Canton PZC Member Taking Heat From Selectmen

CANTON, CT — A longtime Republican member of the Canton Planning and Zoning Commission is under fire from selectmen for, simply, not attending enough meetings recently.

The Canton Board of Selectmen June 22, actually, had an agenda item calling for the removal of Philip Pane from the board.

Ultimately, though, selectmen voted 6-0 to table any action on that to give Pane more time to address selectmen concerns.

In Canton, the PZC is an appointed board overseen by selectmen that oversees land-use and planning issues in town.

According to the minutes of Canton's June 22 selectmen meeting, Canton First Selectman Robert Bessel, a Democrat, said he's tried to reach out to Pane, to no avail, adding he knows the Republican.

Bessel said Pane has missed 13 out of the past 17 meetings, a 76 percent absentee rate.

He said, initially, remote technology was "a problem" during the pandemic, but then Pane started participating again before missing meetings again.

Pane has served on the commission for decades, according to meeting minutes, so his recent absenteeism doesn't appear to be in line with history.

Selectman Tim LeGeyt, a Republican and former state legislator, is expected to try and meet with Pane.

Bessel said given Pane's longtime service to the town, his preference is to meet with Pane before removing him from the PZC.

The issue is expected to be discussed at the next Canton Board of Selectmen meeting later this month.

Meetings are usually held every second and fourth Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Canton Community Center, 40 Dyer Ave., Canton.

For the minutes of the June 22 Canton Board of Selectmen meeting, click on this link.