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Brings Up Good Points

In Joe Badamo’s April 27 letter regarding a past federal grant to fix up the west end of town [“Where is the Money?”], he brings up good points that the taxpayers should take a good look at. Mr. Badamo doesn’t need to get re-elected to determine the status of that money. He was a member of the Town Council when all this was happening and all the information should be in the minutes of the Council meetings while he was a member.

If he so desires, he could request under the Freedom of Information Act all records pertaining to that grant. Was it actually received by the town? If so, what was it spent on seeing no revitalization work took place? Where did it go and who authorized that spending?

If I’m not, mistaken the grant was for more than $500,000. We all know the work was never done as planned, so was it used for something else, possibly in violation of the grant? Was it used to offset any budget issues?

Maybe Congresswomen Rosa DeLauro’s office should be contacted, as the grant came from her. Or, maybe the fed’s or the Office of the Connecticut Chief State’s Attorney should investigate the use of the grant if in fact East Haven got the funds and didn’t used them as directed.

Maybe it was sent back or maybe there is a good explanation, but Mr. Badamo is correct in asking the questions. This issue is just like the Board of Education over-spending its budget last year by $918,000, yet no one wants to come clean in explaining why.

Richard Poulton

East Haven