Selectmen Urge Two PZC Members To Resign

As he said he would do at a previous Board of Selectmen (BOS) meeting, First Selectman Willie Fritz composed a letter intended for two members of the Planning & Zoning Commission (PZC) regarding their recent ethics issues.

The town's Board of Ethics found Lisa MacDonald (R - term to November 1, 2013) and Cynthia Watts (R - term to November 1, 2013) in violation of the town's ethics code, specifically, that they "breached the trust of the public and violated section IV - Conflict of Interest of the Town of Clinton Code of Ethics by participating in the discussions and vote on the resubmitted John Watts site plan application."

On Feb. 1 the Board of Ethics agreed that there was

The complaint against the two women was initiated by resident Peggy Adler who felt they had violated the town's code of ethics and had strong conflicts of interest when they approved, as sitting members of the PZC, an application by the brother of Cynthia Watts for a building located at 186 East Main Street in Clinton.  MacDonald's conflict of interest, said Adler, came due to her role as the spouse of John Watts' architect for the same project.



The two women were elected by the voters to their posts and cannot be removed by the BOS. If they had been appointed by the selectmen, they could be removed from the commission.

On a separate note, Michael MacDonald (husband of Lisa) recently resigned from his seat on the town's Water Pollution Control Commission where he served as chairman.

All members of the BOS agreed that a letter asking MacDonald and Watts to resign for the good of the town and the integrity of future PZC decisions was a good first step.

Selectman Carol Walter urged the first selectman to do more including appealing the PZC's decision. She said it was the process leading to the decision that was flawed.

Fritz said that after speaking to the town attorney and other attorneys, he was advised that the only way for any reversal is if the PZC took the decision and matter to court.

All agreed that "putting this matter behind us" as Selectman Thomas Vicino said, and reviewing the ordinances directly related to the matter must suffice.

Here is a copy of the letter that will be sent to MacDonald and Watts:

The Board of Selectmen has received and reviewed the Board of Ethics Memorandum of Decision regarding the complaint filed against you. The Selectmen support the Board of Ethics findings on this matter. The Selectmen realize and commend your efforts as an elected member of the Planning and Zoning Commission but feel that by violating the Code of Ethics while performing your duties as a member of said board the credibility of the Planning and Zoning Commission will be in question as future applications are presented. The Board of Selectmen hopes that as an elected official and resident you make a decision regarding your future service which is in the best interest of the Town of Clinton. The Board of Selectmen, with regret, feels that nothing short of your resignation from Planning and Zoning will restore the public’s faith in Clinton’s boards and commissions. Once again we thank you for your years of public service and wish you well.