Letter to the Editor: Transparency and Teamwork Needed for High Schools Projects Success

State Senator Len Suzio (R) Meriden issued a statement this week the city's two high school construction projects:

This is the most expensive and important public project in the history of Meriden. The outcome will affect the education of our children and the wallets of our taxpayers for decades to come.

The criticism expressed by Democrat State Senator, Andrea Stillman and Democrat State Representative, Andrew Fleischman, Co-Chairs of the School Construction Projects Priority Committee, is a cause of great concern and underscores the need for a transparent process and coordinated teamwork to assure that Meriden receives the maximum financial support from the State of Connecticut for this extremely important project.

This issue is not a Democrat or Republican issue. It is a community issue that transcends partisan politics. Some want to make this an argument about the past. It really is about action for the future. And it is about a process that should be conducted completely in the open to avoid confusion and misunderstanding.

I am prepared to do everything I can to work with my fellow legislators as well as City officials to make this happen.

I am pleased that I have received a positive response from several of the elected officials I contacted about organizing a High School Projects Summit. One of those persons suggested that the Summit be coordinated with a School Construction Committee meeting scheduled for March 10 with architects of the projects. This would allow for maximum participation of all responsible parties. I strongly endorse this suggestion and hope that everyone involved will enthusiastically participate in this critical meeting.

I plan to contact School Construction Committee Chairperson and City Councilor Matthew Dominello to ask for his approval and support to add a discussion and plan of action regarding the state funding approval process to the agenda for the March 10 meeting.

I ask for the support and goodwill of all public officials to keep the ball rolling and the process open to everyone who will play a role in the process
until we achieve success for our children and our taxpayers.