Who Do Your Pomfret Selectmen Work For?

Who do your selectmen work for?

Are they representing the people of Pomfret?

Based on what we witnessed last night, we disagree. Have a listen:

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/c2e43e_f8f6c5b3f04f46f5be826a32e4106cf8/1080p/mp4/file.mp4

At the meeting, Selectman Martha Emilio attempted to make five motions. One of those motions was simple, reasonable, and rooted in transparency: to include audio and/or video recordings as part of the official meeting minutes for our boards and commissions.

The response from the other two selectmen was disappointing. Rather than engaging in discussion, they dismissed the idea, stating that written meeting minutes are already posted online in a timely manner.

Let’s be clear about something.

Written minutes are summaries. They are often brief and do not capture the full discussion, tone, context, or nuance of what is said during a meeting. They do not reflect every comment, question, or concern raised. Anyone who has ever read meeting minutes knows they are rarely comprehensive.

Audio and video recordings provide accountability. They allow residents to hear discussions for themselves. They eliminate confusion, misinterpretation, and selective summarizing. In short, they strengthen trust.

Even more concerning is the funding issue.

Our town allocated over $3,000 in ARPA grant funds for virtual meeting capabilities. Yet during the meeting, the First Selectman stated that none of our boards or commissions host virtual meetings. You can hear both her and Selectman McCarthy claim that virtual access was “just during COVID.”

That explanation does not add up.

ARPA funds were distributed well after the shutdowns. These funds were allocated specifically to support virtual capabilities. If we allocated thousands of dollars for this purpose, why are we now being told we cannot or do not host virtual meetings?

Where did those funds go?

If they were spent, what were they spent on? If they were not used for their intended purpose, why not?

These are reasonable questions.

This is not about politics. It is about participation.

Not everyone can attend a meeting in person. Residents have jobs. They have children. They commute. They care about what happens in town government but cannot always rearrange their lives to sit in a meeting room on a weeknight.

Virtual options increase engagement. Our PTO offers Zoom. EASTCONN offers an excellent virtual option. Surrounding towns provide Zoom access. Why can’t Pomfret?

We are in 2026.

Technology is not new. Virtual access is not controversial. It is standard practice.

Most importantly, it is something residents have expressed they want.

So why was the motion ignored?

Why was there no meaningful discussion?

Why resist a tool that enhances transparency, increases participation, and builds public trust?

These are questions the residents of Pomfret deserve answers to.

And ultimately, it brings us back to the original question:

Who do your selectmen work for?

Part of the ARPA spending slideshow from 01/24/22

Another presentation showing a huge sum of money allocated towards virtual meetings

The 2 Selectmen, now seemingly against virtual meetings and who refused to engage in a civil discussion when a motion was made last night, were both on the ARPA Advisory Committee. Why did they allocate funds to something they never intended to utilize?

Another piece of supporting evidence that there were ARPA funds allocated to virtual meetings on 12/31/2024 by these two Selectmen and their fellow committee members