Weston CT Onion Barn News

01/01/2024

𝗜𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗹𝘆

Repeatedly failing to meet Freedom of Information requirements for posting meetings, even after being reminded of the long standing statutes, Selectman Nestor thumbs her nose at laws designed for transparency and public access to government workings, at no small cost to Weston taxpayers.

The letter attached below was sent to the entire Board of Selectmen prior to the Dec 21, 2023 meeting.
None of the Board members even mentioned the warning letter and another illegal meeting ensued.

By Town Charter, it is First Selectman Nestor who sets the agenda and oversees proper postings.

One might excuse Selectman Pesco as being misled were it not for his own history of a lack of transparency, misleading the Board of Education and the public in his earlier role as BOE Chair with caveats such as “not to be presented in public.”

Selectman Dinlenc is new to the BOS and could be reasonably expected to seek advice from the RTC except that Chair and former Selectman Grozinger pledged his “unwavering support” to Nestor. So the guard rails are down and training wheels are off.

So Weston is put on notice by Selectman Nestor that she is not beholden to State laws or a concerned citizenry and is allowed to deliberately mislead as the DTC turns a blind eye and the RTC dances to Nestor’s fiddle.

The end result is that Weston is governed less by the people and for the people as the Town Attorney becomes enriched at taxpayer expense in appearing before the FIC at hearings while meetings are reversed as forewarned.

03/11/2023

𝗗𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆

It was great to see the community gather on Wednesday as one to decry antisemitism.

On 10/27 Selectman Nestor posted the joint letter dated 10/24 from Rabbi Friedman and Reverend Wilson critical of the "Ham and Baloney more of the same ol' leftovers" signs.

It should be noted that Ms. Nestor omitted the Rabbi’s more informed correspondence dated 10/25 stating "I understand that this was not done intentionally." This was delivered 2 days prior to her Town website posting.

There were already public expressions of fear over what the signs might represent and not trying to allay those fears is just plain cruel.

In not including the Rabbi’s most recent statement, ask yourself whether cultivating an atmosphere of fear is what you expect of a leader.

What does it say when a leader chooses division over unity?

01/11/2023

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗻 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗵

I listened to Monday’s DEI meeting where a resident tearfully expressed her fear and pain, specifically mentioning the “Ham and Baloney” signs that had been labeled as antisemitic. Social media postings reveal the anguish of parents fearing for their children’s safety and utter despair for what they were allowed to believe Weston had become. Others demanded exposing the “coward” who made the signs as if they themselves had become the arbiters of justice.

Knowing now what is revealed in the email chain attached between the anonymous sign poster and the clergy whose initial letter to Weston was relied upon for swift condemnation, all of Weston should be outraged that what passes for town leadership failed to speak the truth and reveal the change of heart when they first became aware.

Knowing what others knew a week ago, I can’t imagine who would bear witness to another’s pain and knowingly prolong their suffering.

We know now that one week ago today, First Selectman Nestor became aware that, when fully informed, it became apparent that the “Ham and Baloney” sign posting was purely political satire, bore no ill will and as Rabbi Friedman stated unequivocally, that any perceived slight "was not done intentionally.”

The utter lack of human compassion for the continued suffering of others in suppressing this information is reprehensible.

A silent witness to a fabricated rift in the community, any response from First Selectman Nestor is already a week too late but I hope that even before today’s Town Green gathering, the message of peace and conciliation revealed in the emails, released only through Freedom of Information, will serve to provide relief from the growing pain, and fears that the Weston community had turned against each other.

31/10/2023

𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮 𝗩𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲
https://www.writeinmartin.com/?fbclid=IwAR0zAsNf2M2qpiro4JruDS7oukezV9-vIDTUUKziaWjUMLE_rT-2TWYLuas

Martin Mohabeer is running for the Board of Selectmen in Weston CT and you can write him in!

27/10/2023

𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝗧𝗲𝗿𝗺 𝗧𝗼𝗼 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝘆, 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗧𝘄𝗼

Attached is the Weston Forum 2015 endorsement for the First Selectman’s spot.

