New Haven Independent

Posted by: Eliza Cleveland | October 13, 2006 1:18 PM

I was there and witnessed the entire thing. It was frightening to see big Mr. Bruno charging after the much-smaller female reporter like an angry bull YELLING at her. Will the first selectwoman do anything about this? I think the RTM should vote in a NEW moderator! No one should have to put up with that kind of harrassment!

Posted by: taxpayer, too | October 13, 2006 1:19 PM

People, this is yet another example of bullying and abuse of power. What do you suppose triggered this?? The fact that Mr. Bruno was not given prior instruction by the administration on how to handle a situation such as this??? Seems to me that Mr. Bruno should know that the RTM meeting is a public meeting, and documents brought up should be able to be scrutinized by the public. What's he afraid of? Is he angry that the truth is being exposed and is tentative about what may be found out??? "What a tangled web we weave........" Perhaps Mr. Bruno should just resign himself to the fact that he is not the person to be the RTM moderator. From his actions, he doesn't appear to be qualified.

Posted by: Tyrone Speaks T.E. | October 13, 2006 1:22 PM

HOW DOES THIS GUY GET ELECTED!!!!!!!! This is actually normal behavior for Jim. He has put his hands on people at town meetings in the past and have made threatening gestures as well. I recall a meeting at the Middle School discussing the Queach property, when a resident was passionately voicing his disapproval. Jim got up in an attempt to surpress an opinion and put his hands on a resident because he did agree with what he was saying. Yes Marcia, he is a loose cannon! Thanks for documenting this. As you have brought to light the FOI complaints. At any point would a higher levels of authority take a closer look at a town that has filed this many FOI complaints? Or perhaps even a town where the the Connecticut Bar Association would look at questionable legal oppinion as in the case of the Stony Creek Quarry lease? Inquiring minds would like to know! I would welcome a discussion, enough is enough!Tyrone Speaks T.E.

Posted by: Moshe Gai | October 13, 2006 5:31 PM

I was standing next to Marcia Chambers when she was chased by Bruno during the break of the RTM meeting. I observed a man red in the color of his face, pointing a finger, shouting his lungs, and chasing a lady who was running away from him. I felt Mr. Bruno was about to become physically violent. His tone of voice and his choice of words in my view already constituted a verbal violence, but I felt he was extremely close to also becoming physically violent. In fact it was so much so that I feared for the safety of Mrs. Chamber. She on the other hand after running away from Mr. Bruno arrived at the safety of her chair, and set quite holding her hands together waiting for the storm to pass. I felt that I must come to the defense of Mrs. Chambers and I raised my voice and I asked Mr. Bruno to stop attacking Mrs. Chambers. As he stopped chasing Mrs. Chambers and turned back I stated to him: "Bruno you scared me". Anyone who was in the room could have heard me. At the time of the incident I was convinced that the situation was extremely volatile and Mrs. Chambers was about to be physically assaulted by Jim Bruno.

Posted by: scjerry | October 13, 2006 6:33 PM

I guess this finally piques my ire. Up till now, I've tolerated the inaction of the Branford DTC to take appropriate action. I have witnessed the milk-toast reactions of this body and the Democratic RTM members to the transgressions of members of their organization, all in the name of conciliation and unity.

The RTM needs to fire this guy.

Let it be known that a large number of Democrats in Branford have joined their Republican counterparts in a well justified outrage at every turn...at every attempt of the current administration to usurp the powers of the electorate; powers that this administration is sworn to enforce and uphold..all under the guise of the ideals of the Democratic party.

How much of this errant behavior do we as Democrats tolerate? Let's unify and take whatever action necessary to purge this cancer from our midst.

Posted by: vtr | October 13, 2006 9:40 PM

he should be fired, and removed from his position as soon as possible.

Posted by: Stan Konesky Jr. | October 14, 2006 9:41 AM

An Alert To All Branford Citizens!!!

