To the Editor:

I am the attorney referenced in recent articles in GOOD Morning Wilton concerning Sensible Wilton, and I am also a parent of three children, the oldest of whom attends Miller-Driscoll. I am writing to set the record straight on a number of points.

At the outset, I am a supporter of Sensible Wilton and have given them legal advice. I am not writing today as Sensible Wilton’s attorney, however, but as a Wilton resident and parent.

For a variety of reasons, it would be inappropriate for me to address any legal issues raised by the most recent petition. I will say that I think the present petition, once signed by at least 2-percent of the electors (as appears very likely to occur imminently), requires the Board of Selectmen to call a Special Town Meeting to vote on whether to repeal the original authorization of $50,022,000 in bonds for the Miller-Driscoll School. I certainly hope that the Board of Selectmen agrees to do so.

My main concern, as a parent and landowner in Wilton, is not that we are spending money on the schools, but rather, that the renovation project does not go far enough. For the amount being spent, or perhaps a little more, we could build a new elementary school—and I happen to believe that that is exactly what we need to do. Like any typical parent, I just want the very best for my children, and like most folks I know in Wilton, the school district is the reason why I moved to this town. I remain unconvinced that spending our money on a renovation project that leaves us with an aging building and over $50 million in debt advances the goal of improving our school system to an extent that justifies that degree of spending. Indeed, like many Sensible Wilton supporters, I have grave doubts about various details of the renovation project and the bidding process, and I worry that my taxpayer dollars are being unwisely spent.

Sensible Wilton’s supporters may not all agree with me that a new school is the best solution, but I think it’s fair to say that Sensible Wilton’s supporters all believe that the current renovation project is deeply flawed, as was the process leading up to the vote that approved it. A new vote, with an open and fair process, will correct those errors.

Very truly yours,

Simon W. Reiff

4 replies on “Lawyer Advising Sensible Wilton: ‘Renovation Plan Doesn’t Go Far Enough’”

  1. “A new vote, with an open and fair process, will correct those errors.”

    To be clear: the process was open and fair – there were town meetings, many information sessions at events all over town, recordings of town meetings posted online, notices were placed in the newspapers, signs were posted, and it was discussed ad nauseum all around town and in social media. Those who did not participate had more ways of being informed about the vote than did voters back in the days of 50%+ voter participation.

    The process was fair, and all of Wilton’s voters were just as informed as they chose to be. There is no basis on which to invalidate the efforts of the 17% of voters who chose to be informed and chose to vote.

  2. I must say, I am surprised that the author makes such claims that the project does not go far enough, yet does not address any of the key metrics as to why the renovation plan was chosen versus building a new school, such as the multimillion dollar tax credit the town receives through renovation. To make such claims that the renovation project is deeply flawed without a single supporting fact as to why it is flawed only further undermines Sensible Wilton’s loosely assembled argument.

  3. Mr. Reiff I don’t know how much you have studied the “renovation” or for that matter how much I understand, but my review of the project leaves us with, for all purposes, a brand new school. They are taking this thing down to the bones.

    Also they studied building a new school, the committee reported that it would cost more and they did not have a better location then MD for it.

    Maybe, I took their report at face value, but if you want a new school at a “reasonable” cost, than this seems to be the “sensible” way to go

  4. A nice reasoned response Steve ! My question for Attorney Reiff is – Did you vote Sir ? As a Wilton Land Owner and Parent of 3 children, with 1 at M-D, I am more than a bit curious if you were part of the 1900 citizens that actually fulfilled your civic responsibilities to vote in September 2014. Or are you part of the 750+ “Senseless Wilton” petition signers who couldn’t be bothered to embrace their civic duty and cast a ballot – when it actually mattered ?

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