Officials Cancel Town Meeting on Honeywell

Rather than holding the Town Meeting on Honeywell on Tuesday night before adjourning to the April 23 referendum, town officials decided to cancel the meeting.

Town Council Chairwoman Enid Lipeles said there will be two ballot questions when polls open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on April 23, one on the town budget proposal and a second on the $3.8 million bonding issue for the Honeywell contract.

Honeywell wants to lead projects to improve the energy efficiency of all of all of the town's school buildings with the exception of Monroe Elementary School, which already has gas heat, the measure leading to the biggest savings. The firm says the bonding will be paid off through the savings on utility bills.

Members of the Citizens Audit Committee accused the town of not including funding for the bonding in the budget proposal and claim the $3.8 million is in addition to the budget. But First Selectman Steve Vavrek says the money for the bonding — which would be paid off over 10 years — was included.

The Citizens Audit Committee garnered close to 250 signatures over the weekend, well over the 200 needed to petition the Town Meeting to a referendum.

"A lot of people signed the petition under false pretenses," Vavrek said during Monday night's Town Council meeting.

Town Councilman J.P. Sredzinski said he had planned on answering residents' questions about Honeywell during the Town Meeting before it was cancelled.

The council decided to schedule a Honeywell Information Session at Monroe Town Hall on April 22 at 7 p.m. The first selectman will invite key players who will make a presentation and answer people's questions.

'Cartoon Characters on Patch'

During his first selectman's update, Vavrek complained about "false information" about the budget circulating around town.

On one part of the budget, he said he will not buy a new vehicle because the Town Council took it out of the budget in February.

"It's time for people to listen to the facts on the budget and not false information from groups that don't read the budget," Vavrek said.

The first selectman said some good things are going on in town, including a box store showing interest in coming to Monroe Turnpike. He did not release the name.

"We have to start looking at the positives in town instead of listening to the cartoon characters who comment on Patch," Vavrek said.