Newtown First Selectman Asks to Call Off Community Center Vote

Newtown First Selectman Patricia Llodra is recommending to the Board of Selectman that the planned public vote on the community center not go forward on April 28.

In a statement issued today, Llodra said she believes that the community will be best served if the time is taken to ensure that as many voices as possible are heard.

“The Board of Selectmen can then take up the challenge of considering the right steps forward in determining how best to implement the generosity of GE,” Llodra said in the statement. “I hope and trust that our relationship with the GE Foundation will not be harmed.”

Related:

• Newtown Referendum on $15 Million Gift May Be Postponed
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Llodra stressed that the she hopes GE will understand the complexity of the community’s circumstances and will grant the town the time it needs to get it right.

The advisory committee was asked by Llodra to cancel any future community discussions on the current proposal. Llodra apologized to those who modified their schedules to attend.

All three sessions scheduled for March 31, April 2 and April 9 have been cancelled.

At the March 24 meeting held at the Municipal Center, many residents said they felt somewhat tricked by the town because officials decided on how to use the funds before the April 28 public vote on whether to even accept the gift. Llodra explained to residents that the planned “multi-generational” community center would serve the needs of all ages and not just seniors.

Newtown’s attorney, David Grogins, later said in an interview with Patch that the April 28 public vote on whether to accept the GE gift wasn’t even needed because the money has already been legally given to the town as documented in a Nov. 19, 2014 donor contract with GE which Pat Llodra signed.

According to the donor agreement, GE awarded the gift to Newtown for the “design & construction of a stand-alone facility (hereinafter known as the ‘Newtown Community Center’) to serve community needs.”

The town’s plan entails a 35,000-square-foot facility on the Fairfield Hills campus near the Newtown Youth Academy, which would include 10,000-square-feet of senior space, a “zero-entry” activity pool, and a multi-lane pool with locker rooms. Residents at the public meeting held last week felt the center was too senior focused.

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