Tie in Cromwell Board of Finance chairman vote could send decision to town council

The chair of the Town of Cromwell Board of Finance presided over a special meeting Tuesday evening in which a nomination for chairman ended in a 3-3 tie, the chair said, potentially sending the decision to the town council if the board does not resolve the tie within 30 days.

A board member nominated John Ireland for chairman, saying, "I'll nominate John Ireland as chairman." After the chair called for a show of hands, he announced, "At this time, we have a, 3 3 split," and added that, "that means that we have 30 days, right, to resolve it or it goes to the town council." The transcript contains no roll-call record of how individual members voted.

The tie followed an earlier procedural motion in which the board voted by voice to seat Mr. Grigliano in place of Mr. Blanchett, who was late to the meeting. The chair announced the seating motion had been seconded by Mr. Mealy and put to a voice vote; the transcript does not record a numerical tally for that action.

Board members questioned whether selecting a vice chair alone could move other business forward, but members present said the chair must be selected first. The chair and other members also discussed whether postponing the election would affect a pending DUI grant; a member stated the grant would be placed on the next agenda and would not be lost.

Under the timeline the chair stated, the board has 30 days to resolve the leadership impasse; if it does not, the matter may be referred to the town council. The meeting adjourned after members completed the procedural items and brief discussion.