Facing complaints from several developers over the last year, the Planning and Zoning Commission has recommended that the Board of Selectmen not reappoint Helen Dimos to the Architectural Advisory Committee.
“The P&Z office continues to receive complaints about the tone and tenor of comments by Ms. Dimos during the AAC review process, even after our letter of caution,” wrote Chairwoman Rebecca Mucchetti in the letter that was approved Tuesday night. “The complaints consistently record rude and demeaning comments made by Ms. Dimos that create a hostile environment.
“Those of us in public service are aware that differences of opinion arise in many public discussions,” she continued. “However, even when there is disagreement, the public has every right to expect to be treated with courtesy and respect.
“When we, as public officials, become aware that the public continues to complain about rude and disrespectful behavior from an official, it is incumbent upon us to take action. If we do not, it gives the clear impression that such behavior is acceptable.”
Ms. Dimos did not wish to comment to The Press on the situation.
Her term on the committee expires on Dec. 10, 2015.
The issue dates to July 8 of last year when Town Planner Betty Brosius brought it to the commission’s attention that her office had received complaints from at least four applicants regarding the AAC review process, though Ms. Dimos was not specifically identified.
In that letter of caution, Ms. Mucchetti noted that the level and tone of AAC review “often exceeds that of architectural and design review, and that the lack of courtesy and civility on behalf of some members creates a hostile environment.”
She added that applicants said they were reluctant to file complaints against the AAC because they believed it would negatively affect the report the AAC filed to the commission.
The selectmen appoint members of the AAC, but the AAC functions as advisor to the Planning and Zoning Commission, reporting directly to the planners.
Contractor Michael Eppoliti brought the problem to the commission’s attention again with a letter he sent in on May 15 that claimed Ms. Dimos’ comments “set an adversarial tone for the meeting that dramatically limited its productive value.”
Mr. Eppoliti, who had previously worked with the AAC and the commission on a project at 159 Danbury Road, attended an AAC meeting with architect Jeff Mose to receive input for another project at 35-37 Danbury Road.
Instead, Ms. Dimos started the meeting “offering demeaning and derogatory comments” regarding the previous project, he said.
“Jeff interjected that her comments were not appropriate and that they had nothing to do with the project that was currently before the Committee,” Mr. Eppoliti wrote. “She disagreed and continue with her commentary, indicating that she wanted to get her opinion on the record as it related to 159 Danbury Road.
“I found her comments and conduct rude, extremely unprofessional and personally offensive,” he added. “Of course the appropriate time for her to make comments about 159 Danbury Road would have been when the project came before the AAC on Sept. 19, 2012, a meeting for which she was absent.”
The AAC ended up recommending that the project on 35-37 Danbury Road be moved closer to the street to enhance the building’s visibility from both the north and the south. The vote to approve the recommendation was 5-0. They also recommended that the applicant review the locations of the buildings to allow for landscape screening between the gas station and the proposed project.
The commission received Mr. Eppoliti’s letter at their meeting on May 20 and agreed that the complaints being made could no longer be ignored.
The complaints offered no verbatim quotes as evidence of Ms. Dimos’s alleged lack of decorum.
The discussion highlighted that Ms. Dimos had said she wanted to get her comments on the record. But with no audio tapes or recording secretary present, the records the AAC keeps of its meetings would be unlikely to reflect commentary by individual committee members.
Additionally, the commissioners said her comments on 159 Danbury Road were inappropriate because it was not currently in front of the AAC.
The planners voted May 20 to have Ms. Mucchetti draft a letter on the situation to be sent to the Board of Selectmen with a copy to Ms. Dimos and John Kinnear, the chairman of the AAC.
Commissioners John Katz and Tim Dunphy abstained from voting on May 20, making the final vote 6-0. They abstained again Tuesday night when the board voted to send the final letter to the selectmen.
Ms. Mucchetti said in her letter approved Tuesday night that the selectmen may not have been aware of the previous letter of caution and the prior complaints.
“The commission believes that the history of complaints against Ms. Dimos, capped by the written complaint from Mr. Eppoliti, warrant attention and action,” Ms. Mucchetti wrote. “Based on the continuing complaints and the lack of improvement following our July 8, 2013 letter, the commission has no confidence that Ms. Dimos will cease her discourteous and disrespectful treatment of the public.
“Therefore, the commission recommends to the Board that Ms. Dimos not be reappointed to the AAC.”