To The Editor:
Sloan Danenhower wants us to see him as a local hero for his strident opposition to the Halls Road Overlay District (HROD) proposal. To be clear – as a member of the public, his opposition was an appropriate part of the public discourse that he had every right to express.
However, as documented in the minutes of the HROD public hearing on January 15th of this year, Mr. Danenhower, while sitting at the Zoning Commission table, stepped away to speak as a member of the public in opposition to the application.
That behavior, at best, demonstrated a lack of understanding of the role of the Zoning Commission, abandonment of his responsibilities as a Zoning Commission member, and disrespect for the fair due process afforded to all applicants. At worst, had this been a private application, it could have subjected the Town to costly litigation.
Mr. Danenhower can’t have it both ways. The Town needs Zoning Commission members who possess the judgment and temperament needed to handle controversial matters appropriately. Michael Fogliano brings those qualities to the Zoning Commission as an alternate. We now have the opportunity to elect him to a full five-year term.
Sincerely,
Betsy Groth,
Old Lyme.
In repoly to the letter submitted by Betsy Groth concerning the zoning commission election, her statements are factually inaccurate and her attack on Sloan Danenhower was below the belt. She maligns the character of Sloan while being IGNORANT of the duties of his former position – alternate member, An alternate member of any board takes on the responsibility of a regular member when the regular member is not available. This is routine. With respect to zoning applications, an applicant files with the commission. At the first meeting, the commission asks the applicant to come forward and provide a brief description of the plan or project. No substantive questions are asked of the applicant and the date is set to hear the application at a public hearing. In the case of the Halls Road Overlay, when the applicant presented the first public hearing. all of the regular members were present. as the minutes reflect. There was no need for an alternate to be appointed. At the public hearing, the commissioners have the opportunity to question the applicant. Reular AND alternates have that right. After the commission’s questions, the public has the opportunity to ask questions. Once the meeting is closed, the regular members have the opportunity to deliberate. During this phase, an alternate has NO RIGHT to weigh in on any matter concerning an application. At this stage an alternate may as well be a potted plant.
As an alternate with NO voting or deliberative responsibility on the Halls Road Overlay, Sloan made the absolute correct decision to RECUSE himself so that his voice could be heard. This was not a private application, it was the town’s application and its approval would essentially morph this town into something quite unrecognizable. What Sloan Danenhower did was “Mr Smith Goes to Washington” courageous. Sloan led the opposition and inspired almost a thousand people to come to the last hearing so that THEIR voices could be heard. Ms Groth writes: ” Sloan Danenhower wants us to see him as a local hero…” Well, Ms Groth, Sloan just wants the voters, our citizens, our residents to see him as our neighbor who loves this town. And , yes, Ms Groth, for what Sloan did he is a local hero.