Sherman Connecticut News

Town Members Claim BOS Malfeasance and Impropriety

August 1st 2025

BOS Late Hour School Renovation Funding Save

Sherman Officials Advance Costly School Renovation Amid Budget Concerns and Public Criticism

In a packed room on July 24, the Sherman Board of Selectmen (BoS) opened its meeting by limiting public comment to three minutes per speaker. With widespread concern among residents about the escalating Sherman School renovation project, the BoS moved the agenda item up for earlier discussion. However, what followed did little to ease public anxiety about the town's largest capital project in decades.

The catalyst for the concern: renovation bids arrived $8 million over the approved budget. Tim Laughlin, speaking on behalf of the Board of Education (BoE) and School Building Committee (SBC), summarized a hastily held Zoom meeting earlier that same day during which the SBC approved two significant recommendations. The first was to increase the project’s total cost to nearly $49.6 million, including a request for an additional $2.5 million in taxpayer funds. The second was to approve a Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) amendment not to exceed $4.3 million.

Officials attributed the cost increases to general market volatility, rising construction costs, and political uncertainty. While it is true that inflation has impacted construction sectors nationwide, the explanations given were vague, with little supporting documentation provided. Notably, Sherman’s project is not unique in its scope or timeline—yet comparisons to other towns where similar projects remained on budget suggest potential mismanagement in Sherman’s bidding and planning processes.

Residents raised a series of pointed questions during the meeting, many of which went unanswered or were met with generalities. Concerns ranged from whether the project scope could be reduced, to why value engineering was still being conducted so late in the process, to how demolition work would be safely carried out once school was in session. Particularly troubling to several residents was the fact that the special SBC meeting had occurred online, during a weekday, with some members attending off-camera. This raised questions about transparency, proper quorum, and the validity of the vote—a concern brushed aside by Selectmen who insisted the process had been legally sound.

Laughlin defended the push forward, arguing that re-bidding the project after September would almost certainly lead to higher costs. Still, critics questioned whether town officials had taken the proper due diligence steps before moving ahead. By voting to release $4.3 million at this stage—without first securing voter approval for the additional $2.5 million—many see the BoS and BoE as putting the town in a financially precarious position, especially if the referendum fails.

The Board scheduled a Town Meeting for August 9, followed by a referendum on August 23. Some residents voiced frustration that these votes were being held in August, when many families are on vacation. First Selectman Don Lowe countered by reminding attendees of absentee ballot options.

Five days later, on July 29, the BoS convened a special meeting—acting also as the Board of Finance—to formally prepare resolutions for the upcoming referendum. Alongside the school project, several smaller municipal issues were placed on the town meeting agenda, including proposed changes to the tax relief ordinance for elderly and disabled homeowners, an update to the town’s outdated bidding policy, and funding requests for various park and public works projects.

These items, though less controversial, underscore a broader issue: the town’s existing financial and procedural policies appear outdated or inconsistently applied. Calls for greater transparency and better fiscal stewardship have grown louder, especially in light of what many consider rushed and opaque decision-making regarding the school renovation.

Despite assurances from town leaders that finances were in good order—citing a favorable close to the 2024–25 budget year—some observers remain skeptical. Legal costs are already rising, and with substantial funding now committed to a project facing budget overruns and logistical complications, the town may find itself navigating significant financial risks.

At a time when public trust is critical, Sherman’s elected officials face mounting pressure to ensure that decisions are not only legal but also transparent, inclusive, and fiscally responsible. With the project moving forward and voter approval still pending, much remains uncertain—and the stakes remain high.