Absent a real newspaper in town, debates and blog reporting sanitized to the point of useless, leaves the community in the dark. The voter can at least refer back to the highlighted article attached and use it as a checklist for those qualities that might be informative when casting their ballots.

Contrasting with the 2015 Weston Forum’s strong opposition, Selectman Nestor’s attached Facebook fawning devotion and vow to please her role model, guaranteed now DTC Chairman Gayle Weinstein a de-facto long sought after fourth term as Selectman when Ms. Nestor was appointed and subsequently elected two years ago.

Compare then and now:

Ms. Nestor’s pattern of disruptive behavior, including name calling such as troll, impostor, conspirator, misogynist and antisemitic has done nothing to create harmony in the community, no less Town Hall.

Her interrupting and speaking over fellow members of the BOS at meetings has become routine.
Emails from varied sources, as well as her own writings confirm the worst of Ms. Nestor’s affronts.

The appointment to a salaried Weston position of an individual with whom First Selectman Nestor has a documented personal business relationship, without full disclosure and therefore without appropriate and transparent checks and balances, is something that once we have a working Ethics Board will have to be addressed.

The former Town Administrator - a position required by the Town Charter - couldn’t wait to leave town and nine months after giving notice, his replacement is being stalled for reasons only Ms. Nestor can but fails to explain.

Repeated and costly violation of Freedom of Information meeting requirements for Executive Sessions can be attributed directly to Ms. Nestor.

Skilled in retail politics and photo opportunities, the real cost of Ms. Nestor’s touted accomplishments to the Weston taxpayers is carefully hidden beyond view.

Ms. Nestor exposes her insecurity of being upstaged and a lack of professionalism in treating the office of First Selectman as her personal business, obstructing the involvement and input of the other members of the duly elected Board of Selectman, violating the Town Charter.

The issues ticked off here are uncomfortably reminiscent of the 2015 Weston Forum observations.

Ms. Nestor’s pattern of behavior is now well established and renders her unbefitting the top office in Weston.

To repeat the Weston Forums observations, “We have elections for a reason. If the job brings out the first selectman’s unprofessional temperament and conduct then it is time to step down” and barring her stepping down, the voters have the responsibility to make an informed decision.

If you acknowledge that the above is as awful as it appears, but don’t care, then accept no substitute, vote for Gayle Weinstein.

22/10/2023

𝗖𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗜𝘀 𝗔 𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝗪𝗮𝘆 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗲𝘁

Creating community unrest by asserting perceived “undertones” of religious hatred or as in the case of a former Weston Ethics Board member, first insinuating and then clearly stating that she and the Town Attorney were the victims of antisemitism, without proof, is like walking backwards down a one way street called Civility.

Attempting to score points in a culture war for their own personal or political benefit, these false flag wavers debase actual victims of bigotry.

Falsely accusing someone of antisemitism is just as dangerous as not calling out antisemitism when present.

By permitting falsely flagging someone as antisemitic, the ability to focus on combating the numerous and very real threats of such bigotry is lost, as is the credibility to define bigotry in any form.

It is profoundly offensive to deflect attention from one’s own faults, using such tropes, raising oneself up for sympathy, by standing on the backs of real victims.

And in fact, there are real victims of such flippant comments.

Take the case of accusations of misogyny and antisemitism reportedly leveled against Selectman Mohabeer.

That Selectman Mohabeer had to subsequently state emphatically, and for the record, that he is not antisemitic or a misogynist reflects the weight of such mis-characterizations and the absurdity that the name callers create.

Next, Mr. Mohabeer will have to answer the follow up question of when he stopped being misogynist and antisemitic!

However, if those peddlers of what is actually their own poorly disguised hate speech and ethical squalor are shown to be employing a playbook and pattern of behavior, then those individuals need to be denounced in the strongest possible terms by every person of good conscience.

