By Liz Leamy
Last Thursday, the Town of Greenwich Board of Selectmen held the first of its bi-monthly meetings for September at Greenwich Town Hall in which various issues and goings on about-town were addressed.
This in-person meeting, also held via Zoom, was lead by First Selectman Fred Camillo, Selectman Lauren Rabin and Select Person Janet Stone McGuigan and attended by more than a dozen people.
In customary fashion, the meeting opened up with everyone saying the Pledge of Allegiance.
Right afterward, there was a moment of silence held for Erf Porter, a longtime town resident who recently passed and had contributed a great deal to the community throughout his lifetime.
Subsequently, First Selectman Camillo, Selectman Rabin and Select Person Stone McGuigan addressed and provided updates and news on the following matters:
-First Selectman Camillo and Selectman Rabin recently toured the Eastern Greenwich Civic Center, the popular and spacious town recreational meeting site based on Harding Road that is currently in the state of being renovated.
According to Camillo, its renovation is slated to be completed by late spring/early summer of 2024.
“It’s a beautiful building and we’re proud to [be looking forward] to getting over this goal line in the coming months,” said Camillo.
-There were two events held this past Monday, September 11th to honor the memory of the victims of 9/11.
A remembrance ceremony and service was held at the September 11th Memorial at Cos Cob Park in which more than 200 people gathered to honor all of those who were lost that started at 846am.
On six occasions, a cannon was shot and a bell rung to signify the times when the planes crashed in New York, Pennsylvania and Washington D.C. and once for each time a Twin Tower collapsed.
Retired Army General Frank Kelly, who is the brother of Joe Kelly, the Greenwich Public Schools Board of Education Chair, was the featured speaker.
The names of the 32 individuals lost on that day who had connections with Greenwich was read aloud. As each name was read, a bell was rung.
Music, singing and prayers filled the ceremony, followed by a procession of the Honor Guard from the Greenwich Police Department, the Greenwich Fire Department and the Greenwich Emergency Medical Service.
Elected officials and family members lead the public to the site, where there was a laying of flowers and the American Flag at the memorial’s base.
A prayer was then said in honor of those who were lost that was followed by a presentation of colors and the playing of ‘Taps.’
On Monday evening, there was a service held at the Glenville Fire Company in which members of the community gathered together at the Glenville Volunteer Fire Company’s 9/11 Memorial to honor and remember those individuals lost on September 11th 2001.
There, the names of the Greenwich fallen were read and bells were rung and then a laying of a wreath was placed by Susan Wohlforth of Greenwich, a widow of Martin ‘Buff’ Wohlforth.
-The Cos Cob Library recently held an open house that was a big success with the focus point being the library’s continued growth, enrichment and effect upon all individuals in the community.
-The recent Greenwich newcomer’s event held at Greenwich Point last week was another terrific success, as this dynamic group is said to be further increasing in size.
“This group is getting bigger and bigger and it’s such a good thing to see,” said Camillo.
-Greenwich Communities recently hosted a ceremony dedicating a new Community Room at Armstrong Court to the late Winston A. Robinson, the former longtime town resident who passed last February who was a community, civil rights and church leader and a former President of the NAACP in Greenwich.
“It’s a beautiful space and we’re looking forward to many years of events there,” said Camillo, who attended the ceremony.
-Pomerance/Tuchman Park, the popular walking and hiking site located on Orchard Street with more than 100 acres of wooded trails and waterways (that had been donated to the Town of Greenwich back in 2002) is up for discussion in regard to having bike paths added to its repertoire of outdoor offerings.
“We’re coming up with a plan there and we think we have a great idea to get bikers to enjoy the open space and woods there,” said Camillo.
-There were also some recent discussions First Selectman Camillo has had with property owners on Greenwich Avenue in regard to the parking situation there.
“It’s an ongoing endeavor, but we’re making some progress,” said Camillo.
Other topics that were addressed at this meeting included upcoming celebrations, renovations, events, a possible bridge reconstruction, parking changes (by Grigg Street) and anniversaries of town-related organizations and individuals, among other things.
The next Board of Selectmen meeting is scheduled for Thursday, September 28th at Town Hall.
