Nov. 20, 2009: Leadership roles cause quibbling

[Record-Journal]

By George Moore
Record-Journal staff

MERIDEN — The three minority party members to serve on the newly elected City Council are feeling snubbed after Democrats decided to name their own to committee leadership positions this week. There is also some quibbling about the number of leadership roles among the two minority parties, We the People and the Republican Party.

Councilors elected on Nov. 3 will vote on the appointments after being sworn in Dec. 7. Democrats, who will hold a 9-3 majority on the upcoming council, held a caucus on Tuesday to decide on leadership positions.

They assigned only Democrats to leadership roles on the five council committees, angering We the People Councilor Walter Shamock, who wanted to be vice chairman of the Public Works and Parks and Recreation Committee. Shamock, who served on the committee for 19 years, said he felt slighted when he learned that Democrats Danté Bartolomeo and Matthew C. Dominello Sr., who have less experience on the committee, had been named chair and vice chair.

Bartolomeo has served on the committee since last July and Dominello is new to the committee, though he has been on the council for 33 years.

“It leaves a bad taste in my mouth,” Shamock said. “The time and service and experience on the park and recreation committee means absolutely nothing.”

Shamock’s name was considered during the caucus, said Democratic Majority Leader Keith Gordon, but there were several Democrats interested in leadership positions. “We are the majority party and people in our party wanted certain positions,” he said.

Gordon said Bartolomeo has been one of the hardest-working parks committee members, devoting a great deal of time to Falcon Field and other recreational facilities.

Another move that sparked criticism was the Democrats’ decision to allow the three non-Democrats — Shamock, We the People member Bob Williams and Republican Daniel Brunet — one minority leader position, which will likely go to Shamock. Brunet said he should have a leadership role because he will be the only council Republican. “We’re distinctly different parties, so we need different leadership roles,” Brunet said.

Gordon said the arrangement should not cause a problem, since Brunet was cross-endorsed by We the People.

Democrats decided that Gordon will continue as majority leader, with George E. McGoldrick and Trevor Thorpe as deputy majority leaders. Gordon said Democrats applied a one-to-three ratio to the minority and majority leader positions: Three out of the nine Democrats would serve as majority leaders; one of the three minority party members would serve as minority leader. Dominello will also serve as deputy mayor, but Gordon said that role is selected by the mayor, not by the council. Brunet called the arrangement “fuzzy math.”

Under the leadership arrangement, McGoldrick will become chairman of the Finance Committee, filling the role left by outgoing Councilor Brian F. Kogut. McGoldrick said he intends to be frugal, while supporting funding for vital projects. “We have no intention of giving back the gains that we’ve made over the years,” McGoldrick said.

Brian P. Daniels, selected to head the Economic Development Committee, said he intends to press for movement on a variety of commercial development initiatives, such as the redevelopment of the Hub site. The committee will also be involved in pushing forward zone changes that encourage commercial growth, he said. Bartolomeo and Dominello could not be reached Thursday.

gmoore@record-journal.com
(203) 317-2275

Democrats’ recommendations for City Council leadership positions*:
Subcommittee assignments:
Economic Development, Housing and Zoning: Chairman — Brian P. Daniels (D); Vice Chairman — Matthew C. Dominello Sr. (D)
Finance: Chairman — George E. McGoldrick (D); Vice Chairman — Keith Gordon (D)
Human Services: Chairwoman — Hilda E. Santiago (D); Vice Chairman — Trevor Thorpe (D)
Public Safety: Chairman — Anthony D. Tomassetti (D); Vice Chairman — John J. Thorp (D)
Public Works and Parks and Recreation: Chairwoman — Danté Bartolomeo; Vice Chairman — Matthew C. Dominello Sr. (D)

Leadership positions:
Majority Leader: Keith Gordon (D)
Deputy Mayor: Matthew C. Dominello Sr. (D)
Deputy Majority Leaders: George E. McGoldrick (D), Trevor Thorpe (D)
One minority leader

*To be voted on at the first meeting of the newly elected council, Dec. 7

SOURCE: Majority Leader Keith Gordon

[don'tcareattitude]

at least the former Park & Rec committee leader is gone and in brunets area the leaderrship would have swung to the cheerleader if she had won The majority gets to choose. WTP gets to lose.

[Snakebite]

I don't know who the dumbasses are, that made the decision to punk Brunet, I made comments about an angry PT Barnum and it will come true, as always.

This guy took down by a landslide- Miss Meriden, The Chamber, the Democrat money machine, army of workers with just TWO campaign workers. He will kill those idiots on that list, even if he loses every vote he will win in the end.

If Torres is behind not taking care of the Dan, it will be a regretted move, just like not recruiting him a long time ago.
Then to literally crap on Walt with a rookie like Bartolemeow. It is not Biz as usual and they don't get it.
This is a good example why Dems are going downhill fast throughout the state.

Maybe if they tick him off enough he will take out Aborcrombie!

[Bustopher Jones]

"To the victor belong the spoils". (Senator William Learned Marcy, circa 1832)

[rightwinger]

Does any of this really surprise anyone. This is why the city of meriden continues to go downhill. The Dems just don't get it and probably never will.
The citizens who voted them in just don't get it and probably never will. This city is so out of balance it is not even funny. Wake up people.

[Snakebite]

It's a new deal starting Dec. 7 at 7PM. A nice big crowd to witness the nonsense and hopeful response, they will look like Dem fools the first day.
They still dont get it, if there were better candidates more would have lost more this year. Now, they are probably lining up for '11'
Keep up the great strategy, Dems. no more beating up on a 80 year old guy.