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Resident criticizes town transparency, raises other concerns during public comment
Summary
Joan Coe used the public comment period to allege lack of transparency by the Board of Selectmen, question town manager actions, raise zoning and signage concerns about Deputy First Selectman Steve Antonio, and urge program cuts including a police comfort dog.
During the public comment period at the March 10 Board of Selectmen meeting, Joan Coe of Newton Drive criticized the town’s transparency and raised several issues she said warrant board attention.
Coe alleged that candidate selections for the Charter Revision Commission and budget discussions were influenced by a local Democratic Party caucus rather than being openly deliberated at public meetings. “The board of select the process was not transparent, but discussed in a Democratic Party caucus,” Coe said, asserting that the public did not hear reasoning behind board votes.
She also criticized Town Manager Mark Nelson, saying a letter he provided to the Charter Revision Commission advocating repurposing Eno Hall for public arts “appeared to be inconsistent with the Antoinette Eno Woods will” and that Nelson had “usurped the powers of the board of selectmen.” Those are assertions by a public commenter and were not verified in the meeting record.
Coe raised allegations concerning Deputy First Selectman Steve Antonio, saying signs he placed on storage unit property violated zoning approvals; she said the signs were later removed. Coe also suggested the transfer station contract with Payne’s Rubbish Removal may be changing after a reported purchase by USA Waste and Recycling and urged that any new vendor have a mandate to support local social services.
She urged fiscal scrutiny and listed local programs she thought should be evaluated or cut, including Memorial Pool and the police department’s comfort dog and handler. “The police car dedicated to the dog can be returned to the fleet for patrol, and the officer can return to patrol duty,” Coe said, calling for cost‑benefit analyses on town programs.
Board members received Coe’s comments during public comment; no board action was taken in response at the meeting. The remarks represent the views expressed by a resident during public comment and were not presented as board findings or staff reports.
