TCPG Member Hobbs Resigns and Debate Continues at Town Council Meeting

News of Mike Hobbs' resignation from the Town Center Planning Group overshadowed TCPG co-chair Christine Wagner's presentation to the Town Council at its Wednesday meeting.  

Wagner appeared before the Town Council to request approval for up to $25,000 for Phase 1 of their master plan project. As it turned out, that approval was not necessary.

"Since the Board of Finance is taking money out of contingency, we don't have to vote on this," Town Council Chair Mark DeWaele said.  "This was changed at the last minute."

Wagner concluded her prepared presentation by announcing that the TCPG would not go ahead with the public forum scheduled for Sept 21.

First Selectman Jeb Walker expressed his support for what he called the "blue ribbon" members of the TCPG committee.  In an announcement that appeared to take council members by surprise, he said that Mike Hobbs had tendered his resignation that afternoon. Walker said that Hobbs told the first selectman that he did not want to be subjected to "personal denigration" and "being told I'm incompetent."

In a phone conversation Thursday, Walker told Patch he had been "angry"  -- although he used a far stronger word to illustrate his frustration.

"What I will not tolerate and cannot comprehend is how people would castigate the members of the Planning Group and denigrate their integrity and their contribution with personal attacks," he said. "I won't tolerate it."

Walker continued, "It was that kind of personal vitriol that led Mike Hobbs to issue his resignation…reluctantly."

Hobbs could not be reached for comment.

Wagner said the committee has been asked by the Finance Board to revise its criteria for selecting a consulting firm to include consideration of cost. She stated the committee's wish to postpone a public forum until the consultant has been selected for Phase 1 of the project in order to allow the consultant to attend.

Walker told Patch he understands the concerns that have been raised about funding. "There are people in town who would stop funding schools, stop paving roads," he said. "I understand that. I'm okay fighting that battle and taking on people with those concerns. In today's world I understand that."

At the council meeting Walker said  two recent events caused him to feel he had  "failed" in communicating to the town the urgency of the planning efforts he charged this committee with reviewing.

The first was an incident at the Finance meeting Tuesday evening.  He recounted that a resident explained that her husband couldn't attend the meeting because his handicap prevented him from getting to the second floor of Town Hall. "In 2010 we can't get a crippled guy up the stairs," Walker said.

The second incident was Hobbs' resignation.

In the wake of Walker's comments other members of the Town Council spoke to what they characterized as the personal and negative nature of some of the conversation that has surrounded this issue.

Tucker Murphy expressed concern about the level of discourse, calling some of the criticism of committee members a "witch hunt," and adding "This business about it being personal is disgusting."

Council member Kenneth Campbell also registered support for the TCPG and said he was, "Sorry to hear Mike has made the decision he's made. I hope it will strengthen your resolve to do what you are doing."

Council member Elizabeth Jones said, "I have the highest regards for this group, I admire all of you personally. I'm sorry to hear that Mr. Hobbs left. " She added, "I couldn't agree with Mr. Walker more. This building (Town Hall) is the biggest embarrassment to this town."

Jones went on to say, however,  that while she felt a master plan was "essential," that perhaps the money might be better spent now on Town Hall repairs rather than another plan. "Every penny we spend is being paid for by taxpayers that are really hurting right now," she said. "We have a lot of plans we've never worked on." She also stated that she has spoken to a lot of people who are questioning the wisdom of the expenditure on a plan at this time.

Others spoke in support of the need to engage in long term planning. DeWaele said, "I'm 200% behind what you guys do. Without doing what you guys do, without planning, we can't provide this town with something that is cost effective and acceptable to people in town."

Vice Chairman Stephen Karl stressed the need for planning in business and for a town. Addressing budgetary concerns he said,  "One of the things we've talked about, building costs, the low cost of money, anything we do is at bargain basement prices now," he added, "Now is the time to act on it."

Expressing shock over the Hobbs resignation he said, "Why wouldn't we let our neighbors, our friends, do their job and come up with a plan? Amazing to me we wouldn't do that."