US. POSTAGE PAID GLASTONBURY CITIZEN, INC. P.O. BOX 373, GLASTONBURY, CT, 06033 POSTAL CUSTOMER PRESORTED STANDARD LOCAL RIVEREAST ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ NewsServing Amston, Andover, Cobalt, Colchester, EastBulletin Hampton, Hebron, Marlborough, Middle Haddam and Portland Volume 45, Number 10 Published by The Glastonbury Citizen February 19, 2021 Harassment Suit to Cost Andover $200K by Sloan Brewster The town of Andover has agreed to pay CIRMA. Alexandria Voccio of Howd & Ludorf, $200,000 to former Tax Collector Donna Doyk- LLC represented the town in the suit. er to settle a lawsuit she filed against the town Documents available through the state ju- due to alleged sexual harassment by now-for- dicial website include the 11-page complaint mer town employee Jay Linddy. Doyker filed against the town. According to the Doyker filed the suit in June 2018, claiming complaint, Linddy, who was the town’s animal that sexual harassment by Linddy, also a now- control officer, transfer station attendant and former member of the boards of education and served on the boards of selectmen and educa- selectmen, had gone unchecked in Town Hall tion and the Recreation Commission, had sexu- for multiple years. ally harassed employees in the workplace. The alleged harassment appeared to reach its The complaint also alleged that one or more zenith in a July 2017 incident in which Linddy female employees had resigned from their town brought an explicitly-adorned apron to his of- jobs due to the harassment. fice in Town Hall and wore it in front of his co- In the suit, Doyker alleged that she suffered workers. from exacerbated medical conditions due to the At a special meeting last Wednesday, the harassment, including uncontrolled high blood Board of Selectmen – after discussing the mat- pressure that resulted in branch retinal vein oc- ter in executive session – unanimously agreed clusions or blockages in small veins in the reti- to the settlement. na, causing her to undergo ongoing eye surgery. Doyker could not be reached for comment In the suit, Doyker describes the events that this week. led to Linddy’s termination – the July 2017 inci- First Selectman Jeff Maguire said the town dent involving the apron. Town records released attorney had reached the settlement with Doyk- to the Rivereast after an order by the Freedom of er and that the $200,000 would be covered by Information Commission in 2018 describe the the Connecticut Interlocal Risk Management same incident – and also detail claims by Town Agency [CIRMA], the town’s insurance carrier. Hall employees that Linddy would frequently “It will have an impact on Andover even- use vulgarities while at work, often under his tually in our premiums but we’re hoping that breath, give obscene gestures, and engage in be- it’s minimal – but it will come down the road,” haviors that made them uncomfortable. Maguire said. “For the record, it’s an exorbitant In a subsequent 12-page answer to the com- amount.” plaint, the town agreed to some of the allega- Freezin’ for a Reason… Colchester residents (from left) Greg Cordova, Rob In a phone call Wednesday, Town Attorney tions and denied others. Suchecki and Fred Brown camped out on the town green last weekend to raise Dennis O’Brien said the town does not yet have For example, in the complaint Doyker al- funds for the Colchester Fuel Bank. Despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, they a copy of the settlement agreement and that he leged that when a couple came to pay their decided to hold “Freezin’ for a Reason” for the 12th consecutive year, to benefit believes it has yet to be approved by the court. taxes, they joked with Linddy about the apron, those who are less fortunate. See story on page 15. O’Brien said he did not represent the town in which they bought for him in Mexico. A few the suit as a lawyer was provided to the town by See Harassment Suit, page 27 90-Unit Apartment Complex Coming to Marlborough? by Karla Santos Could a 90-unit apartment complex be com- Other Updates search of a new superintendent. Commission and noted that the group is refin- ing to Marlborough? During the meeting, Hughes also provided Superintendent of Schools David Sklarz will ing its work and planning to host a public hear- During a Tuesday meeting of various town of- updates on other town projects, which may im- be retiring at the end of this fiscal year. ing in March. She said that during that meet- ficials, Town Planner Peter Hughes announced pact traffic. Hughes spoke on behalf of the Planning ing the commission will also explain the ballot Marlborough had received an application for a He said the South Main Street paving and Commission, and said its members are develop- questions it is planning to