Greenwich Post
Greenwich volunteers honored for years of service
Jun 20, 2007

Victor Coudert accepts a handshake from James Lash as Penny Monahan prepares to hand him his certificate for his volunteerism. %u2014 Ken Borsuk photo

Municipal officials and members of the town’s boards and commissions gathered to honor their own last week as they celebrated the years of service of those leaving their volunteer positions.

The celebration was put together by the Selectmen’s Nominations Advisory Committee (SNAC), which interviews and evaluates prospective candidates for all town boards and commissions and makes recommendations to the Board of Selectmen.

Lin Lavery, chairman of SNAC, said the goal of the annual event was simple, to recognize “volunteers in town who have given so much incredible time.”

“It’s an exciting time because not only are we honoring the service of these great volunteers, but this is giving us the opportunity to bring on new people,” Ms. Lavery said. “The chairs have really identified the skills needed for the new people needed on boards and commissions and now we have to go out and search and find them.
It’s always wonderful to see the enormous volunteer power that’s in this town.”

First Selectman James Lash spoke at the event and recalled how once he was in the position of leaving the library board and how relieved he was to have extra time back on his hands before he was asked to run for the Board of Estimate and Taxation, setting in motion a run through town politics that culminated with the top spot.

“Be careful what people ask you to volunteer your time for,” Mr. Lash warned the crowd with a smile. “You might end up being first selectman.”

Mr. Lash thanked everyone for giving their time, saying Greenwich “depended on their service.”

This year included the retirement of Victor Coudert, who was stepping down after 42 years on the town’s Board of Ethics, including 35 as chairman. His service was noted at the ceremony and it was pointed out he was one of the board’s original members as Mr. Lash read a special proclamation in his honor.

While Mr. Coudert said it was good to see so many people come out for the ceremony and thank him for his service, adding he wasn’t having any second thoughts about leaving the board. Mr. Coudert said since leaving he had given his time to help out at local nursing homes and also at both Greenwich and Stamford hospitals.

During the ceremony, Mr. Lash joked that Mr. Coudert’s years of service proved he “didn’t know when to quit” and Mr. Coudert played along by returning to Mr. Lash the certificate used by those on official town business to keep from paying the parking meters.

Mr. Lash laughed and said it should have been the one signed by former First Selectman Lowell Weicker, who went on to become senator and governor, who first nominated Mr. Coudert more than four decades ago.

“This is a real honor and I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it,” Mr. Coudert said.

In all, 23 volunteers were honored for their service, including Dr. Forbes Delaney, who is leaving the town’s Board of Health after 16 years; Michael Aurelia, who is leaving the Shellfish Commission after 15 years; Arline Lomazzo, who had stepped down as chairman of the Selectmen’s Pedestrian Safety Committee; and Vincent DiMarco, the longtime chairman of the Selectmen’s Transportation Committee.

All those honored were thanked individually and presented with memento photos of Town Hall.

Ironically, Ms. Lavery was among those leaving their positions. She is stepping aside as SNAC’s chairman in order to concentrate on seeking the Greenwich Democratic Town Committee’s nomination for selectman and then running in the general election in the fall.

Ms. Lavery will likely not be the only member leaving a board or commission and seeking to give time elsewhere. There is no restriction for any of the people to keep them from seeking a nomination or appointment to any other town board or commission.