Former longtime town attorney returns to the job

By Scott Benjamin

BROOKFIELD -- On a 2-1 vote, the Board of Selectmen has appointed former longtime Town Attorney Thomas Beecher to the position he first held 20 years ago.

Beecher, a New Milford resident who works at Collins Hannafin in Danbury, had been serving as the interim town attorney since December when First Selectman Steve Dunn, a Democrat, began his second tenure as the town's top elected official.

Since first being appointed to the position in late 2003 by Republican former First Selectman Jerry Murphy, Beecher has served under first selectmen who have been elected as Republicans, Democrats and as a petitioning candidate.

Julian Capadose, the municipal purchasing manager, told the selectmen at their Monday, April 1, meeting that a committee of town department heads had reviewed the four requests for proposal and interviewed the two finalists - Halloran Sage of Hartford and Collins Hannafin.

He said that the committee members had been impressed with Beecher's work through the years and that was a major reason for selecting that firm to be the town counsel. He added that Halloran Sage has, in particular, an excellent land-use attorney staff and should be considered on issues when Collins Hannafin isn't available.

Dunn has said that the town attorney represents an important appointment, noting that through the years he and Beecher are on the phone "three to four times a week." He has said that many of the issues covered by the town attorney relate to the Board of Selectmen and the land-use boards.

Other Selectman Tara Carr - a Republican, who was the first selectman from 2021-2023 - questioned why the selection was made without input from the Human Resources director or the first selectman.

Capadose said in his report that Dunn had been invited to participate but recused himself from doing so since he had a longstanding professional relationship with Beecher.

In regards to the Human Resource director's input, Other Selectman Bob Belden, who was Dunn's running mate last fall, said that the agreement with the town attorney was a "service contract" and was not the same as hiring an municipal employee.

In June 2022, Trevor Ballantyne of The News-Times of Danbury reported that when a new town attorney was appointed early in Carr's tenure as first selectman she only interviewed one firm - Marino, Zabel & Schellenberg of Orange.

Ballantyne reported that Carr said, “As the new first selectwoman of Brookfield I looked at the charter and I realized had the option to hire my own attorney and I decided it was time for a change - out with the old, in with the new."

He reported that the law firm had been recommended to Carr by Ben Proto, the Republican state party chairman.

Marino, Zabel and Schellenberg was appointed on a 2-1 vote, with Dunn, then an Other Selectman, dissenting.

Belden and Dunn voted to appoint Collins Hannafin as the town attorney. Carr voted against the motion.

Carr also expressed concern that there could be conflicts of interest since Beecher currently also represents a homeowners group in the Candlewood Shores tax district.

Beecher said he always has notified municipal officials whenever there was a potential conflict and has asked that another attorney provide representation. Dunn indicated that had happened "on a few occasions."