20/10/2023

𝗥𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘁’𝘀 𝗥𝘂𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗠𝗼𝗯 𝗥𝘂𝗹𝗲

While Selectman Nestor usually rules against public comment at BOS meetings, she changed course last evening when allowing a rowdy group of attendees to laugh and grumble when Selectman Jenner raised the prospect of an independent investigation concerning Atty. Richards letter of resignation. The letter quoted Ms. Nestor as referring to her fellow Selectman as misogynist and antisemitic.

It fell to Ms. Jenner to admonish those who would think these accusations of hate speech were funny or unworthy of investigation or as Ms. Nestor dismissed as purely political.

Front and center, participating in this unruly behavior was former Selectman David Muller who you would have thought would show some respect in these assemblies.

Other prominent members of the Weston community were also part of what could be described as Robert’s Rules meets mob rule.

You would think that Nestor would want to fully clear her name instead of as Selectman Mohabeer stated “waving the accusations away with her own say so.”

Further, as if we should accept her word as gospel, Nestor suggested such an investigation would be an unnecessary cost to the taxpayer.

By the same logic, I suppose that next she will be asking to defund the police department if investigations can be deemed unnecessary based on the say so of the accused.

19/10/2023

𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔 𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹

Researching the rationale for developing the Wood Hill Rd. emergency access to the Weston school campus, other more suitable sites were discovered that either were ignored or overlooked for many years. Specifically, I am referring to Town owned land from Old Hyde Rd. to the rear of Weston HS.

I contacted the State Office of Emergency Management to discuss the geography of the campus. The regional coordinator advised that there existed a single point of failure at Norfield and Weston Rds. that in the event of a blockage would render Wood Hill useless for all WFD and WPD located on Norfield Road. The Old Hyde Road location would be the logical alternative and additionally supply access for Lyons Plains FD and mutual aid coming from Westport.

I made this information and OEM contacts known to Town officials and WPD but my concern for the safety of the kids was apparently dismissed.

In an unrelated 6/7/23 letter of support for Town Attorney Bloom, defending against an appearance of conflict of interest in the Ethics Board resignations, First Selectman Nestor raised this issue and sought to discredit me by stating that “Maggio is part of a small group of residents who believe that our local government is full of conspiracies… continues to spread misinformation… repeating false claims about public safety plans… misrepresenting himself to state officials by falsely stating that he was a public official.”

Even if the accusation of misrepresentation was true (it’s not), does it matter if I or any responsible private citizen or public official would (should) have disclosed this lapse and apparent indifference?

Ms. Nestor misses that point entirely and further falsely asserts that the issue was addressed.

In her blatant attempt to curry favor with our Town Attorney who at times appears to act as a personal attorney for the First Selectman, and taking a victory lap for spending Covid relief funds by installing the potentially useless Wood Hill access, she exposes herself as she conspires to silence dissent, even if at the cost of harm to others.

To this day, Selectman Nestor chooses to give a false sense of security, willing to dismiss a very real and ongoing concern for kids’ safety.

Deflecting responsibility and her duties to protect all Weston residents, it is she who is impersonating a public official.

Disclosure: I am the moderator of this site and author of this personal post.

13/10/2023

𝗪𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝘂𝘀

As confirmed by the CT Freedom of Information Commission, conversation and comments made in Executive Session are not bound to secrecy.

Disclosing a pattern of behavior as asserted in Atty. Richards' letter of resignation, I am aware that terms such as “misogynist” and “antisemitic” as reportedly used by Selectman Nestor have been similarly tossed around for effect in Executive Session.

Even one such reported lapse, falsely accusing a fellow Selectman of misogyny or antisemitism, is disturbing, but a pattern of behavior that draws upon gossiping and defamation, in public or out of earshot, for personal or political effect by leadership cannot be tolerated.

I ask that the Board of Selectmen assume whistleblower status and inform those of us you represent, the entire Weston community, of this poorly kept secret. Immediate public discussion and censure if warranted is the next logical step if Weston is to be assured of ethical and transparent governance.

To do anything less would be an indication of your own disservice.

10/10/2023

𝗨𝗻𝗳𝗶𝘁 𝗧𝗼 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲

The Weston Town charter and the Ethics Board are silent when it comes to issues of officials’ integrity.

