The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Police commander running for first selectman
HADDAM — Middletown Police Patrol Cmdr. Sean Moriarty may be saying farewell to the force. After three decades with the department, Moriarty, 51, of the Higganum section of town, is running for first selectman on the Democratic ballot against First Selectman Lizz Milardo, a Republican. If he wins the seat, he said he will retire from the department.
“I truly enjoy being a police officer,” Moriarty said. “I enjoy challenges and I think I’m ready for the next challenge of my life.”
Moriarty, who started working in the department in 1987, hit the 30-year mark Oct. 5. He manages more than 80 officers in various
units, including the SWAT and dive teams and Middletown Animal Control.
He started out as a patrolman and rose to sergeant and lieutenant and in 2011 was promoted to captain. Over the years, he has worked in the Middletown police youth bureau and traffic division and his experience also includes working on the department’s $13 million budget.
A veteran, Moriarty served in the Middle East during the Persian Gulf War in 1990. Prior to that, he was in the U.S. Army Reserves as a military policeman.
Moriarty, who said he loves getting out and talking to people, spent Saturday knocking on doors in town. As first selectman, Moriarty said he plans to be available 24/7, the same commitment he has given to the force.
“The government is here for the people, not the other way around,” he said.
Tanja Moriarty, 51, his wife and former selectman running for Board of Assessment Appeals, is rooting for her husband.
“I know Sean will be devoting at least 40 hours a week at the job of first selectman. Knowing him, he will respond to calls after hours as well,” she said. “He will be focused and dedicated to the town because he truly cares about all people, all walks of life.”
One thing Sean Moriarty said he plans to focus on is the budget.
“I would like a zero-based budget,” he said. “Everybody starts with zero and explains to me what you need.”
Sean Moriarty also said he has concerns about changes to the bidding process for town projects.
“I don’t think we’re quite within state statutes with that, they’re not as open as they could be,” he said. “It does not provide for an open government at all.”
First Selectman Milardo said the process was not changed. The Charter Revision Commission did recommend putting limits on dollar amounts for bids into a financial policy, but that was only because the charter has not been updated in 15 years, she said.
Competitive bidding is one of the ways for the town to spend money efficiently, she said.
Sean Moriarty also pointed to the the availability of contracts selectmen are expected to review and sign. Selectmen have told him they have been given such documents 10 minutes before meetings. So he said he would provide the paperwork in advance of meetings.
“Getting documents they need to review and sign that day, that’s unconscionable as far as I’m concerned, irresponsible, actually,” he said. “It’s not open, honest fair government, it’s just closed government.”
Milardo said she does not understand the accusation, as her assistant JoAnn Ricciardelli emails agendas and minutes at least one day before meetings. Reports that will be discussed during the meeting do not go out in advance, as Milardo will be reading them and they will become a part of the public record, the first selectman said.
Contracts are all reviewed by the town attorney in advance and the only thing Milardo needs is permission to sign them so those may or may not go out ahead of time, she said.
In addition, she said no one has ever complained to her or Ricciardelli about the process or that things were coming in too late.
“If there’s an issue, this is the first time I’m hearing about it,” she said.
Sean Moriarty said he would also like to share goods and services with other municipalities, an endeavor to which running mate Melissa Schlag, 26, said she is also looking forward to.
“There are 169 towns in Connecticut and each one is acting as its own island,” he said. “That’s a problem.”
Sean Moriarty said he is not talking about cutting staff. “I’d like to take a look at each department,” he said. He would also like to look at big-ticket items, such as sand and salt, to see if combining purchases could bring savings.
“It may or may not work, but let’s look at it at least,” he said.
More than 50 Haddam Democrats unanimously approved a slate of 22 candidates for the November ticket, according to a press release. In addition to Moriarty and Schlag, incumbent Sean Donlan, of Haddam, is running for a seat on the Board of Selectmen.
Schlag, who is a former first selectman and now chairs the Democratic Town Committee, said it is important to involve as many people as possible.
“I’m very proud of the folks who have run,” Schlag said. “It’s my opinion that we get especially young people involved because it’s their future that we’re deciding.”
Haddam Republicans running for seats Nov. 7 are: selectman, Sam Crum; tax collector, Kristin Battistoni; treasurer, Robin Munster; Board of Finance, Harlan Fredericksen; Board of Finance alternate, Dave Challenger; Board of Assessment Appeals, Lisa Lawrence and Craig Salonia; Planning & Zoning, Ed Wallor and Wayne LePard; Zoning Board of Appeals, Munster and Tom Berchulski; and Zoning Board of Appeals alternate, Bill Iselin.