Suffield Ethics Commission moves to executive session after chair recusal, defers action on resident complaint

The Suffield Ethics Commission met on Jan. 23, 2026, to consider whether a complaint filed by a resident on Dec. 31, 2025 (received Jan. 2, 2026) contained sufficient evidence to open a formal inquiry.

Chair Jay Presser called the special meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. in the upper-level conference room at Town Hall, led the Pledge of Allegiance and conducted roll call. Present were Vice-Chair Scott Wheeler, Susan Keane, George Dalrymple, alternate Brendan Malone and newly appointed alternate Michelle Zawawi; member Dara Goings was absent.

The chair welcomed Michelle Zawawi as a newly appointed alternate and noted that the commission's former secretary had resigned upon election to public office in November 2025, creating the need to consider a replacement. The commission was asked to consider prospective candidates for secretary, with the chair saying a vote could be taken at the commission's annual meeting in the spring.

Chair Jay Presser announced that he and member Dara Goings would recuse themselves from consideration of the complaint; the two alternates were elevated to full voting status for this matter and Vice-Chair Scott Wheeler would serve as Acting Chair for any action related to the complaint. After making the recusal announcement, Chair Presser left the room and the commission entered executive session at 7:13 p.m. to deliberate pursuant to its rules.

The commission deliberated in executive session and then adjourned; the minutes state that further action on the matter was deferred to a follow-up meeting and no public vote or determination was recorded. The meeting was adjourned by Vice-Chair Scott Wheeler. The written minutes were later submitted by Scott Wheeler, Vice Chair.