Trumbull RTC Asks Herbst Critic to Resign

Jack Testani, chairman of the Trumbull Republican Town Committee, wants Tony Silber to resign from the Planning and Zoning Commission because of his attendance record.

The request follows Silber's recent statement expressing concern that Deborah Herbst was elected Chairwoman of the Board of Education. She is the mother of First Selectman Tim Herbst but was on the school board before he was elected selectman in 2009.

“Mr. Silber has missed 31 meetings in five years on the Planning and Zoning Commission. This is a slap in the face to the Trumbull voters,” said Testani. “The Planning and Zoning Commission is one of the most important boards in the Town of Trumbull.  This board dictates our land use and long range planning which has an important impact on our tax base and our quality of life."

Silber declined to resign and called Testani "angry."

"So is Tim Herbst, who has a 'Svengali-like' hold on Testani. I said Tim Herbst’s position as first selectman, together with his mother as chairwoman of the school board, creates a conflict. I still believe that," Silber said.

"But that doesn’t mean I don’t honor the public service of Deborah Herbst, Tim Herbst, and Michael Herbst. I do, and I respect them all. I even honor the public service of Jack Testani. This is about Jack and Tim crudely trying to crush perceived opponents. But I’m not involved in community service to oppose Jack Testani or Tim Herbst," Silber added.

The svengali reference comes from Testani's statement that Silber "apparently does not have enough time to serve the citizens of Trumbull but he does have enough time to the Trumbull Democratic Party spokesman."

He accused Silber of having a "Svengali-like hold on the current membership of the Trumbull Democratic Party."

But, replied Silber, "I participate because I am determined to have a voice in the affairs of my town. Testani and Herbst could not be less relevant to that."

The full letters have also been published on Trumbull Patch.