On October 19, 2006 at Canoebrook School, if the location is not changed, the P&Z will continue with the ill conceived Founder's Village application. I urge all Branford citizens to attend. Your neighborhood may be next. Remember The Queach, Tabor Drive / Land Fill, Gilbert Lane and other land issues in recent years.
This land has not been developed in the history of Branford for a very logical reason, it is a mountain, steep slopes, full of ledge, excessive blasing required, waterlands and other issues that extend in many surrounding citizen's property. Houses and other commercial structures surround this mountain but no one has venture to this undeveloped & problem filled property.
The applicant is trying the make the glove fit , 120 units, by severely modifying the hand, (the land and Town regulations - Inland Wetland, P&Z ans Sewer by hiding under the "affodable housing issue).In short, no pun intended, he is attempting to cut the hand and fingers to make his glove fit. His experts were caught with misrepresenting their blasting plans in a written document in front of the entire Inland Wetland Commission & public.
The bleeding will be traffic problems, more taxes for public services& safety issues. Who will stop the bleeding. You the tax payer as alweays. One bedroom units for $800/ month does not seem very affordable?????? Two bedroom not under affordable housing about $1400/month.
In the past 1st Selectmen DaRos, Opie, and Kenny have attended meetings and spoke out against this ill conceived burden on Branford's services, taxes, traffic and Quality of Life"
I am publicly asking Mr. DaRos, Opie and Kenny and our present 1st Selectwomen Morris to attend this meeting (10/19/06) to voice their disapproval of this project. I also would invite Mr. Smith & Mr. Swanfelder and Moderator Bruno to do the same. Several 1st District RTM members have written letters and the people thank them but thier presence, expertise is needed as a voice of their citizens they represent.
Mr Bruno has continuously spoke out against this application and he is needed at this critical meeting.
Mrs. Morris has stated she opposes this project and must now voice her disapporval as any citizen can at the P&Z meeting. She went public with the Queach and held a public forum then, maybe a public forum is needed on the Founder's Village project. It must have been important to her because the Founder's Village was initially part of the Queach public deal. I hope we do not forget about the center of Town, traffic especially at the POST Office, North Main Street, entry and exit to St.Mary's School, safety and security of our children, taxes, Town services - Police - Fire - EMS - Schools _ Public Works and flooding especially at Rose and Hillside and the area of Village Green Court.
PLEASE ATTEND THE P&Z MEETING ON 10/19/06 at CANOEBROOK SCHOOL at 7:00PM

Posted by: scjerry | October 14, 2006 8:51 PM

As a member of the Branford Democratic Town Committee, I am appalled at the actions of a fellow Democrat. In fact, I'm ashamed. Mr. Bruno's actions are prompted by his affiliation with a frieghtened administration that despises the light of day and anyone as effective as Ms. Chambers in allowing the sun to flood its recesses. The fact that Mr. Bruno was Cheryl Morris' personal pick in a failed attempt to head the DTC must be a bone in her craw. I'm also appalled at the ignorance of many about the laws that govern the disclosure of public information. But most of all, I'm very disturbed by a DTC, even under new leadership, that refuses to issue a letter of censure in response to such blatant and repeated violations of our cilvil liberties and democratic rights.

Posted by: Mojito. T.E. | October 15, 2006 12:07 PM

I agree with SCJerry, the current DTC should censure their elected officials that are way out of line in dealing with the public. The problem is that even with new leadership in the DTC, they are challenged to make that call as it might (as IT SHOULD!)jeopardize their ability to get elected next fall. The Democrat Party of Branford carries the blame for putting Cheryl Morris in office, Jim Bruno in office and all the other Morrisonians in office. It was the Branford DTC that wrote the slanted letters to the editor, it was the DTC that raised money for this administration, it was the DTC that remained silent with the illegal practices by this administration relating to the Quarry, overages with Marcus legal expenses. It wast the DTC even after they voted to have Ed Marcus removed as Town Attorney and Cheryl ignored them that has not continued to chastize that decision publically. Heck, the Marcus law firm is billing Branford Taxpayers for the time they spend at the DEMOCRAT RTM caucuses. Since when does the taxpayer dollars go to provide legal counsel for the Democrat Party. Branford if you review past recent history under at Republican Administration, with a 50-50 split on the RTM, one thing was certain, the backroom politics, the backstabbing, the patronage, the secret investigations, etc... did not exist. I hope John Opie decides to run again and put Branford back on the right course it was heading prior to the dirty political practices the Morris/Marcus, Branford Democrat camp pulled in their mailings two days before the election. Branford wake up, local politics has nothing to do with what happens in Washington, DC. It has everything to do with what happens in Branford!! To not vote for good leadership because of party label has put Branford in the mess it is in. And it was the Branford Democrat Party (prior "bosses" et al.)that is responsible.

Posted by: The People | October 16, 2006 8:11 AM

Jim Bruno is a terrible moderator on the RTM. He does not deserve that position of authority as he constantly abuses it with his bullying tactics. However one should not blame the entire Democratic party for his existence. Jim Bruno, John Smith (RTM majority leader), Cheryl Morris (first selectman), Shelly Marcus (town counsel), Ed Marcus (town counsel), Dick Sullivan (second selectman) and a few others on the RTM are the tiny little minority of democrats in Branford who seem to be out for themselves only. These few rotten apples DO NOT represent the vast majority of Democrats in Branford. Look at all of the good Dems on the various commissions and committees. Look at the good Dems who are speaking out against this administration. These few rotten apples are just that: a small number of people. But coming next election, we’ll THROW THE BUMS OUT. People are watching them very carefully right now and they, or anyone who is connected to them in any way is surely going to have a tough time getting elected.

Posted by: Blair Kauffman | October 17, 2006 7:56 PM

If Bruno truly has exhibited behavior similar what is described here and is still in office, we all are to blame. Lets get this fellow out a position of authority now!