The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
2 former town officials, 1 incumbent to join board
CROMWELL — Changes is coming to the Board of Fire Commissioners following the election Monday of what is believed to be its first female member.
Former first selectman Mertie L. Terry was easily elected to the nine-member board along with her friend and former town councilor Allan Spotts. Incumbent commissioner Robert Donahue was reelected in two-hour voting held in the atrium of Town Hall.
Fellow commissioner Charles R. Epstein failed in his bid to remain a member of the board. Epstein was stoic in defeat.
Donohue garnered 145 votes to Terry’s 115, Spotts’ 94 and Epstein;’s 88. Donohue, Spotts and Terry were sworn in following the vote, and the new board then elected commission officers for three-year terms.
LeRoy Brow was elected president, overcoming a challenge from Johnathan Hamlin by a vote of 5 to 2. Brow succeeds Craig Murphy.
Roger Rukowicz was elected vice president, outpolling David Colligan 4 to 3 to succeed Hamlin. Jason Hinners was unanimously elected secretary, a position previously held by Epstein. Colligan defeated Donohue by a 4 to 3 vote to take the treasurer’s position, which had previously been held by Julius C. Neto.
Neto declined to run for re-election.
Donohue was then elected assistant treasurer, the position that had been held by Colligan.
As the voting ended, Terry said, “I’d like to thank you all,” and said she and Spotts “realize there will be a learning curve for the town of us.”
“Get ready to go to a lot of meetings. Lots of meetings,” Colligan interjected.
Immediately following her election, Terry said, “I’m very grateful to all the people who came out and voted for me.” She then vowed “to do the best job I can for the people of the district and for the town.”
Terry began the evening by saying she hoped her presence on the board would help make residents more aware of “the valuable asset” that is the men and women of the Cromwell Fire Department. Too few people know of the dedication and commitment of those who are members of the fire service, she said.