September 24, 2018 Board of Selectmen meeting notes
By Meghan Peterson, PhD
The Board of Selectmen (BOS) held its second regular meeting of the month on Sept. 24. First Selectwoman Lizz Milardo was there, along with Selectman Larry Maggi and Selectwoman Melissa Schlag. Assistant to First Selectwoman, JoAnn Ricciardelli, took minutes. When official minutes become available, they can be accessed at the Town website: www.haddam.org. Video is available at Valley Shoreline Community Television; check out www.vsctv.com.
The meeting was called to order. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. Milardo, Maggi, as well as Ricciardelli stood and recited the words; Schlag knelt and did not recite the words.
Milardo requested a motion for an agenda addition. The addition pertained to Craig Salonia’s letter expressing interest in sitting on Nuclear Energy Advisory Council (NEAC) – a position from which Ed Munster had resigned at the first September BOS meeting. The addition was approved.
During public comments, Clifford Potter, a resident from North Branford and a veteran, addressed Selectwoman Schlag. He stated that “as long as she is in office, you will see me here.” He explained that her kneeling “still offends me” and that it “still hurts.” Potter continued, “I don’t know why you don’t respect our country, our flag, our Pledge.” Potter added that Schlag is “an official” and that “you represent these people.” Potter then read the protocol for reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. He ended by observing that “you keep kneeling, I’ll keep coming.” Schlag thanked him for his comments and welcomed him to Haddam. Potter remarked how he loves the town.
A veteran, Robert Barone, addressed the Board and requested permission to enter e-mail correspondence between Selectwoman Schlag and him into the public record. Barone described her e-mail responses as “vulgar” and stated that “conduct such as hers has no place in government.” Further, he requested that the Town ask for her resignation. Barone wants the “constituents to know” what Schlag represents. He described her Aug. 17, 2018 e-mail responses of “Heil Hitler” and images of Hitler after he had e-mailed her the history of the Pledge of Allegiance. Barone quoted Schlag’s e-mail reply in which she stated, “‘It was a pledge, just a marketing campaign…in honor of a rapist, genocidal maniac who never came to America…thanks for writing.’” Barone noted that “this individual” [Schlag] has no concept of sacrifice. “Ms. Schlag, this is not the face of a Nazi or a fascist, it is the face of an American, and I want you to know that.” He continued, “I want to make “the people of Haddam know what you really are…you represent nothing.”
A resident inquired about the status of cell phone towers. Milardo said that she is awaiting an update, but that the private property development is moving right along, however. In addition, as soon as she can say, she will announce more information for residents. Sally Haase commented on the work surrounding the pole on the Jail Road and thanked the Town. Milardo said it will be much safer. Ed Munster seconded Haase’s point and said it is a great traffic improvement.
Chip Frey, of Planning and Zoning (P&Z), commented that there was a “fantastic learning experience” at the previous week’s P&Z meeting. A UConn professor from the Land Use department there had spoken about board/commission votes and how two judges have interpreted abstentions as either yea votes or nay votes. Frey said that if you abstain from a vote, “please don’t.”
Karin Blaschik, resident of East Haddam but business owner in Haddam, thanked the two veterans for their service. Blaschik specified the months, weeks, days, hours, minutes until the election in 2019 and noted that Schlag “does nothing for this Town but divide people.”
A resident inquired about the status of work on McTigh Road. Milardo said crews are a “little bit behind…about 3 weeks behind” due to the rainy weather, but that “they are zooming along” on it.
The Board approved minutes from the Sept. 10 meeting and then approved tax refunds.
For appointments, the Board of Finance (BOF) recommended that Bob McGarry (Republican alternate) serve the remainder of Dave Kapitulik’s seat. Kapitulik and his wife have re-located to Yarmouth for their retirement. Milardo said that they will miss them and that Kapitulik had served for many years. The BOS unanimously approved.
Milardo explained that there is a vacancy on NEAC. She noted that Salonia would like to serve on this council, as she had mentioned earlier. She further explained the importance of this council with respect to the power plant (Connecticut Yankee). Schlag stated that she would have liked to have known about this prior to the meeting. Milardo responded that the matter is in the [Sept. 10] minutes, and that if she [Schlag] had been present at that meeting, she would have known about it. Milardo and Maggi approved Salonia filling the seat; Schlag opposed.
Milardo discussed the Dublin Hill Road bridge construction that is moving forward and which had begun in the Spring. Before work continues, Milardo explained that a motion for a Town Meeting needed to be approved in order for residents to vote on an easement for construction work. The CT Department of Transportation (DOT) appraised a 4,000 sq. ft. piece of municipal land (a part of The Higganum Cove) at $1,650.
Next, Milardo said approval of a cash offer for one of the Silver Springs (formerly Nason Property Group) lots also needs to go before a Town Meeting. As Milardo explained, there were no bidders at the second auction the Town held on Saturday, Sept. 15. Dan Orsini is offering $42,500 for Lot #12. Maggi clarified that it is just Lot #12; Milardo said yes. Schlag said that she does not think the Town should be getting rid of property for “less than what it is worth.” Schlag said that “there is no rush on this” and that she thinks the Town should hold onto the properties. Milardo responded that this was the second “go-around” and that the Town had advertised in newspapers for two weekends in a row, including The Hartford Courant and New Haven Register, in accordance with Schlag’s previous recommendation to do so. Milardo said she thinks the people of Haddam should decide and vote on this matter; she is in favor of moving this to a Town Meeting, explaining that “[i]t is a way for us to pay for improvements to the Nason Property dam.” Milardo emphasized it needs to be done for the safety of the community and that $40,000 would “go well” to fixing those issues. Milardo and Maggi approved; Schlag opposed.
The meeting adjourned. The next meeting is Tuesday, Oct. 9 at 6:30 p.m., due to the Columbus Day holiday on that Monday, Oct. 8.
