Klein presides over final selectmen meeting

Written by Lynsey Santimays
Friday, 06 November 2009 10:14

25 minutes.

That was all the time it took for First Selectman Evonne Klein to conduct her final Board of Selectmen meeting Monday night. But in that time, Klein reflected on the past six years she has served as the town’s chief elected official.

With two familiar faces missing from the Board — Selectman Seth Morton was absent due to business conflicts, and already-former Selectman Linda Santarella looked on from the audience — Klein called the meeting to order for one last time.

It was the end of the first Democrat-controlled Board of Selectman in the town’s 189-year history.

The first agenda item was a brief discussion on adjusting police pensions to reflect current costs-of-living. Klein, town administrative officer Karl Kilduff, and Selectmen David Bayne and Callie Sullivan briefly bantered about possibly having the pension board report to the Board of Selectmen each year.

Moving on, the selectmen unanimously appointed their former fellow-selectman, Linda Santarella, to the Darien Police Commission.

After that historical appointment, Klein gave her 299th, and final, first selectman’s report. Klein began by reading resolutions that honored the two selectmen not returning to the Board, Linda Santarella and Seth Morton.

Speaking of Seth Morton, Klein said: “It was a pleasure to get to work with Seth up close and personal these past two years. He is talented, very smart and an extremely loyal individual.”

Klein then shared kind words about the only selectmen who has been there with her since 2003, Linda Santarella. “The Board of Selectmen and own employees hereby acknowledge and express their gratitude to Linda S. Santarella for all her years of dedicated service to the town and encourage and applaud her continued involvement in public service in the years to come,” Klein proclaimed.

And then it came time for Klein herself to offer her closing remarks as first selectman. “It has been an honor and a privilege to serve as your first selectman,” Klein said. “Thank you for all of your support during what I will remember as six incredible years.”

Klein went on to recall what she was most proud of this current Board of Selectmen achieving, including “taking on issues that others before us have not.”

The current Board of Selectmen and Klein were forced to face difficult issues from the get-go in 2007. The floods that wracked the Noroton Heights Shopping District in October 2007, the 8-30g affordable housing projects that threatened the character of the town in the summer of 2008, and the national economic downturn made this Board of Selectmen’s tenure anything but easy.

“As leaders and member of the elected boards, we have come together on many issues to work towards solutions for the economic crisis, storm water management, flood mitigation, and affordable housing,” Klein said. “This Board of Selectmen recognized the need to stand up and meet these challenges for our community to secure our future.”

Klein cited how the selectmen put politics aside and Darienites first over the past two years, a trend that she hopes will continue.

“This board has lived up to their commitment to make Darien the best that it can be by putting their experience and leadership skills to work to make a difference in the lives of our residents,” Klein said.

Klein also urged the future selectmen to continue the progress that the town has seen over the past six years.

After thanking the selectmen for their dedication and willingness to work together, Klein became teary for the first time all night.

“I could not have done this without the love and support of my family and friends,” Klein said.

Love and support for Klein was evident, as she received a standing ovation from the audience after her final report concluded.

Town administrative officer Karl Kilduff and his report were next on the agenda. “I am supposed to follow that?” he asked.

All jokes aside, Kilduff addressed all the selectmen, thanking them for their involvement and engagement over the past two years. “It has been nice to have a group that actually reads my reports,” Kilduff said.

“It has been a pleasure to work with all of you and I wish you the best,” he added.

Selectman Callie Sullivan, who will remain on the board, presented Klein with a gift from all of the selectmen, a soon-to-be autographed copy of “The Story of Darien” by Ken Reeves.

Selectman David Bayne, who also will remain on the board, spoke of his past two years as selectman, thank everyone for “challenging him and each other to rise beyond the parochial visions of Darien.”

“Nothing has been off the table for this Board of Selectmen, except for the status quo — and that is what I am most proud of,” Bayne said. “Most of the credit for this can-do attitude is because of the lady sitting next to me right here,” referencing Klein.

He then thanked Darienites for electing him to one of the most “fulfilling roles of his lifetime.”

Former selectman Barbara Thorne, who left the board two years ago, thanked Klein for her service to the town, stating: “We certainly hope to continue the momentum and the spirit of cooperation and consensus that you’ve developed and I want to thank you.”

John Davis, chairman of the Democratic Town Committee, also took the time to thank Klein. “In the past six years, Evonne, you have served the town so well. First selectman is something you will always have, no one will ever take it away from you.”

With those kind words, Klein brought her six years to a close as she adjourned her final selectmen meeting at 8:25 on Monday night.

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