Branford First Selectman Blasts Inland Wetlands Commission

On Thursday night, the Inland Wetlands Commission approved new regulations which many say will make it harder to build developments in town, the Branford Seven reports.

Certain members pushed through the regulations just before their terms are set to expire, despite the fact new state regulations are on its way, and that there is a legal review of the regulations, the Seven reports.

And of course there has been major friction in town as Costco has for now pulled its application in town after issues surfaced concerning the Inland Wetlands Commission.

Friday morning First Selectman James Cosgrove took issue with the actions taken by the Inland Wetlands Commission.

“The action of the Inland Wetland’s Commission on Thursday evening was an unprecedented abuse of power. Ignoring a prior vote of the Commission for legal review was not about protecting wetlands it was pure politics.

Certain members have again manipulated a public process to serve a political agenda that has nothing to do with the best interests of the citizens of Branford.

This is the kind of bureaucratic arrogance that destroys public confidence in local government.

I encourage reasonable people who want to serve our Town as members of Boards and Commissions to contact me directly.

Serving on local boards and commissions should be about serving the people of the Town, not twisting the process to serve personal or political agendas,” Cosgrove said in a statement released to the local media Friday.

Read the full Branford Seven report here.