Zagrodzky Suggests Way To Streamline Board Of Selectmen Meetings

DARIEN, CT — In an attempt to streamline meetings, the Darien Board of Selectmen could consider a change to the way it conducts business.

The board routinely enters what's called "Executive Session" at the beginning of scheduled public meetings. The session is closed to the public and is used to discuss pending legal matters and confidential information, or interview candidates for many of the town's boards and committees.

Once the session ends, the public portion of the meeting can begin.

First Selectman Jon Zagrodzky said that the board must hold two monthly meetings, per the town's charter. He suggested dedicating one of those meetings strictly to Executive Session matters, and the other to regular public business.

Zagrodzky hoped to run an "experiment" sometime in 2024 to see if the change works. He said the board could formalize a process after the new year and test the change when the budget season dies down in the spring.

There are some questions the board must answer if the change is going to be a success, Zagrodzky said.

"Does that ever result in a delay in town business getting done?" Zagrodzky asked. "For example, if someone comes in and wants to get something considered at that first meeting of that month, but that's an Executive Session meeting so they'd have to wait for the second meeting that month, does that two-week delay create trouble? Is there a significant volume of work that comes up that gets unduly delayed because of this new schedule? I think it still allows us to get our business done."

Selectman Michael Burke wondered how often Executive Session matters need immediate approval during the public portion of the meeting.

"I'm all for efficiency, but I want to make sure we leave ourselves an ability to act in that double fashion if necessary," he said.

Town Administrator Kate Buch suggested that only interviews for boards and committees could be conducted in an Executive Session meeting, and then the selectmen could immediately vote on appointments in open session which would take a matter of minutes.

Zagrodzky said the potential change would benefit residents who come to Board of Selectmen meetings in person because they wouldn't have to wait for Executive Session meetings to be over.

The change would also help and free up Darien TV79, Zagrodzky said.

The board could revisit the idea in 2024.