Brookfield Officials Praise Lamont’s Veto Of Statewide Housing Bill Citing

BROOKFIELD, CT — Two Brookfield zoning officials running for town office are applauding Gov. Ned Lamont’s decision to veto a controversial housing bill they say would have undermined local control and strained municipal resources.

Karl Hinger, a candidate for First Selectman, and Alan Donnelly, a candidate for Selectman, issued a joint statement Tuesday thanking Lamont for rejecting HB5002, titled An Act Concerning Housing and the Needs of Homeless Persons. Both currently serve on the town’s Zoning Board of Appeals.

“This is what we can accomplish when we work together as a team, as one unified town,” Hinger said, calling the veto a win for local governance and community planning.

Earlier this month, 16 elected and appointed Brookfield officials signed a bipartisan letter urging the governor to reject the bill. The group argued the legislation would override local zoning authority, strain infrastructure, and place financial burdens on towns. Key objections included the mandatory conversion of commercial lots to housing, the removal of parking requirements for smaller buildings, and legal costs tied to housing-related lawsuits.

Donnelly credited the grassroots effort by residents and town officials for the outcome, calling it a “win for Brookfield and for every town in Connecticut that values responsible growth and self-governance.”

Hinger added that, if elected, he would continue advocating for local input in state policy decisions.