The same integrity you might expect from your own children was shown to be lacking at last week’s discussion of Atty Richards’ resignation letter from the DEI Committee.

A palpably uncomfortable First Selectman Nestor weaved from one explanation to another in vain to dismiss Atty Richards clear statement that she “heard” Ms. Nestor disparage Selectman Mohabeer as being misogynist and antisemitic.

Claiming that what Richards thought she observed was incorrect, and other nonsensical parsing of Richards’ clear words, Nestor never gave a plausible explanation for why such an accusation was leveled.

If you might think the accusing letter in question was partisan, an internet search reveals that both Attorney Richards and Selectman Nestor are registered Democrats.

Regrettably, questions of integrity appear to cross party lines.

Former Selectman and now candidate Grozinger sat front and center at the meeting but has remained silent during and after.

Nestor is fighting for her political career and Grozinger, thinking he might have a road back into Weston politics, is left exposed, appearing to lack the fortitude to address an issue of integrity extolled by the Republican party he represents.

To be determined at the polls, whether either of these candidates is fit to serve might come down to a choice of the least worse, but is that all Weston deserves?

08/10/2023

𝗜𝗻 𝗡𝗼 𝗨𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗧𝗲𝗿𝗺𝘀

Is the Weston community being baited into social and religious disharmony?

A recent letter of resignation by Attorney Vanessa Richards from the DEI Committee claims that she heard First Selectman Samantha Nestor making disparaging remarks about Second Selectman Martin Mohabeer.

After being hidden from public view for a brief period, this letter can once again be read on the Town website here https://www.westonct.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/11049?fbclid=IwAR3TdTGHSPXwk3FIApvkUvHzrcOV6mgZ_RVV6YwDvnmyHh3IZrezWATKrV4 =47
and the video viewed at https://vimeo.com/871835660?fbclid=IwAR3inY7xievO7t_BOi9dlXSaYIRbtSfz71tj-ZLzHJOM5lHpCUEN4VlrXcE =3m57s

Noting the agenda item and letter of resignation and opening the matter to discussion, giving the floor to Selectman Amy Jenner, Ms. Nestor violated the same Robert’s Rules that she endorses, and wrested the discussion back from Jenner so that she could preface any other’s remarks with her own flat out denial.

Still hidden from view at the time of the BOS meeting, the Selectmen addressed the letter while an uninformed public in attendance asked for clarification but were silenced by Selectman Nestor, in her role as Parliamentarian, that there would be no public comment.

Selectman Nestor went on to deny that the reported event ever took place.

Nestor protested the letter’s accusations that she called Selectman Mohabeer “antisemitic” and a “misogynist.”

I regret having to even repeat those two vile words for what they mean to those who are either victims of or those who may be falsely accused of them.

There are disturbing revelations in the video.

There is no doubt that Selectman Nestor has every right to defend herself but the manner in which her defense was made raises concern.

It was at the point of Nestor’s denial that an audience member asked if Nestor was then accusing Atty. Richards of lying. Nestor is seen struggling to explain how or why anyone, no less a well respected member of the Weston community would make up such a story.

With obvious knowledge of the letter before the meeting, and time to have composed herself, I am struggling to understand how following her adamant denial, Nestor didn’t immediately come to the defense of Mr. Mohabeer who was the intended target of the reported hate speech and defamation.

Does she deny Atty. Richard’s assertion but not deny the underlying alleged slander against Mohabeer?

Why, when Nestor finally allowed Jenner to speak, did it fall to Selectman Amy Jenner to come to the defense of Mohabeer in professing that she had never witnessed Mohabeer to be anything but an example of those two vile accusations reportedly leveled at him?

As anyone who has ever served on jury duty knows, you are cautioned to assess the credibility of witnesses in events and if there is a pattern of behavior.

Just last week, at a Freedom of Information hearing in Hartford, I presented other’s written testimony that Selectman Nestor was silenced in an Executive session when, out of context and relevance to anything that could be considered within the scope of an Executive session, she stated that she felt that my own writings had an undertone of antisemitism.

