Reprinted from The Trumbull Times © Copyright 2009
May 28, 2009

To the Editor:

First Selectman Raymond Baldwin's comments in last week's newspaper articles concerning the denial of state funding for the new high school pool is indicative of the kind of leadership experienced in Trumbull during these last eight years.

Rather than admit the mistake of wasting hundreds of thousands of dollars designing the pool, Mr. Baldwin and the town's owner representative, Al Barbarotta, have chosen to blame others.

Blame the State of Connecticut. Blame David Wedge, school facilities chief. Blame political opponents. Attempt to rewrite history by challenging long standing state guidelines. Create smoke and mirrors to deflect attention away from this colossal blunder. Is this how the Baldwin Administration does business?

I would like to commend School Superintendent Ralph Iassogna for sending a recent letter to the Connecticut Department of Education seeking clarification regarding eligible state reimbursement. If Superintendent Iassogna had not contacted the state, we would have learned only after the fact that our town would not be eligible for state reimbursement.

The cost of the proposed community pool is currently projected to be $7 million. Over the 20 year life of the bonds issued to pay for this project, the total cost including interest to Trumbull taxpayers will approximate $11 million dollars, without any reimbursement.

Connecticut School Facilities Chief David Wedge responded to Iassogna's inquires on May 4, 2009, and said "as previously discussed, to be eligible for grant assistance, one major test is that the facility must be under the full control of the local board of education and be for exclusive school use during normal school hours." Use of the words "as previously discussed" indicates that the Baldwin Administration knew for several months that the pool might be denied state reimbursement.

The article in last week's newspaper also stated that "the school facilities bureau had years ago ruled that school facilities with community us, such as athletic fields, auditoriums and pools, must be exclusively under the control of the school system during normal school hours."

the article went on to state that the funding denial was months in the making. During a series of conversations with Barbarotta, Wedge advised him that the pool was not appropriate for a school grant. The question for the Baldwin Administration and Al Barbarotta is what did you know and when did you know it?

The issue of the new community pool took center stage at the March 4, 2009 Town Council meeting. The Baldwin Administration and Mr. Barbarotta made the argument that the town should immediately proceed with construction because it would receive state reimbursement. When they made this representation, did they know that the reimbursement could ultimately be denied?

Why didn't they disclose the ongoing conversations Barbarotta was having with the state concerning the pool's reimbursement status? How were Town Council members from both political parties to make informed decisions when, by selective application, important financial facts were not shared with them?

It is time for the Baldwin Administration to accept responsibility and provide full disclosure regarding this matter.

William A. Crooks, R
Trumbull Board of Finance