In an effort to set the record straight I would like to take this opportunity to communicate those relevant facts that were omitted during this process and to clear up any misrepresentations that were made along the way.
The April 6, 2008 Board of Finance Meeting
Hodge first requested funds in the form of a budget transfer. Specifically, Hodge requested the Board of Finance to transfer $16,000 from the Utilities Town Properties budget (which already had a 6% reduction in spending) to the Professional Services Consulting budget. This transfer was necessary due to the fact that this project was an unbudgeted expenditure.
Before voting on this transfer Board of Finance members asked numerous questions of both John Hodge and CLA Director Larry Marsicano, and in the end three key questions remained unanswered:
1. Why wasn't money for this project properly budgeted?
2. Why are Sherman and the other lake towns not contributing to the project?
3. Where is the long term plan to rid the lake of milfoil?
Hodge's answer to the first question (as the facts later revealed) is at best deceptive and at worst a bold faced lie. Hodge's claim that he did not include money for the project in the budget due to the fact he anticipated funding from a grant is easily disproved as Hodge did not apply for the grant until early December 2008, 6 months into the budget cycle. How could he anticipate funds from a grant he had not yet applied for?
Also, when Hodge applied for the grant in December 2008, he committed $12,500 of taxpayers money in the form of a matching grant. At a minimum, Hodge should have notified the Board of Finance of this potential future expenditure at the time the grant was applied for. By not doing so, he lessened his claims as to the credibility and importance of this issue with some board members.
A final note: Hodge did not budget any funds for this project in next years budget nor did he make any reference to possibly funding it.
The answer to the second question is just as deceptive as the first. It was implied by Larry Marsicano that other towns, specifically Sherman, were asked to contribute to this project but chose not to. This past Friday I personally spoke with First Selectman Andrea O'Connor regarding the Weevil Project and specifically asked why Sherman is not funding this project along with New Fairfield given the fact that two of the three current experiments are within Sherman waters. Her reply to the question was, NO ONE ASKED SHERMAN FOR ANY FUNDS!
The fact that the town of Sherman was not asked to participate makes the motives behind this expenditure even more suspicious.
The answer to the third question was and still is: There is no long term plan!
The Petition
When the transfer of funds was denied by the Board of Finance John Hodge in an attempt to circumvent the process and further his agenda, initiated a petition that would move the matter to a town meeting. However, rather than following the proper procedures for an appropriation of funds (which would have entailed a recommendation from the Board of Finance prior to a Town Meeting) Hodge brought the matter directly to a Town Meeting knowing that the vote would have no validity.
Why would Hodge do such a thing? Perhaps to incite people who could then help him strong arm the Board of Finance or more importantly to garner political support for himself by pandering to yet another special interest group.
The 4/23/09 Town Meeting
John Hodge and Larry Marsicano did not present all the facts and by not doing so led voters to conclude, especially the less informed voters, that no further experimentation would take place without this expenditure. The information presented to voters at this meeting was incomplete, deceptive, and self-serving.
Two key facts that were withheld from voters at the meeting were:
- There are currently 3 Weevil experiments being conducted on Candlewood Lake consisting of two experiments in Sherman and one experiment in New Fairfield.
- These experiments will be monitored through 2009 by the Connecticut Agricultural Environmental Station beginning mid June of this year. At the conclusion of this experiment a report will be issued on which to base future recommendations.
The 5/20/09 Board of Finance Meeting
Residents of private lake communities who were misled into believing that the decision of the Town Meeting was binding on the Board of Finance returned to plead their case. The fact that the process was flawed, that no other towns were participating and the results from the current experiments are not yet known, the motion to support the funding failed.
A Petition Yet To Come?
Rumor has it Hodge has organized yet another petition. This one calls for bonding the weevils. This would mean the town would be paying for bugs with a life span of less than 30 days for the next twenty years!
Summary
- Hodge failed to inform the Board of Finance and voters at the Town Meeting the details of the three weevil experiments that are currently being conducted on Candlewood Lake.
- Hodge neglected to fund money for the weevil project in this years budget and next years budget.
- Hodge applied for a grant 6 months into the budget process that committed $12,500 tax. dollars and failed to notify the Board of Finance of this potential future expenditure.
- Hodge asked to transfer money out of an account that he already restricted spending by 6%,
- The Board of Finance was led to believe that the town of Sherman opted not to fund the project.
- It was later determined that neither the CLA nor Hodge asked The town of Sherman to contribute funding despite the fact two of the experiments are in Sherman waters.
- Hodge misled people by not following the proper procedures with regard to appropriations and made improper use of a Town Meeting
- Hodge is now attempting to fund the weevils through a bonding issue possibly as long as 20 years when the life span of the bug is less than 30 days.
In conclusion, there is no need for the kind of uproar and controversy that Hodge managed to muster with regard to this project as three controlled experiments are being conducted at this very moment and results will be known shortly. Based on this fact alone the petition to bond the project should be withdrawn.
Candlewood Lake is a valuable resource to all of us and needs to be protected, however, divisiveness serves only to divide, the lake communities must work together for this or any project to succeed.
I look forward to the results of this project and sincerely hope that whatever the outcome of these experiments may be, that all surrounding lake towns and communities will put forth a joint effort to develop a long term plan that will clean the lake of this horrific milfoil problem.
Lucy DiRocco
