Walsh and Steeneck Argue Over Bremer Again

Editor's note: This article was corrected at 12:22 a.m. Thursday to reflect that May 3 was the date of former First Selectman Ken Flatto's resignation.

Tom Bremer, the first selectman's chief of staff, was a popular topic of conversation again for the Board of Selectmen on Wednesday.

But Bremer, who seems to be Republican Selectman James Walsh's favored choice for interim first selectman, was nowhere to be seen.

Wednesday's discussion between Walsh and Democratic First Selectman Sherri Steeneck over who the interim first selectman should be lacked the passion and length of their discussion May 18, and, with just over 24 hours to go before the 30-day time limit expires for Walsh and Steeneck to reach an agreement, Walsh appeared resigned to the fact that the impasse wouldn't be broken.

Steeneck favors Board of Finance member Michael Tetreau to fill the vacancy created by First Selectman Ken Flatto's May 3 resignation. Tetreau was the unanimous choice of the Democratic Town Committee.

Walsh doesn't favor Tetreau because Tetreau is running for first selectman in the fall, and Walsh believes having Tetreau serve as interim first selectman could give Tetreau an advantage over other candidates and possibly politicize the Board of Selectmen.

On Wednesday, Walsh said he'd put forward eight or nine Democrats who could serve as interim first selectman; Steeneck said all of Walsh's candidates had said they didn't want the job.

Walsh disputed that, saying Bremer had told him he would serve as interim first selectman if Walsh and Steeneck voted for him. Steeneck said that's not what Bremer told her.

Walsh then suggested that Bremer come to the Board of Selectmen's meeting, but Steeneck declined Walsh's request to get him.

"No, I don't suggest we get him," Steeneck said, adding that, besides Bremer telling her 'No,' she also wanted Bremer to remain as chief of staff. "Mr. Bremer has a very important role. He's served it well," she said.

Walsh said, "I've tried to negotiate, I've tried to bring other people. I haven't tried to slam someone down your throat."

Steeneck said everyone knew Walsh wasn't Flatto's choice to be on the Board of Selectmen after former Republican Selectman Ralph Bowley died, but Flatto had agreed to the decision of the Republican Town Committee.

But Walsh said Flatto, who had wanted Board of Finance member Kevin Kiley to take Bowley's seat, had questioned him over whether he planned to run for first selectman. "Ken vetted me on the exact same issue," Walsh said.

Walsh added that filling a first selectman's vacancy was different than filling a selectman's vacancy.

Steeneck said she didn't know what Walsh and Flatto had discussed and that she didn't have to support Walsh back then, regardless of what Flatto wanted. She said she and Walsh had voted in opposition to Flatto more than a few times.

Steeneck then brought laughter from the audience by saying, "If I wanted to argue this much, I'd get married again."

Walsh said, "You're not going to propose?"

"Certainly not," Steeneck replied, bringing more laughter.

Walsh said the process by which the town fills a vacancy in the first selectman's position needs to be revised through a change to the Town Charter.

"The process in the Charter should be changed, and a new system be put in because this has been kind of a complete waste of time. I think the town should have a special election for first selectman within 30 days," Walsh said.

Steeneck said she didn't necessarily disagree with Walsh, though any change to the Charter would have to conform to state statutes.

"I'm not saying the process should be exactly as it is or different, but we should discuss it when the Charter is opened up," Steeneck said.

The Charter was last changed in November 2006, and one of the voter-approved changes was to extend the length of the first selectman's term from two years to four years.

Unless Steeneck and Walsh agree on an interim first selectman by the end of Thursday, Town Clerk Betsy Browne has 10 days to send a letter to 18 elected Democrats in Fairfield, informing them that the two selectmen failed to reach agreement. Then, the 18 Democrats have 60 days to vote on who the interim first selectman should be, though Town Attorney Richard Saxl said Tuesday that the vote would come much sooner than that.

There's little doubt that the 18 Democrats, many of whom are on the Democratic Town Committee, will vote for Tetreau.