New Haven Independent

Same script. Different venue. At the RTM meeting Wednesday night, moderator James W. Bruno, who decides the appointments to the committee, and who is aligned with the current administration, announced that an ad-hoc committee would “investigate questions regarding The Branford Quarry.”

Reading from a prepared statement, Bruno declared that four RTM members would begin (take a deep breath here) with the November 16, 1982, creation of the Stony Creek Quarry lease. He said the committee would cover all aspects of the lease, a lease that has been problematic for many years, sources said. He laid out the specifics, as if a lawyer had written them for him: the financial return on the lease, funds owed to the town, how the arrangement had been structured and how it had changed.

In short, he set the stage for the events that Marcus and Cheryl Morris, the First Selectwoman, say were responsible for the deployment of Detective Duncan Ayr to Unk’s shop back in April. Marcus had called Ayr to the First Selectwoman’s office late one afternoon, laid out a set of photographs that Michael Milici, the former democratic chairman, had someone take and then deployed Ayr to visit Unk. At issues were royalties, Ayr said Marcus told him in a police report. After Unk supplied receipts, the case was closed.

But Bruno did not close the door all the way. He said there would be discussions of the “events that led us to where we are now,” including, he added softly, “any actions of town officials.” Bruno also reserved the right to appoint a fifth voting member if the work required it. A report will be issued.

Bruno called the four RTM members appointed to the ad hoc committee, all “open-minded members.” They are: Scott Thayer and Jan Doyle, the two Democrats, and John Prete, Jr. and Frank B. Twohill, Jr., the two Republicans. Twohill is a lawyer. Thayer was named chair. Bruno said that as moderator, a position that according to the Branford Code wields great authority, he would attend all meetings. He does not get to vote but he is the third Democrat aboard. Bruno oversees the majority party. Of the 18 democrats on the RTM, 12 are considered strong supporters of this Administration. When the remaining six vote with the 12 Republicans, the Administration’s agenda is defeated.

If Ed Marcus, Cheryl Morris and Michael Milici were supposed to be front and center in this inquiry, Bruno did not mention their names during his charge. Nor had the members of the police commission. Only Commissioner Jon Grossman, spoke out against Marcus’s conduct. The committee does not have subpoena power and if witnesses are to appear, they will have to do so voluntarily. “We don’t have subpoena power, but we will call on people to come in and we will let you know if they don’t,” Thayer said later on.

As far as Bruno was concerned, the inquiry could be wrapped up in 30 days because he said he doesn’t want it to drag on. Indeed the Eagle has learned that the first meeting is tentatively set for Wednesday July 26th and the second for August 2nd at 7:30 p.m at Canoe Brook Center. Unlike the police commission’s inquiry, which went into closed door executive session, these meetings are open to the public.

Eliza Cleveland and Pam Roy, who wrote the letter seeking a formal inquiry into Granite-gate, were flabbergasted that the intent of their inquiry had been so transformed. Their letter cited the ongoing “public distress.” “I ask you to clarify the mission of this committee,” Cleveland declared as she stood before the RTM board when Bruno asked for public comments. “Will you be calling Marcus, Milici and others,” she asked. Bruno replied: “It’s up to the committee.”

Karyl Lee Hall said shifting the inquiry to the enormous and separate problem of the quarry was an effort to “dilute the issue.” Moshe Gai said Bruno and his advisers were purposely obfuscating the issue. “We are all concerned about the role of the First Selectwoman. Was there an abuse of power of her office? That is the issue, not whether we are going to make another $3,000 out of the quarry”

Another sticking point was Bruno’s initial insistence that all this be done within the next 30 days. Indeed, Doyle, who wrote an essay in the Branford Review a few backs extolling Cheryl Morris’s tenure, said “maybe one meeting is all we need.” This remark stunned many in the audience.

Doyle observed how quickly the Police Commission had wrapped up its inquiry. (The committee of two took 90 minutes). She then cited a short New Haven Register story this week on the Police Commission’s findings and said it answered most of the important questions. Afterwards, several said she had already made up her mind, that she was not, as Bruno described “open-minded and impartial.” Apparently several RTM Republicans agreed because yesterday they tried (unsuccessfully) to get Bruno to replace her.

The 30 day deadline led to such an outcry that Bruno eventually backed off. John Opie, the former First Selectman, told the RTM that the complex Quarry contract was often front and center during his two year administration. “You don’t have a prayer of doing this in 30 days. Every administration has dealt with this contract and one month is an inadequate time frame.”

Bruno looked disgusted. He could see his marching orders evaporating. It later appeared he would probably relent on the self-imposed time limit, especially since the quarry contract would undoubtedly open a can of worms.

Kurt Schwanfelder, the Republican Minority leader, said Bruno’s choices for the committee, Thayer and Doyle were “Cherylites who will march to the First Selectwoman’s step.” And Bruno’s oversight of the group “will enable him to keep his spin going.”

Nonetheless this committee, however fitfully put together, is the best chance the town has to pose questions to the participants and others about events that have not only upset the community but have caused a severe rift within the democratic party. At one point, the Democratic Town Committee asked Morris to fire Marcus as town attorney. She refused.

Bruno did not choose any of the Democrats who have raised questions about this Administration’s actions to sit on the committee. But behind the scenes several worked hard to get an equal number of Republicans and Democrats seated so that a legitimate inquiry might take place. Lonnie Reed, a democratic RTM member, told the group: “It is important to shine a light on this….It is important to do a fact finding of these issues.”

Here’s hoping it happens.