Bristol Cemetery Volunteers Irked By Mayor's Decision

BRISTOL ? Volunteers who help maintain historic cemeteries in the city are irate that Mayor Art Ward is replacing their leader.

Ward's refusal to let Ellen Zoppo remain as cemetery commission chairwoman appears to be political retaliation, according to commission members who also say it's unjustified.

"I don't think it's right, especially since she's doing a good job," board member Mike Saman said Sunday. "We've done a lot in the last four years. The cemeteries look good, we've been working very frugally. Why not let bygones be bygones?"

Member Deanne Levesque is going a step further by asking the city council's Republican majority to turn down any new nominees put foward by Ward, a Democrat.

"She's doing an excellent job. Losing Ellen would be a big mistake," said Levesque. "I believe all of us feel the same way."

Ward appointed the commission four years ago and all five of the original members still serve. He recently wrote to Zoppo saying that he won't reappoint her when her term ends this month "in order to afford others the opportunity to serve."

But in his five years as mayor, Ward has frequently reappointed long-serving incumbents to boards, including several who'd served on the police commission during years when the department was battered by scandals and mismanagement. By comparison, Zoppo has led the cemetery commission to receiving a national award and built public interest in the history of the city's graveyards, commission members said.

Zoppo has declined to say anything publicly about the matter. She and Ward have been political enemies for years, and clashed when they served together on the council before 2007. That year the rift worsened when they competed in a punishing primary for the Democratic mayoral nomination, which Ward won.

Since then, Ward's supporters and Zoppo's allies have fought behind the scenes for control of the Democratic Town Committee, and her backers came out ahead in the most recent round of voting.

Source: http://hartfordcourant.feedsportal.com/c/34278/f/623724/s/1d578e92/l/0L0Scourant0N0Cnews0Cconnecticut0Chc0Ebristol0Ecemetery0E0A3120E20E20A120A3110H0A0H29283130Bstory0Dtrack0Frss/story01.htm

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