Town Councilor Craig Fishbein

09/07/2026

"Email communications of elected officials should be free from un-authorized intrusion, and unbridled scrutiny by their political opponents. Here though, that appears to be exactly what occurred. When the Republican elected official tried to protect herself, by asking that any proceeding take place in open session (as is her statutory right), the Democrat trampled on that right. We firmly believe that if her right was properly acknowledged, the closed-door bullying would never even have occurred."

Read More at Inside Investigator >>

09/05/2026

MORE "ONE HIGH SCHOOL" NEWS!
Today is September 5, 2026. Why is that significant? At the stroke of midnight, early this morning, the possibility of the one high school being addressed by the voters on this November's ballot ended, as the last day for the Town Council to approve of a ballot question for the November 3, 2026 regular election was September 4, 2026. (Please see inset photo 1.)

Why is that significant? For months, years now even, many have said, "let the people decide!" "Have a referendum!" However, even IF the Town Council ever votes in favor of a site, referendum petition signatures (about 3,000 in 30 days) are obtained, and a referendum held, the majority vote at that election WOULD NOT prevail, UNLESS at least 20% of the number of voters eligible to vote at that election do. (Inset photo 2 shows the referendum portion of the Charter, with the 20% language highlighted.)

Why does that matter? That would mean that, no matter which way the vote goes, unless about 6,000 people participate in the referendum (Inset photo 3 shows the registration numbers for earlier this year), the vote would be irrelevant, and "the people" will not have decided the question. (Some would say that technically, unless at least 50% of the registered voters participate it is hard to say that "the people" have spoken, and I tend to agree, but that is not what the Charter says.)

To put that into perspective, most obviously it would be easy to reach that threshold on the upcoming regular election day. Four years ago (the election day most similar to the upcoming) the voter turnout in Wallingford was 57.62%, according to the Secretary of State. On that day, there were various contests, from Governor, all the way down to Registrar of Voters. There was early voting too.

Now that Wallingford has missed the ability to have the people speak about one high school on our regular election day, the only possibility is a single issue referendum vote, most likely during the winter months. And, most stunning is the fact that early voting (according to Connecticut General Statutes § 9-163aa) is not available for municipal referenda elections that are not held on a regular election day. God forbid there be a snowstorm on the day of the vote. Even without it, I guarantee you that the turnout will be nowhere near that of the upcoming regular election.

The Wallingford Board of Education has never publicly debated or voted for any site for their one high school, even though they continue to shift and spend money for a project that may never happen. The Wallingford Town Council too has never had the opportunity to publicly debate and vote on a site. But if it ever does, those in town that exclaim "the people should decide," are left with a much toughened road to have that voice be heard, and for it actually count.

Some say this was calculated. Whatever it is, IT IS.

Meanwhile, our middle schools are in much needed repair.

08/31/2026

For months now, the Wallingford Board of Education has been discussing a site for their proposed one high school, however have refused to let the public know the location, choosing instead the hushed whispers of Executive Session. They have already spent tens of thousands of dollars on the undisclosed (to the public) site without Town Council ever having approved the site.

The Town Council too has discussed the site, but the Chairman (who is an employee of the Wallingford Board of Education) has also only permitted those discussions to take place in the hushed whispers of Executive Session.

You would "think" then that nobody outside of the Executive Sessions would know about the site. You would "think" that the Superintendent would not mention the site to the potential bus company WITHOUT having a non-disclosure agreement in place.
Nope, not so. Apparently without BOE permission, or Town Council approval, the Superintendent told the bus company the location of the site, WITHOUT a written non-disclosure agreement.

Attached hereto are the "Transportation Analysis," along with my request for a copy of the disclosure agreement, and the response thereto.

Which begs the question: 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀, 𝘁𝗮𝘅𝗽𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗡𝗢𝗧 𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗢𝗪𝗘𝗗 𝘁𝗼 𝗔𝗟𝗦𝗢 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲?

(Or, has an ethics violation occurred...)

I bet most parents in town WOULD be willing to sign a non-disclosure agreement to get the information they have been waiting months to get, so that they can properly vet the site. Just today, I had two people mention a site to me. I could not confirm or deny, and am not going to here for fear of truly "confirming or denying" information that is not supposed to be released to those outside of Executive Session.

But really. The utter lack of transparency, the votes under the cover of darkness, the shutting out of the public from the process is appalling. Some would call this "a laughing matter." I am not laughing...

