MONROE, CT — During a special meeting Monday night, a majority of the Town Council decided against sending a letter to ask Gov. Ned Lamont to veto a bill allowing multifamily housing in commercial zones as of right.
Instead, some Republican members expressed their belief that a letter already sent by First Selectman Terry Rooney, a fellow Republican, allowed Monroe to speak with “one voice.”
House Bill 5002: An Act Concerning Housing and the Rights of Homeless Persons was approved by both chambers of the state legislature and is on Lamont’s desk to sign into law or veto.
“There is a housing crisis in Connecticut that is nationally present as well, but this bill, as one legislator put it, is a one-size fits all and could have significant impacts on our communities,” Town Council Chairman Jonathan Formichella said.
In addition to the first selectman, statements of opposition were made by members of Monroe’s state delegation, including senators Jason Perillo, R-21st, and Sujata Gadkar-Wilcox, D-22nd, and Rep. Tony Scott, R-Monroe.
Councilwoman Cathy Kohut, a Democrat, had expressed interest in the Town Council crafting a letter to take a bipartisan stance against the bill.
“My intention, while we all may be in agreement with the first selectman’s letter, both parties on a unified body would be more effective,” Kohut said, adding, “it shows our ability to think independently of the first selectman, that we know the issues and we’re paying attention.”
“It looks almost carte blanche for developers in some commercial zones,” she said of the bill.
Kohut also noted town officials’ concerns over the potential financial impact. The legislature made an initial request for Monroe to build 326 more affordable units to “remain actively considered for” state funding, according to Rooney.
Kohut said, “as independent elected officials, I think it’s incumbent on us to send a unified message and I do agree with all the comments that we have a housing issue in the state that needs to be addressed.”
But she said H.B. 5002 is “too broad brush,” and does not consider the individual needs of the towns.
In response to Kohut’s request, Formichella called a meeting of the Town Council’s Planning and Zoning, Public Works and Parks and Recreation subcommittee to discuss H.B. 5002 last week, before scheduling Monday’s special meeting.
During last week’s subcommittee meeting, Town Councilman Vincent Duva, a Republican, said, “we all thought we would be of one mind.” However, while members all expressed opposition to the bill, Duva said there were disagreements on the body of the letter.
“We thought we should be of one mind and one voice,” he said. “If not, we’re all able to contact the governor on our own.”
Of sending a letter, Councilman Sean O’Rourke, a fellow Republican, said, “I was pretty adamant against it at that subcommittee meeting.”
Formichella said he believes the bill, while well-intentioned on addressing a significant need for more affordable housing for families and young professionals in Connecticut, carries significant consequences for communities like Monroe.
“It’s my opinion in this case that Monroe should speak in one voice and I thought it was accurately reflected in First Selectman Rooney’s letter,” Fomichella said. “It accurately reflected my concerns — that’s not to say all of my thoughts or everyone’s, but I think it’s important for Monroe to speak with one voice. I’m happy to move forward with the first selectman’s letter. I think it’s unnecessary to issue another response.”
Councilman Jason Maur, a Democrat, said, “I wholeheartedly agree with everything Councilwoman Kohut said. I think it would be a great gesture of bipartisan support for the Town Council to do this, but I do think it should be a unanimous item.”
Maur said if any member is against doing it or the entire government body doesn’t agree on what a letter should say, then council members could always send letters to the governor and state legislators on their own as private citizens instead, adding he plans to do just that.
Maur also said he thought the first selectman wrote “a great letter” to the governor last week.
Councilwoman Janice Persico, a Democrat, said, “I came in here thinking we could stand behind our first selectman’s letter and that was that, but I think in this case the more letters the better. I think we should send a letter as a Town Council body.”
Duva said he would only support sending a letter if the Town Council unanimously decided to do it.
O’Rourke said, “my view is to have a focused message, primarily done by one entity to have the maximum amount of impact on that message being received. I’m looking at the most effective way to promote our message and I think the best way is the first selectman’s letter.”
He also noted how Rooney’s letter included a concern a council member had expressed earlier, pointing out how the bill would place unnecessary pressure on Monroe’s EMS volunteers.
Though O’Rourke said he thought the first selectman’s letter was sufficient, he also encouraged any fellow council member or citizen to send their own letters if they want to.
Councilwoman Dona-Lyn Wales, a Republican, said she favors the first selectman’s letter having been sent on behalf of the entire town, adding she does not know if letters from the Town Council or Planning and Zoning would be as effective.
“I think the focus on bipartisanship was probably stated well in his letter,” she said.
“There does appear to be a difference of opinion on whether the Town Council should or can send a letter,” Formichella said. “There seems to be support for the first selectman’s letter at this time.”
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