McFee Rebukes Montville Democratic Councilors

The sole Republican on the Montville Town Council said Monday he does not think the current Council has accomplished anything in its tenure, accusing his Democratic counterparts of sabotaging any proposals he has made.

Dana McFee said there has been a “concentrated effort by the five Democratic councilors to keep me down.” He made the accusation at the end of the meeting, during a section for remarks from councilors and the mayor, after saying he had been frustrated over an issue regarding public hearing procedure.

“I hope only that if I am fortunate enough to be on the next Council that my Democratic counterparts will grow a pair and vote based on merit and not on what the party tells them to do,” McFee said.

Vice Chair Billy Caron criticized McFee for the remark, saying he thought it was unprofessional. Caron also said councilors have been able to cooperate on several successful measures.

“The Council has done a lot,” Caron said. “One big thing that I feel we’ve succeeded on is taxes. Taxes were lowered. There are other things. The seniors are getting a bus.”

Councilor Laura Tanner also criticized McFee for his statement.

“I’ll keep my comments to Councior McFee to myself, because they’re not very nice,” she said.

Monday’s agenda included an item requested by McFee to discuss public hearing procedure. McFee asked for the discussion following a June 10 public hearing on an ordinance regarding benefits for the registrars of voters.

According to the minutes for the hearing, Chair Candy Buebendorf denied a request from McFee to extend a three-minute time limit on public comment at the meeting during a statement by Democratic Registrar of Voters Lorraine Elliott. Buebendorf granted extra time to Joe Socha, vice chair of the Democratic Town Committee, during the regular Council meeting’s public comment.

McFee said he thought Buebendorf’s actions were “unethical, unprofessional, and unacceptable, and clearly a misuse of power in the position she holds.”

Councilor Joseph W. Jaskiewicz asked whether McFee wanted the Rules and Procedures Committee to take up the issue of public hearing procedure. McFee replied that he thought the councilors should agree to grant extra time to a speaker if a councilor requests it.

“I don’t think that’s asking much, and I don’t think we have to have that written into some kind of policy,” said McFee.

No formal action was taken on the issue. Buebendorf was absent from Monday’s meeting due to a family emergency.