Citizens Group Peppers Finance Board with Honeywell Questions

Honeywell has told town officials it can perform $3.8 million worth of energy efficiency upgrades to Monroe's school buildings and that it can all be paid for through reimbursement funds and savings on utility bills. Residents were going to decide on it at a Town Meeting before the Monroe Citizen Audit Committee, a private group, petitioned it to a referendum vote.

Now the funding will be a separate ballot question during the budget referendum on April 23.

On Wednesday night, a few members of the audit committee asked questions of First Selectman Steve Vavrek and Board of Finance members at their meeting and expressed doubts over the contract proposal for Honeywell.

Members of the group took exception to being told they are spreading false information about Honeywell and the first selectman, who has said the Honeywell contract was thoroughly vetted by town officials who are elected to do the best for the town, was visibly annoyed by their questions.

In addition to Honeywell initially being pursued by Supt. of Schools James Agostine and the contract being scrutinized by the Town Council, Board of Finance and the town attorney, Vavrek said there have been open meetings and numerous reports on it in the media.

"For any unelected group to armchair quarterback issues that they choose not to be a part of during the game, while it's being vetted, does our town, including our elected officials, a great disservice and does nothing but divide the town with misinformation," Vavrek said after the meeting.

Ernie LaFollette, chairman of the Monroe Citizen Audit Committee, said he filed a Freedom of Information request to the First Selectman's Office to obtain a copy of the Honeywell contract.

LaFollette said the contract has no guarantee that the town will get a $655,000 utility rebate from Connecticut Light & Power. He also questioned the baseline Honeywell uses for utility savings and claimed the savings would not exceed the costs of the projects. The town is seeking to bond for the projects over 10 years.

"Don't tell me I have false information. I'm using your numbers," LaFollette said.

LaFollette also questioned the information in a Honeywell fact sheet with information from Honeywell and a group of Monroe parents in favor of the project that has been circulating throughout the town.

"That flow sheet does not flow with the contract," he said.

Ernie Stone also criticized the contract for not having guarantees and took exception to officials saying the Monroe Citizen Audit Committee is spreading misinformation on Honeywell.

"Everybody is trying to tell me something different, but I can only read what the contract states," Stone said. "Where is the false information?"

After the meeting, Ted Quinlan, a Board of Finance member, said, "Guarantees can't be guaranteed until future performances take place."

A public information session on Honeywell will be held on April 22 at Monroe Town Hall at 7 p.m. There will be a presentation and an opportunity to ask questions.

More Honeywell

LaFollette asked if there is money in the town budget proposal to cover the first year of bonding costs. Town Councilwoman Debra Dutches said the funding is already included in the Board of Education's budget.

Dutches also said she was "taken to task" for signing to the petition to move Honeywell to a referendum vote, but added she did that because she wanted more information to come out so the public would be better informed.

"I am in full support of this Honeywell contract as it is," she said.

However, Dutches said she has some concerns over getting the rebates from Connecticut Light & Power and said the town should actively pursue every avenue to ensure it obtains the reimbursement.

Jim Laguardia asked if town officials spoke to people in other towns who used Honeywell.

Town Council Chairwoman Enid Lipeles told him she and Board of Finance Vice Chairman Michael Manjos each spoke to officials in two different towns. "They could not have been more positive about Honeywell," she said.

Laguardia replied, "So they weren't in cahoots against Monroe? That's what I assumed."

Vavrek said Danbury used Honeywell four different times.

Marcy LaFollette, who is Ernie LaFollette's wife, asked if the projects were put out to bid, noting the Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires at least three bids.

Vavrek said the Board of Education got three bids before choosing Honeywell.

Dorothy Stedman asked Vavrek if he had a record of the bids and, if so, who would have them. Vavrek said the Board of Education has it.

If the citizen group's members attended previous meetings on the topic, Steve Schapiro told them they would already know Supt. of Schools James Agostine researched the issue and approached other towns and vendors before bringing it to the town. He also noted how a representative from CL&P told officials the reimbursement funds would be set aside for Monroe if it approves the Honeywell project and gets the work done.

"Being a former hotel manager, the utilities have always honored their obligations," Schapiro said.