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A Conflict of Interest

At a July 5 Board of Selectmen meeting, three of the five Clinton selectmen voted down the provisions in a charter revision proposal to change our government to a town manager format. I attended that meeting, later reviewing a YouTube video for accuracy. First Selectman Bruce Farmer and selectmen Willie Fritz and Lynn Pinder were the 3 negative votes. Farmer voiced concerns, some of which are legitimate, and said the document doesn’t meet his criteria”. Fritz said it was too drastic a change and that a town manager isn’t right for Clinton. Pinder stated that the pro-town-manager consensus at a public hearing was not representative. (But are three selectmen representative?) Pinder continued that she felt the voter would not understand the proposal, hence voting to deny voters the choice. She repeated this sentiment again later in the meeting. Apparently voters aren’t smart enough to understand.

There is a common thread between the three “No” voters. Farmer is the current first selectman who is running again and who may run again after that. Pinder wants to be first selectman and is challenging Democrat-endorsed candidate Christine Goupil for a position on the ballot. Former first selectman Fritz wanted to continue in this lucrative position, but lost in a one vote recount in 2015. It’s often rumored that he’ll run again. It appears these amigos voted to preserve future job prospects for themselves. They obviously have a conflict of interest and have made a bad political calculation.

To her credit, Selectman Carol Walter mounted a spirited and eloquent defense of the town manager proposal, but lost the argument. To force this proposal onto the November ballot, a petition must be presented to the town by Monday, Aug. 21. I encourage your readers to visit www.clintoncharterreform.org to learn how and where to sign.

Phil Sengle

Clinton

Phil Sengle is running to be named a Republican candidate for Board of Selectmen in the Sept. 12 Republican primary.