Letter of the week, 3/31/08: Walt Shamock is the fox guarding the henhouse

[David]

Fox guards henhouse
Editor:

While reading a recent news story (R-J, 3/27) about the power plant controversy, I was stunned and dismayed to learn that City Councilor Walter Shamock is now a member of the Meriden Conservation Commission. Talk about having the fox guard the henhouse!

This is the same Walter Shamock who year after year would vote to reappoint entrenched political cronies to the Planning Commission and the Inland/Wetlands Commission. As a result, the city was mired in controversial land-use decisions for a dozen years, resulting in court action that cost the Meriden taxpayers great sums of money. It took years of hard struggle to finally remake the two commissions and get them in balance.

Having served Meriden for a decade on the Conservation Commission, I know the players and the history very well. Councilor Shamock is known for his frugality, but by backing some poor choices for the land use boards in the 1990s, the city lost a bundle in court costs.

In addition, as city council liaison to the Conservation Commission, Shamock inspires little confidence that he will act as a good steward of Meriden's Hanging Hills and other natural resource treasures such as Silver Lake and its environs. Having Shamock on the award-winning Meriden Conservation Commission bodes ill for Meriden and regional conservation, as well.

NORM ZIMMER, MIDDLETOWN

[collie]

Well, if the City Council appointed him to the Conservation Commission, one can only assume they felt he was appropriate. In other words, perhaps they wanted a fox watching the henhouse! I am pleased that Ms. Mordarski and the rest of the conservation commission are taking a good look at the environmental concerns of the proposed energy plant so maybe Shamock's foxy old vote won't matter.

[Snooks]

As a member of the Commission, I am aware of the fact that there is little or no support from the City Council for the Commission. They must appoint a Council rep to the commission. In this case it is clearly an appointment to fulfill that requirement. The council rep to this commission is as a liason for us. No matter what the council rep thinks on an issue, it is expected that the opinion of the commissioners will be made known to the Council. As a member of the commission, I will be sure to remind Mr. Shamock of that obligation.