Former Ansonia Official Hails Outgoing Zoning Secretary

Although some say that change sometimes just for change is good, that is not always the case, especially when the wagon was not broken. Just recently the City of Ansonia voted to make an appointment that painted over a landscape that has been a constant for decades.

For 40 years Jo-Lynn Flaherty has been the secretary of the City of Ansonia Planning and Zoning Commission. Throughout that time the commission and its members, like many land-use commissions in communities throughout the country, work very hard, long hours, handling worthwhile projects, many of which are good for the community. While there may be some that are not, Ansonia’s commission was always prepared, in large part, because of the dedication of Mrs. Flaherty.

While it is true that the work of the Planning and Zoning Commission is done by its members, many of whom, over the years, have done yeoman’s work to protect the fabric of the City of Ansonia. But it was after having worked her daily job in the Finance Department at City Hall, that she would go home and perform the many tasks one must perform as a secretary for a land-use commission to insure that timely notices of meetings were sent to the newspaper or that the members received their minutes and the deluge of documents that one must review as a member of a planning and zoning commission. Additionally, she did this with a pleasant disposition to all she came into contact with on a daily basis, never letting politics get in the way.

I had the pleasure of working closely with Jo-Lynn, as she is known to all, for fourteen years. Throughout that time, while many demands were placed upon her, whether in her regular job or with one of the many commissions that she was secretary for, never did I hear the word ​“no” uttered. The rare exception was when she was in the midst of processing the city’s payroll for its dedicated employees. That came first but she would help as soon as that was done. She was a great ambassador for the city, sometimes being the first contact for some people having to go before a land-use commission.

Jo-Lynn was a constant whom members of the Planning and Zoning Commission, as well as the community, could rely on when there was a change in an administration. Members came and went, be it by choice or what not, Jo-Lynn was the fabric of the commission and she was able to provide the members with knowledge of what not only was happening at the moment, but was also able to provide the knowledge as well of prior actions taken on a particular property years ago. It was not just the members that she shared her knowledge with but to all former Mayors, regardless of their political affiliation.

However, that fabric was changed by the current administration in office with a selection of a new Planning and Zoning Commission secretary. Please be advised that this is not an attack on the incoming secretary as I also have had the pleasure of working with her for many years. I understand change is a constant but not typically at the ​“secretary” position of a municipal commission, especially when in these times it is very difficult to find people to do serve in these positions. Many times Jo-Lynn would volunteer to take on another commission or fill-in at the last minute for a meeting when a secretary was unavailable.

So why the change at this time when the Planning and Zoning Commission composition has completely changed and with a new chairman is at the helm? For many years the Planning and Zoning Commission was chaired by a very competent, opinionated individual who happens to be married to Jo-Lynn. It is important to note that his actions were always about making his beloved City of Ansonia a better place to live and work.

I can understand, having been involved in the political arena for many years, that a new administration may wish to change the composition of one of its commissions in order to proceed with their vision for the future by not reappointing an individual who, in their eyes, may not share their vision. But by not reappointing a very qualified secretary who has lived in and deeply cares for Ansonia for the sake of change or for political reasons, I cannot understand but I will leave that for your readers to decide. All that I ask of Jo-Lynn is that she does not change. As Billy Joel so eloquently stated in his 1977 hit, ​“We Love You Just The Way You Are.”

Kevin M. Blake

The writer is an Ansonia resident and formerly served as the city’s corporation counsel.

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