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Must Monitor and Scrutinize

After the 2015 Clinton First Selectman Candidate’s debate hosted by the Morgan Political Club, with an audience of only about 50 that can be seen in its entirety at gocta.org, I made the difficult decision not to continue campaigning. To do otherwise would’ve only split the conservative vote again, as it had two years earlier. That would’ve undermined the primary objective of removing Willie Fritz from office.

During Fritz’s tenure, taxes rose dramatically. Valuable town property, town funds, and state grants were squandered. Town employees and commission members abused their positions. The safety of Clinton residents was jeopardized as applications were submitted for a huge propane terminal and a recycling dump, with Fritz supporting both projects.

I knew anything would be better than two more years of Fritz administration, but I also knew the Clinton Republican Town Committee had become infiltrated by local developers seeking to gain political favor for themselves and their associates.

Gary Bousquet, a Republican Town Committee member, was recently named chairman of the much-maligned Planning & Zoning Commission. At last week’s public hearing, which can also be seen at gocta.org, an application was presented attempting to alter zoning regulations, essentially allowing spot zoning for a property owned by Mark Richards and Selectman John Giannotti, both fellow Republican Town Committee members. Bousquet warned residents opposing the application not to mention any particular site in their comments, but allowed the applicant to speak at length about the Richards/Giannotti property. This obvious favoritism is illegal and cannot be tolerated. Spot zoning is illegal and cannot be tolerated. The public hearing was continued to Monday, Feb 1.

We must monitor and scrutinize this Republican administration as closely as we did Fritz and his cohorts. If they abuse their authority, we must replace them as we did Willie Fritz.

Vincent Cimino

Clinton

Vincent Cimino is vice-chairman of the Clinton Taxpayers Association.