Cromwell's first selectman suspended the town planner, Craig Minor, for three days recently. Minor says in the story that he did nothing wrong and will be vindicated. I have no idea what it's all about, but I'm sure many will want to read this.
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Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
13 comments:
Yes, very interesting. I'm a snot-nosed college punk with a lot of time on my hands. I have nothing to do but inquire into the lives of hard-working community activists.
there are always two sides of the story and I am sure Craig, as a long-time city employee and the first selectman, who is a politician, have differing views on this.
Yes, very interesting. I'm a snot-nosed college punk with a lot of time on my hands. I have nothing to do but inquire into the lives of hard-working community activists.
Well, admitting it is the first step to recovery
First Selectman Jeremy Shingleton started off in office in a pretty rocky way. I think he fired the popular police chief or some other stupid thing. (The firing was later reversed I believe)
I am no Craig Minor fan but I think I'll wait for all the details on this one before rendering judgment.
Hard-working community activist??? I thought this was about Minor?
I am certain we have only heard part of this whole story.
BW as the anonymouswestconstudent the discription is on track i just would have used another word besides punk
Although Craig and I disagree philisophically, I have found him to be professional and responsible in his actions.
I would like to think that there is more to this than we have read so far.
Nothing against Cromwell, since Bristol has its own downtown revitalization issues, but this issue seems a little far-fetched on the part of the selectman. My cousins live in Cromwell and while there is a nice little park near one part of the river, the only pier I know of is an abandoned oil pier - not exactly the type of area that is ripe for reinvestment but I guess there is no issue with thinking big, but taking it out on an employee when a grant doesn't materialize right away seems a little rough.
minor, 0 for 2. COO and his boss. Any connection?
4:10pm - minor is also a politician (sic), whether he chooses to recognize it or not.
"Selectmen Lash Out at Shingleton at Meeting"
Saturday, December 13, 2008 9:45 PM EST
By JEFF MILL
Herald Press Staff
CROMWELL — Divisions within the Board of Selectmen have widened and deepened, setting three selectmen in open opposition to First Selectman Jeremy J. Shingleton.
The result has been a series of increasingly angry confrontations that have pitted Shingleton against selectmen Allan and Rich Waters and Myron P. Johnson.
The acrimony has become so pronounced, it has resulted in the use of vulgarities during two recent selectmen’s meetings.
A closed-door session of the board Nov. 12, called to consider the status of the public works director, reportedly broke out into angry back-and-forth name calling and a flurry of so-called "f-bombs," as well as a reported threat by Rich Waters, to "kick Shingleton’s ass."
The private discord spilled over into the public during the board’s Dec. 4 meeting.
At one point, Shingleton told Rich Waters, "Get out of this room. Get out of here!"
A clearly frustrated Shingleton later let slip the "f-word" in public.
That has prompted Allan Waters to demand "a public apology" from Shingleton "for his use of vulgar four-letter words."
Waters added he believes Shingleton "should attend anger management classes," and he also suggested Shingleton should perhaps consider resigning.
"There is a saying, ‘If you can’t stand the heat — get out of the kitchen — or maybe resign,’" Water wrote in a letter to the editor.
Dec. 5, Johnson sent Shingleton an e-mail in which he said he was "increasingly concerned about [his] ability to lead."
He said he was "appalled at [his] demeanor," and accused Shingleton of a "bullying type of governing that reaches far beyond what our constitution allows."
Johnson also charged that what he said was Shingleton’s "erratic behavior has made it increasingly more difficult to conduct business in Middlesex County."
Johnson later said he told Shingleton, "If I was a business person, I don’t want to come to Cromwell because of the things you do."
"People need to know his behavior," Johnson added last week, charging that Shingleton is "reckless and sloppy," and "doesn’t take good advice."
He also said Shingleton runs selectmen’s meetings "like it’s the Soviet Union or something," and said, "If this was medieval times, I would have my head cut off — that’s the kind of guy he is."
For his part, Shingleton said the Waters brothers and Johnson "were [once again] completely out of order" during the Dec. 4 meeting.
He described them as "openly defiant and utterly obnoxious," and charged they misused "simple report from town staff" as a means to launch "their negative personal attacks."
"They spoke completely out of order with absolutely no regard for parliamentary procedure," Shingleton said. "I was unable to conduct the meeting.
"I was very discouraged by their total lack of decorum," Shingleton said, adding, "I’m used to working with professionals, not animals."
The disputes appear to be more personal than political.
Johnson and Rich Waters are, like Shingleton, both Democrats; Allan Waters is a Republican.
Until recently, Rich Waters has been a staunch Shingleton supporter.
The Dec. 4 meeting followed a contentious town meeting the same night during which residents rejected a proposal advanced by Shingleton to use $148,000 to buy a vacant property for conversion to a parking lot.
The proposal was part of Shingleton’s efforts to revive the historic downtown centered in and around the Main Street/West Street intersection.
Another part of the effort involves spending $200,000 to remake the sidewalks and the parking on both sides of Main Street between Wall and West streets.
Johnson has become an open critic of the project.
When he attempted to question Joseph Mazurek, the director of developmental services, about the project, Shingleton cut Johnson off.
That set in motion the train of events that led to a series of increasingly acrimonious exchanges.
"You butt in when people try to speak," Rich Water said, prompting Shingleton to order Waters out of the meeting room.
Later, Johnson accused Shingleton of "bearing false witness" against him, and wrongly accusing Johnson of trying to sabotage the streetscape project.
"You’re so unprofessional," Shingleton replied, and then followed it with "F*** this."
On Friday, Shingleton said he is being worn down by the "most vicious nastiness and obstructionism" by some of his colleagues.
"I work so hard, making tremendous financial and personal sacrifices all while my health deteriorates, putting forth positive ideas with only the best interest of the town at heart," he continued.
He said he does not "expect anyone to support 100 percent of the time," but he questioned why his critics "oppose me 100 percent of the time."
"It seems as though they look for any reason [or just make up reasons] to oppose me, without any regard for the best interest of the town," Shingleton said.
"It’s all a big game to them, which I find very disheartening," he concluded.
URL: http://www.middletownpress.com/articles/2008/12/13/news/doc4944717627479855287300.prt
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