To the Editor:

Wilton is proud of being a town with deep roots, strong schools and a tradition of civic engagement. But those things don’t remain strong by default. A healthy town depends on something simple and non-negotiable: citizens who stay informed and insist on transparency.

That’s not a partisan idea. It’s the core logic of self-governance.

James Madison said it best: “A popular government, without popular information or the means of acquiring it, is but a prologue to a farce or a tragedy; or perhaps both.”

Madison wasn’t talking only about Washington, DC. He meant every level of government that derives its authority from the people… including right here in Wilton.

We don’t work for our government. Our government works for us.

Public officials are stewards of public money. That money belongs to residents. When town leaders are reluctant to share about basic spending, it’s not a small thing. It’s a breach of the relationship that makes local government legitimate in the first place. When basic numbers aren’t shared, it naturally raises questions.

A recent GOOD Morning Wilton report on the interim CFO made that clear. In that Nov. 6, 2025 article, residents learned that PKF O’Connor Davies billed Wilton “more than $17,000” for September, but the public, and even elected officials were still not given the exact figure or breakdown. The article also raised questions about assistant staffing, approvals and discounted rates that were promised but not documented in public view.

After reading that piece, I promptly filed a Connecticut FOIA request for the invoice. This was simply as a citizen requesting a public record that should have been easy to share in the first place. I received the document on Nov. 7. It shows 47.25 hours of “Interim CFO Services” totaling $17,718.75 ($375/hour). That is the simple number town officials would not give publicly, even though taxpayers have every right to know it. There may be administrative reasons for delays, but the public still deserves timely clarity.

Using FOIA is not extreme, hostile or a “gotcha.” It’s a normal democratic tool. It creates a paper trail, keeps processes honest, and prevents rumors from replacing facts. If information is reasonable and prudent for the public to have, we should obtain it. Furthermore we should have open access to it.

And it’s quite easy.

Here is essentially the template I used, and you can copy/paste and personalize it in five minutes and submit it through the Town website:

Re: Request for Records under Connecticut FOIA


Dear [Town Clerk / Department],


Pursuant to the Connecticut Freedom of Information Act (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 1-200 et seq.), I request to inspect or obtain copies of the following public record(s): 
“[Describe the document or asks clearly — vendor, month, service, dollar amount if known, particular email dates, agendas, etc.]”


Please provide the record in electronic format (PDF) if available. If there are any fees, let me know prior to providing the record.


If any portion is withheld or redacted, please provide a written explanation citing the specific FOIA exemption.


Sincerely,


[Your name, phone, email]

That’s it. Clear ask, clear format, clear rights. A town that values openness will welcome requests like this.

Wilton’s story is part of the American Revolution’s story. More than 300 Wilton men served in the war, and in 1777 British troops retreated through Wilton after General Tryon’s raid on Danbury, burning several homes as they passed.

Those residents didn’t risk their lives so future generations could shrug and say, “Well, I guess the town will tell us if we need to know.”

They fought for a system where ordinary people — not elites, not officials, not insiders — would ultimately be in charge. The way we honor that legacy today is by doing the quieter work of citizenship: asking questions, getting records, verifying claims and holding our government to the standard it exists to serve.

Wilton is at its best when residents are engaged, curious and unafraid to seek the truth. Transparency is not something we wait to be granted. It’s something we practice.

  • If a number or fact is being hidden, go get the document.
  • If a process is unclear, insist on clarity.
  • If a spending decision affects your taxes, treat it like your business, because it is.


Popular government requires popular information. And in Wilton, it’s our duty to make sure we have it with the ability to look at this logically, with openness, eager to learn from these moments and ultimately move forward.

In good faith,

Joshua Kopac