Diana Stricker Photo
How does an unaffiliated voter navigate the political process to become a volunteer member of boards and commissions in Branford?
Stony Creek resident Linda Reed (pictured) asked that question Wednesday night when the Board of Selectmen (BOS) appointed someone else to fill the seat she held on the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA). Reed was appointed as an alternate unaffiliated member to the ZBA in June to fill a vacancy created when alternate Christine Ciociola, a Democrat, stepped up to full membership. Both Reed and Ciociola’s positions expired Oct. 31, but no action was taken to fill the seats until Wednesday.
Reed, who is an unaffiliated voter, wanted to know if the reason she wasn’t reappointed was because “I’m not wearing a giant D [Democrat] on my chest.”
About 60 percent of voters in Branford are unaffiliated. Typically, when there are openings on boards and commissions, the Democratic Town Committee (DTC) and the Republican Town Committee (RTC) interview people and make recommendations to the selectmen. But the process for an unaffiliated voter seeking appointment or re-appointment to one of the nearly 50 boards or commissions in town is confusing.
A vacancy is usually filled by someone of the same party as the person who vacated the seat, or by an unaffiliated voter. Some boards and commissions have regulations under the Town Charter specifying the political make-up. Unaffiliated voters do serve on many of the boards and commissions, unless prohibited by the charter. For example, the ZBA currently has three Democrats, two Republicans and three unaffiliated. The ZBA rules stipulate there cannot be more than three members of the same party.
Reed spoke at length during the meeting as she questioned how the process works. She said she indicated her interest in being reappointed in a letter to the BOS that she sent to Stan Konesky, chair of the DTC‘s nominating committee.
“I followed what I thought was protocol,” Reed said, adding she is not familiar with the process used by the DTC and the RTC to make recommendations. “There’s no handbook out there.”
The issue came to the forefront Wednesday when the name of Leonard Tamsin was listed on the agenda as the nominee for the ZBA seat that Reed has held. Ciociola, who moved up from ZBA alternate to regular member last year, was listed on the agenda for reappointment. Both were recommended by the DTC.
First Selectman Anthony “Unk” DaRos said Reed’s credentials are good, but the process of being reappointed involves the political committees.
“I want to believe it’s not a political process,” Reed said, adding that she was frustrated and disappointed. “You should rise above the politics.”
Second Selectman Andy Campbell said many unaffiliated voters are not aware of the procedures involved. He later told the Eagle he has been working to update the application process for volunteer positions on board and commissions.
Third Selectman James Cosgrove, the sole Republican on the three-member board, said he believes that the selectmen should honor the recommendations of the town committees, so he didn’t want to be a hypocrite and suggest they select someone else in this case. Cosgrove said he was sympathetic to Reed’s plight and said he hopes she is not discouraged from volunteering. “You are very well qualified,” he said.
Ray Ingraham, chair of the RTC, said his committee wasn’t notified about the opening on the ZBA, and asked that the appointment be postponed. On several occasions, Ingraham has complained that the RTC has not been notified of openings.
The selectmen voted 2 – 1 to appoint Tamsin, a local contractor, to fill the alternate position on the ZBA. Cosgrove, who voted no, later told the Eagle he had nothing against Tamsin, but that he wasn’t satisfied with the way the process was working.
Ciociola’s reappointment for a regular ZBA position was unanimously approved without comment.
DaRos later told the Eagle that vacancies are typically sent to both the DTC and the RTC, who review applications and conduct interviews. “I believe that nominations should go through the process,” he said.
A GAP IN THE PROCESS
Campbell told the Eagle there is a gap in the process of appointing volunteers to boards and commissions when it comes to the 60 percent of voters who are unaffiliated. “We make people go through a political process when they are apolitical,” he said. “It’s not a process that is welcoming to people who are apolitical.”
He said he has been working to update the application system for several months. “This is a town that heavily relies on boards and commissions,” Campbell said, adding that they’re all made up of volunteers. “If people want to help, let’s make it easy for them.”
There is a list of boards and commission on the town’s Web site, which lists the members and when their terms expire.
Campbell is suggesting a system that would be more user-friendly to someone wanting to volunteer. He is working to develop a brief description of each of the town’s boards and commissions that could be placed on the town’s Web site. He said the new information would list vacancies on the boards and commissions, explain the application process, and allow residents to apply online.
“People don’t realize all the boards and commission we have,” Campbell said. “So many of them do so much vital work, but there’s not enough information out there about what they do.”
PUBLIC WORKS COSTS
The issue of the new public works facility was raised again Wednesday night when Cosgrove, the third selectman, gave a brief report. Last month, he asked permission to try to negotiate a deal with the owners of the Cherry Hill Glass site to build the facility there. The site at 20 Elm St. was one of several considered by the Public Works Building Committee. Click here to read that story.
Diana Stricker Photo
The committee twice recommended the town-owned Tabor Drive site, and the BOS voted 2 – 1 in November to build it there. Cosgrove disagreed. On Wednesday, he said he has been looking at the Cherry Hill site and at other properties that were reviewed, but he had no new information about any of the sites.
He did, however, repeat his conviction that the Tabor project would be too expensive.
DaRos said construction costs at Tabor could be about $7 million — - the price that Cosgrove previously said would be agreeable. DaRos said he is relying on the recommendations of the Public Works Building Committee and the consulting firm they hired.
“I’m backing a committee who put in two years of their time with no prejudice,” DaRos said.
Campbell told Cosgrove his inflated construction costs are not based on reality.
Construction plans and funding will have to be deliberated by the Board of Finance and the Representative Town Meeting.
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A point to clarify.
"DaRos later told the Eagle that vacancies are typically sent to both the DTC and the RTC, who review applications and conduct interviews. "I believe that nominations should go through the process," he said."
The process to send openings to both party's , I requested on a number of occasions over the last three plus years (my tenure as RTC Chair). It has finally occurred, first notifications of openings came the day after the Board of Selectman meeting this article is reporting.
At no time should a person be removed from a position without a conversation as to the reason. This is common decency, Mrs Reed was not told at the end of her term, she was allowed to fill the spot until a replacement was found. She was not wanted on the board, but still was asked to submit request and resume then not interviewed.
We have discussed these issues over and over aging with the Board of Selectmen. Fran Walsh stated while on the board "I don't want what happened some time ago to happen again" referring to a time in the 80's when many people were removed from seats.
Selectman Campbell was so concerned about the process he simply voted 'yes' in full view that a pause in the nomination might have been proper. He yielded to political pressure, then after the meeting wants to make up and state he thinks we should work on a updated system. Again allowing one more casualty to the process to fall.
Ray Ingraham
Republican Town Chair