Arnold Karp Joins Long Range Planning Committee

It's official. Arnold Karp is a member of the Long Range Planning Committee. Karp's nomination, which First Selectman Jeb Walker floated in a Sept. 30 press release, was voted on at the Oct. meeting of the Board of Selectmen.  Walker and Sally Hines voted in favor of Karp's nomination. Rob Mallozzi voted against.

Earlier in the meeting the Selectmen adopted the new name for the committee, which had previously been called the "Town Center Planning Group." Proposing the name change, Walker said he hoped the new name would help "clarify the mission of the group." Many people, he said, thought the old name was related to specific items rather than a broad look at town planning.

Two of the five original members of the Town Center Planning Group resigned last month.  Mike Hobbs offered his resignation on Sept. 16, following a heated public discussion at a Board of Finance meeting. The committee's co-chair Jim Beall, resigned four days later. The remaining members of the committee are Chair Christine Wagner, Neil Budnick and Penny Rashin. Town Planner Steve Kleppin serves as an ex officio member of the group.

Karp is president of Karp Associates, a construction firm that specializes in "distinguished custom homes, diverse renovations, professional construction management and real estate consulting," according to its web site.

Asked to talk about his interest in serving on the committee, Karp said, "We are active in communities from Rhode Island to New York in a planning and zoning capacity. The background I bring is from a development, personal and professional standard. I see all parts of it. I work for not for profits where I donate my time and I work for not for profits where I am paid."

Mallozzi said his vote was not against Karp, whom he praised, but against the process by which he was nominated. Mallozzi referred to Walker's press release in which the First Selectman put Karp's name in play.  

"The unilateral announcement about Mr. Karp's appointment effectively ended the conversation we would have had today," Mallozzi said. "The rug was pulled out from under us. I want to express my incredible disappointment about the way it was handled."

Mallozzi continued, "My disappointment is with the process. Unfortunately, Mr. Karp will bear the burden of my not supporting him."

Walker apologized for not alerting Hines and Mallozzi before sending his statement to local media. "Let me acknowledge your point, let me apologize for trying to get something done in a rush," he said. "All of us ran for these positions on a platform of open, transparent communications. Your point is well made. Every step of the way we have done that. It was my mistake."

Hines said she was eager not to have Arnold "be in the center of the crossfire" between the Selectmen and referred to the "process error" and importance of "transparency".

Mallozzi expressed concern about the makeup of the Long Range Planning Committee, asking, "Is there any concern that three-quarters  of this committee were members of high school building committee, and we're still in litigation about asbestos there?"  

Karp said working with his former committee members was part of the appeal of joining the group. "What tipped me from 'I'm too busy,' was that the high school committee worked so well together. That, and this is something important. So I said yes."

Walker indicated he would like to see another member join the committee. "A complement of five is the right mix," he said.

Hines indicated it might not be easy to find new volunteers to serve on the Long Range Planning Committee. " I have approached and put out feelers to two individuals the last few weeks who would have been a fresh voice. These are people who are not typically involved. They said, 'Thanks, but no thanks. The kind of abuse that volunteer members get… I don't need that.'"