Democrats Nominate Poulin For P&Z Vacancy

By Andrew Gorosko

The Democratic Town Committee has recommended that the Board of Selectmen name Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) Democratic alternate member Robert Poulin to fill the vacancy on the P&Z created by Democrat Heidi Winslow’s recent resignation.

Democratic Town Chairman Earl J. Smith said this week the town committee last week unanimously backed its candidates committee’s recommendation that Mr Poulin be elevated from an alternate member to a regular member of the P&Z. Alternate members of town agencies typically become regular members when a regular member’s vacancy arises.

 The selectmen are expected to act on the town committee’s recommendation when they meet April 2.

Although several other unnamed people had expressed an interest in filling Ms Winslow’s vacancy on the P&Z, after it became clear that Mr Poulin was interested in the post, the others deferred to Mr Poulin and did not pursue the matter, Mr Smith said.

Elevating an alternate member to a regular member’s seat when a vacancy arises provides people with an incentive to become alternate members of town agencies, Mr Smith said.

In a letter to the town committee, Ms Winslow had recommended that Mr Poulin fill her vacancy on the panel, Mr Smith noted.

Elevating Mr Poulin to a regular P&Z seat will create the need to find a new Democratic alternate member for the agency, Mr Smith said.

“Bob [Poulin] has been a longtime citizen of town. He knows the issues. He’s particularly [knowledgeable] about the issues affecting the P&Z,” Mr Smith said. Mr Poulin, a Boggs Hill Road resident, is conscientious and hard working, Mr Smith said.

Ms Winslow, an attorney with a private practice in Danbury, resigned from the P&Z last month after being nominated to become a Superior Court judge by Governor John Rowland. Ms Winslow, who served on the P&Z for more than 11 years, was the senior member on the agency, serving as the P&Z’s secretary.

Connecticut Superior Court judges are not allowed to hold elected office.

Ms Winslow received the endorsement of the state legislature’s judiciary committee on Wednesday in Hartford. The full legislature is expected to act soon on her judicial appointment and the appointment of 12 other lawyers who have been nominated to be judges.

The P&Z has eight members, five of whom are regular members, and three of whom are alternates. Among the regular members, three are Republicans and two are Democrats. Among the alternates, two are Democrats and one is a Republican.

In the November 2001 elections, six of the eight seats on the P&Z will be up for election. Voters will elect people to fill three of the five regular seats and all three of the alternate seats.