2 Greenwich RTM members retire with 76 years of service between them
GREENWICH — Two stalwart members of the Representative Town Meeting participated in their final meeting Dec. 11 after decades of service in the town’s legislative body.
Robert May, longtime chair of District 12, retired after serving continuously for 40 years, as did Thomas Byrne of District 6, who is the longest serving moderator in RTM history with 26 years at the helm.
May and Byrne led the body in the Pledge of Allegiance at the start of the meeting, which was the final one of this year.
“It has been my privilege for 36 years to be a member of this body, where we can disagree passionately on issues of public policy, but do so respectfully,” Byrne said.
“I’m proud that, despite our disagreements, we affirm at the start of each meeting the one unbreakable bond that unites us together,” he said as he started reciting the pledge.
After the pledge, May and Byrne received surprise recognition of their service, including proclamations from the Connecticut General Assembly thanking them for their service, presented by Reps. Hector Arzeno and Stephen Meskers.
Alexis Voulgaris, the current moderator of the RTM, thanked Byrne for his leadership and mentorship as she succeeded him in 2022.
“He’s the longest serving moderator in the history of the RTM and he has never once missed a full meeting. It’s remarkable,” she said. “Tom has been the RTM’s greatest advocate, defender and cheerleader. Whenever the RTM’s authority to do something came under attack, or when someone attempted to float the idea that the RTM should be
made smaller, you could count on Tom to vigorously and loudly defend the RTM.”
Greenwich’s RTM has 230 members organized into 12 districts.
Byrne led the RTM through countless votes and town issues, including the COVID-19 pandemic.
Byrne did not seek a 14th term as moderator when his term expired in 2022, but stayed on through one more cycle as a “regular” member of the RTM. He was given a black jacket emblazoned with his name and the number six, as he was a member in District 6 and he was the sixth moderator in the RTM.
Barbara Hindman, vice chair of District 12 under May, said May has worked tirelessly for his constituents, so much so that it left his fellow district members with less work.
“As chair, Bob has been the model of how to lead effectively. He is always well prepared, having read, distributed and recorded the reports and votes of all the standing committees prior to our district meeting,” Hindman said. “Bob runs our district meetings efficiently, fairly and with respect for all members and guests. … In 18 years as vice chair under Bob, I have not had much to do.”
Selectwoman Lauren Rabin, who was the acting first selectman Dec. 11 in Fred Camillo’s absence, read a town proclamation that marked Dec. 11 as Robert May day in Greenwich.
Voulgaris also thanked all the outgoing members of the RTM — including committee and district chairs Michael Spilo, Kimberly Salib and Wilma Nacinovich — for their service.
Byrne and May were presented with gifts, but Voulgaris noted that her timing could have been better.
“I realized what I’m about to give you, you should probably get at the beginning of your term, not as you’re retiring, which is a good bottle of booze and some glasses to go with.”
Outgoing members had one final slog before they were released. The December meeting lasted about four hours and adjourned minutes before midnight.