Date: Fri 21-Mar-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

council-Studley-Rodgers

Full Text:

Two New Council Members Sworn In

B Y S TEVE B IGHAM

The Legislative Council welcomed two new members to the board at its regular

meeting Wednesday night, but the two men had to be sworn in twice.

Assistant Town Clerk Sue Shpunt swore in Republicans Donald Studley of 39 Deep

Brook Road and William Rodgers of 208 Hattertown Road prior to the meeting.

However, Democratic council member Jack Rosenthal showed up 10 minutes later

to dispute the move.

"The new members must be elected at a council meeting," Mr Rosenthal said.

Pierre Rochman, council chairman, explained that the two new members had been

chosen Monday night at a caucus of the Republican council members. He said the

charter was adhered to throughout the process.

Mr Rosenthal disagreed, saying a caucus was not really a meeting.

"These two men were not elected," he said. "They should not vote on anything

tonight because I'll take this issue to another level."

According to the charter, "A vacancy shall be filled from among electors

resident in the district of the vacated member by majority vote of the

Legislative Council members of the same political party of the vacated member

within 30 days."

Mr Rochman said the precedent had been set in the past and ordered that the

meeting move on, but Mr Rosenthal appealed the chairman's decision.

"The council never gets together without a meeting being called. If they get

together for coffee, it's not as the council," Mr Rosenthal said.

In a vote to overrule Mr Rochman, Mr Rosenthal lost, 9-1.

Nevertheless, Mr Rodgers said he'd feel more comfortable if he was sworn in

again. Mr Studley agreed. However, by this time, Mrs Shpunt had already left.

That's when Barbara O'Connor, who was sitting in the audience, spoke up,

saying, "I'm a justice of the peace."

Following the meeting, the council voted to add the swearing-in ceremony to

the agenda, and Mrs O'Connor swore in both men into office.

Mr Rosenthal stressed that his comments were not meant to attack the two new

members and that he was pleased that both men had been selected.

Council member Karen Blawie said she joined the council in the middle of a

term a few years ago after being selected by the Republicans, and Mr Rosenthal

brought up the same concern.

Mr Rodgers, an attorney, will represent District III. He replaces Gail

Halapin, who resigned from the council earlier this month in the middle of her

first term.

"Bill was the only candidate from the third district, so it was an easy

choice, but we're very excited about him. He comes very highly recommended,"

Mr Rochman said.

Mr Studley of District I takes over for Joe Mahoney, the former council

chairman, who also stepped down earlier this month.

"Choosing a new member from District I was a very difficult choice because

there were three candidates and all three were so good. We're very happy with

our selection," Mr Rochman said.

Mr Studley, a longtime Newtown resident, is a certified public accountant in

Danbury.

Mr Studley will serve on the council's finance committee, while Mr Rodgers

will serve on its ordinance committee.