DeRoehn seeks seat on Board of Selectmen

MORRIS — Republicans and Democrats chose their slate of candidates in late July for November’s elections, and now an independent candidate has announced plans to run for the Board of Selectmen.

Kevin DeRoehn announced his plans in a statement issued Thursday.

“After being encouraged by several residents, I am happy to announce that I will be seeking the position of Selectman as an unaffiliated candidate,” DeRoehn wrote.

“The general consensus I have received from the people I have spoken with is that residents do not feel they are being heard,” he said in the statement. “The most common issue that I have been hearing is people are not comfortable speaking their minds due to the thought of retaliation. I have been told that fear and intimidation seems to be the working pattern currently in place. I feel that the time is far overdue to return the Board of Selectmen to an actual Board of Selectmen. There is an obvious appearance that most meetings of this board are predetermined if not scripted as to the outcome.”

In his statement, DeRoehn took issue with a recent comment from Republican First Selectman Tom Weik, who said he and Selectman Erica DorsettMatthews spoke daily, and that DorsettMatthews was “always willing to do what needs to be done.”

“The majority mentality on this board needs to be eliminated,” DeRoehn wrote, referring to Weik and DorsettMatthews.

“I just want to make sure people realize I have no personal vendetta against anyone,” DeRoehn said Thursday. “It’s like this, when you have a threeperson board and you go to a board of selectmen’s meeting, and everything’s been hashed out and there’s no discussion at the table with all three members, I feel that’s not fair to people in town. They deserve better ... It’s not new, but it’s gotten pretty blatant.”

DeRoehn ran against Weik for first selectman in 2017. His campaign at that time was similar to this one, calling for more unity, cooperation and communication between the board and residents.

Democrat Selectman Vincent Aiello, who is running for another term on the board, ran with DeRoehn two years ago. “I firmly stand behind Vinny. I think he does an excellent job for the town,” he said.

DeRoehn is the former president of the nowdefunct Morris Volunteer Fire Department, which disbanded after a long dispute involving finances between the town and the department and its ambulance service, which was contracted during the day by VinTech, an emergency service company. A new volunteer Morris Fire Department was started in 2018, and recently celebrated its first anniversary.

As a former firefighter, DeRoehn said he supports those residents who formed a new fire department last year.

“I support these people. They’re stepping up ... they’re giving their time and doing what needs to be done,” he said. “It is what it is, and hopefully everyone has moved on.”

Morris Republicans endorsed Weik and DorsettMatthews to run for another term during their July caucus. Members also endorsed David Fenn for the Board of Finance; Hunter Weik for an alternate seat on the Board of Finance; Beverly Huntley for the Library board of directors; Robert McIntosh Jr. for the Planning and Zoning Commission; Eric F. Cook for the Board of Assessment Appeals; Giles Giovinazzi for the Zoning Board of Appeals; and Edward Dorsett for an alternate seat on the Zoning Board of Appeals.

Democrats also named their candidates on July 23, including Kevin Curley for first selectman; Vincent Aiello for selectman; Kristine Thoma and Vincent Aiello for the finance board; and George Barone for alternate Board of Finance; Bridget Garrity for Board of Assessment Appeals; Maureen Fitzpatrick, Beverly Huntley as library trustees; David Wiig, Kevin Curley, Barbara Bongiolatti for Planning and Zoning; and Eileen Narbutas for alternate; JoAnn Battistoni for the Zoning Board of Appeals; and Hailey Cuttitta for alternate.