By Sarah Opdahl

The first regular New Fairfield Zoning Commission (Zoning) meeting following the election, which was held on Wednesday, December 3, was a bit tense, as new leadership positions were chosen. At the outset, Mr. Gabriel Gouveia, who at times clashed with former members of the Commission, was nominated and quickly approved for Chair, in a 3-1 vote. The Vice Chair position eventually went to new member, Mr. Jeff Alviti, though that process was complicated.

Layers of issues made the vice chair vote trickier, not the least of which was the recent resignation of Vice Chair Mr. Kevin Van Vlack, who served on Zoning for 18 years as a full member and 4 years as an alternate. Additionally, Mr. Gouveia declined to elevate the status of an alternate member to give them voting capabilities. First Selectman Ms. Pat Del Monaco was in attendance at the virtual meeting and clarified that “It is the convention that, if you have an open spot, you can appoint your alternate…but if you have a quorum, you are not compelled to elevate an alternate.”

Member Mr. Mark Lamanna questioned Alviti’s fitness for the role, given that he is newly elected , but his concerns were deflected by Gouveia. Lamanna asked if it would be possible to hear Alviti’s background and experience before voting on the vice chair position “just so everyone, we’re going into this with eyes wide open,” but Gouveia denied this request, despite Alviti offering to speak about his background. 

Tension continued between Gouveia and Lamanna, who have some history of disagreeing in the past, with Gouveia going so far as to threaten to have Lamanna “silenced because you are being disorderly in this meeting.” Later, Lamanna extended an olive branch saying, “Let’s just get things cleared out. I want to work with you. I don’t want any confrontations.”

There was a public hearing and eventual approval for a special permit for an accessory apartment on Hemlock Trail, as well as a hearing postponed for a reiki business in a home on Ball Pond Road.

Zoning Enforcement Officer Mr. Evan White listed a series of resident infractions including possible illegal boarding houses; excess number of commercial vehicles; an illegal kennel breeding operation of blue nose pitbulls; an unpermitted pest-control company; an unpermitted expansion of a three-story enclosed porch; an unpermitted retaining wall extension; an unpermitted carport; and more.

When asked, White confirmed that he has an open line of communication with the assessor’s office regarding out-of-state license plates in Town. Gouveia pointed out, “that’s not fair to everybody in the Town that these guys are running around with the New York tags.”

At the meeting’s end, Zoning members agreed to meet in person going forward, which will be held in the Community Room at the Senior Center. The meetings will be taped and later posted to the Town’s website, Newfairfield.org.

The next regular New Fairfield Zoning Commission meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, January 7, 7:30 p.m.