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Address Referendum First

As we all know there is lot’s of talk and discussion regarding the old high school and what should or should not be done with that property, but not enough is being said about the referendum vote some years back.

The voters had three options to pick from: one, education (in other words return to a school environment); two, community use, which was not actually defined; or three, sold outright and converted into a senior type residential complex.

Now this is back on the front burners, so to speak, but one thing is missing. First off, the Board of Education has already said it doesn’t want the building and the state has said there is no money. So, option one is already out. This leaves options two and three.

Back to my concern. Was that referendum binding or not? A past town attorneys says it is, while current town attorney says it is not. Really, so who is right? One way to find out is to bring this to court to make that determination, otherwise it is purely political. If the building is sold and the referendum is valid, then the vote by the people is meaningless. Again, back to being political.

Just an added point. If the building is used as voters wanted, are they willing to cough up another four-plus mills on their tax bills to do what is required to make the conversation? I am not. Forget politics just once. Get referendum issue dealt with once and for all and deal with it then.

Richard Poulton

East Haven