BETHEL – Selectmen shot down two attempts from residents to put two new ordinances before town meeting voters in June.

At Monday night’s selectmen meeting, Haley J. Tripp proposed an ordinance she drafted that would allow voters to recall and remove from office elected municipal officials.

Tripp is the wife of former Bethel police Chief Darren M. Tripp, who was fired in February by Town Manager Scott Cole. Selectmen upheld that termination on March 11 by a 3-2 vote.

Selectmen disagreed with Haley Tripp Monday night, saying they failed to see a need for such an ordinance.

“If you find that there’s a selectman who is not doing his job, just vote him out,” said Selectman Reggie Brown.

Selectman Don Bennett agreed, linking what Haley Tripp was attempting to Cole’s job termination of her husband, and Darren Tripp’s pending lawsuits against the town and Cole.

“Six months from now we’ll have a far better view of what this is about,” Bennett said, adding, “I don’t think anything’s broke yet.”

Selectmen voted 3-0 not to put the ordinance before town meeting voters. Haley Tripp said she would then pursue the petition route.

Robert L. Blake then attempted to get the board to accept his ordinance proposal for creation of a Personnel Committee.

Its purpose, he explained, would be to assist the town manager and selectmen in personnel issues, such as hiring, firing and interviewing of town employees.

Dresser quickly voiced his opposition.

“To put a political body between the town manager and selectmen, to me, is a very bad idea,” he said.

Blake countered, saying he didn’t think it would be a bad idea.

Following a lengthy discussion, selectmen voted 3-0 not to create a personnel committee. Blake said he would then draft a petition to attempt to get the article on the town meeting warrant.
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