It's a weakness in this whole remote system ... You have to go through hoops to try to find it.”

Gerald Coutinho, Zoning Board of Appeals

WESTPORT — Remote meetings remain a work in progress, members of the Westport Zoning Board of Appeals discovered during their half hour April 1 session.

With three items on the agenda, the board went 0 for 3 at getting business done after all three applicants were no-shows at the board’s remote, call-in meeting.

The cases were all put off until the May 13 meeting.

They were, in order:

• Matthew Grosshandler for a matter (unspecified to the audience) involving 246 Howland Road.

• Mary Thorton’s request to install a ground-mounted solar array closer (11-plus feet) to the Fox Lane property line than the required 25 feet.

• Brook Meadow Estates’ petition for a one-year construction extension.

Two abutters did call in hoping to participate but Chairman Roger Menard said that would be unfair.

“I don’t want to hear from abutters without petitioners being present.

Board members had several theories for the absence of petitioners.

Gerald Coutinho called it “a weakness in this whole remote system.” Information about watching and participating is supposed to be on the town website, he said, but people, himself included, can’t find it.

He pointed to a recent Board of Selectmen meeting that the website said could be found live on cable access channel 190. But when he tried to tune in, there was a replay of an old town meeting.

“You have to go through hoops to try to find it.”

He and others also said they believed people, perhaps including the petitioners, had tried and failed to get through.

One board member said it was likely the meeting notice itself that resulted in the no-shows —he said the notice stated that no evidence would be taken and that the items would be put off to a future meeting.

Several board members said they have also been left out of the loop on new filings ever since Town Hall closed. It was agreed that they will receive emails notices of filings and may have to make arrangements to pick paperwork outside Town Hall (or maybe short items can be scanned and sent to them).

Brook Meadow annoyance

The three postponement votes were all unanimous. Before voting, Mr. Coutinho voiced exasperation about Brook Meadow Estates’ request.

“This project was approved many years ago,” but the developer keeps asking for extensions. 

They have done some clearing, Mr. Menard said, but that does not qualify as a start to construction.

Mr. Coutinho said he doesn’t have much enthusiasm for approving yet another 12 month extension, particularly after “multiple 12-month extensions,” without hearing compelling reasons from the developer.

The developer will have that opportunity on May 13, Mr. Menard said.