Tesoro chosen for ZBA

SHARON — A new alternate for the Zoning Board of Appeals was voted in during the Board of Selectmen’s meeting  on April 13.

The two candidates, Michael Tesoro and Jenny Hansell, were asked by the selectmen for their views on making changes in the center of town. In the end, Tesoro was elected to the position by a 2-to-1 vote.

Both candidates expressed the need for affordable housing for young people and Sharon Hospital practitioners, who currently must look to neighboring towns for housing.

At the same time, they agreed it’s important to maintain the aesthetics of the town and not let it become like more developed towns such as Kent or New Milford.

Tesoro has been a Sharon resident for 35 years and was on the Zoning Board of Appeals in the 1970s. He is currently on the Energy Task Force and the Sharon Hospital Board of Trustees.

Selectman John Mathews said he nominated Tesoro for the position because of his knowledge of the area and extensive background in land use in the area during his previous experience on the Zoning Board.

Hansell was nominated by Selectman Meg Szalewicz, who said Hansell is young, offers diversification and deserves a chance to gain the experience Tesoro has. A mother of two elementary school-age children, she is executive director of the North East Community Center in Millerton.

Hansell said she believes she can bring a fresh outlook to the board.

A Sharon resident of 12 years, Hansell has been posting a new photo of the town every  -day at her own Web site, sharonctdailyphoto.blogspot.com. She said she is familiar with the town, having been down every road and seen all the vistas and views in her quest for new pictures.

After the meeting Hansell said, “This was my first chance at dipping into Sharon town government and it won’t be the last. It seems like everyone was open to finding me a spot to serve.â€

First Selectman Bob Loucks  noted that he is planning to meet with Sharon Hospital CEO Charles Therrien and discuss the drainage problem on King Hill Road, and that after that further action can be taken.

The successful bidder for the job of fixing the culvert on Mudgetown Road has been won by KJM Concrete Works. They were the only business to supply an estimate.

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