Date: Fri 19-Dec-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

P&Z-Selectmen-Dean-Paisley

Full Text:

Republicans Come Up Short On P&Z Appointment

BY STEVE BIGHAM

A handful of Republicans Monday night urged the Board of Selectmen to appoint

Tom Paisley as an alternate to the Planning & Zoning Commission. Their efforts

failed, however, bringing home to them the reality of last November's

election. Newtown is no longer a Republican-led town.

The selectmen voted, 2-1, to instead appoint Democrat Lilla Dean to the seat.

Suddenly, the P&Z is split right down the middle, four Democrats and four

Republicans.

First Selectman Herb Rosenthal and selectman Joe Bojnowski, both Democrats,

voted in favor of Mrs Dean. Republican Bill Brimmer cast the opposing vote.

Both Mrs Dean, a newcomer, and Mr Paisley, an incumbent, lost in this past

municipal election. However, Mr Rosenthal pointed out that Mrs Dean actually

received more votes than Mr Paisley.

"I do believe very strongly that we have to listen to the voters," Mr

Rosenthal said. "Mrs Dean received 140 more votes than Mr Paisley. Whether

right or wrong, they voted and Mr Paisley received the lowest number of

votes."

Mr Bojnowski said this was a year where the selectmen needed to listen to the

electorate since voters were especially focused on the P&Z because of the

town's development issue.

Mr Brimmer disagreed.

"The P&Z needs experience right now. They need people who have been there and

are tried and true," he said.

P&Z Chairman Stephen Koch called Mr Paisley's loss in November a "tragedy" and

urged the selectmen to appoint him. Mr Koch said he wasn't sure why Mr Paisley

lost, guessing that it may have been because the Newtown Neighborhood

Coalition declined to endorse him. Either way, he said, the P&Z would have

been lost without Mr Paisley's knowledge.

Republican Town Committee chairman Marie Sturdevant asked the selectmen to

"keep politics out of your decision." She said Mrs Dean did not have the

experience and "this is not a time to support a learning member."

Joe Borst reminded Mr Rosenthal of his campaign promise.

"You said you wanted to give the P&Z the necessary tools to do their job. I

believe Tom Paisley is a necessary tool."

The two Democratic selectmen were not swayed.

The five regular members of the P&Z are Republicans Stephen Koch, Daniel

Fogliano, James Boylan and Democrats Heidi Winslow and Michael Osborne. The

alternates are Republican Robert Taylor and Democrats Herbert Hoover and Lilla

Dean.