Rep. Guthrie: 'This Is a Public Safety Issue, Not a Political One'

Your Honor,

I attended the Town Council emergency session last evening. Exhibiting leadership, the actions of the Town Council and their commitment to public safety shows true. They are simply helping bridge a gap in the collection of revenue. My observations were that the misinformation continues. The audience continues to believe that voluntary vouchers are still in effect. We both know, your Honor, that the first, second and third quarter tax payments were ordered to be paid by this court. The ratepayers present continue to not accept that fact.

Most of the audience gave the impression that they will not honor that tax obligation. The message from the court has not reached the ratepayers. Ratepayers need to be educated, in a very vocal fashion that these payments are due and their collection is enforceable. Again, the refusal to honor this court ordered obligation has not reached the ratepayers. I also believe as a result, revenue has slowed to a trickle, and Special Master Land desperately needs these funds to continue service, and to honor this courts' directive to get a plan in place.

Another consideration is that many, many taxpayers have ponied up four full quarters of their tax burden. Why would they do that? I believe they agree that more time is needed to vet everything, including errors, omissions, and lack of information and a host of other reasons.

The misinformation continues and the frustration and angst remains evident, almost to the nth degree. The people of Coventry need to understand that this is a public safety issue, not a political one. The madness needs to stop. A campaign is needed to get the message out, so to speak, because it obviously is not being heard or understood.

Additionally, proposed plans to privatize or contract services out for the district, in many ways are ill-conceived, and defy logic. The ratepayers need to understand that a contract with the fire district is just that, a contract, with a private entity, solely for services within the boundaries of the district. That means your Honor, that there is no "mutual' in mutual aid, nor no 'aid' in mutual aid. It's similar to building "city walls". No service to to the surrounding districts will occur without violating the "contract'.

What ads insult to injury your honor is that even if it were not a breach of contract, should assistance be needed From Central Coventry Fire District by the surrounding departments, it does not come without a cost. Any patient rendered service from this ambulance company will be charged for the services rendered. This is in addition to the dollar amount they will receive to provide these vehicles, yet to be housed or responding from, any given station in the district. The fire stations will be sold. 

Roaming around town waiting for an emergency, burning the rate-payers fuel, makes no sense at all. What will the response times be? 

Presently, the voters believe that the need for another vote is out of the question. What the people of the district need to understand is that the remaining 16,200 other residents need to be at the table, they are not being considered. Are they concerned? The answer, your Honor, is evident with my home phone voice-mail capacity that cannot keep up with the calls I receive.

Clearly the message is not getting out. An informal meeting, forum or a fact based campaign needs to start not now, your Honor, but yesterday, or the day before.

I clearly saw your concern, your Honor, as I stood before you this past Monday, I could see it in your eyes. Please, Judge Stern, rule favorably on the hard work of the Coventry leaders, and please allow us more time.

Representative Scott J. Guthrie