Somers First Selectman Censured; Q&A Session Set For Thursday

SOMERS, CT — As Somers Selectman Tim Potrikus prepares for a question and answer session prior to Thursday's Board of Selectmen (BOS) meeting, purportedly to clear up any misperceptions about four motions he put forth and had approved at a May meeting which creates a position of chief operating officer for the town, First Selectman Bud Knorr was censured for his recent actions at an emergency meeting of the Somers Republican Town Committee.

At issue is a series of votes executed by Potrikus and Knorr at a May 20 BOS meeting which created a position of chief operating officer, which was given to current chief financial officer Michael Marinaccio. The motions also reduced the role of first selectman to a part-time position, with an annual stipend of $24,000.

Selectman Tim Keeney was not present at the meeting, but reacted adversely to his fellow selectmen's decisions. "I think it's outrageous they wouldn't allow public comment on a fundamental change to local government, hiring a COO at $140,000 a year, a person who is not accountable to the voters," he said.

Keeney said an attempt at changing town government failed at referendum in the past, prompting Potrikus and Knorr to slip the motions by in his absence. Board of Finance member Bill Meier was also critical of the two selectmen's actions.

Potrikus responded to that accusation by telling Patch, "We’ve set up a Q&A session for the public prior to our BOS meeting next Thursday, June 3 beginning at 6. It’s my hope we can get the word out and understand the public’s perspective. Well meaning individuals can often arrive at a conclusion without validating the source of the information or the facts themselves. In this case, Mr. Keeney states a salary that has yet to be established; both he and Mr. Meier claim that the structure of government has been changed, yet neither Meier nor any other resident can point out to me what, precisely, was changed. The residents will still vote for a Board of Selectmen and an annual budget, a Board of Finance, Library Board, Town Clerk, and Board of Ed. None of the four motions limit powers of the First Selectman or Board of Selectmen as defined in the charter or in state statutes. At the end of the day, we voted on the creation of a job description and appointed a qualified professional for that role. If anyone stops to do the math, they’ll find that if salaries are set at the maximum provided for in the motions, the net cost to the town will be a savings of $20,000 per year. That’s what will be presented on Thursday, so I hope that residents will arrive with a mind open to listening to why I presented what I did. My commitment and my goal is to consider any new information I may glean from that meeting to our future BOS conversations."

Meanwhile, Keeney chaired an emergency meeting of the Republican Town Committee Tuesday night, attended by 18 members, at which the following censure resolution against Knirr passed unanimously.

Whereas, in 2020 First Selectman C.G. “Bud” Knorr with the support of the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Mike Marinaccio betrayed the trust of this Committee and the Town by giving himself a pay raise and a bonus without the knowledge or consent of the Board of Selectmen.

Whereas Bud Knorr has failed to meet the principals of good government by being consistently absent from Town Hall in times of concern and crises.

Whereas Bud Knorr has been absent from the prior fifteen SRTC meetings.

Whereas Bud Knorr with premeditated intent and a hidden agenda voted at a Selectmen’s meeting to diminish the job of First Selectman without any public notice or comment.

Whereas Bud Knorr, ignoring normal, usual hiring processes, created a new position of Chief Operating Officer (COO), without a job description but with a 3-year contract at an annual salary of $140,000 plus benefits and gave Mike Marinaccio the job without posting the job for consideration by perhaps more qualified candidates.

Whereas Bud Knorr agreed to the false claims of job complexity and continuity of government as the primary rationale for these actions.

Wherefore, we the members of the Somers Republican Town Committee formally censure First Selectman Bud Knorr for his deceitful and arrogant actions that bring disrespect to our Party and to the Town. Furthermore, we believe the people of Somers must be given the opportunity to vote by referendum on these changes to Town government and return to the principals of transparency, engagement and accountability.

This censure resolution was voted on and approved by the Somers Republican Town Committee (SRTC) on June 1, 2021.

To register for free Ellington and Somers news alerts and more, click here.