By Fred Camillo
In Greenwich, we are blessed to have so many residents willing to step up and serve on boards, committees, commissions, and task forces. Since taking office in December 2019, Lauren Rabin and I have had the privilege of interviewing and appointing hundreds of dedicated individuals to these positions, ensuring our town has a deep bench of experienced and engaged volunteers.
Recently, the Selectmen’s Nomination Advisory Committee (SNAC) provided us with a letter regarding appointments to the Conservation Commission, which the First Selectman is solely responsible for filling. The commission shared a list of members up for renomination, as well as those who were not seeking another term. Among them was a long-serving, valued member who, based on the information we received, was not planning to continue.
With an opening that needed to be filled, Dr. Michael Goldstein reached out to Lauren Rabin, who directed him to me. After speaking with him, I was impressed by his legal and medical background, as well as his deep interest in environmental issues, particularly groundwater contamination—an area he studied in law school.
Shortly after, someone seeking to sow division leaked this process to a local blog, which highlighted a violation on Dr. Goldstein’s property—an issue he is actively working to resolve. This led to a wave of emails and public comments. Some were constructive, but unfortunately, many were not. Too often, we see this type of unnecessary divisiveness, the kind of political rancor that does nothing to strengthen our community.
In the midst of this, I received an email from a dedicated volunteer in town who questioned why there was an opening at all. I was told that the member originally listed as stepping down was actually willing to continue serving. I immediately reached out and confirmed this to be true. We had been working off the email provided to us in January, and I was happy to correct the situation. That member will now continue serving, which is a great outcome for the commission and our town.
That said, I want to address those who sought to turn this process into something it was not. Anyone who has volunteered in Greenwich knows that stepping up to serve is not about politics—it’s about community. Dr. Goldstein has a long record of service, including his work on the RTM, and he has consistently sought ways to contribute. Attempting to discredit a fellow resident who is willing to serve is not how we do things here.
For anyone who thinks that bullying or threats will work in the future, understand this: it hasn’t worked before, and it won’t work now.
Greenwich is a town built on service and civic engagement. Many of us who have volunteered for years remember a time when discourse was respectful, when differences of opinion didn’t lead to personal attacks. That is the Greenwich I know, and the one I believe the overwhelming majority of our residents still value.
To those who continue to serve with dignity, putting the good of the town ahead of personal or political motives—thank you. Your contributions are what make Greenwich strong. As Teddy Roosevelt once said, it is the person in the arena who truly matters. I encourage those who spend their time criticizing from the sidelines to step up, get involved, and be part of the solution.
