Date: Fri 05-Dec-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

Rosenthal-swearing-in-politics

Full Text:

Rosenthal Administration Takes Office

BY STEVE BIGHAM

Democrats and Republicans alike converged on Newtown High School Sunday

afternoon to celebrate the start of a new town administration.

They came to see Herb Rosenthal take the oath of office as Newtown's 113th

first selectman. Many also came to be sworn in themselves. In total, 36 town

officials were sworn into office.

Mr Rosenthal, a Democrat, was sworn in by Judge William Lavery, a close

friend. The new first selectman took the oath for the first time at 51.

Twenty-two years earlier, his father, Jack, was sworn in for the first time at

age 56. Both men placed their hands on the same red Bible, which was given to

the town several years ago by Mae Schmidle.

Also sworn in were selectmen Joe Bojnowski and Bill Brimmer, who make up the

three-member Board of Selectmen. This year marks the first time since 1959

that an entirely new board has taken office.

Mr Rosenthal congratulated all of the elected officials and urged that party

lines by eased so that everyone could work for the good of the community. (See

text of Mr Rosenthal's speech.)

"From July until November 4 we were Democrats and Republicans working hard to

get elected," he said. "Now, we are all on the same side as public servants."

Mr Rosenthal said he admired the volunteers' willingness to serve and looked

forward to working with them to achieve the common goal of serving the people

of Newtown to the best of their ability.

"My door and my mind will be open to your ideas and suggestions for ways to

improve our local government," he said.

The theme of the Rosenthal/Bojnowski campaign was "preserving the character of

Newtown." On Sunday, the new first selectman reiterated five goals he hopes to

address in the first months of his administration: the elimination of

eyesores, future uses for Fairfield Hills, the town's rapid residential

development, the condition of Town Hall South and a review of public works.

Mr Rosenthal, a 13-year member of the Board of Education, is expected to

continue his close relationship with the Newtown school system.

"One last objective is to break down the division that has always existed in

Newtown between the municipal and education branches of government," he said.

"Rather than being divided, we all need to endeavor in concert to provide the

most cost effective and efficient use of tax dollars."

The Swearing-In

Prior to Mr Rosenthal's swearing in, Probate Judge Margot Hall gave the oath

to reelected town clerk Cindy Curtis Simon. Mrs Curtis Simon, in turn, swore

in the other elected officials.

Sworn into office on the Legislative Council were members Peggy Baiad, Karen

Blawie, Joe Borst, Tim Holian, John Kortze, Edward Lucas, Melissa Pilchard,

Pierre Rochman, Will Rodgers, Lisa Schwartz, Donald Studley and Brian White.

Taking the oath for the Board of Education were Amy Dent, Elaine McClure and

Margaret Hull. Zoning Commission members sworn in were James Boylan, Stephen

Koch, Heidi Winslow, Daniel Fogliano and Michael Osborne, as were alternates

Robert Taylor and Herbert Hoover. Alan Clavette and Sally O'Neil were sworn in

as members of the Zoning Board of Appeals, as were alternates Timothy Cronin,

Pat Rosado and Michael Daubert. Re-elected members of the Board of Managers

sworn in were Marie Sturdevant and Edgar Beers. Also sworn in were Police

Commission members Carol Mattegat and Robert Connor, Jr, of the Police

Commission.

The ceremony was also a chance for residents to get their first glimpse of the

newly completed addition at the high school. The inauguration took place in

the new 150-seat lecture hall and a reception followed in the cafeteria.

The event was put on jointly by the Republican and Democratic town committees.

Among those in attendance was Republican Russ Melita, who was defeated in the

November 4 municipal election. Outgoing first selectman Bob Cascella did not

attend the ceremonies.

Democratic Town Committee chairman Earl J. Smith was the master of ceremonies.