Date: Fri 21-Nov-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

selectmen-Cascella-Mooney

Full Text:

Selectmen Conclude Their Work With A Sense Of Accomplishment

BY STEVE BIGHAM

The Board of Selectmen met Monday night at the Multi-Purpose Building for its

regularly scheduled meeting.

The meeting was a short one, consisting of a few driveway bond releases and

some appointments. More importantly, however, it was the last time Bob

Cascella, Jim Mooney and Gary Fetzer would meet as a board.

None of the three sought reelection to their current positions, opening the

door for a new board to take over. The new Board of Selectmen -- Democrats

Herb Rosenthal and Joe Bojnowski and Republican Bill Brimmer -- will meet for

the first time December 1.

It has been nearly 40 years since the town last had an entirely new Board of

Selectmen. Each year since, at least one member has hung on from the previous

board. In 1958, Newtown's Board of Selectmen included First Selectman Edward

Coleman and selectmen Edward Knapp and Jack Rosenthal, Herb Rosenthal's

father. In 1959, three new members took over -- First Selectman Charles

Terrel, Jr, and selectmen Alfred Karcheski and Miles Harris.

Looking Back

Mr Cascella, whose administration will be the subject of a story in next

week's Newtown Bee , said he was fortunate to serve on the Board of Selectmen

with three men who cared as much about Newtown as Jim Mooney, Gary Fetzer and

Jim Smith. Mr Smith served as selectman in Mr Cascella's first term of office.

"I think the board has been very effective over the past four years," Mr

Cascella said. "We differed at times, but we always did what was best for

Newtown."

During that time, the town spent more money on construction projects than ever

before. Nevertheless, the tax rate remained stable. The board tackled a major

sewer project, massive school additions and renovations, road improvements and

a much-maligned library project. The selectmen made their last significant

decision just over a week ago when it voted to fire library contractor

Building Technologies, Inc, of Prospect.

Mr Cascella said his board was one of the first to have its town engineer (Ron

Bolmer) review road work agreements in detail to determine what it is the town

is agreeing to.

"In doing so, we were able to get developers to pay their fair share, so that

it didn't come back to haunt the town two years down the road," he said.

Mr Cascella said the board brought with it a unique sense of humor, providing

plenty of comic relief. The first selectman laughs when he recalls the time he

appointed Mr Mooney as the town's "garbage czar," or when an irate Butterfield

Road resident ripped trees off a map to show his opposition to a proposed

subdivision which would require some tree removal.

Jim Mooney leaves after a two-year stint. He joined the board in 1995, taking

over for the departed Jim Smith.

"For me personally, it was a learning experience. I think I gained even more

respect for people who volunteer their time for government," he said.

The always affable Mr Mooney became known for his willingness to speak his

mind.

"Overall, I think we did a pretty good job," he said.

Mr Mooney was chairman of the town's Municipal Space Needs Advisory Board,

which investigated possible relocation sites for town employees. The town

continues its search to find space to house those workers who were moved to

Canaan House at Fairfield Hills after Town Hall South became ravaged by

flooding.

"Finding a new location for town employees, that's something that will affect

the community for the next 50 years," he said.

Mr Mooney said the job of selectman required a tremendous amount of

preparation. He figured he averaged about six to eight hours per week getting

ready for meetings.

For Gary Fetzer, Monday's meeting marked the end of an eight-year stint on the

board. He first joined the Board of Selectmen in 1989 along with newly-elected

First Selectman Zita McMahon.

Mr Fetzer made a bid to become the town's next first selectman this past

summer, but was defeated by Herb Rosenthal in a September Democratic primary.

The three board members all said the town charter needs to be revised to

either empower the Board of Selectmen to do more or dissolve it altogether.