08/27/2026

Earlier this week, we were informed of the sad news that Bob Parisi, a longtime resident and elected official in Wallingford had passed away. It gave me an opportunity to reflect upon our time together on the Town Council, most especially our meeting on December 16, 2015. It was his final one, and the one where we named the Town Council Chambers after him, more concretely assuring his name will be ever present in the proud history of our town. That evening, each member of the Town Council took a part in wishing Bob well in his retirement. Here are my remarks.

08/27/2026

At the August 24, 2026 meeting of the Wallingford Board of Education, Superintendent Bellizzi asked the Board for permission to seek a bid waiver from the Town Council to approve the hiring of counsel to defend against a Freedom of Information Act Complaint filed by Board Member Caroline Raynis.

In framing her request though, Superintendent Bellizzi either showed herself to be less than honorable. She represented to the Board and public that the complaint "named individual members" and that it "encompassed the entire Board of Education as well," when in fact IT DOES NOT. The complaint is posted here.

A very simple and rudimentary reading of the complaint shows that it is solely against Chairman Votto for his misuse of Executive Session, asking for the Commission to find as such, and to make sure that, going forward Chairman Votto uses the power of Executive Session appropriately.

Interestingly, while normally matters such as this would be discussed in Executive Session, instead here this was addressed in open session, with misrepresentation fostering publicly demeaning comments by Board Members believing (based upon Bellizzi's untruthful representations) to be attacked by the filing. One would hope the Superintendent is literate.

Also interesting is the fact that mere months ago, the issue came up of whether (or not) the Superintendent needs BOE permission to seek a bid waiver, and the Town Attorney said that she did not. (Her memo is at the end of the documents.)

So, was this agenda item really an act of good faith, or just "𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗴𝗶𝗿𝗹 𝗯𝘂𝗹𝗹𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴?"

Inquiring minds want to know...

Here is the link to the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmrXRVNesg0&t=5674s

The shenanigans start at 1:30:00

06/26/2026

Last weekend, the Town of Wallingford began its Celebratory Events in recognition of our country's 250TH ANNIVERSARY, including Saturday's parade, of which I had the pleasure to take part. The weather was FANTASTIC as we gathered together in recognition.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA!

06/11/2026

The Wallingford Board of Education's Transportation Analysis for their "One High School" claims their fantasy site to be "centrally located." Looking at the map, do you think this "central location" is INSIDE the blackened map area, or OUTSIDE the blackened map area?

And while it has been OVER SIX YEARS, they STILL have not asked the Town Council to publicly vote on their fantasy site. Instead, they continue to spend money on their fantasy, while keeping the public in the dark. There is no reason why they can’t have a public forum where they identify a particular area of town (not the actual parcel, but the area) and have the families impacted by the fantasy give their comments. That is only fair … Instead, the public is left in the dark. Purposely.

While they claim that it is "in the Town Council's hands," just last week they had a meeting where their own agenda said "potential sites," and they appropriated EVEN MORE money toward their fantasy. So if it is really "in the Town Council's hands," why didn't they have come to the Town Council for permission?

Meanwhile, another school year passes and the only people benefiting from this continued fantasy are those that are continued to be compensated as consultants.

CERTAINLY NOT the students or their families.

04/30/2026

04/22/2026

This week, April 23, 2026 to be specific, the Wallingford Board of Education is expected to vote on a CONTINUATION of contract services for its one high school FANTASY site; even though the Board itself HAS STILL NOT disclosed the site location to public, and HAS STILL NOT even voted on the site! Have they even told all of the BOARD MEMBERS as of yet?

Gee, I SURE HOPE that it is centrally located in town, and free of all wetlands concerns. Otherwise, their continued operation in the dark, over many years, shutting out the public from this process looks (to the general public) to be fueled by something other than good faith act. Kickbacks? Bribery? Extortion? Payoffs? Inquiring minds continue to ask, but I can't provide the answer.

The PUBLIC deserves INFORMATION and ANSWERS! To hide and obfuscate, while spending the taxpayers' money does nothing other than to give the appearance of impropriety. Meanwhile, the middle schools continue to be neglected.

04/15/2026

Six years later and the Wallingford Board of Education STILL has not asked the Town Council to officially vote on the fantasy property for their "one high school." Instead, they seek "appreciation" for their headlong obstinance, with NO "Plan B" in the works. Even if approved this fall, opening will not be for (at least) ANOTHER SIX YEARS?!?