Ad hoc committee approves reappointment of Doug Polestena to Danbury Museum Authority pending membership clarification

An ad hoc committee of the Danbury City Council voted to reappoint Doug Polestena to the Danbury Museum and Historical Society Authority after trustees and museum volunteers urged the council to confirm his service, but members asked staff to clarify the authority's current membership list before the appointment is finalized.

Chair Councilwoman Andrea Gartner opened the meeting and read a letter filed in support of Polestena from museum leadership, which said the authority's ordinance does not include a residency requirement for trustees and praised his service to the museum and the community. Gartner identified the letter authors in the record as the museum's executive director (named in the transcript as Bridget Gertin) and the board president (Jeff Herold).

Councilman Michael Henry said the ad hoc was convened to review the council's appointment process and outreach for boards and commissions, not to single out an individual. "This is more about the process of how we get to the appointment of individuals," he said, asking whether the city keeps a candidate pool and how the authority solicits applicants.

Museum participants told the committee the authority generally recruits candidates through the museum's leadership and current trustees rather than through broad public applications. Miriam Hessmeier, identified in the museum roster as secretary, said one long-absent trustee, Reverend Whitfield, has attended only one meeting in recent years and that the trustees have discussed requesting his resignation so active volunteers such as Polestena can serve in full-time trustee roles.

Paul Valerio, a museum trustee who spoke in the meeting, praised Polestena's volunteer work and urged the council not to focus on technicalities: "Doug has been incredibly involved with us," Valerio said, adding that Polestena has managed exhibits including the Amber Room and has provided "superior attention" to museum duties since his recruitment in 2019.

Committee members and museum staff acknowledged that several trustee terms shown on older internal lists had expired and that the museum's public roster is the best current source for active members. Council members asked staff to obtain formal resignation letters where applicable and to present an updated, authoritative membership list before the council takes final action.

Councilwoman Diane Lapine moved to reappoint Doug Polestena to the Danbury Museum and Historical Society Authority "pending the clarification of the numbers and the designation of the referent." Councilwoman Andrea Gartner seconded the motion. The committee approved the motion by voice vote; the meeting minutes record only a voice "aye" and do not include a roll-call tally.

The committee adjourned after instructing staff to return with a clarified membership roster and any formal resignation or reappointment paperwork the authority provides. The motion carries the committee's recommendation back to the full appointment process for finalization once clarifications are received.