Ms. Nestor may not have been aware, but the Freedom of Information Commission does not bind Executive Sessions to secrecy and even if such a restriction existed, would not reasonably be expected to apply to irrelevant discussion and comments.

After first hearing of Selectman Nestor’s comments about me, I emailed her asking that she provide proof that would backup her assertion. Unlike the above flat out denial without explanation, not only did she fail to reply, providing proof or examples to support her statement, but she did not deny that the event occurred.

Earlier this year, Selectman Nestor provided a statement in writing to the Ct Bar Grievance Council in support of Town Attorney Bloom asserting that I was an impostor, posing as an official of the Town of Weston.

Fearing that I was now a victim of slander and libel, I asked Ms. Nestor in writing that she provide proof that would support such a claim and to date she failed to provide any proof of what I can assure is a wholly baseless assertion.

I have offered Selectman Nestor ample opportunity to respond to me but her silence offers only defiance instead of defense.

Unlike my offer to Nestor, I can’t help but recall how the entire former Board of Ethics wrongly prejudged Selectman Amy Jenner without even informing her of their investigation or offering her the opportunity to defend herself. Worse, I am again reminded by a recent social media posting by former Ethics Board member Ruth Israely who unapologetically admits that she accused Mohabeer of antisemitism.

The Weston community should not be allowed to be stained by a few bad actors.

While these events might not technically fall under the limited purview of the Weston Board of Ethics, not containing financial gain, they most certainly are a concerning matter of ethical behavior of our Town representatives.

To that end, I ask that the entire BOS immediately open a thorough and transparent investigation into this matter to reveal who is victim and expose who is the victimizer, weaponizing baseless accusations.

Words do matter.

While lawn signs around town proclaim that Hate Has No Home Here, regardless of whether said behind closed doors or whispered among collaborators, it should be made clear, and in no uncertain terms, that neither does hate speech.

02/06/2023

𝗨𝗻𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝘂𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀

After an informal petition to the BOS resulted in the cancellation of a public hearing, first suggested by Town Attorney Bloom to fully address the Ethics Board debacle, former Weston Ethics Board member Israely nevertheless had her say in her resignation letter (linked below pp 30-32.)

During the BOS discussion, the letter was met with criticism by Selectman Mohabeer as he generally questioned anything that would become part of the public record without first fact checking.

Reading on or between the lines, apparently there is something about the letter that raised his concern that the letter might not pass muster.

Making light of Mr. Mohabeer’s concerns, Selectman Nestor might suppose that truth and facts are of no matter as she reminds us that other past resignees had written similarly, or “worse.”

Ms. Nestor, please check my math but two wrongs just make two wrongs.

As with much of her self-serving resignation letter, Ms. Israely likes to have it both ways. No hearing, but a one sided, uncontested protest, accepted by First Selectman Nestor without comment.

Going beyond factual deficiencies, if you can read to the end of the letter, I am shocked that Ms. Israely accuses Norfield Church members of somehow being in a position to receive preferential treatment as compared to herself.

Every Weston resident should be disappointed that not one Selectman challenged this divisive absurdity.

Such an accusation as Ms Israely’s is without merit and deserves an apology from Ms. Israely to every member of Norfield Church.

29/05/2023

𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗖𝗿𝗮𝗳𝘁

First there was Mark Harper’s judge and jury condemnation of Selectman Jenner and now Weston Today’s “reporting” on cancellation of the pickleboard court locations.

If an actual newspaper, Weston Today’s Ted Craft could be accused of unnecessarily killing trees for paper for useless printing.
Anyone completely informed of the issues and aware of the machinations of Weston Today’s misinforming stagecraft should be able to see the ventriloquist operating the dummy.

If you were ever present when a certain Selectman dictated headlines to Weston Today’s Ted Craft, a curious public would love to hear from you. Town Hall walls are thin, secrets poorly kept and whistleblowers welcome.

