This report was updated December 19 at 9 am with details on the election of the Vice-Chair and a commission secretary.

John Godin, the only remaining Republican incumbent reelected to Newtown’s Board of Finance, cross-endorsed Democrat and former selectman James Gaston, Sr, to break a tie in voting for a chair when the panel sat for its first regular meeting December 14.

Mr Gaston, who served as a multi-term vice chair of the finance board prior to being elected to the Board of Selectmen, will serve for at least a one-year term. He also currently serves as the chief elected official for the Borough of Newtown.

The finance board now comprises Mr Gaston, Mr Godin, Republicans Mark Boland and Sandy Roussas, along with Democrats Kelley Johnson and Aaron Carlson. The significant number of newcomers was elected to serve the finance board after four other veteran members — John Kortze, Harrison Waterbury, Joseph Kearney, and Michael Portnoy — all chose to not seek new terms last November.

The meeting opened under the temporary leadership of Town Clerk Debbie Aurelia Halstead, who called for nominations of a chair. Ms Roussas made an uncharacteristic motion to seat Mr Gaston to chair for a one-year term, followed by Mr Godin for the second year of the current board’s two-year elected term.

Before a vote on that motion was called, Ms Johnson nominated Mr Gaston for the chair.

Ms Roussas explained that the split-term attempt provides for political balance while reflecting that Mr Gaston was the board’s top vote-getter at the polls last November.

“Each party has an equal number of members,” Ms Roussas said, “and this motion splits the term. Politics and party [affiliation] shouldn’t play a role, and it sends a message that we can work together.”

Ms Johnson supported her motion saying that after a number of previous terms on the finance board, Mr Gaston had the experience to lead the group, adding that local Republicans already hold leadership seats on the local Boards of Selectmen and Education and the Legislative Council.

Mr Carlson said he would support Mr Gaston in part, because he received the most votes at the polls. Ms Roussas said in the interest of continuity, she believed Mr Godin deserved the chair, also noting his long tenure with General Electric and a history of community service.

Mr Gaston asserted that a split term was unnecessary since during his previous tenure as vice chair, the finance board elected its chair annually, a point that Ms Roussas researched and later indicated was inaccurate.

(The Bee subsequently reviewed board minutes dating back to 2005 and found no indication of elections for a chair happening annually.)

Split ‘Didn’t Work’

Mr Gaston said he had also seen at least one split chair term in town previously, and that arrangement “didn’t work.”

“A split [term] does not provide continuity, and it could become more political,” Mr Gaston said, suggesting that after one year, if his colleagues were not satisfied with his leadership they could simply vote in a new chair.

Mr Godin affirmed that during his previous term, the chair was elected for and served a two-year term. However, he said the board has the flexibility to do what it wants lacking charter and statutory directive on the issue. He added that as a result of discussion during a GOP caucus, he believed Ms Roussas’ motion would pass unanimously.

Mr Gaston then reiterated that every year during his previous service on the board, the chair was elected annually, and that according to a legal opinion, there was no means to break a 3-3 tie vote. Ms Aurelia Halstead then requested a role call vote on both existing motions, and both failed on 3-3 party line splits.

Mr Carlson then nominated Mr Gaston for a one-year term.

During subsequent discussion Ms Johnson returned to the notion of intent, saying she did not believe voters would want the community’s four leading elected boards to be Republican controlled — suggesting that a split term chair was also “not good.”

But Mr Godin countered that a split term represented “clear governance.”

“So what’s the issue with being a little progressive?” he asked. But Mr Gaston said the split of votes between Republicans and Democrats last November indicated the public wants more political balance on elected boards.

“Having a Democrat as chair is consistent with what they voted for,” he said.

Mr Carlson added that “there’s nothing better for a tie-breaker than the voice of the community.” Which prompted Mr Boland to state: “On a split board, the chairman should be the least political,” then suggesting that perhaps Ms Roussas or Ms Johnson should be nominated as chair.

Recess, Then Resolution

After a few more minutes of discussion with no resolution, Ms Aurelia Halstead agreed to a brief recess during which party colleagues could caucus. Upon returning, Mr Gaston and Mr Godin reentered the council chambers together conversing quietly.

Calling the question, it appeared that Ms Aurelia Halstead would again be facing a tie, however the final vote cast by Mr Godin ended the process as he endorsed Mr Gaston.

With that matter settled, Ms Johnson's nomination of Mr Godin for Vice-Chair was endorsed unanimously. Ms Johnson then nominated Town staffer Arlene Miles to serve as secretary, and she was also elected unanimously.

Following the meeting, Mr Godin explained that he supported Mr Gaston because it represented “a compromise on the Republican side reflecting what we anticipated in year one anyway. The only unknown is what will happen in year two of the current term.”

Mr Godin said his vote also served to end what could be a protracted process. According to state statutes researched by Town Finance Director Robert Tait, after a 30-day stalemate on a split finance board vote for the chairmanship, the decision must fall on either the First Selectman or the Board of Selectmen.

“We’re heading into a very challenging budget season, and I didn’t want to be responsible for this dragging out,” he said. “We’ve got a lot of work and learning to do with a new board. This was the best thing for the town and it was the right thing to do.”