Selectmen Wrap Up Year With Appointments

By John Voket

The Board of Selectmen gathered at the Booth Library Monday for the last meeting of the year. While no controversial business was handled, the trio of selectmen took the opportunity to handle some routine matters including the appointment or reappointment of numerous volunteers and municipal support personnel.

Two of the selectmen themselves received official appointments. Among the first items on the agenda was the appointment of a town agent who acts in place of the first selectmen in his absence, if he is sidelined by serious illness or an accident, or if the top local elected official can no longer permanently or temporarily act in his official capacity.

The board voted unanimously to appoint Selectman William Brimmer, Jr, to serve in that position with Selectman Joseph Bojnowski following in line if the town agent is similarly unavailable or incapacitated.

Then selectmen then unanimously endorsed Jan Andras to return as the clerk for the board.

The next appointment was for town attorney. David Grogins, Esq, of Cohen and Wolf, PC was reappointed to serve as both general counsel as well as co-bond council.

Robert Fuller, Esq, was appointed to handle legal matters in relation to land use, while Paul Pollock, Esq, was appointed to work with the Zoning Board of Appeals. Fred Dorsey of Siegel, O’Conor, Zangari, O’Donnell and Beck, PC will represent the town on labor issues and the firm of Robinson and Cole, LLP will serve as bond counsel.

The following residents were reappointed to various posts for either open ended terms, or periods ranging from two to four more years; terms begin January 6:

Commission on Aging, three-year term: Thomas Dwyer, Jr (D) and John M. Aurelia, Sr (R).

Charter Advisory Council, two-year term: Eugene E. Rosen (D).

Conservation Commission, four-year term: Wesley C. Gillingham (R) , Philip I. Kotch (D), and Sally J. O’Neil (R).

Constables, two-year term: Andrew J. Buzzi, Jr (R),  Robert W. Connor, Jr (D), Frank R. Delucia (R), James R. Stiewing (D), and Carl S. Swanhall (R).

Economic Development Commission, three-year term: Chester S. Hopper (U) and Kim J. Danziger (D).

On December 12, the Republican Town Committee also recommended Charles Stofko and Tom Long as appointees to the EDC. The Selectmen subsequently endorsed these late appointments.

Pension Committee, two-year term: Mark W. Korotash (D), Francis A. Krasowski, Jr (D), Thomas M. Murtha (D), and Dunham H. Smith (R).

Public Building & Site Commission, four-year term: Robert A. Mulholland, Sr (R) and Francis M. Krasnickas (D).

ADA Coordinator, two-year term: Thomas J. Paternoster (Building Official).

HART Committee, two-year term: Daniel Honan.

The Republican Town Committee also recommended Louis Carbone for appointment to the Water Pollution Control Authority. The selectmen also endorsed this appointment Monday.

First Selectman Herb Rosenthal announced that longtime Parks and Recreation Commission Chairman Lawrence Haskell would not seek reappointment to that post. A new Parks and Rec chairman is expected to be selected from among the remaining commissioners at the panel’s next meeting in early January.

Mr Rosenthal also briefed fellow selectmen Brimmer and Bonowski on adjustments to the Parks and Recreation Department contract, which was recently finalized. Changes to that department’s contracts include an increase in the probationary period of employees from 90 days to six months.

Town employees in that department will also make nominally higher contributions toward health insurance doctor and hospital visit co-pays as well as co-pays on their prescription plan. Employees also will receive an increase in holiday pay from time-and-a-half to double time, to bring staff in line with similar pay structures in the Public Works Department.

The first selectman explained that Parks and Recreation employees are tapped to handle additional snow plowing and shoveling responsibilities, and will enjoy the increased rate of pay only when they are called in on a legal town, state, or federal holiday.