Bumgardner recalls high points while on Town Council

— State Rep. Aundré Bumgardner, D-Groton, has resigned from the Groton Town Council due to his new role as a state legislator.

“I loved every minute of serving on the Groton Town Council, and we accomplished so much on the local level,“Bumgardner said in a statement. ”I want to thank the community for placing their continued trust in me. I will continue to dedicate my time and energy in serving Groton and Stonington to the best of my abilities.“

He listed his work on the town’s plastics reduction ordinance, holding Branford Manor in default of its tax stabilization agreement, opposing a proposed data center and the Mystic Oral School plan, and making investments in parks among his proudest accomplishments while on the Town Council.

He also listed the council’s acquisition of the Wolfebrooke property in Mystic for open space, creating a plan for the former Noank School property, the enactment of a Complete Streets policy, implementing bilingual ballots and serving as chair of the Personnel and Appointments Committee as things he is proud of.

Bumgardner served his first term as state representative for the 41st House district from 2015 to 2017 and was elected this past November to his second term representing the district. Bumgardner joined the Town Council in 2018 to fill a vacancy and then was elected in 2019 and reelected in 2021 to the Council.

By town charter the Groton Town Council will appoint someone to serve the remainder of his term. The charter states that the person will be of the same political party. Bumgardner is a Democrat.

Town Manager John Burt said the councilors will nominate people as a replacement and then vote on each person in order of nomination. The first person to receive at least five votes will be the new town councilor.

Bumgardner resigned Feb. 15 so the council has until April 1 to fill the vacancy, or the decision will revert to the Representative Town Meeting, Burt said.