The limbo-state of elongated litigation in the case of Lt. Gary F. Honulik and Capt. Michael Pacewicz "cripples" the Greenwich Police Department these days, First Selectman Jim Lash told the Republican Town Committee (RTC) last Wednesday in Town Hall.
Lash, the Town's police commissioner as well as the top Republican, also told the RTC his request for an expedited hearing on its appeal to overturn Superior Court Judge Michael Shay's ruling on the case probably will lead to the Town's appeal being heard before the Connecticut Supreme Court in January.
By asking for an expedited hearing and having that request granted in recent days, Lash stated that it "probably cut a couple of years out of the litigation process."
"As you know, everyone who is part of the litigation is dissatisfied," Lash said. "The guy who was demoted (by Judge Shay's ruling) is appealing. The guy who wants a higher rank is not entirely happy."
Shay's ruling that Honulik be promoted to captain and Pacewicz be demoted to lieutenant "led to the Town following advice of its attorney, John Wayne Fox, by asking the courts for an expedited hearing."
Lash's update on the blistering case was part of his routine report to the RTC.
Lash will be out of office by January - replaced by either Republican Peter Tesei or Democrat Frank Farricker in the November election. So the hot potato in the expedited hearing will be in the election winner's court.
Reporting on other matters, Lash also told the RTC:
* The new Town Administrator John Crary started work Sept. 24. "I think he will do very well for you."
* Selectman Peter Crumbine continues to ably carry the ball in the Town's crusade to keep the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) from re-routing jets over Greenwich and surrounding Fairfield County Towns. "Peter has been very busy along with other Selectmen in Fairfield County Towns." The Attorney General (Democrat Richard Blumenthal, a Greenwich resident) is busy on this. New Jersey is joining the effort.
The meeting last Wednesday also was a minor pep rally to get out the vote in November. At stake: a fifth term for Crumbine and a first term for Tesei.
"We are not taking victory for granted," cautioned RTC Chairman John Raben. "We must work very hard to elect the exceptional slate of candidates.
"In particular, our Republican candidates for first selectman, Peter Tesei, and selectman, Peter Crumbine, are each highly qualified and exceptional individuals."
The Greenwich Citizen
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