Letter: First selectman needs to handle situations better

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To the editor,

Beacon Falls First Selectman Chris Bielik needs an attitude adjustment. During the May Board of Selectmen meeting, Bielik was presented with a few issues from the public which he did not handle the way a leader should have, let alone what someone would expect from a retired Navy commander. During public comment, a resident of the town brought a concern to the Board of Selectmen that had gone left unaddressed previously. Bielik did not seem to want to hear it, so he just kept rolling his eyes and looking at his watch the whole time until that individual’s time was up, rather than acknowledging the public, which he is in office to serve.

Public comment is one method to get people’s concerns heard by the Board of Selectmen. Any person giving a public comment has three minutes to do so. Public comment is not interactive, meaning someone can’t ask the Board of Selectmen questions, however someone can suggest to the Board of Selectmen to make it into a talking point at the meeting which they will vote on.

Bielik chooses to answer questions some residents have. But when someone is speaking about a topic he does not want to address, and that person asks a question to the board, Bielik will inform them, as quick as he can, that public comment is not interactive. In my observation, most concerns in public comments never get addressed by Bielik, they just go in one ear and out the other.

Bielik also lacks the ability to follow up on issues to make sure resolutions are being carried out. Bielik will tell a resident that he will address their matter with whatever department he needs to, and at the next month’s meeting, the person is back stating their problem has not been addressed. First Selectman Bielik needs to remember he is in office to serve the residents of the town of Beacon Falls and needs to be more sincere and committed about doing so.

Shawn Styfco

Beacon Falls

The writer is a member of the Beacon Falls Republican Town Committee.

1 COMMENT

  1. Mr Bielik is so impressed with himself it leaves little room for him to consider that you may have something of interest to say. The Democratic Party supports this behavior and continues to endorse him. What we have seen during his reign is: arrogance, condescending speech, and a total lack of respect for the good people of Beacon Falls. The time has come for competent leadership to fill this position.