Newtown Referendum on $15 Million Gift May Be Postponed

Caption: Newtown First Selectman, Pat Llodra, handles questions from a tough crowd at last night’s public meeting on how a $15 million gift from GE following the Sandy Hook Tragedy, should be used.

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By Rebecca Carnes

Tensions ran high last night during a public session on a $15 million GE gift when many perturbed residents asked ‘Why should a $15 million gift to build a “community center” go solely to pay for a senior center and pools?’

While First Selectman Pat Llodra tried to calm the rising tide of frustration and confusion in the packed council room 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.

Most residents who shared their views during the public meeting said they felt the rest of the community was being left out, especially children, and didn’t understand why a “multi-generational” center - as dubbed by Llodra – would mostly consist of a senior center.

“So our kids are not a priority here?” asked one resident.

Llodra juggled an onslaught of questions while adamantly repeating that the facility, which would entail $10 million to build and $5 million to operate, would eventually meet the needs of “every age.”

“The vision is truly multi-generational,” Llodra said, explaining that only Phase 1 would entail the senior center, and that a Phase 2 and Phase 3 would entail a connecting hallway to the Newtown Youth Academy, which the town hopes to purchase.

The GE gift, which was awarded in November 2013, is GE’s way of helping the recovery process in the Sandy Hook community and its neighbors, said GE executive Martha Poulter, when the gift was first awarded. Poulter and Llodra have said that in the wake of the Sandy Hook tragedy, Newtown needed a “central meeting place.”

In a past press release, Llodra was quoted as saying Newtown has long wanted a community center that could house recreation, the arts, community-outreach services and resiliency programs under one roof, but that tight finances kept the town from that goal.

In a follow-up interview after the public meeting, Llodra said she is considering pulling the referendum vote on the GE gift from the April 28 ballot.

“If the advisory committee and myself feel there’s still not enough community input and still confusion, we might decide not to take action on this because we’re not ready. I’m hoping this is not the case,” she said. “But it doesn’t make sense to push for something so fast if people aren’t informed. People need to base their decisions on accurate information.”

Llodra said she did not feel she did a good job at last night’s meeting communicating the plan, adding that the town is considering hiring a marketing or communications specialist to reach out to residents because there is so much “misinformation, anxiety, and confusion” about the project.

A senior resident who agreed with the Phase 1 plan, said there are many ball fields and good schools in town, but asked what the town does for its seniors.

“What’s going on (in town) for seniors? Nothing. And the seniors contribute immensely to this town,” said the resident.

Sensing a brewing division at the meeting, Llodra implored the residents to not make this a “competition”.

When asked who came up with the plan to use the GE gift to build a senior center and two indoor pools, Llodra said an advisory group was formed made up of senior center representatives, some town officials, parks and recreation representatives and the commission on aging.

“I personally feel it (GE gift) was given in the spirit of the tragedy,” said one gentleman at the public meeting. “But this (plan) cheapens it. Just putting in some pools is petty and cheap. It’s more important to have a community center.”

The proposed Phase 1 of the project, which is all the GE donation will cover, entails a sloping, “zero-entry” pool and a lap pool. The senior center will include a multi-purpose room, classrooms, library & game rooms, health & fitness rooms, kitchen and dining rooms and storage space for residents age 60 and over.

Image Credit: Rebecca Carnes

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