Political Party Question Delays Appointment of Police Commission Member

The appointment of a new member to the Stonington Police Commission will have to wait until at least next week while the town decides on a political party question.

At their November 28 special meeting and regular meeting the Board of Selectmen interviewed six candidates for one open spot on the police commission.

The candidates for the commission are: Harry Holt, Stephen Bessette, Adam Milne, Julianne McCabe, Byron Stillman, and Stew Walton.

“We always have outstanding candidates,” First Selectman Ed Haberek said.

At Wednesday's meeting, Haberek made a motion to appointment Stillman to the commission saying that he felt Stillman was the best candidate for the job based on Stillman’s emergency management experience, connections to the senior citizen community and the fact that he lives in Pawcatuck—there is currently no one from Pawcatuck on the commission.

Selectman Glee McAnanly, however, said she wasn’t sure if the board could appointment Stillman due to his political party. According to McAnanly, Stillman switched his party affiliation from Democrat to Independent this past November. She believes the town ordinance states that even if a candidate is switching his party affiliation it takes six months for the town to recognize it and town ordinance prohibits more than three people from the same party serving on the same commission. There are already three democrats on the police commission.

McAnanly, Haberek and Selectmen George Crouse agreed to wait to make a decision until the town’s attorney could weigh in on the issue.

Haberek said they would schedule a special meeting for next week.