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Complaint over Democratic caucus is dismissed |
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The six members of Litchfield's Democratic Town Committee who filed a complaint with the Democratic State Central Committee in the wake of last month's town committee caucus didn't get what they were asking for.
State central's dispute resolution panel this week dismissed the complaint filed by Robert Berson, Norman Hamilton, Stephen McGrath, Joel Peck, F. Robert Petricone and Barbara Putnam. In their complaint, the six alleged that the town committee's Jan. 17 caucus was improperly run because the slate that was elected was not the one recommended by the town committee's nominating committee. They wanted the results of the caucus nullified and a new caucus called. The slate was elected unanimously and without objection. Four of the complainants participated in the caucus. The dispute resolution panel cited the lack of objection in its decision to dismiss the complaint. The panel also said the complainants waited too long after the caucus - 10 days - to file the complaint. Although the panel dismissed the complaint, it was critical of the town committee member whose actions led to the complaint. The panel found that Darlene Clouther, chairman of the nominating committee, acted improperly by unilaterally removing from the slate the names of three recommended candidates and adding five new names the nominating committee never considered. By her action, Clouther misled the caucus, according to the panel, which also criticized Clouther for not attending a Feb. 6 hearing on the complaint. The complaint, coming on the heels of the Democrats' disastrous showing in the November municipal election, served as a prelude to the town committee's officer election in March. Up for re-election is town committee Chairman Mitchell Fishman, who has drawn criticism from town committee members for remaining chairman after being elected to the Board of Finance in November. Holding both positions, according to the critics, is a conflict of interest. Clouther, the vice chairman, could make a bid for the chairman's seat. She appears to have strong support from within the town committee. Fishman, speaking at Monday's meeting of the Board of Finance, admitted that his days as chairman could be numbered. Fishman made the admission during the board's discussion of a vacancy on the Pension Commission. The board holds a seat on the commission and Fishman expressed an interest in it, but said he knew he could never get it as long as he remains chairman. The finance board recommended Brenda Barnes for the seat. Barnes will have to be approved by the Board of Selectmen.
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