Vote By Building Panel Called Into Question

By Steve Bigham

The Public Building & Site Committee has come under fire after one of its members was allowed to cast an important vote from his home last week. With last week’s vote now considered null and void, the committee was scheduled to reconvene late this week to vote again.

Only three members of the building committee were able to attend the January 2 meeting – one short of a quorum. However, in an effort to meet state and Board of Education deadlines on the proposed 5/6 school, longtime chairman Frank Krasnickas phoned Gus Palmieri at home to get his vote. And with his vote, the committee approved a project manual and drawings for the 5/6 school project.

“We were on a deadline and we voted to recommend that the plans go to the state. Unfortunately, one of the guys had to babysit, so I called him on the phone to get his vote,” explained Mr Krasnickas this week. “I was trying to keep the ball rolling. It was not a major vote like it would have been if we were going out to bid. I know better.”

In response to the controversial move, the chairman agreed to hold a second meeting to vote again, legally. Both Robert’s Rules and the Freedom of Information Act require board and commission members at all levels of government to be present in order to vote.

“I called a special meeting for tomorrow night [Thursday] and we’ll re-ratify the thing,” he said Wednesday.

The reaction to the move drew criticism from Legislative Council Chairman Pierre Rochman. He worried that the vote could affect the legal foundation of the 5/6 school approvals. One faulty step in the process could call into question other approvals on the school further down the line, he said.

“That was an illegal meeting. It is absolutely wrong and that meeting should be done over again,” Mr Rochman said. “I know they’re having problems getting quorums, but that’s not a good enough reason to have an illegal meeting. This was apparently not the first time that the building committee has called a member to get his vote. I think the building committee has been sloppy about its official responsibility. Frank Krasnickas is a very honest, hard working person who is trying to do a huge job as a volunteer, but you still have to do things within the law.”

First Selectman Herb Rosenthal said he certainly does not condone the actions of the Public Building & Site Committee. However, he defended Mr Krasnickas’ difficult situation, especially since the board has had difficulty getting its members to attend meetings.

“They called the one guy that they knew was around, but couldn’t come to the meeting. They didn’t call the person because they knew his point of view,” Mr Rosenthal said. “You’re not supposed to take action if there is no quorum, but the Public Building Committee is really only an advisory committee. They only make recommendations. It does not have the last word on anything.”

Even on approving payments, Mr Rosenthal said, the building committee only makes recommendations to the purchasing agents of the town, which are the finance director and the first selectman. In this case, the ultimate decision on any moves on the 5/6 school rests with the Board of Education.

Mr Rosenthal said he plans to send out a memorandum to remind local boards and commissions to make sure they have a quorum before taking any action.

Mr Krasnickas said he has made phone calls to members during meetings in the past. It was the only way to get anything done, he said. The Public Building & Site Committee is seeking two alternate members (one from each party) to assist the board when regular members are out of town.

Mr Rosenthal has also requested that the Public Building & Site Committee not hold its meetings at local restaurants. Last month, the committee met at My Place Restaurant on Queen Street.