9 September—Here are some juicy bits from the regular meeting of the Litchfield Board of Selectmen on 5 September. Names have been redacted to protect the innocent. And guilty:

Public Requests/Comments: Citizen A supported the appointment of Citizen B to the Town Facilities Review Committee, but wondered why he was not given the courtesy of an offer to move from alternate to regular member. The Board assured him there was no slight, and it was the Chairman’s recommendation. There are other vacancies to be filled, so Selectman A asked him if he wanted to move into a regular vacancy and said the Selectmen could add it to this agenda. Citizen A replied that he is not sure at this point. [Good for him. The TFRC should shove it. For any number of reasons. Ed.]

He also spoke about his membership on the Board of Ethics, saying they have not held one single meeting or sent one single communication since he was appointed over a year ago. He did receive two ethics complaints in the mail but no call for a meeting or communication from the Board. He asked for Board of Selectmen oversight of its boards and committees. First Selectman said she would reach out to the Chairman of the TFRC to discuss that appointment, but regarding Ethics, she said she is never privy to
Ethics Board issues. [An ex-officio should make it a point to be privy to everything. Ed.]

Ethics Board member Citizen C volunteered to take the Chairmanship and said they need to review the policies and make changes. She noted she had asked the Chairman for responses that were sent to the complainants and was told it was none of her business [Editorial emphasis. Incredible? Or not. Ed.]. Selectman A said the Committee appoints its Chair. The First Selectman, as ex-officio, can call a meeting to elect a Chairman.

First Selectman’s Update Report: Building Official’s Assistant will [be leaving]. We will need to address money, as we have lost a lot of people because of it. Someone hired today in the LMEA Union, for example, is paid the exact amount as someone who has been here for eight or ten years. We will continue to lose good people unless we improve on how we pay them. It is coming to light now that our pensioners are retiring [sic] and we are hiring new people. Finally, First Selectman reported that her assistant is leaving employment to work in the private or public sector, and she wished her good luck and said she will be missed. [First Selectman and board know full well that money is only part of Litchfield’s valued employee turnover contagion. Ed.]

Vacancies: [Somewhere between 30 and 40 vacancies on volunteer authorities, boards, coalitions, commissions, committees, and councils. Incredible! Ed.]

New Business:

a) Hot Dog Carts: First Selectman said it came to her attention that a hot dog cart was operating on private property with permission of the owner. [Ensuing discussion exposed all the bureaucratic crap—mostly thanks to the state—required just to have a hot dog cart. Including:] . . . compliance on the following checklist items: 1) a Torrington Area Health District permit; 2) CT Sales & Use Tax permit; 3) satisfactory police background check; 4) references from other towns where the vendor operates; 5) safe vending location causing no traffic hazard or nuisance; 6) written permission from the property owner where the vendor operates; and 7) any other information which would affect public health and safety. [Jesus save us!]

First Selectman said she also learned that public opposition is not enough to deny a permit. [A few reports of hot dog carts and farm stands followed, leading to discussion of even more bureaucratic crap. It’ll take more than Jesus to save us!]

That’s all for today. But the 5 September Litchfield Board of Selectmen’s meeting wasn’t over . . .