One Person Will Be Left Without A Spot In "Odd-Man-Out" Election

Some around town are calling it the "odd-man-out" election.

On Tuesday, Nov. 8, residents will go to the polls to find out that most of the decisions have been made for them by the Republican and Democratic town committees. Most of the people nominated for spots on the ballots during the and the nominating convention are running unopposed.

This includes First Selectman, which is the first time in recent history that this has happened.

The only contested race is for Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA), the board that is charged with granting exceptions to and variances from the town's zoning regulations. There are three seats and four people running.

The candidates are Sally Geisler, a Republican who would be a newcomer to the board; Thomas Kelty, a Republican who is currently a ZBA alternate; Joel Marcus, a Democrat, an incumbent; and Ned Moore, also a Democrat and an incumbent. Their profiles are below.

The  ZBA consists of five members and four alternate members. The current make-up of the board is as follows:

• Ronald Cozean, chair, Republican, term expires 11/1/2013
• Ronald Fiume, Republican, term expires 11/1/2011
• Joel Marcus, Democrat, term expires 11/1/2011
• Ned Moore, Democrat, term expires 11/1/2011
• Jeanne W. Stevens, Republican, term expires 11/1/2013

And the alternates are

• Bettina Braisted, Democrat, term expires 11/1//2013
• Thomas Kelty, Republican, term expires 11/1/2013
• David S. Kirsch, Republican, term expires 11/1/2011

Kirsch is not running. Scott Sherban, a Republican, will run unopposed to take that spot. If Kelty wins a spot on the Zoning Board of Appeals, Republican Town Committee Chairman Tom Banisch says someone will be appointed to that spot on the Zoning Board of Appeals.

Sally Geisler:

Education: I received my BA from  Manhattanville College, received my MA from Columbia University, Teachers College, and a Sixth Year Certificate in Developmental and Corrective Reading from CCSU. 

Employment: I taught for 24 years in both private and public schools in New York and Connecticut, and retired in 2005.   

Personal: Born and raised in New Britain, CT. I met my husband Tom, in New York.  We married and had two daughters.  While living in Manhattan, I served as a member of the committee for the Carl Schurz Park playground  and volunteered as a Sunday School teacher at Brick Church.  I  returned to teaching when my daughters were in first and third grades. We spent two summers in Madison before purchasing our house here and moved to Madison in 1992 as full-time residents.   Both girls attended Madison Public Schools.

Reason for running: I am running on the Republican ticket for the Zoning Board of Appeals. I think one of the most important Zoning issues is balancing the rights of individual property owners and at the same time maintaining the character of the town.  I chose to seek this position to ensure that Madison residents seeking variances from the zoning regulations are given a fair and just hearing.  I have no preconceived opinions that either everybody or nobody be granted variances.  Each case should be considered on its own merits.  

Tom Kelty:

Employment: Former Exec Vice Pres of GH Hospitality Inc, a hospitality (hotels/restaurants) asset management company. Currently semi-retired doing selective consulting.

Education:

• Boston College: BA – Economics 
• Pennsylvania State Univ.: MS Studies – Finance & Marketing
• So. CT State Univ.: MA Courses – Special Education
• Univ. of No. CO: MBA Courses in conjunction with U.S.A.F.

Background: Currently serve as an "Alternate". Am running for "Permanent" status.

• Married: 2 sons, 1 daughter
• 15 year Madison resident
• Madison RTC – 2009
• Madison Volunteer Middle School Basketball Coach
• Volunteer Reading Skills Coach – Academy School
• Volunteer Reader – Island Ave. & Brown Schools
• ’08 + Voter Poll Monitor
• Food Pantry
• No. NJ Community Soup Kitchens: Fund raising (organize and hold event) and service.
• Make-A-Wish Christmas Party, NJ – organize and hold event)
• Volunteer Juvenile Probation Officer- S. Dakota. Working with JD/felony charges
• 1st LT; 821st Combat Support Group, U.S.A.F.; Top Secret, Crypto, SIOP-ESI clearances

Reason For Running: I believe that any zoning "board", "regulatory commission", "statute" or "ruling" should have as its goal to maintain the value of property while providing the maximum ownership use and enjoyment of the same - without encroaching on the value and enjoyment of other property owners. Variance evaluations need to be well thought out and based a real "hardship" caused by the land itself and supported by facts. A generous amount of common sense should be applied to decisions, along with a real sense of courtesy and consideration for those who come before the Appeals Board. The Board, like all other offices of government, is there to serve the best interests of the people in the community; not the other way around. Truly serving on the board means making every effort to provide the most beneficial decision.

Joel Marcus

Employment: Optometrist and attorney, now retired. and attorney and been retired for a whole bunch of eyars
Education: optometry and law (long separation between degrees. )
Incumbent? (if yes, first elected when): yes, I think it’s 13 years, gone back so far no one can remember. Longest sitting member of the board.
Previous elected experience: same position in Clinton in 1970s
Civic experience (appointments, non-profits): the only one, a long time ago, marine patrol for eight years.
Why did you decide to run? Quote honestly hadn't planned on it, asked to do something for town by friend active in politics. When you’re asked, you don’t say no. I guess I did a decent job, got reelected. The biggest reason is this board historically has been very collegial group. The board is doing something good and necessary. We deal with things case by case, so there is a policy direction to what we do, but each case of that is individual. I just know I like dealing with one case rather than the whole neighborhood.
Top zoning-related issue facing the town and your ideas on how to approach it: My views haven’t change in last 30 years. Biggest single thing affecting our town, econmics, affects a lot of other problems. The problem is to do what we want to do, the tax rates get too high, we have too much of a residential base. We have no commercial development to any great extreme. Tax base is not big enough to improve the town. To me, the ecoomic base and somewhere along line basically the philosophy of our economics in town will have to change. That’s the heart of what I feel personally. This is as a pretty long time resident and one who feels the effect of the shortcomings because the town can’t afford it.

Is there anything else you'd like to add? I’ve enjoyed doing some good and that if the town wants me to I will continue to. I’ve been there long enough my record should talk for itself.

Edwin (Ned) Moore

Employment: State of CT, Department of Economic & Community Development

Education: BA, Political Science, Boston College, 1973;

MPA, University of New Haven, 1979

Incumbent? (if yes, first elected when) Yes. 2007

Previous elected experience: ZBA, 2007 - 2011 Civic experience (appointments, non-profits): Madison: Economic Development Commission, 7 years; Madison Democratic Town Committee, 9 years; Knights of Columbus, St. Margaret Church; Shoreline Choral; Clinton Choral. For additional information, please see attached resume.

Most Challenging issue confronting the ZBA today: The lack of awareness of the role of the ZBA and the requirements for obtaining a variance to the Zoning Ordinances. This is the age old question of sovereign rights vs. property rights. The ZBA may grant relief, in certain instances the Zoning Ordinances that were established by the Planning & Zoning Commission.

When a person acquires a piece of property, there is an assumption that they have the “right” to use and make certain improvements to the property. In many cases, this is a correct assumption and so long as those improvements are made within the permissible zoning ordinances, there is not a problem.

 A variance is required however when the property is not in compliance with the zoning ordinances or when that improvement encroaches on the setback requirements. The Zoning Board of Appeals may only accept and hear applications that can demonstrate that a legal hardship exists and prevents the applicant from enjoying the use of their property. I believe that this is a marketing/public relations issue and that the town should develop an awareness program to educate town residents and prospective purchasers of their rights and responsibilities as they pertain to land use policies and requests for relief from the town’s Zoning Regulations.

Editor's note: This article was changed at 10 a.m. on Nov. 4 to correct who is the current chairman.