After Selectman Jenner proposed that the BOS resume in person meetings, Selectman Nestor was quick to claim that she too had just been thinking about the same thing a la great minds think alike.
Well OK if Ms Nestor says so, but I can’t really see the equal sign in that equation. What I can clearly see is Weston Today’s failure to call BS on Ms. Nestor’s mental plagiarism.

Regrettably, with no real newspaper in Weston, we forever fall prey to Weston Today's distortion.

Playing the role of innocent victim and apparently without access to a mirror, Ms. Nestor laments that there is problematic behavior at BOS meetings that will be addressed with in person meetings.

If Weston was given a dollar for every time Selectman Nestor haughtily stamped her feet, spoke over the other two Selectman, or kept them unaware of material pertinent to ex*****on of their elected duties, those monies could easily help fund a pickleboard court or two.

It is exhausting trying to stay informed, as the public is continually duped not even with yellow journalism but rag or useless journalism while the ventriloquist stuffs words into the dummy’s mouth.

24/05/2023

𝗗𝗧𝗖 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝗪𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗻

In the letter copied below, DTC Chairman Gayle Weinstein threatens a Weston senior citizen (name redacted by me) with filing a police report for posting information readily available in a Google search or even the voter registration roles.

The threat of filing such a frivolous complaint is clearly abusive and can cause great emotional and psychological harm especially to a senior. Emotional and psychological harm are considered among the many forms of elder abuse.

Gayle, we expect better of you and you owe this senior and the entire Weston senior community an apology.

22/05/2023

𝗧𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗕𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘆

Mistaking their role as great "activists", a group of Weston petitioners posted an embarrassing “Victory” in the obstruction of a scheduled Ethics Board hearing, which was never legally required by Town Charter, and momentary reprieve for the two remaining holdout Democrats who, while short of chaining themselves to the Town Hall doors in protest, refused to vacate their positions on the now failed Ethics Board.

As to the petitioners and their own failings, let us count the ways:

More interloper than "activist", 27% of the signators presented by DTC member Kerry Sheffield were not even Weston residents. Were this an actual and legitimate vote tabulation instead of mere sheep bleating, “activist” would not be the legal term for ineligible signators who could have faced legal action instead of a congratulatory attaboy from their buddies.

The author of the “Victory” post, hosted by Ms. Sheffield, seems to have an adversarial relationship with the truth.

Claiming it was a “bipartisan” movement, with the petition now in hand, it can be verified that there was not one Republican signator or any party other than Democrat. I don’t think the "Victory" author understands the meaning of the word “bipartisan.”

Instead, populated by Democrats, and many members of the DTC, the organizer of the petition may be suffering the same lack of research and investigative abilities that led the Ethics Board to its downfall.

Attempting to camouflage Ms. Israely and DTC member Grigerick, those holdouts complicit in the Ethics Board’s failure, among the majority of capable and civic minded Weston volunteers, the petitioners assert “Our Weston community proudly thrives because of our volunteers and civic engagement” while overlooking the fact that, volunteers or not, we all are first and foremost bound by laws and regulations.

If it was only Chairman Weiss to fault, it makes no sense that everyone is so keen to administer “retraining” to the other longstanding, formerly thought as capable, Board members who penned and approved the violation of their own regulations, the CT Freedom of Information laws, and Amy Jenner’s rights.

There is no “Victory” as it stands and the shame that the Ethics Board members brought on themselves and Weston remains.

It is long past due to put the Town before political party.

Finally, while the petitioners seek to reinvent Selectman Nestor’s role beyond blatant obstruction and whitewashing, the genesis of this entire matter and her involvement is yet to be fully revealed.

20/05/2023

𝗤𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻

A particularly low point of the May 18, 2023 Board of Selectmen meeting was the discussion of the now discredited petition (copied below) sponsored by Kerry Sheffield, a member of the Democratic Town Committee.

OK if it were for something noble, but a petition, laced with inaccuracies and “dog whistles,” aiming to override Weston’s Founding Fathers Charter, calls to mind angry tiki torch bearers mobbing lock step in Charlottesville.

