Gun Control Petition Prompts Public Hearing in Middlefield

Middlefield voters will ultimately decide whether the town should terminate its membership with the Connecticut Conference of Muncipalities. 

The Board of Selectmen agreed on Monday night to hold a public hearing and town meeting in response to a petition filed by resident Peter Brown requesting that the town cut ties with CCM over the group's recent gun control proposals.

Brown presented selectmen with the petition, which included 115 signatures and objects to the use of taxpayer money for a political agenda, last month.

On Monday, First Selectman Jon Brayshaw said he'd received a letter from the lobbying group's executive director, Jim Finley, in response to Brown's initial request that the group explain the "genesis behind their 13 point plan" legislative initiatives released on Jan. 13  

But when presented with the letter, Brown said it failed to address his concerns.

"I didn't need a synopsis of the timeline of how they gathered it. I wanted some science or any kind of input on why they thought their proposal would do what they're claiming it would do," said Brown.

"I wanted to know what studies, if any, they used to back up what they're proposing," Brown added. "Nothing in their proposal...is going to address anything that happened that tragic day."

Brayshaw said he'd spoken personally to Finley who agreed to attend a public hearing. Brayshaw said the decision to continue the town's membership  should ultimately be left to voters to decide.

"We've had public hearings on many different diverse issues over the years. It's why we have a town meeting form of government, we trust the people," he said.

Middlefield's annual membership fee with CCM is $2,750, according to finance director Joe Geruch, who said the organization provides other services which include everything from seminars to drug and alcohol testing for the town's highway department for a total cost of approximately $4,000 annually.

Selectman Dave Burgess and resident Lucy Petrella, who serves as chairman of the town's board of finance, said the town should consider the benefits Middlefield receives from the organization before making a decision.

"While I don't agree with what [CCM] did, I don't agree with how they did it, I don't feel this is the way to get your point across," Petrella said. "If I were to put my efforts into something I would be up at the legislature."

Brayshaw said the date of the public hearing and town meeting would be scheduled at a later date.

Related articles:

Middlefield Residents Call Group's Gun Control Proposal 'Ludicrous'

Resident Leads Petition Effort to Terminate Town's Membership With CCM [VIDEO]