‘Upcoming Referendum Adds Unnecessary Stress to Holiday Season’ Letter to the Editor from Billy Michael

Michael: “From where I stand, Bethel First Selectman’s sensitivity towards those of us who are against a Christmas/Hanukah referendum for the proposed $13.5 million dollar Police Station is dubious at best.”

Report by Paula Antolini
November 27, 2015 8:26PM EDT

OPINION / LETTER TO THE EDITOR

“Upcoming Referendum Adds Unnecessary Stress to Holiday Season” Letter to the Editor from Billy Michael

From where I stand, Bethel First Selectman’s sensitivity towards those of us who are against a Christmas/Hanukah referendum for the proposed $13.5 million dollar Police Station is dubious at best.

In a recent NewsTimes article, as well as in Facebook posts, Mr. Knickerbocker professes an awareness of how difficult it is for citizens to participate in town politics during “the most wonderful time of the year.”

However, these pronouncements fall flat once you realize that this electoral Nightmare Before Christmas has practically become a hallmark of his administration!

It was during the 2010 holiday season that our current First Selectman chose to send the Road Recovery Project to voters at Town Meeting/Referendum. In 2014 he arranged for Bethel voters to include the Eureka Tank/Energy Project/Police Department in their already jam-packed holiday plans, scheduling that referendum in early December.

Now, exactly one year after it was voted down, Mr. Knickerbocker has elected to resubmit the previously rejected proposed Police Station to voters as a kickoff to our holiday festivities.

Taxpayers who want to fully participate on this issue will now need to find time to attend a Public Hearing, a Town Meeting and then vote in a Referendum during the busiest days and nights of the year! Considering the seasonal stress and distraction is it any wonder that a mere 16% of the voters came out for last year’s Holiday Referendum?

Given that we will have had three Holiday Season referenda in only five years, it strikes me as less of a case of unfortunate scheduling conflicts and more of an intentional political strategy.

If Holiday Voting continues to be the pattern and the proposed Police Department is approved next month, who knows? During Christmas 2016 we may find ourselves voting on the upcoming $50 to $70 million elementary school renovations project.
Billy Michael

Bethel, CT