Politics & Government

Selectmen Appoint Two to Zoning Commission

Additions of Keith August and Jonathan Thiesse follow substantial changes in membership.

The Board of Selectmen appointed two new zoning commission members Wednesday night.

Republican Keith August, an engineer who works for Orafol Americas Inc. (formerly Reflexite) in Avon and Jonathan Thiesse, a civil engineer for the town of Bloomfield, were appointed to terms expiring Jan 3, 2017.

Thiesse, who is unaffiliated with a political party, resigned his position on the Planning Commission to serve on Zoning. He is also chairman of the town's Plan of Conservation and Development update committee. 

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“Jonathan has done a very good job with the POCD and I’m very pleased you agreed to be on Zoning,” said David Gilchrist said.

Selectman Steve Roberto praised August as an involved citizen.

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“I think he is definitely the type of guy we’d like have on the commission,” Roberto said. 

The appointments come after some extensive changes on the Zoning Commission, when First Selectman Richard Barlow chose not to bring forward long-time members Kathy Hooker, Republican, and Democratic chairman Jay Weintraub up for reappointment. Member Democrat Sandra Trionfini resigned, calling the Board of Selectmen “short sighted.”

Most selectmen said they felt changes were needed due to the delay in finishing new zoning regulations and the town’s anti-business reputation. For more details, see this previous Patch story.

At a previous meeting, selectmen appointed Dan Barnhart, a Republican, and John Huyghebaert, who is unaffiliated, to the commission. The board also reappointed Republican Phil Pane at that past meeting.

Selectmen said the commission has a full slate of 7 regular members but currently lacks alternates. 


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