Opinion ID: 2050258
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: refusal to disqualify

Text: The asserted basis for this charge is a claim by an applicant before the commission that the plaintiff was antagonistic toward him. The applicant attempted to disqualify three members of the commission on the same ground. The plaintiff, feeling that there was no substance to the claim, refused to disqualify herself. While it is true that neutrality and impartiality of members of administrative boards and commissions are essential to the fair and proper operation of these authorities; Lake Garda Improvement Assn. v. Town Plan & Zoning Commission, 151 Conn. 476, 480, 199 A.2d 162 (1964); a charge of bias must be supported by some evidence proving probability of bias before an official can be faulted for continuing to execute her duties. Local wetlands commissions are charged, under General Statutes § 22a-28, with the responsibility of preserving the wetlands against despoliation and destruction. The discharge of this responsibility may require the commission members to reject an otherwise acceptable application because the project is likely to have an adverse impact on the environment. In these circumstances disappointed applicants may misconstrue such rejections as being motivated by personal animosity. There might also be cases where applicants would desire to have their projects approved even at the expense of the environment. If we accept the board's contention, in either situation the applicant could bring about the disqualification of members of the commission by the simple device of claiming hostility, for when so challenged a commission member would either have to disqualify self or face removal for failure to do so. The public policy of this state to preserve and protect wetlands would suffer by having applications affecting the wetlands judged only by those who in the name of progress would be willing to approve applications whatever the adverse environmental impact. The claim of hostility without more is not a sufficient basis for disqualification. In the absence of a showing that the commission member could not hear a given application fairly and impartially, her refusal to recuse herself cannot be a ground for her removal. The board's further contention that the plaintiff compounded her error by putting the question to other members of the commission including the alternates is also without merit. The charter makes no provision regarding the determination of disqualification. Although the town attorney advised the plaintiff that the decision to disqualify rested with her alone, the plaintiff cannot be faulted for seeking the views of other members of the commission on the question. The fact that a majority felt that she should not do so could be considered by her in making her ultimate decision. Since the question put to the other members was purely advisory, permitting both members and alternates to vote on it was of no consequence.