The Board of Finance will hear comments from the public at its regular meeting on Nov. 10—a widely anticipated date, as officials are expected to decide on funding for a capital project at Saxe Middle School.
The finance board does not automatically or regularly include a public comments period on its agenda. Its chairman, First Selectman Rob Mallozzi, said he “absolutely” supports hearing from residents on such important matters.
Mallozzi in emails over the weekend to parents who are advocating for a full, estimated $18.6 million building project at Saxe, proposed a public comment period where speakers would be allotted three minutes instead of the usual two.
The first selectman—who by Charter does not get a vote on the finance board, except to break a tie—said that contrary to some information going around New Canaan this week, never was asked by public schools officials about introducing a comment period to the Nov. 10 meeting.
“I am looking forward to the public comment period,” he said. “It will probably only go 20 minutes or so. I’m happy to have it. It’s a very big decision and we should have public comment on [the building proposal], absolutely.”
Dozens of parents last week spoke in favor of what is being called the “full” proposed building project at Saxe during a public hearing before the Town Council. That project includes a renovation of the auditorium, “right-sizing” of music rooms and 12-room addition at Saxe to meet current space needs and rising enrollment.
New Canaan resident Michelle Orr—creator of an open online petition under the group name Citizens Supporting Saxe that supports the full project and calls for finance board members to tour Saxe during school hours—issued the following statement: “The Citizens Supporting Saxe want to thank our First Selectman, Rob Mallozzi, and the entire Board of Finance, for allowing New Canaan Tax Payers to share their voices on this important and urgent issue. We acknowledge this is a special exception and are grateful for the opportunity to express our point of view in person.”
The online petition had garnered 553 digital signatures as of Tuesday evening.
According to the town calendar, the Board of Finance is scheduled meet at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 10 in the Town Meeting Room.
Bravo to Rob and the BOF for agreeing to hear the tax payers of New Canaan voice their opinions. It would be great if they’d take the extra step to tour Saxe during peak hours prior to their vote to fully educate themselves on the issue of overcrowding.