelings about the future of the Parking Authority, the way this decision was rushed through should concern all of us. The process failed to honor the due process that residents deserve. It also sends the message that rules can be cast aside when they’re inconvenient.
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Without rules, there is no order. And without order, we cannot have good governance.
Sign the Petition
A bipartisan group of Fairfield residents has recently backed a petition to send the RTM decision to dissolve the Parking Authority to a town-wide referendum. I strongly encourage you to sign it—if for no other reason than to remind our elected officials that rules matter.
As residents, we should not be forced to accept rushed decisions, especially when those actions have a financial impact on the Town. If the RTM wanted to change legislation, they should have done so under the established rules.
This is about more than just the Parking Authority. It’s about preserving trust in our local government and standing up for process, accountability, and fairness.
The petition can be found here.
Electronic signatures are not permitted, original signatures are required. To be valid, the person signing must be a registered voter in Fairfield. The deadline to submit to Town Clerk Betsy Browne is April 15th. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, 611 Old Post Road, Old Town Hall, Fairfield. Or drop off at the following locations:
Saturday, April 12:
9:00 am – 11:00 am: Country Cow, 2505 Black Rock Turnpike
11:00 am – 2:00 pm: Saugatuck Sweets, 28 Reef Road
11:00 am – 2:00 pm: SeaGrape, 1144 Reef Road
Sincerely,
Pamela Iacono
Former RTM Moderator
