Rules for Thee, Not for Me? A Serious Look at Leadership in Pomfret
- Pomfret Republican
- 5 hours ago
- 3 min read
Transparency, Process, and Public Trust in Pomfret
Public service is not about control. It is about accountability.
Over the past several months, I have found myself asking some very basic but very important questions about how our town operates. Questions that should not be controversial. Questions that should not be political. Questions that simply go to the heart of transparent government.
FOIA Requests: Who Gets to Know?
Does the Board of Selectmen have a formal process for sharing FOIA requests with the entire board?
How can we ensure we are being thorough in providing all responsive records if some members of the board are not even informed that the request exists?
Recently, a letter that was clearly part of an ongoing communication request was not included in the records provided. This was not a new issue. It had been repeatedly requested. Yet it was withheld.
That raises serious concerns.
Transparency is not selective. Records do not become optional simply because they are inconvenient.
EXTREMELY CLEAR FOIA REQUEST DATED JANUARY 9, 2026, NOT SHARED WITH SELECTMAN MARTHA EMILIO WHEN RECEIVED:
LETTER FROM DEEP DATED DECEMBER 2, 2025, BUT NOT PROVIDED WITH RECORDS REQUEST FROM JANUARY 9TH AND NOT SHARED WITH SELECTMAN MARTHA EMILIO:
What’s especially concerning is the claim that problems are only brought forward once a solution has been identified. That approach overlooks a fundamental question: how did we end up here in the first place?
Earlier last year, there were requests to obtain a legal opinion, to confirm that the town was protected from liability, and to clarify the proper permitting process. These were reasonable, proactive steps that could have prevented the situation we now face. Instead, they appear to have been dismissed or delayed.
Leadership requires transparency and accountability, particularly when concerns are raised early on. When the same leadership that contributed to the issue also controls when and how it is discussed — and chooses to delay that discussion until a preferred solution is ready — it understandably erodes public trust.
Open dialogue about problems, especially before they escalate, is not a weakness. It is the foundation of responsible governance.
Process Matters — Before, Not After
We've seen a pattern that should concern every taxpayer:
A permit was requested after construction had already begun
Public statements made on WINY that misstated details about a recent accident in the forest and attempted to shift responsibility to different land
A letter withheld from both the Board of Selectmen AND from a FOIA request that specifically asked for it
Government does not get to operate on a “solution first, disclosure later” model.
When leadership says they “prefer” to communicate once there is a solution, that raises a bigger question:
Are other problems being kept private until they are conveniently resolved?
What else are residents unaware of right now?
If this project had been presented to the appropriate commissions and boards from the beginning — openly, transparently, and in compliance with required procedures — we would not be here.
Are we now suggesting residents can begin construction and apply for permits later if they have a good reason?
Easements, Liability, and Accountability
When an easement appears to be violated, the answer is not simply to “swap out” additional acreage elsewhere.
Who evaluated that?
Who approved that?
What liability protections are in place for the town?
Was a proper environmental and legal review completed before action was taken?
When board members raise these concerns, it is not obstruction. It is oversight.
Oversight is not political. It is responsible.