Three Candidates Seek Appointment To Board Of Finance Alternate Seat

The Suffield Board of Finance met Tuesday evening on a light agenda highlighted by the necessity to appoint a replacement for an alternate position on the board. Jim Lennon resigned Oct. 1, which created the vacancy.

The board's' charter states the appointment of the replacement will be decided by the remaining members of the Board of Finance and must be filled by a member of the same political party as the departing member. Lennon is a Republican, so the choices for the position will come from the Republican Party.

Three candidates have shown an interest in filling the seat.

The Republican Town Committee nominated and endorsed Anthony Roncaioli for the position at its last regular meeting. Roncaioli currently serves on the Public Works Commission. He is the vice president of commercial lending at Windsor Federal Savings bank and serves on the board of directors of the Bloomfield Chamber of Commerce.

“I've been proactive in making presentations to the town boards in the areas of cost savings,” he said, “this way [as a Board Member], I can have a greater input for the goings-on in the town.”

He sees the necessity for structural changes in the benefit structure of town employees, seeking a fair system of contributions for health care and pensions.

Jack Muska, the recently-retired director of public works, also put his name forward for consideration to fill the vacancy. He said his seven-and-a-half years of experience in public works would be beneficial to the board.

“I think I can offer some things if I am appointed,” said Muska, “I've been in town forty-something years.”

Tracy Eccles also submitted her name and resume for the position. Chairman Justin Donnelly called for a special meeting of the board for Oct. 18 to fill the slot. The candidates will be given a chance to present themselves to the board, but will not be subjected to questioning.

“I think it's not fair to have them run the gauntlet,” Donnelly said, “we can give them the option if they want to get up and talk for a bit. We have three outstanding resumes.”

In other business, the First Selectman Tom Frenaye announced that the Board of Selectmen had approved the union contract with the police, and were very close to a tentative agreement on the contract with the fire union. This means the highway workers and library employees contracts are left to be completed. Those two contracts will represent a total 16 town employees.

The Board of Finance offers policy guidelines to the Board of Selectmen in regard to contract negotiations. Both Donnelly and Frenaye expressed the opinion that a closer relationship between the boards would be welcome and helpful regarding the union contracts.

“My intention is, with the next round of contracts is that we as a Board of Finance, through some designee, take a more active role in aiding the First Selectman so that we share some responsibility for the ultimate outcome,” Donnelly said.