Just as in the case of the ignoble torch mob, hiding within the pack, a full 25% of the original touted signatures were ineligible petitioners and not local Weston residents, but what might be described as carpetbaggers, their signatures trotted in from Wilton and Westport.

A vigilant Selectman Mohabeer questioned the authenticity and eligibility of the signatures.

Selectman Nestor, who made no secret of her support of the petition’s goals, utterly embarrassed herself, insisting the signatures had been verified by… you guessed it, the member of the DTC who sponsored the petition.

Selectman Jenner did the basic math to reveal the extent of the deception being foisted on a BOS that the petitioners took for incompetent rubes.

That assumption might not have been completely inaccurate, as Selectmen Jenner and Mohabeer performed their due diligence while Selectman Nestor, appearing willfully blind, relied on the DTC mischief maker’s say so.

This is yet another moment when Selectman Nestor is schooled on what competent leadership and trustworthy governance looks like.

The question remaining in this deception is whether Selectman Nestor was simply caught unaware or was she just plain old caught.

18/05/2023

𝗥𝘂𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗟𝗮𝘄

A petition being circulated seeks to undermine the authority of the BOS and the Town Charter. I will link the petition below if you feel inclined to join in this challenge to the rule of law.

In an attempt to enlist others in avoiding a scheduled hearing on the Ethics Board and full disclosure, DTC Chair Gayle Weinstein urges all Weston volunteers to endorse the lowest possible expectations when it comes to performance and accountability.

She asserts this is for the good of the community and volunteerism.

I wonder who among Weston’s many talented and conscientious volunteers think so little of themselves or their abilities, or is willing to blindly follow, will sign onto Gayle’s misdirection.

Should they really be expected to diligently serve alongside volunteers who, even years after their appointment, would prove themselves not up to the task?

Reading Gayle’s plea for petition signatures, on one hand, she mistakenly insists on the appointed Board member's right to a public hearing while at the same time asking that such a scheduled hearing be canceled.

It is noteworthy that 4 of the 5 culpable Ethics Board members were vetted by the DTC. After being appointed by the DTC, one member declared himself Unaffiliated, thereby gaming the Charter mandated restriction of only a bare majority of one party on a board, now allowing for a super majority of Democrats.

Ironically, Gayle’s accusation of politicizing may be best revealed in a mirror.

Averting the Charter intended diversity, those 4 Ethics Board members responsible for the very “serious violations” outlined by Town Attorney Bloom were vetted by the DTC and in clear view of none other than the DTC Chair and petition endorser Ms. Weinstein, who herself might now be looking for an off ramp.

Regardless of the belated damage control PR stunt in setting up the fall guy, Chairman Weiss did not act alone. It was a unanimous decision attended by the entire seasoned Ethics Board.

A dubious honor, Ms. Weinstein now applauds Selectman Nestor’s “leadership” in the race to the bottom as we witness Ms. Nestor’s incessant attempts to defer action providing cover for one or two remaining members who choose not to resign.

Based on falsities, Ms. Weinstein’s efforts to waylay the already delayed hearing will, in effect, serve to minimize the Board’s violations of the law and the impact on Selectman Jenner.

Just as Attorney Bloom advised Selectman Nestor, in the very beginning, that she was not required to place a union employment issue on the BOS agenda, now, no matter how often Ms. Weinstein repeats her misreading of the Town Charter, there is in fact no requirement for a hearing to dismiss an appointed volunteer.
This impending hearing was merely a nicety concocted by Atty. Bloom.

There are those who might suggest that Ms. Weinstein’s illogical hearing or no hearing plea, as the head of the DTC, further politicizes this issue, while she creates an indebtedness among those holdouts seeking redemption, even if it means ignoring the Town Charter.

In her creating that atmosphere of indebtedness, as long as any Ethics Board member remains on the Board who participated in illegal meetings, violated the regs. of the Ethics Board and violated Amy Jenner’s rights, characterized by Town Attorney Bloom as serious violations and not mere procedural errors, there is no legitimate Ethics Board in Weston.