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What a Disgrace

Planning & Zoning Commission (PZC) public hearings are supposed to be forums for people to give opinions and reasons why proposed applications or regulations are good or bad for our town. It’s evident that Clinton’s PZC isn’t listening to the public. Some members are supporting the self-interests of a few commissioners or town officials who are using their public office to benefits their own personal and financial goals.

An example is the application that was proposed by PZC member Carl Neri’s daughter Kimberly Neri Simoncini, both of whom are contractors, to reduce the buffers and setbacks for contractors storage yards. The public was unanimously against this proposal at a public hearing on July 5 and on July 12 the PZC denied the application.

Then the PZC Regulations Committee, with the help of the same original applicant, wrote almost the exact amendment to the regulations for the commission to submit. At the public hearing Aug. 29, Neri participated in the discussion despite being recused and even bullied a woman who was testifying! The public testimony was against this regulation by a margin of 10 to 1.

On Sept 12, the commission voted in favor of the same regulation it had previously denied. The new norm seems to be if you don’t like a PZC regulation, the land use office will help you re-write it, as long as you are in with certain commission members.

Residents have serious grievances with contractors who continually violate zoning regulations, cause serious damage to residential property values, and are exacerbating many health and safety issues. Residents aren’t against contractors. They are sick and tired of contractors who defy our regulations and have no regard for their neighbors. Seems our PZC isn’t going to lift a finger to right this wrong. What a disgrace on our town.

Pamela Fritz

Clinton

Pamela Fritz is president of the Clinton Taxpayers Association.