Anger and applause at special meeting

WINSTED — Tensions were at an all-time high in Town Hall as the Board of Selectmen held a special meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 12, but the meeting was abruptly canceled by Mayor Marsha Sterling just as it was getting started.The meeting, which was posted on Monday, Aug. 11, only had one agenda item of “executive session: personnel matter regarding the town manager.”Before the meeting, Democratic Selectmen Candy Perez and George Closson said they did not know what the meeting was about.Rumors around town swirled that the selectmen were about to start the process of firing Town Manager Dale Martin.Before the meeting, Friends of Main Street and Robert Bailey, co-chairman of the town’s Merchants Association, sent emails to various residents that said a rally would be held in front of Town Hall as a show of support for Martin.More than 50 residents attended the rally before the meeting, including Economic Development Commission Chairman Dick Labich.“I support [Martin] all the way,” Labich said. “I think he’s been a very good town manager. I can speak 10 minutes about why he’s been a good town manager. I think Dale has established himself with a lot of people who have worked with him. He’s done a good job.”Bailey, owner of The Health Food Corner on 390 Main St., held a sign in support of Martin that said, “Winsted merchants support Martin.”“Dale has done more for the Merchant’s Association than any other political person or employees in the town since I’ve been involved with it,” Bailey said. “He always comes to every one of our meetings and has great suggestions for our group.”Steve Sedlack, Democratic candidate for Selectmen, said he supports Martin.“I think he’s done a good job,” Sedlack said. “I think he’s been attentive to the kinds of things the town needs, including how to develop it. The thing that I lament is that he’s trying to do too many jobs instead of just his own. He needs more help. I don’t think he should be fired at all.”More than 60 residents packed the Lee Anne LaClaire Room before the meeting started. This caused an argument before the meeting started between Mayor Sterling, Town Clerk Sheila Sedlack and Selectman Perez.Sedlack informed Sterling that the number of residents in the room had exceeded the limit given by the fire marshal.“I didn’t post the room, the fire marshal posted the room,” Perez said to Sterling. “The town clerk is trying to tell you something.”“It’s in executive session,” Sterling said.“Then I’ll have people leave,” Sedlack said.“But he can have it open if he chooses it,” Perez said.Sterling disagreed and said, “No he can’t.”“Now you’re playing games!” Perez said. “Executive session with personnel it is up to the person to decide! It is not up to the board to decide! If you posted the meeting in executive session and you don’t want it in [open] session then you adjourn it, then why are we here?“Because this is what [Town Attorney Kevin Nelligan] advised us to do,” Sterling said. Perez said she talked to Nelligan right after Sterling talked with him.“Personnel have a right to choose open session if they choose, and I have no idea what he is choosing,” Perez said. According to the state’s Freedom of Information act, under section 1-200(6)(A) listing Executive Sessions, meetings regarding employees may be closed “unless the employee concerned requests that the discussions be open to the public.”Martin arrived late to the meeting, but when he walked into the room he arrived to a very loud round of applause by members of the audience. Right after Sterling held a roll call vote, Martin asked for the meeting to be held in open session. “In that case, that is not the meeting posted for this evening,” Sterling said. “May I have a motion to adjourn?”“You said before the meeting that you don’t like to play games, and now you are!” Perez said.The Republican selectmen present at the meeting all left the room to a very loud chorus of boos and jeers from the audience.After the Republican selectmen left, Perez made a statement to the audience.“When Marsha called me before the meeting I told her that personnel have the discretion of open or closed meetings,” Perez said. “She told me that I could call the town attorney if I didn’t believe what she was saying. I did. So her view of it is different than my view of it. They postponed this meeting that they called. They called this meeting. They wanted to have the meeting. They adjourned the meeting, so who is playing games?”In an interview after Perez’s comment, Closson said he is frustrated with the Republican majority on the Board of Selectmen.“Let’s do things in an open manner,” Closson said. “This should be transparent government. It’s the best form government this country has. Everybody should have a chance to be able to hear especially in a personnel manner where the person has an issue being brought up about their performance.”Right before the room cleared, former Finance Director Robin Manuele walked in to a round of applause.Manuele resigned just after a year in office in April.“I just came out to support Dale,” Manuele said. “I really don’t want to get into anything else. I was trying to be anonymous, but I guess that’s not going to happen.”Selectman Jorge Pimental was not present at the meeting.