Rights of Way Occupy Selectmen

SHARON — The Board of Selectmen moved efficiently though a modest agenda at the regular monthly meeting Tuesday, Jan. 9.

Pam White and Paula Josa-Jones of 10 Dakin Road appeared before the selectmen. At issue was a fence they erected on their property which is in the town’s right of way.

First Selectman Malcolm Brown and Town Crew chief Charlie Godfrey both expressed concern that snow plowing would be a problem, with snow piling up against the fence, which is only about four feet from the road.

Brown suggested moving the fence back, but Josa-Jones demurred. Brown advised Josa-Jones and White to prepare a letter explaining their proposal for submission to the selectmen and Planning and Zoning, with drawings if possible.

Mark Morrison of Jackson Road also had a right of way issue, this time with a snow fence designed to protect bushes from the plows and snow. In a letter to the selectmen Morrison acknowledged the fencing was in the right of way and Brown said in that in a phone conversation Morrison indicated he was prepared for the possibility the temporary fencing could be obliterated.

Brown said the town attorney would be asked for an opinion on the town’s liability concerning structures (or anything else) that citizens might put in the right of way.

The slowly evolving ethics code for town employees and board/commission members came up again. Brown said a sticking point in trying to draft a code has been a mechanism for hearing complaints, and added that the Northwestern Council of Governments had hired an attorney to look at establishing a regional ethics board for the purpose.

The current draft for Sharon has the selectmen hearing complaints, which could be problematic if a selectman is the individual being complained about.

Brown reiterated his support for an ethics code, noting recent scandals in New York state and Washington. "I continue to feel strongly that we need an ethics code — one not with my stamp of approval, but with the town’s."

Selectman John Mathews agreed, saying the draft code should be first shown to the people "directly affected," and then subjected to public debate and a vote.In other action:

• The selectmen accepted the resignation of Robert Finn from the Board of Finance and the Zoning Board of Appeals, and of Reid Craig from Inland Wetlands. They approved the nomination of Jim Crissell from IWC alternate to full member.

• Brown reported that an attempt to recover what was thought to be a mistakenly large bill from Connecticut Light and Power for street lighting was not only rejected, but that CL & P determined the town had actually been underbilled to the tune of $240 or so. Apparently in a generous mood, the utility said it would not try to collect the balance.

"You know how they say you can’t fight City Hall?" began Brown.

"Well, you sure as heck can’t fight CL and P," finished Mathews.