Referendums Rigged

On June 3, 2002, voters approved the Montville School Building Project by referendum with 2,682 in favor and 321 opposed. A total 3003 of people voted.

On March 7, 2006, voters approved additional funding for cost overruns and additions to the project. The high school football field replacement was a separate item on that ballot. The additional funding was approved 1,386 to 668. The football field passed 1,035 to 924. 2,054 and 1,959 people voted respectively.

The town website indicates that 14,885 people (CERC Town Profiles 2005) of voting age reside in Montville. The number of non-resident property owners is not available.

The Board of Education employs about 337 people in teaching and administrative positions. There are nine members of the Board of Education, 11 members of the Building Committee, and about 118 people employed in support positions (transportation, cafeteria, etc.). The approximate total number of people engaged with the Board of Education is about 475.

If each of those has a significant other and they live in Montville, at least 950 Board of Education employees or their relatives probably voted. Other relatives, friends, and Connecticut Education Association (CEA) members undoubtedly added to that total.

For sake of conversation, say 1,050 employees, family, and friends of the Board of Education voted in the referendums. Respectively, that equates to 35 percent, 51 percent, and 54 percent of those voting in the referendums.

So where were the other citizens of Montville? Between the two referendums, the town obligated about 54 million dollars. There is also little doubt that cost overruns, beyond the $54 million, will occur and the project will demand even more money.

The referendums were rigged by the apathy of the citizens of Montville. The “ordinary people” of Montville need to wake up and participate in their government.


References:

Various articles appearing in The Day and Norwich Bulletin newspapers
http://www.montvilleschools.org/building/building_projects.htm
http://www.montville-ct.org/CMS/default.asp?CMS_PageID=337
http://www.csde.state.ct.us/public/der/ssp/dist0304/dist054.pdf
http://www.townofmontville.org/CMS/default.asp?CMS_PageID=379
Telephone inquiry to the office of the Montville School Superintendent on August 4, 2006