Republican Town Councilor Kevin McCann hit back at a fellow councilor concerning McCann's opposition to adding a new emergency management director to the town's staff.
Democratic councilor Keith Yagaloff said that opposition to the $15,000-a-year, part-time position was due to "politics" and not based on whether the town actually needed the position.
Yagaloff said that the measure would wind up not passing because the Democrats and Mayor Tom Delnicki - a Republican who has broken with the party on several issues - wanted the new position.
It was a statement by which McCann would not abide.
"I'm sick and tired of being accused of engaging in politics every time I vote against someone who disagrees with me," McCann said.
Though the Republicans enjoy a 6-3 majority on the council, the measure passed 5-3, with Delnicki and fellow Republican Jan Snyder joining the three Democrats on the council.
"Shame on you," Snyder said quietly while pointing in Yagaloff's direction after the measure passed in a response that Republicans would put politics over the safety of the town.
Town Councilor Cary Prague was not at the meeting and a motion to table the resolution so that Prague could vote on the matter at a later meeting failed in a 4-4 vote.
The emergency management director position would be a $15-an-hour position that would help coordinate town resources in the event of a major emergency in town such as an extended loss of power or tornado, Town Manager Matthew Galligan said.
Galligan endorsed the position along with Chief of Police Matthew Reed and Fire Chief Kevin Cooney.
Councilor Dr. Saud Anwar said that the position was necessary to protect the lives of South Windsor residents.
But McCann said that he didn't believe a new position was warranted based on the excellent work already done by town staff.
Watch the video for the rest of McCann's statement.
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