First Selectman Candidate Challenges Incumbent to Act on Old East Haddam Middle School

Rob Smith, Democratic candidate for First Selectman, has called on Mark Walter, the incumbent First Selectman, to bring the ultimate fate of the old Middle School to a vote before townspeople. With the enclosed letter, Smith outlined reasons why this decision by the public is long overdue. “It's time for Mark to get off the dime and start the process,” said Smith. “It's a disgrace to allow that school, so much a part of our town's history, to deteriorate with each passing year. It's disposition, one way or another, stands in the way of important town progress.”

The Selectman appointed a Middle School Conversion Committee in 2007. The committee submitted its recommendations in early 2011, but the Selectmen have taken no further action. “People I meet going door-to-door want answers. They want to know why the old Middle School hasn’t been used as an emergency operations center during the recent town emergencies. Not having use of this facility is disrupting the education of our children and limiting emergency services to our citizens.  They want to make the choices they're entitled to,” said Smith.

See Attached Letter from Rob Smith to Mark Walter.