Tolland Council Seat Replacement Rejected, War Of Words Follows

TOLLAND, CT — The Tolland Town Council on Tuesday narrowly rejected the appointment of Mary Rose Duberek to fill a vacant Democratic seat, following a contentious debate over the Town Charter, party affiliation requirements and concerns about bipartisanship.

The vacancy was created by the resignation of Councilor Jon Graney. Under the town charter, the council is required to fill vacancies within 30 days and must appoint a replacement from the same political party as the departing member.

The Tolland Democratic Town Committee endorsed Duberek for the position.

Meeting minutes show that Council Chairman Christopher Moran told councilors the charter mandates timely action and that Duberek met all legal and charter requirements. He said she has lived in Tolland for 24 years, has extensive emergency management experience, and has been active in the community, including volunteering with local booster organizations.

Moran described her as “level-headed” and committed to bipartisan cooperation, according to the meeting minutes.

A motion to appoint Duberek was made by Marilee Bebe and seconded by Bret Wells, according to the meeting minutes..

Opposition came from Councilors Renie Besaw, Joseph Sce, who argued the council should wait to consider multiple candidates for the two current vacancies before acting. They said the town had time under the charter to seek broader consensus and expressed concern about ensuring future council members would work collaboratively across party lines, according to the meeting minutes.

Beebe and Wells rejected that argument, saying the charter imposes no requirement to delay action and obligates the council to fill vacancies promptly. Beebe called the delay "a made-up reason" that would leave the council short-handed and undermine town governance. Wells said the council had a duty to seat a qualified candidate to maintain a functional government, according to the meeting minutes.

The debate escalated as Sce said he opposed Duberek’s appointment based on feedback from members of his party, claiming concerns about her ability to work effectively across political lines and her focus on Board of Education matters. Beebe responded that the charter’s qualifications are legal and procedural, not ideological, and warned against using social media or political opinions as a basis for determining eligibility, according to the meeting minutes.

Moran reiterated that the charter requires action within 30 days and that Duberek met all statutory and charter qualifications, urging the council to proceed with the appointment, according to the meeting minutes.

In a roll-call vote, Beebe, Wells and Moran voted in favor, while Besaw and Sce voted against. The motion failed, 3-2, short of the four affirmative votes required for approval, according to the meeting minutes.

Moran said the outcome was "disappointing" and inconsistent with past council actions approving appointments from both major parties to town boards and commissions.

That wasn't all. In an email to Patch, he said, "(Tuesday) night, the Town Council was presented with a well-qualified nominee to fill the vacancy created by former-Councilor Graney’s resignation. The town Charter is clear. Pursuant section C2-4 of the Town Charter, the Council has an obligation to fill any vacancies on the Council within 30 days. The Charter also requires that a vacancy be filled by an individual of the same political party as the person vacating the Council. Because former-Councilor Graney ran on the democratic slate, the DTC convened and unanimously endorsed a highly qualified individual who has spent decades volunteering in Tolland. This is the same process that both Republicans and Democrats have followed for many years in town without issue.

"Unfortunately, two councilors voted against seating the nominee. The Council was advised that we needed four votes to seat the nominee. Because the vote was 3-2, the vacancy was not filled.

"I am committed to carrying out the work that the residents of Tolland elected us to do. We have an obligation to the town to carry out our responsibilities, including the filling of vacancies within 30 days, and I will continue the effort to meet that Charter-mandated responsibility. I am proud of my record of working on a bipartisan basis. I urge my colleagues across the isle to demonstrate the same willingness."

A statement from the Tolland Democratic Town Committee called the result "obstruction."

It read:

"The Tolland Democratic Town Committee is deeply concerned by what occurred at last night’s Town Council meeting, where Republican members of the Council refused to seat Mary Rose Duberek, the duly endorsed Democratic nominee to fill a vacant Town Council seat.

"The Democratic Town Committee followed the Town Charter exactly as written and as it has been applied historically. We conducted due diligence, vetted candidates, and formally endorsed Mary Rose Duberek, a highly qualified 24-year Tolland resident with extensive experience serving the community and a proven record of working across party lines. This is the responsibility assigned to the DTC by registered Democratic voters in Tolland.

"The Charter is clear. When a vacancy occurs in a partisan elective office, the vacancy must be filled by a member of the same political party within 30 days. The role of the Town Council is to vote on whether the endorsed candidate meets the qualifications set forth in the Charter. It is not the Council’s role to delay, obstruct, or attempt to renegotiate the process for political advantage.

"The refusal to seat Ms. Duberek was not about procedure, timing, or adherence to the Charter. It was a deliberate act of obstruction. Notably, both Republican councilors who voted against her appointment previously relied on this very same process when they themselves were appointed to the Board of Education.

"There is real urgency in this matter. The Charter’s 30-day requirement is mandatory, not optional. Identifying candidates, endorsing them, filing official paperwork, and scheduling confirmation votes all require timely action. Delays jeopardize compliance with the Charter and undermine representative government.

"The actions taken last night raise serious concerns about partisan interference in a process that is clearly defined by law. The DTC will not allow the lawful will of Democratic voters to be ignored or delayed.

"If this obstruction continues, the Tolland Democratic Town Committee will pursue all legal remedies available to ensure the Charter is followed and that the vacancy is filled as required by law.

"We remain committed to transparency, accountability, and the integrity of Tolland’s local government."

Said the Republican Town Committee:

"The decision to delay seating a nominee was not an effort to stall or ignore the Town Charter, but a prudent step to ensure a full understanding of the overall situation facing the Town Council. With recent events impacting council dynamics, it was reasonable to take time to assess how any appointment would integrate into the broader team and governance structure.

"The Charter sets a 30-day window, not an immediate mandate. That timeframe exists to allow thoughtful consideration, not to force rushed decisions that could have long-term consequences for council effectiveness. At the time of the vote, there was still sufficient time remaining within the Charter’s deadline to complete the appointment process in full compliance with the law.

"This approach reflects a commitment to responsible governance—taking a moment to evaluate the entire context, ask appropriate questions, and ensure the council is positioned to function cohesively and effectively. There was no intent to delay indefinitely, waste taxpayer resources, or engage in partisan maneuvering. Rather, the goal was to exercise due diligence and uphold the spirit of good government by making an informed decision within the time allowed.

"In complex moments, leadership sometimes requires slowing the process, to ensure decisions are made with clarity, foresight, and accountability to the residents of Tolland."