Selectmen ignore MDTC request

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Artist Sue Healy works on the mural that now covers the gray facade of the Greenway tunnel. The idea for the mural project was brought to the Greenway Committee by then-member Patricia Lindenman, who spent many hours working on the project. (Marjorie Needham photo)

By MARJORIE NEEDHAM

For the second time this year, First Selectman Edward B. St. John, a Republican, and Selectman J. Paul Vance Sr., a Democrat, ignored the Middlebury Democratic Town Committee’s recommendations on Democratic appointments to the Greenway Committee. At the same time, they accepted recommendations on Republican appointments from the Middlebury Republican Town Committee.

In February, the MDTC recommended that Chairman Sharon Bosco, a Democrat, not be reappointed. At the April 7 meeting, the MDTC recommended reappointing Patricia Lindenman. In both cases St. John and Vance voted against the MDTC recommendations while Selectwoman Jennifer Mahr, Unaffiliated, voted for the MDTC recommendations.

It appears these actions are part of a larger issue, an ongoing battle for control of the Democratic Party in Middlebury. The schism between factors in the party became public in January 2024, when every member of the MDTC was ousted in what this newspaper, in a February 2024 page one article, referred to as a “coup d’DTC.”

Ousted members included the then-chairman Curtis Bosco, husband of Sharon Bosco, who was also ousted along with Mark Petrucci, Fran Barton Jr., Selectman Vance, Meg Vance, Bryan Ferrucci, Stephen Ferrucci, Linda Herrmann, Michael McVerry and Thomas Gilbertie. Before the current MDTC members were seated, the former MDTC members filled every empty Democratic position on town boards and commissions.

At the April 7 BoS meeting, as St. John started to discuss appointments to the Greenway Committee, Mahr asked that the agenda be amended. She noted it said Karen Rotella, Unaffiliated, was to be appointed to “fill the expired term of Patricia Lindenman” (Democrat) and Joseph Bernardi and Charles Kuehnle, Republicans, were to be appointed to fill the resignation of Mahr’s husband, Timothy, Republican.

Mahr said Lindenman’s term did not expire; she asked to be reappointed. In addition, Mahr said she asked for Rotella to be appointed to fill Timothy’s position, so the agenda did not accurately reflect what was asked for. Mahr also noted the agenda should have indicated Bernardi or Kuehnle as only one seat was open.

The attachments to the agenda included the Middlebury Republican Town Committee’s endorsement of Bernardi and Kuehnle. It did not include the March 14 email to the Board of Selectmen that said the MDTC had voted unanimously on March 11, 2025, to endorse Lindenman for reappointment.

There was no second to Mahr’s motion to amend the agenda, so St. John nominated Karen Rotella. Vance seconded it, noting Mahr was among those who recommended Rotella’s appointment. During discussion, Mahr reiterated that Lindenman had indicated she wanted to be reappointed, the MDTC supported her reappointment and Mahr had asked for Rotella to be appointed to fill the seat vacated by Timothy Mahr. She said, “To say that I had recommended that Karen replace Patricia is not a correct statement.”

Vance replied, “I did not say that. I said you recommended her.”

“I did,” Mahr said, “under a different set of circumstances.” Mahr noted the many meetings at which the BoS made appointments based on town committee recommendations and asked how it was that a committee member who wanted to be reappointed “has been deemed expired and kicked out of their seat.”

Vance asked Mahr if Lindenman’s term had expired. She said it expired two days ago, but according to the BoS’s past practices that has not been considered an expired seat. Vance said he did not agree.

St. John proceeded with the vote, which was St. John and Vance for the appointment and Mahr against it.

The action elicited comments from residents in attendance. Lindenman said she made her intentions (to serve another term) clear to Liana (St. John’s executive assistant) in March. Another person said, “And the Democratic Town Committee recommended that she stay in her position.” Others chimed in.

St. John responded, “We will take all your comments under advisement. I’m sure there will be plenty of openings on the Greenway Committee.”

Lindenman said, “I don’t need an appointment. I’m on the committee.”

“You are?” St. John said. “Did we just appoint you?”

Ignoring further comments, he said, “Next order of business, please.”

He then made a motion to nominate Joe Bernardi to fill the position vacated by Timothy Mahr before moving on to two reappointments to the Greenway Committee: Kevin B. Morse, Unaffiliated, and Cynthia A Scannell, Republican.

The mural on the Greenway tunnel near Pies & Pub is there largely due to Lindenman’s efforts. While traveling to many U.S. cities in November 2021, she saw many displays and murals. Artwork she saw on the interior of a Chapel Hill, N.C., tunnel inspired her to begin thinking about what could be done with the Middlebury tunnel. She brought up the idea at a Greenway Committee meeting, and a committee to have a mural here in Middlebury was formed.

Lindenman put in many hours working on the project and recently met with artist Sue Healy to discuss the next phase of the mural project. Following the Board of Selectmen meeting, she went to the Greenway Committee meeting where she and Healy were scheduled to present images for the committee’s consideration. Lindenman said she attended the meeting, sitting with the public since she was no longer a member of the committee.

She said of not being reappointed, “I’m disappointed, but I realize it’s a very toxic environment right now so I am happy to step aside at this time.”