Zoning Enforcement Officer Retires After 13 Years

Whether residents complained about junk cars on their neighbors' lawn, illegal signs or having to see a golf course porta-potty from their window, Jack Brandt answered the call. He had served as the town's zoning enforcement officer for more than a decade, before retiring Wednesday after 13 years on the job.

Brandt exchanged stories with well-wishers from behind the counter of Monroe Town Hall's land use area that afternoon and a Farewell Pizza Party was scheduled at Roberto's Restaurant from 5 to 8 that night.

"It's time," Brandt replied upon being asked about his decision to retire. "Climbing on a snowbank to get an illegal sign isn't getting any easier," the 68-year-old added with a chuckle.

"I wish my successor well — he or she," he said.

Brandt lives in North Haven and has three sons and five grandchildren. He took the Merritt Parkway to Route 34 on his way to town every day when his position was full time. It became part-time last July.

"I won't miss the commute," Brandt said with a smile.

Prior to being hired by Monroe, Brandt was a part-time zoning enforcement officer for North Haven.

Of the position, he said, "It's to enforce the zoning regulations of the town, but many times it becomes a give and go. There are site visits. You meet with both people, both neighbors in most cases. It's strictly an enforcement position."

The bulk of cases Brandt has dealt with were unregistered vehicles being kept on people's properties.

"Then there's illegal occupants," he said of un-permitted home businesses. "They can't afford the rent, so they're bringing their stuff home."

Brandt has had his share of memorable cases over the years.

"The dogs at the animal adoption agency have been a career," he said of the controversial Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of Connecticut on Spring Hill Road. "We had to make monthly visits with the animal control officer."

Brandt and the officer had to count the number of dogs on the property to ensure it did not exceed the number of animals that were permitted.

There was also a story that made headlines in the early 2000's, when police removed two pet pigs from a house on Fan Hill Road. Neighbors were complaining that the large pigs were tearing up their yards and eating their gardens. The property had junked cars on it and Brandt had to enforce the clean up.

"Every street has a story," he said. "You unfortunately flash back to the good, the bad and the ugly."

The case of the porta-potty

One day, a resident called the First Selectman's Office to complain about a porta-potty on Whitney Farms Golf Course, and the town leader took the complaint to the zoning enforcement officer.

"I went out to the site and met the guy in charge," Brandt recalled. "He said, 'I have some fencing down at the garage. You won't see the porta-potty."

"The next day I got a call from the first selectman thanking me for having the fence up, so I called the golf course to thank them," Brandt said. "He said, 'I have to tell you, one woman was in the porta-potty when a golf ball hit it and she almost had a heart attack.' So they put the fence up.

"The neighbor thought I was a hero and it had nothing to do with me," Brandt said with a laugh. "I took credit for it."

A wonderful gentleman

While looking back on his time as Monroe's ZEO, Brandt said, "I think, basically, I did the best job I could, trying not to go to court, but going to court when pushed."

He said he will miss interacting with his co-workers and townspeople the most.

"It's a wonderful town," Brandt said. "Monroe people should be proud of their town."

Carol Delfino, an administrative assistant in land use who has worked closely with Brandt during his time in Monroe, said she will miss working with him.

"I found a real friend in Jack," she said. "Not only did I work for a wonderful gentleman, but we became friends. I truly hope we remain friends, because he's a wonderful person. Everyone loves Jack. You never know how many people love you, until you leave, and Jack is finding that out today. People are coming out of the woodwork.

"Jack's a really genuine, nice guy. I will miss him. I really will. It's not going to be the same without him."

"No. Not at all," Tanya Bombero agreed.

Bombero is the town's acting land use coordinator and once shared an office with Brandt and former economic development director, Vincent Mangiacopra.

"He was great at walking people through the enforcement process," Bombero said of Brandt. "He's sincere and personable no matter what he does."