The discussion around how much multifamily commercial development Wilton residents want has been an active one in the last few months, with the conversation recently taking a noticeable public turn between two visible town leaders at odds — and even more bristling behind the scenes.
As reported by GOOD Morning Wilton, following First Selectman Toni Boucher‘s June 26 update to residents on the subject of development in Wilton, Planning and Zoning Commission Chair Rick Tomasetti issued a newsletter to residents on July 16 in direct response. (GMW also published Boucher’s newsletter, along with a follow-up story in which Boucher discussed her views in more detail.)
Tomasetti wrote that the purpose of his newsletter was “to correct factual and legal errors” made in Boucher’s statements. As Boucher had explained to GMW, her message was for residents who are unhappy with P&Z’s decisions on development, including action steps available to residents for “counterbalancing the current agenda of this [P&Z] Commission’s members.”
Tomasetti’s response was strong and to the point.
“Contrary to the First Selectman’s statements about the PZC members having an
‘agenda’, PZC members endeavor to comply with the mandate to uphold to the [Plan of Conservation and Development], Master Plan, and applicable regulations. Statements alleging otherwise are inflammatory and evidence a lack of understanding of the legal requirements for approvals and denials of applications,” Tomasetti wrote.
P&Z Commissioner Eric Fanwick also sent GMW a strong statement which, like Tomasetti’s newsletter, cited the POCD as a touchstone and the potential legal ramifications of any actions commissioners took to deny applications. He also defended the commission against the accusation of having “an agenda.”
“P&Z can only review the applications that are presented to P&Z. If the elected town leaders are not completely happy with this mix, maybe they need to do a better job marketing our Town to developers for the type of projects they desire,” Fanwick wrote.
Selectmen Respond
During the Board of Selectmen‘s July 16 meeting — just a few hours after Tomasetti’s newsletter was sent to residents — Selectman Bas Nabulsi raised the topic of the “back and forth.”
“I just wanted to acknowledge the communication that Rick Tomasetti put out on behalf of P&Z,” Nabulsi began. “I’m hoping all of us that are serving the public can feel like enough has been said — in terms of the back and forth — and we can focus on working together going forward.”
Boucher quickly chimed in.
“I heartily endorse that comment, and I agree with you 100%,” she said. “We’ve explained it enough to the public, and it’s up to them now, as far as what they’d like to see happen in the community.”
After that remark, Boucher immediately moved on to the public comment portion of the meeting. No other selectmen offered comments. GMW emailed all of the selectmen to ask their reaction to both newsletters.
Selectwoman Kim Healy replied by email, emphasizing the “power of teamwork” and “shared goals.”
“BOS members normally defer to the First Selectman but I will say that I believe in the power of teamwork to achieve the best outcomes for our community. The BOS has always voted together during my tenure by working collaboratively and I am very proud that of that fact,” Healy wrote. “I am committed to fostering an environment of civility, respect and understanding and where our town leaders work together to address the needs of our residents. We should continue to focus on our shared goals, open communication, and support initiatives that bring people together and drive positive change.”
Selectmen Ross Tartell and Josh Cole did not respond to our request for comment.
GMW also reached out to Boucher after the BOS meeting, asking for any further reflections on Tomasetti’s newsletter. She emailed the following comment the next morning:
“As for the P&Z newsletter from its chairman, although I may disagree with it, when I was asked to post it and distribute it in its entirety by him, I gave him the same courtesy as I have for the Board of Finance newsletters. [I] posted it and distributed it,” Boucher wrote.
However, according to Tomasetti, Boucher initially resisted using the Town’s e-alert system to distribute Tomasetti’s newsletter as written and requested.
The Lead-up to Distribution
GMW asked Boucher to clarify her statement about “the courtesy” she said she extended to Tomasetti — specifically to address whether Tomasetti’s newsletter was distributed promptly, with no delay or pushback on her part. She did not respond to that question directly — instead reiterating that she had extended Tomasetti “a courtesy” as she has done with other boards:
“As I mentioned previously, on occasion we may send out another committee’s newsletter to those that have subscribed to the First Selectman’s newsletter as a courtesy after reviewing it as we have done in the past when the BOF had an important message on the budget. The BOF have asked me to send [the BOF newsletter] as a favor to them,” Boucher wrote via email, adding that board chairs have the ability to send their own communications to residents who subscribe to their specific board’s news “at any time without going through my office.”
[Editor’s note: residents may elect to subscribe to “Town News and Announcements,” which include the First Selectman’s updates and Board of Finance newsletters. However, according to a source with knowledge of Town Hall operations, in the past, that subscription has not been limited to only updates from those two town entities. Residents who subscribe to “Town News and Announcements” have periodically received announcements on a wide range of topics, such as storm advisories, voting information, road paving, and more — even messages from external entities such as Aquarion and Eversource.]
GMW reached out to Tomasetti, who initially declined GMW‘s requests to comment. On July 21, when specifically asked to confirm whether his newsletter was promptly distributed as requested, Tomasetti sent GMW a brief statement explaining what took place during the nearly two-week period after he penned his newsletter:
“On July 3, I forwarded the newsletter to [Town Planner Michael Wrinn] as the Town policy is that boards are to direct requests to the assigned departments or the administrative offices. The Town Planner forwarded the newsletter to the administrative offices, and First Selectman Toni Boucher requested changes before she would process.”
Tomasetti went further, indicating a number of “exchanges” then ensued regarding the changes Boucher sought. Ultimately, he said, the newsletter was distributed on July 16 as originally written. [GMW has requested copies of those email “exchanges.”]
More Calls for Working Together: “We have a map in the POCD”
During the public comment portion of the July 16 BOS meeting, the board heard from resident Barbara Geddis, who seemed to be referring to the newsletter exchanges between Tomasetti and Boucher when she called for working in cooperation, rather than in “silos.”
“I think our secret power is being nonpartisan,” Geddis continued. “But I think the other secret power is not being in silos, and that we work together… I think we’re at a really interesting tipping point in the world, and we’re at a tipping point in Wilton, and I think it’s time to use our secret powers. Civil people come here for our civility, for our learning from others and from our openness, and let’s carry on like that.”
Boucher responded to Geddis’ comment.
“We all are strong personalities, individuals with very strongly held beliefs and points of view,” she said. “But we can disagree respectfully and welcome opposing views. I think we all are coming from a place where we care very deeply about our community, whether you’ve been here 40 years like I have, or you’ve been here six months. As many have come on board, we’ll work hard to continue to promote that.”
Geddis noted the value in truly being open to understanding different points of view.
“If we have experts [in] this great volunteer community, bring them on… the best thing is, we can change our mind,” Geddis said.
Geddis strongly advocated for the shared vision which she believes the POCD offers.
“I really, honest to God, think it’s embodied in the POCD… everything we talk about — including the Town campus and better places for meeting and better public dialogue, better resources — is in there… We have to let our public know that we have a map in [the POCD]. We can move the dial, especially with our newcomers, it is really mapped out for us… We have a lot of good documents — the POCD, the [Wilton Center] Master Plan — and the future of our small villages like Cannondale and Georgetown ahead of us.”
“We have a lot of good we can do the next couple of years,” Geddis continued. “So I’m saying the obvious, but with the way the world is, we should set an example, and we are very special place, and we can do it.”