Board of Selectmen Meeting of Jan. 4, 2024

The Board of Selectmen met on Thursday, Jan. 4. The selectmen approved the minutes of the Board of Selectmen meeting for Dec. 14, 2023 with a minor amendment. The selectmen also approved two tax refunds as recommended by Krista Kot, tax collector. The Board of Selectmen appointed the following members to serve on boards and commissions:

• Agricultural Commission: David Bussolotta (reappointment) and Jacob Conover
• Board of Ethics: Vivian Hardison (reappointment) and Florisca Carter (reappointment)
• Cemetery Committee: Nanette DeWester (reappointment)
• Commission for the Aging: Anne Hughes (reappointment)
• EMS Commission: Robert Adriani (reappointment)
• Insurance Commission: Ronald Berry (reappointment)
• Land Acquisition and Preservation Authority: Jordan Baker-Kilner (reappointment) and Tom Ganim (reappointment, alternate)
• Library Board of Trustees: Diane Parker (reappointment, alternate)
• Measurer of Wood: Michael Sabia (reappointment) and Irving Snow (reappointment)
• Park and Recreation Commission: Rocky Sullivan (reappointment) and Carolyn Oppenheim (reappointment)
• Pension and Employee Benefits Commission: Robert Sadowski (reappointment) and Gerard O’Brien (reappointment)
• Planning and Zoning Commission: Raymond Ganim (reappointment) and Jay Habansky (reappointment, alternate)
• Senior Center Advisory Board: Sally England (reappointment), Eunice Hanson (reappointment) and Prabha Gupta (reappointment)
• Zoning Board of Appeals: Charles Lynch (reappointment)

The Board of Selectmen postponed voting on the appointment of Tree Warden until the next meeting.

Public comment is at the beginning and the end of each meeting. Members of the public commented on topics including whether the elected position of Town Treasurer should be combined with the staff position of Finance Director; support for the reappointment of several board and commission members — in particular, support for Vivian Hardison’s reappointment to the Board of Ethics — and continued support for protecting residents serving on boards and commissions.

During board comments, Selectman Nick D’Addario mentioned the possibility of creating a task force to study how the town can better protect residents serving on boards and commissions. He also recognized that it was First Selectman David Bindelglass’ birthday. Selectman Kristi Sogofsky discussed that any additional information regarding the town’s insurance policy covering board and commission members should be made available. First Selectman Bindelglass agreed that some sort of commission should be created to study how the town can better protect residents serving on boards and commissions. He also gave an update on the ongoing negotiations of the proposed lease of town-owned property on South Park Avenue to the New England Prayer center. 

A link to the video recording of the meeting can be accessed below.