Annotated Timeline with Links to Sources  

  • September 26, 2007: IPN submits a letter to Fairfield Hills Authority (FHA) and the Board of Selectmen (BOS) asking for assurances that parking can be constructed with the originally bonded funds.
  •  October 30, 2007 Legislative Council meets and is told by First Selectman Rosenthal that temporary parking will not be used, but there is no indication that any additional money will be required to build the permanent lot.
  • January 16, 2008 Legislative Council Meeting minutes reflect that “Gary Davis asked Mr. Borst to find out about the cost of the Town Hall and about the temporary parking because Mr. Rosenthal had said that Greenwich would come down and the (temporary) parking would not be used.  Mr. Rodgers suggested that Mr. Davis contact Mr. Rosenthal. Mr. Rodgers remembered that Mr. Rosenthal said that money will be available, perhaps grant money. Mr. Grogins agrees.”
  •  May 15, 2008 Bee article saying deal to have Newtown Youth Academy (NYA) build parking is being discussed
  • June 5, 2008 FHA decides to ask for lease amendment
  • June 5, 2008 LC holds special meeting discussing FFH and parking lot.    IPN members propose a review of statutes and finances and are criticized.
  • June 12, 2008 Bee article on LC meeting.  GOP First Selectman candidate Pat Llodra quoted saying “This is not a compelling interest other than for a couple of council members.”
  • June 12, 2008 Email from Po Murray to Will Rogers, Legislative Council (LC) chair, questioning parking lot deal after release of FHA minutes. Rogers replies that Po is wasting town money asking town attorney Grogins questions.
  • June 18, 2008 LC meeting Po brings up parking lot financing.  Gary Davis and Po asked the Council to establish a task force to review FFH spending and provide oversight.
  • June 19, 2008 Bee article saying deal is being discussed but final sign-offs from town attorney Grogins and auditors are needed to circumvent the normal Charter-based procedures.  Paul Mangiafico quoted saying “As far as I am concerned, we're taking out a loan…”
  • June 26th, 2008 Bee article confirming “capital lease” deal has been struck
  • July 2, 2008 Mr. Borst reported to the LC  that the Board of Selectmen approved an addendum to the Newtown Youth Academy lease on June 27 and that they were working with Newtown Savings Bank for a reduction on the loan interest rate. Sometime after this meeting, the deal is modified from $3.5MM at 6.9% to $3MM at 6% after town agrees to move its accounts from Bank of America to Newtown Savings.
  • August 6, 2008 LC meeting  where Po requests that FHA ordinance be reviewed.  Council requested more specific recommendations therefore a decision is postponed.
  • October 1, 2008 LC meeting  where Po and Gary’s attempt to have the LC Ordinance Subcommittee to review FHA ordinance is rejected by all but Chris Lyddy.
  • January 21, 2009 Po learns via email exchange with Bob Tait that parking lot expense will be classified as “debt service.”
  • January 2009 Although it is not noted in BOF minutes, according to BOF member Jim Gaston’s 10/15/09 Bee letter, Board members make “inquiry to review FFH financials” that is never accommodated
  • February 25, 2009 BOF Public Hearing. Ruby Johnson expresses concern about the payment in the budget for the parking deal as she believed the parking lot should have been funded by original $21.8MM bond appropriation.  Po echos Ruby’s concern and asks the BOF to find out if there would be interest savings by obtaining General Obligation Bonds and to evaluate if this expenditure followed the appropriate Charter guidelines.
  • March 4, 2009 BOF Meeting.  Mr. Portnoy inquires about the lease deal.  According to the minutes, Mr. Gaston “stated the project would qualify under the Capital Improvement Plan and questioned why it wasn't presented for recommendation to the Board of Finance to then go to the Legislative Council.  Mr. Borst was unable to answer the question. “
  • March 9, 2009 BOF Budget Meeting.  Attorney Grogins attends to explain the parking lot deal, along with Finance Director Bob Tait.  BOF argues that the parking deal should have gone through CIP and been the subject of BOF review.  Mr. Grogins says the expense was not originally considered “debt service,” while Mr. Tait says it is indeed just that as far as accounting principles are concerned.
  • October 1, 2009 BOF Meeting when Board receives town CIP requests including $30MM for FFH that has never been presented previously.  Gary Davis asks why it is only now showing up and gets no answer.  Mr. Gaston exclaims “I have nothing” and asks for more detailed information, but makes no mention of the January 2009 request (see above), nor is there any comment about the parking lot financing fiasco.

 

Still to come…. 

October 22, 2009. BOF will hear detailed justification for town side CIP requests.  In light of all the attention IPN has recently called to their handling of FFH requests in the Letter Hive, it will be interesting to see how they handle this.

Upon completion of the parking lot, the town plans to refinance the 6% Newtown Savings loan with a bond issue, to be treated as a refinancing according to Bob Tait and therefore not subject to town meeting approval (per email with Ben Roberts).  Apparently this step has been delayed pending the parking lot’s completion because of the “refinancing” characterization of the deal.   Mr. Tait also indicated he has been advised by bond council that this allows the bonding to go through without requiring voter approval.

 

Next: Letter Compilation