Reappointment of water and sewer commissioner tabled after objection

WINSTED — The proposed reappointment of Richard Nalette to the town’s Water and Sewer Commission was tabled at the Board of Selectmen’s regular meeting on Monday, Dec. 17, at Town Hall.Nalette, who currently serves as the chairman of the commission, was nominated for a five-year term by Selectman George Closson.The nomination was seconded by Selectman Ken Fracasso who wholeheartedly supported Nalette’s return to the commission.“He has a fair amount of knowledge that someone needs to have for a commission like this,” Fracasso said. “He’s done a pretty good job over the years and I definitely want to reappoint him.”However, despite nominating Nalette, Closson said that he is concerned with the way the commission has been operating over the past several years.“It has been observed that the commission has awarded a great number of no bid contracts for projects,” Closson said. “If these projects had been put out to bid, they may have very well resulted in lower expenses for sewer and water customers. If the commission had followed normal procedures for putting projects out to bid, including the competitive bidding process, it would strengthen resident’s trust in town government.”Closson said that he determined this through an investigation of past meeting minutes and commission correspondence.“This commission is a non-elected body and an authority operating without oversight,” he said. “Serving on the commission requires a high level of professionalism in following it’s own regulations and procedures. Furthermore, there appears to be a less than effective relationship between the town’s finance department and the commission. In the recent months, there has been discussion about the Water and Sewer Department’s capital reserve accounts that remain the same no matter what project takes place.”Closson added that, based on meeting minutes that he reviewed, the commission has not finalized sewer and water regulations.“It is also troublesome that there was a recent sewer connection project where the applicant did not get proper permits that would have assured that the commission’s procedures would have been adhered to,” Closson said. “This project stands out because a past member of the Board of Selectman was the contractor and also previously served as the vice-chairman of the Planning and Zoning Commission.”Closson would not give details of the project or name the contractor in question.“For these reasons, the reappointment of Richard Nalette should not be made,” Closson said. “An appointment of a new member can assure the selectmen that the commission can be better focused on its mission and responsibilities. To me, the Water and Sewer Commission is one of the most important commissions in town because it acts as a taxing authority.”After Closson made his comments, Selectman Fracasso requested that the selectmen table the reappointment.“This is the first I am hearing of any of this,” Fracasso said. “Before we turn this into a political conundrum, I think we should table this. I think we should review these issues and come up with a solution. By letting him go after he has been working for the community for more than 20 years, I don’t think that this is the way that [the Democratic] side of the table wants to earn trust or build community.”Fellow Republican Selectman Glenn Albanesius agreed with Fracasso.“To summarily dismiss a man who has spent a lot of time on the commission, granted that there may be issues, is wrong,” Albanesius said. “Certainly, we should spend a couple of minutes discussing this and talk to [Nalette]. I want to talk to him directly.”Selectman James DiVita asked Fracasso if he had been aware of the issues surrounding the board.“This is the first I have heard of it,” Fracasso said. “I don’t get involved in every single commission. I don’t think waiting another two weeks for the next meeting will make a difference for a guy who has served the town for more than twenty years.”“And what if we find these issues to be true, what will you do?” DiVita asked Fracasso.“I will vote accordingly,” Fracasso said. “Are these all charges against him?”“I am not saying that these are charges,” Closson told Fracasso. “I am not making charges. These are just observations about how the committee has been used. What’s troubling is that the contractor in question has had a lot of experience in town. They also previously served as a selectman and on the Planning and Zoning board and the person should know the rules.”“If the contractor did something wrong then it is the fault of the contractor,” Fracasso said. “I don’t believe anyone on the commission has the authority to approve or reject a sewer connection. That responsibility belongs to the Public Works department. Is that a reason to dismiss someone who has worked here for more than 20 years? It appears to me that you are grasping straws.”Mayor Maryann Welcome defended selectman Closson’s remarks in her response to Selectman Fracasso.“One thing we should be clear about, we have heard from you and Glenn about reinventing and restructuring government,” Mayor Welcome said. “This is a five year appointment. If there are problems going on, these things have to be taken care of. We have to begin somewhere.”The motion to reappoint Nalette was tabled.Selectman Michael Renzullo recused himself from the discussion because he is related to Nalette.