WINSTED — Contrary to opinions expressed by members of the Winchester Board of Education last month, former Planning and Zoning Commission Chairman George Closson says his decision to pursue a legal battle against the board is a matter of principle.

Closson said in an interview last week that it was the selectmen’s attorneys who pushed to have his case heard in federal court, where a judge determined the case should be sent back to the state. Closson has sued Republican members of the Board of Selectmen for removing him from his volunteer Planning and Zoning position in 2008.

"I’m not fighting this because I’m going to get paid or I have a big ego," Closson said. "You have to have legal cause to remove someone from a board. We have a federal judge who has ruled that in writing. Now it’s on the Board of Selectmen’s shoulders to prove there was legal cause."

Selectmen said last April that Closson was being removed for failing to update the town’s Plan of Conservation and Development. They also said Closson was "anti-development."

Last month, Republican selectmen issued a press release celebrating a decision by Judge Vanessa Bryan to dismiss Closson’s case in federal court. But Closson says the selectmen ignored parts of the ruling, which declared that the board needed to prove Closson was removed for legal cause and that the case should be decided in state court.

"The case is back where it should be," Closson said. "It never should have gone to federal court in our estimation. State Superior Court is where we felt the whole issue of legal cause should be decided."

Closson is represented by attorney Patsy Renzullo of Winsted. He said he is incurring significant legal fees but that the case is important for the future of boards and commissions in Winsted and other towns.

"If I don’t fight this, every time we have a new Board of Selectmen they can just decide to take everyone out," Closson said.

Speaking for the Republicans, Selectman David Cappabianca said last month that board members had just cause to remove Closson because they believed it was the right decision. "The issue is simple," he said. "Just cause means did the Board of Selectmen have a reason that they believed was sound. It does not matter that George Closson does not agree with it."

"Just cause simply means there is a sound or good reason to do something," said Selectman Michael Hamm. "Clearly, there was a good reason to remove Closson."

Closson said the issue is more complex and that he believes he will prevail in state court.

"It’s on their shoulders now to prove there was just cause," he said. "They have never brought up anything to substantiate what they’ve been talking about."

The Closson case has yet to appear on the docket at State Superior Court in Hartford, but Closson said he expects the process to be expedited since it has been through federal court.

"This case is far from over," he said.