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Two Terrible Proposals

Thanks go to the Clinton Planning & Zoning Commission (PZC) for denying two terrible proposals. One attempted to relax regulations that protect neighborhoods from unsightly construction storage yards. The other was to land a spot zone at the inappropriate corner of Main and Hull that would’ve allowed the construction of a huge CVS. The public hearing brought strong, bi-partisan, effectively unanimous public opposition. Yet, Republican PZC Chairman Gary Bousquet and two of his fellow Republican commissioners, Chris Aniskovich and Adam Moore, argued vigorously for them. Two then voted to approve them. Why?

Kim Simoncini, who crafted the proposed contractor storage yard regulations, is employed in a construction business owned by her father, Carl Neri. Both are Republican Town Committee members. After Neri’s business was criticized for blight, did the aforementioned Republican commissioners really believe reducing necessary safeguards was appropriate ?

Perhaps it was mere coincidence that Republican Selectman John Giannotti owns the proposed CVS site.

Maybe those Republican PZC members actually believe the resultant increased congestion at Main and Hull doesn’t warrant a professional traffic study and the Historical Buildings don’t merit preservation. Perhaps they believe the judge in the recent Madison case was wrong about spot zoning, or that spot zoning doesn’t apply in Clinton.

Could this possibly be honest differences of opinion, or is it fact symptomatic of chronic cronyism and corruption in Clinton ?

Two Republicans did put public service ahead of party service. Republicans Ed Alberino and Mike Knudsen demonstrated strength of character by listening to public opinions, as required by our town charter. I hope in the future PZC members display greater regard for opinions of the residents who elected them. Continued failure to do so would indicate a complete inability to comprehend the principles upon which our town government was founded.

Joyce Allen

Clinton

Joyce Allen serves as treasurer for the Clinton Taxpayers Association.