Zoning Commissioner Plans Resignation After Heated Discussion

Woodbury Zoning Commissioner Sean Murphy announced plans to resign during a five minute recess of the Tuesday, Dec. 11, Zoning Commission meeting at the Senior Community Center.

"You'll have my letter tomorrow," he said.

The recess was called during discussions on the draft zoning regulations. Within those regulations, the regulation of political signs is a hot topic in Woodbury and one that Murphy is particularly interested in.

Murphy wanted to share information he received pertaining to the draft regulations and Zoning Commission Chairman Martin Overton said that if Murphy wanted to take a position on this subject, he could sit with the public and do so as a member of the public.

Murphy said he feels Overton is excluding him from the process. Overton said he is not excluding him.

"I offered you whatever you wanted to do Sean, except you can't put yourself into the conflict of having defended a position as a member of the public and then adjudicating that defense," he said.

Murphy said he never relayed a position on the matter and didn't want to, adding that Overton is violating procedure.

"You don't have a right to shut me out of this whole process," said Murphy.

Shortly thereafter, Overton called for a five minute recess, saying he will not allow Murphy to hijack the commission.

"Hijack?" said Murphy. "You wont let me speak, you tyrant. You're a tyrant and a bully."

Overton said Murphy can testify as a member of the public.

"I didn't want to testify in the first place," Murphy said, turning to First Selectman Gerald 'Jerry' Stomski, who was in the audience.

"Jerry, are you going to, we have a legal problem here," Murphy said.

Stomski replied,"You guys have to work this out. I'm not a lawyer."

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