To the Editor:
There’s an Appointment Ordinance pending at the Stamford Board of Representatives that would help provide transparency in the search for candidates to fill open board positions in Stamford government. I support the need for transparency wholeheartedly. Here’s why…
I think I’m a pretty typical citizen of Stamford.
I’ve lived here almost 40 years.
I’m usually too busy with my job, my family, and service to my community groups to pay much attention to what’s going on in city government.
Lately, however, because of the 2035 Comprehensive plan and its effect on my historic neighborhood of Hubbard Heights, I’ve started attending Planning Board, Zoning Board, and Board of Reps meetings. And what I’ve heard is frankly, ALARMING!
I’ve heard the planners on the planning board tell half-truths to the public in order to push the plan. Like saying the plan doesn’t change zoning in the city, knowing full well that it sets the process in motion for other boards like the Zoning Board and Land Use Board to make zoning changes. And those boards are in lockstep with the plan, because many of the leaders of those boards are on the Steering committee of the plan!
I’ve witnessed a recent planning board meeting where developers’ attorneys came forward with 5 zoning proposals, noting that their plans align with the Master Plan, and were passed unanimously. Like a rubber stamp. With hardly a question asked. And when I raised my hand to ask a question, I couldn’t, the chat was turned off, and the meeting was adjourned without giving the public a chance to speak.
I’ve sat in on the latest planning board meeting, where instead of giving one speaker an extra 30 seconds to complete his thoughts, beyond the arbitrary 3-minute limit, the chairman got into a 5-minute argument with the speaker and the citizens in attendance and had to call in a police officer to quell the disturbance. This civic dysfunction was all caught on camera and played on the evening news.
Many of the board chairmen serve on multiple boards, like the Zoning, Land Use board, and the Stamford 2035 Commission. This puts too much power in the hands of a very few. We need to restrict the number of boards any one person can serve on.
I call on the approval of this Ordinance to require the city and whoever the mayor is serving at the time, to be more transparent in the following ways:
- In the process of finding candidates for the city’s boards
- In adding to the number of candidates being interviewed
- By representing a variety of candidates, viewpoints, and political parties
- By requiring board members to live in Stamford
I call for fresh leadership on all of the city’s boards, especially those with chairmen who are serving on expired terms. It’s time to clean house and get in a new crop of members who are committed to meeting the needs of the residents, not the agenda of their parties.
As the saying goes, “absolute power corrupts absolutely.” That’s why we need more transparency in the selection of representatives who have the backbone to speak truth to power. Checks and balances are necessary to prevent the concentration of power in one direction or the other.
And it’s time to REQUIRE the mayor and party in power to take these actions. Only then will typical citizens like me start having their faith in city government restored. And feel like their city government is working for them and not serving the leaders of their political parties.
Let’s get this ordinance passed.
Dan Lombardi
Stamford, CT
Lombardi is president of the Hubbard Heights Association in Stamford