By Sarah Opdahl

On Thursday, December 14, New Fairfield’s Board of Selectmen (BOS) voted 2-1 to withdraw from the bus lot ligation the former BOS was engaged in with the Town’s Permanent Building Committee (PBC) to dispute the Town’s Zoning Commission decision regarding the proposed bus lot on the property that was Consolidated School. A hot-button issue in Town, the bus lot’s proposed location had numerous proponents and opponents and its legal case was working through Hartford Superior Court, with a decision expected in a couple of months.

Tension was thick among BOS members before and after entering Executive Session to discuss the matter. Selectman Ms. Pat Del Monaco questioned why the session was needed as the case was pending legal opinion and no further strategy needed discussion. However, First Selectman Ms. Melissa Lindsey made the matter plain with her motion to consider the withdrawal. New Town counsel Mr. John Marino of Marino, Zabel & Schellenberg, LLC, pointed out that the action was permissible, as the lawsuit is still pending. There was discussion regarding who to allow in the Executive Session and ultimately the session included the BOS members, legal counsel, and the PBC’s Chair Mr. Don Kellogg.

Before the vote, Del Monaco gave an impassioned appeal, saying “The taxpayers have paid for a legal review of the Zoning Commission denial of the PBC application to locate the bus lot on the Consolidated School site. There are no ongoing legal costs associated with the appeal.” She walked through various reasons that the former BOS and PBC believed the bus lot site to be the best option. Kellogg echoed several points in her explanation in public comment.

There were many public comments for and against the decision to withdraw the lawsuit. Board of Education Chair Mr. Dominic Cipollone said, “I would love to hear ideas about where to put this bus lot.” Superintendent Dr. Ken Craw noted that the current, temporary bus lot is not ideal, as it congests traffic near the fields and limits student parking. Board of Finance member Ms. Thora Perkins said, “I fee l that the issue of the bus lot is a very important one. But it should have been solved by boards working together, not litigation.”

In appointments, the BOS voted to appoint Mr. Kenneth Huwer to the Zoning Commission as an alternate and Ms. Ann Brown to the Zoning Board of Appeals as an alternate. Lindsay, Perkins, and Del Monaco were all appointed to the Traffic Authority. Lindsey said, “we will get more information from the state coming through very soon on the duties and roles of this authority.” Perkins and Del Monaco will both serve as ex officio members of the Housing Opportunities Committee.

The next regular Board of Selectmen meeting is scheduled for Thursday, January 11, 7:30 p.m.