Closson: ZBA decision based on politics

WINSTED — At the Board of Selectmen’s meeting on Monday, Jan. 5, Selectman George Closson requested a refund of application fees paid to the Zoning Board of Appeals for a variance.

At the meeting, during the correspondence portion the meeting, Closson said that he submitted an application on behalf of his wife, Susan, at a board meeting.

He said the application was for a zoning variance on a piece of property that she owns.

“I paid the fees and advertised and so forth, and I went to the meeting anticipating a hearing,” Closson said. “There were four members of the board there. Later I found out that one of the members [seated] did not have his term reappointed. As a result, I never had a hearing. After months and months of asking when I can have a hearing, they finally came out at one of their recent meetings suggesting that I submit another application. But since I already paid a fee, I would like to ask if the Board of Selectmen can waive the $410 fee that I already paid?”

In an interview after the meeting, Closson said that the application was for a variance on a corner lot where Closson wanted to put an 8-foot by 14-foot shed for trash containers and snowblowers.

Closson said that the application was made to the Zoning Board of Appeals in August 2013.

“At that meeting in 2013, there were four people sitting down on the board,” Closson said. “One of the members was Chairman Richard Nalette. The board requires four people and you have to get a positive vote of those four members to approve a variance. I received a denial letter that my variance was denied.” 

However, Closson said that Nalette’s term expired in December 2012 and had not been reappointed to the board at the time.

Closson said that Nalette voted against approving the variance.

“It’s political,” Closson said. “Nalette wasn’t happy about issues with the Water and Sewer Commission. That’s the situation. I wanted the board to rehear the variance with a legally seated commission, and it has bounced back and forth between the town manager and town attorney.”

Nalette serves as chairman of the Water and Sewer Commission.

According to Town Clerk Sheila Sedlack, Nalette is currently an alternate on the Zoning Board of Appeals and was appointed for a five-year term on Nov. 19, 2013.

At the selectmen’s meeting, Mayor Candace Bouchard asked to table Closson’s request until the next selectmen’s meeting in order to get more information.

Closson said that he is worried that decisions made by the Zoning Board of Appeals, during its time when there were only three members legally seated, could be legally challenged and overturned if taken to court.

“We can’t take these appointments casually,” Closson said.

“My problem with this whole thing is, even as a chairman of a commission [Nalette] did not identify when this occurred, what happened and there’s no documentation,” Bouchard said. “He didn’t even attach minutes or anything like that. I expect when you are a chairman of a board you at least provide information. I was kind of shocked because I know we are making all of these appointments, as we should.”

Bouchard said that the decision was “very unfortunate,” and chairmen of commissions should be held accountable.

“They should present information to the Board of Selectmen in a more professional manner so we have more information in front of us to make a decision,” Bouchard said.

According to the town’s website, the Zoning Board of Appeals has submitted meeting minutes for only two meetings: Nov. 22, 2011, and May 27, 2014.

The Board of Selectmen is expected to take up the issue of whether to refund Closson’s fees during its next meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 20.

Nalette did not return calls for comment for this article.