RTM Wants In on Riverfield Building Committee

The need for open and honest government has been a recurring theme in Fairfield, especially following the Metro Center debacle.

That’s why some (RTM) members on Monday suggested adding one of their own to the Building Committee. The school will be undergoing an estimated $10-11 million

The RTM approved the appointed seven-member building committee, but Kathryn Braun, R-8, took the conversation a step further and asked if an RTM member could be added. Whether that member acts as a liaison or a voting member was also a question.

The idea met immediate resistance. John Mitola, D-2, said the body was assuming a “post-Watergate” aura: one that doesn’t trust anybody “and wants its hands in everything -- that’s not good government,” he said.

Ed Bateson, R-3, argued that the process for building projects needed to be changed, and that the RTM should have a voice and a vote in a building committee. “Let’s get it done, and let’s get it done right…as opposed to surrendering a vote to a committee that might shortchange the end result.”

One “end result” brought up by RTM members was the during the building project.

“It sends the wrong messages to taxpayers,” Carolyn Richmond, R-1, said of the siding. She said she received many calls from constituents unhappy about the copper.

“We are representative of the people and we are beholden to them to spend their money wisely,” she added. “An RTM member can ask if a feature is necessary or if its purely aesthetic.”

Selectman James Walsh pointed out that the RTM did have a voting member on the Fairfield Woods Middle School building committee: Chad Stewart, D-2. According to meeting minutes, he was not in attendance at meetings during which the copper siding was discussed.

Walsh said he never heard the copper siding information relayed to the RTM.

Josh Garskof, D-5, said he felt it was more important that all the members of the RTM should take responsibility to stay informed on building projects. “I don’t think there’s a way for someone to represent us all. We should just take it upon ourselves to know what’s going on.”

Marc Patten, D-7, agreed. “The overall theme is communication of information,” he said, adding that there needs to be a reporting structure in place between the building committee and the RTM. “If we have an RTM member on a committee, it still doesn’t answer the question of the other 49 members getting informed.”

A reporting structure would be important, Moderator Jeff Steele, R-2, agreed. But he added that there’s no harm in appointing an RTM member on a building committee, and giving that member the power to vote could make him or her more inclined to participate.

“It’s about working together and trying to smooth the process,” Steele said.

Whether an RTM member would be added to the Riverfield Building Committee wasn’t decided at Monday’s meeting. First Selectman Michael Tetreau said the RTM could vote to add a member as a liaison; however, if they wished to add a voting member, it would have to be approved by the Board of Selectmen.

Should the RTM add a representative to the Riverfield Building Committee, and future building committees? Let us know in the comments.