O’Rourke responds to Vaglivelo’s letter on Monroe’s schools

To the Editor,

Regarding Mr. Vaglivelo, Ambrosey campaign manager’s response to letter to the Editor. In Mr. Vaglivelo’s response, he seemed to bypass the cost of reopening up Chalk Hill School, adding another floor to this structure at an estimated cost of plus $110 million.

At last check, we are all “waiting” on the “experts” opinions on the feasibility study for an additional floor to be added to this structure. Add that to the estimate of $150 million for further, additional repairs, improvements, and upgrades to the school system, which Mr. Vaglivelo pointed out. This brings the total to approximately $260 million in potential upcoming expense to the town.

The question remains: how do we fund and manage this potential expense? Who is best suited to steer the town in the correct direction on this issue? I did not hear any answers from Mr. Ambrosey’s campaign manager’s response.

Important questions are being raised in a respectful, polite, professional manner of the candidate seeking the highest office in Monroe. I did not use or infer the term “reckless” in a previous letter to the editor in describing Mr. Ambrosey. Mr. Vaglivelo did.

Based on Mr. Ambrosey’s previous statements:

• Mr. Ambrosey appears to be in favor of all “proposed” increased BOE spending. Which is approximately $260 million.
• Mr. Ambrosey is opposed to new residential development.
• Mr. Ambrosey proposes maintaining Monroe’s “rural character,” i.e. by restricting future commercial development.
• Mr. Ambrosey is opposed to cluster housing, despite Hartford Democratic super majority pressing for cluster housing in House Bill 5002.

This platform does not seem to address how prevent at least a high “single digit” tax increase, if not larger, from occurring for the foreseeable future to Monroe taxpayers.

HS 5002 is an affordable housing bill that was passed late last spring. A bill which was proposed, drafted and passed by Democratic super majority legislature without any Republican support.

First Selectman Rooney’s response to this impending bill was to immediately write a letter to the governor and then garnish support from all our local state representatives and help succeed in securing a veto from the governor to defeat HS 5002.

This action was commended on a bipartisan basis here in Monroe. This is one important example of determined, focused, proactive and caring leadership.

Mr. Rooney has also had proposed an idea to expand over “55” housing to P&Z in response to the proposed Turkey Roost residential development project.

The demographic being targeted in this option, most likely would preclude any additional school aged children from entering our system, without breaking any local/state statutes or incurring lawsuits by unilaterally denying legitimate P&Z projects.

That what I would describe as forward thinking and proactive leadership.

Best Regards

Sean O’Rourke

Sean O’Rourke, who serves on the Monroe Town Council, is active in Republican politics in town.

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