include on the ballot three-building complex, consisting of approxi- rehab project will start again sometime in ing an affordability plan, which has to be ad- at referendum. mately 90 apartments. March – depending if the snow is gone. While opted by June 2022. That plan will look at ways First Selectman Greg Lowrey spoke about The complex, proposed by Marlborough- the pavement is being worked on, there will be to diversify housing options. the reappointment process and said that board based developer Bill G. Jonbalaj, would be some alternating traffic but, Hughes said, the He also spoke on behalf of the Conservation chairs should contact town hall when an expir- constructed on South Main Street, in the area street should not be closed at any point. Commission, which he said is planning a shred- ing term is coming up. between Doug’s Barber & Styling Shop and a A sidewalk project in the center of town is ding event. “It’s important for us to keep boards and com- house on Johnson Road, Hughes said. He said half way completed, according to Hughes. He Mike Schadtle represented the Fire Commis- missions fully staffed,” he said, and thanked the approximately 11-acre parcel eyed for the said because the sidewalks are so close to the sion and said its members are working on put- those who take the time to be involved in the project wraps around Johnson Road. edge of the road, at some point while they are ting a new command vehicle into service. town as members of boards and commissions. The project, Hughes told the Rivereast, will being constructed – perhaps in April or May Barbara Lazzari, a member of the Parks and The meeting started with presentations from consist of three buildings, each with about 30 – there will be one lane of alternating traffic Recreation Commission, reported the commis- Sustainable CT and AHM Youth and Family units, plus three additional separate units. through a portion of the work zone. sion has been impacted by the pandemic be- Services. The town Zoning Commission will hold a The meeting also highlighted updates from cause the commission hasn’t been able to run as The town of Marlborough is involved with public hearing on the application Thursday, various town boards and commissions. many programs as it used to. She said last year both organizations and the presentations high- March 4, at 7 p.m. Deb Bourbeau, a member of the Board of the commission worked on a project to put up lighted their work, missions, services and proj- The application is currently being reviewed Finance, said currently the board is mainly fo- 42 kayak racks and will add six more before the ect updates. by the zoning and conservation commissions. cused on budget season. spring. In addition, she said that Ray Bull, rec- To learn more about Sustainable CT, vis- Hughes said not much can be done on the proj- Ruth Kelly represented the Board of Educa- reation director, has been running virtual pro- it sustainablect.org and for information about ect until the snow melts, as town officials still tion, and said the board is currently working on grams to keep residents engaged. AHM, visit ahmyouth.org. need to go on a site-walk of the property. two main things – the school budget and the Julie Revaz spoke about the Charter Revision I PORTLAND EAST HAMPTON Grand List Rises Less Than 1% .............. Page 6 N Author Finds Beauty in Everything ........Page 17 PORTLAND ANDOVER D Schools Form Equity Coalition ............... Page 7 School Board Adopts Budget ..................Page 23 E HEBRON REGIONAL X Parks & Rec Director Retires .................Page 10 Obituaries ....................................... Pages 24-25 Page 2 NEWS BULLETIN • February 19, 2021 From the Editor’s Desk Observations & Ruminations By Mike Thompson I received a letter to the editor this week way they bent over backwards for him the last that contained a line wherein the writer sug- four years, it just didn’t seem realistic that gested another letter writer, with whom he they’d turn on him, no matter what evidence disagrees politically, was a member of the Ku they saw, and no matter how angry they were Klux Klan. on the Senate floor the night of Jan. 6, after You won’t see that line in this week – in order was finally restored. fact, you won’t see lines similar to that ever Still, seven Republicans did come over to again. the other side and vote ‘guilty.’ As a result you Frankly, I’ve had it with the personal at- had 57 votes to convict – the most bipartisan tacks, the childish name-calling. I’ve been tol- majority to vote in favor of an impeachment erant for years, as I truly do believe the “read- conviction in U.S. history. ers’ forum” is your forum as readers, and you And, fun fact: those 57 senators represent should be allowed to have your say.