Candidate Pool Announced For FFH Review Committee

By Kendra Bobowick

Fourteen names are on the list.

“We’ve been talking about a review of the master plan [for Fairfield Hills reuse] for about six weeks with the intention tonight that I would share the names [of volunteers for the committee],” said First Selectman Pat Llodra Monday during a selectmen’s meeting.

In alphabetical order she read: Joe Borst, Mike Floros, David Galassi, Dennis Kyle, Paul Lundquist, Neci Marr, Bob Maurer, Mike Mossbarger, Po Murray, Ben Roberts, Alan Shepard, Gary Steele, Deb Zukowski, and Stephen zVon.

Mrs Llodra then explained, “There is always good news and bad news. The good is that 14 people have come forward …” They have diverse skill sets and backgrounds, she said, then offered the bad news. “But, 14 people — the size may prohibit effective processes.”

During a later interview she clarified, “Not all 14 will be identified [for the committee]. My guess is that 14 might be too large a number. The Board of Selectmen will have to grapple with that at the next meeting.”

At the Board of Selectmen’s meeting Monday she continued, “I want to say I am appreciative of all persons who came forward. It’s a great list of people who want to serve their town.”

Mrs Llodra noted her confidence in the “diverse experience” the 14 represent, and that the group will be “analytical and comprehensive and take into consideration public interests,” and keep the “common good” in mind and “not the interests of just one group.”

Speaking to this point, resident Barbara O’Connor, who attended the meeting, told the selectmen, “I have no doubt that some of the applicants will have a personal agenda. I urge caution.”

“I certainly will,” Mrs Llodra said.

Ms O’Connor added, “Regarding your comment that all will work for the common good, I doubt it.”

Resident Ruby Johnson spoke next. Taking her time and looking at the selectmen in turn, she said, “There aren’t enough women. We think differently with a way of looking at the future. Men tend to be more business-oriented. Women are connected more with the activities of children. I urge you to get a balance of men and women.”

Ms Johnson also responded to Mrs Llodra’s and Ms O’Connor’s comments: “I listened to those names, I know some of them; I don’t think any have personal agendas.” She wished the selectmen luck.

Past political campaigns have seen arguments questioning points in the Fairfield Hills planning and spending, and in some cases prompted costly state investigations into work and labor practices, environmental compliance, and questioned spending. Several names on the list belong to people involved in past political campaigns. Public opinion widely varies regarding Fairfield Hills plans for reuse and the affiliated spending.

 

The Process

Of the “panoply of things I am looking for,” Mrs Llodra said the board will have to look at the group, the individuals, and “struggle to define attributes and traits that will help us toward a positive end. We want a diverse group that represents the community. We need analytical and creative thinkers and the only agenda that would drive actions is an eye toward the common good.” Previous political ambitions could be an impediment o the process, she said.

The individuals, she said, will need to work well as a group, be good listeners and be able to engage in discourse. “Those are the filters I’ll use,” she said. While “all are worthy individuals, I’ll assess how the attributes speak to the process.” Mrs Llodra’s expectations, timeline for review, specific charge for the review committee, and its final selection of members will be up for discussion at selectmen’s May 3 meeting at 7:30 in the Newtown Municipal Center meeting room.

With an eye toward a decision at that meeting, Mrs Llodra said, “The next step is identifying persons of the group and what is their work, what are the expectations.” To fellow selectmen, she said, “I recommend we take the information and next time be prepared to make specific recommendations,” at the May 3 meeting.

To the 14, including former first selectman Joe Borst who sat in the audience Monday, Mrs Llodra said, “We appreciate your willingness to serve.” Impressed that so many had “come forward and said ‘count me in,’” Mrs Llodra responded to them with a letter of thanks.

The letter states, “As a whole, you are an impressive group characterized by diverse professional and personal experiences, possessed of an abiding commitment to serving the common good, and demonstrating strong abilities to engage others in meaningful discourse … Ultimately we seek to put together a committee that is large enough to manage the myriad levels of communication, research and analysis, but, at the same time, not so large as to be a barrier to effective group processes.”

Finished with reading the letter she asked Selectmen William Furrier and William Rodgers, “Does this express our combined thinking?” Yes, it did, they confirmed.

The Board of Selectmen is now faced with the task of identifying persons from among the group of 14 who are best suited to fulfilling the committee charge.

The full board now has a set of documents describing the background and interests of the candidates for appointment, which they will discuss in the May meeting.