Stratford ZBA elects chairman pro tem, postpones organizational meeting and sets next steps

At the Jan. 2 meeting the Town of Stratford Zoning Board of Appeals opened with several administrative actions before hearing petitions. Alternates Judy Cleary and Christine Doolin were seated for absent or vacant positions. By unanimous consent the board postponed its organizational meeting until Tuesday, Feb. 6, citing an unfilled seat created when Renee Gibson was elected to the town council and the absence of Commissioner Paula Squealey.

Nominations for a chairman pro tem were opened and Chris O'Havy was nominated, seconded and unanimously elected to preside over the meeting under Robert's Rules. The board later deferred an appeal for 30 Perry Boulevard (Daniel Krasanski) to the February meeting with the hope the underlying issue would be resolved before that date.

The board approved minutes of the Dec. 5, 2023 meeting after confirming which members had watched the prior meeting’s video; the minutes were approved with four votes in favor and one abstention. Members briefly considered a CAM site-plan/erosion-and-sediment-control item as part of staff updates and discussed a proposal to move future ZBA meetings from 7 p.m. to 6 p.m. to align with other land-use boards; members deferred any final decision until the board is fully constituted.