From the (Former) First Selectman's Desk

Hails and Farewells.

Well, it's official. I've surrendered the keys to the kingdom, packed up the secret files and fled the Town Hall. Quite a few trips were needed after twelve years in the Selectman's seat. Years of fun, tight budgets, success, failure, and a couple of crazy ideas (remember the bat?). A once-in-a-lifetime gift from the voters that lasted twelve consecutive years. Years I'll never forget, and for every day of it I say thank you.

I met with First Selectman Martin Klein a number of times in my last two weeks in office. Marty is a quick study and a pleasure to confer with, something many of you know. I am optimistic he may achieve his goals as First Selectman, and wish him the very best of luck. The First Selectman's office is yours now, Marty. If questions arise regarding any file, you may find me at home in Killingworth or at my Madison office you so kindly visited. The door to your new office wasn't closed very often during the last four years; the frame is out of line and it sticks a little bit; but you've got the best job in town. I know you'll make the most of it.

The decision to leave public office - this office, anyway - was one of the hardest decisions I've ever made. The hours required, especially the evenings, place a considerable burden on your family life, and I've come to question whether someone engaged in raising young children can stay in this job for more than a few years. I've also come to learn that in order to raise three children in our lovely town, you need an income greater than the office pays. No one is to blame for that; it's a simple fact of small town budgeting. Raising a family and serving full time as Killingworth's CEO is a difficult task, one I had to subsidize more and more with hours spent at my Madison law office. Something had to go, and it certainly wasn't going to be my family's financial well being or the time spent together that my family deserves. I love you, Killingworth, but for now, I don't fit the job anymore. Perhaps, vice versa.

It's not in my nature to look back for long. I'll do so simply to thank a number of key people. Laura Jane, Mary Grace, Adam and Madelyn: I'm sorry for the time you missed, and I will do everything I can to make it up to you. Carol Gordon, who indulged my absences more than anyone should expect; Susan Adinolfo, for being the best damned Town Clerk anyone could hope for; Ruth Patrick, for forgiving me; Jim Ward: despite our difference, Jim, I want you to know how highly I think of the job you do; Cathy Perry: daily lemons made into such sweet lemonade; Gary Mala, for being the right person for the job at just the right time; Judy Brown, consistently excellent; our superb fire department. And, many, many others.

To the volunteers that keep our town running; the Boards and Commissions that make us what we are; my heartiest thanks. For those of you that may not know it, Killingworth's recent legal victory (our successful defense of a lawsuit against our Planning and Zoning Commission) appears to have been based largely upon the superb way our retiring P & Z Chairman, Charles Martens, conducted the public hearing. You can't - absolutely can't - know how valuable the services of our elected and appointed volunteers are until you see all that they do. If I will miss one thing most of all in leaving the First Selectman's office, it will be the opportunity to work with these fine people, day in and day out.

There is always a danger in conveying many thanks, a danger that by unintended omission you will slight someone's feelings. In this regard I regret naming some but not others. Singling out certain policies, too, carries its share of problems, but to spur us onward in our most important quest (open space), I will visit one of them briefly, to make clear (if nothing else) the path we've traveled.

In my fours years as First Selectman we negotiated three potential open space purchases. One (in 2002), bordering a State forest, was partially developed as a subdivision at the time, and the owner's desire to complete the development was in question. A purchasing partnership was pursued with the DEP, and a private investor (interested in preserving the land as open space) committed to providing additional purchase funds. Just as the pieces were falling into place, however, the purchase price of the property was raised. The owner subsequently chose to proceed with the development and that parcel is now going forward as the final phase of a large residential subdivision.

A second parcel, pursued for four years, has been the subject of no less than seven face-to-face negotiation sessions, several informal talks, a number of letters, countless phone calls, two title searches, numerous meetings with land use and title attorneys, contentious town meetings, and, has occupied more ink in the press than any ten of my pedantic and meandering columns. Presently, the Town has offered to purchase the land at a price that exceeds the appraised value by more than 50%. Still, the parties are millions of dollars apart. If you can make a breakthrough, Marty, God Bless You. We need that land; I hope you can find the money or negotiate a lower price.

The third parcel, with a purchase price of $2.8 million, was first pursued in early 2005. The Town conveyed its written interest in purchasing the land, with an initial proposal that was a few hundred thousand dollars below that price. In response, the seller indicated they are selling the land to a different land conservation group. For that reason, our offer has not been accepted. Should the sale to this other entity fail, I would expect the Town to move swiftly to complete this acquisition.

And so it ends. No pithy remarks, predictions or tears. I must also, however, thank the many people that took the time before and after the election to thank me for one thing or another. And no; no one thanked me for not running again (Laura Jane notwithstanding).

Public service is more than something you work at (which it is). Call it a calling, call it a blessing, a curse, what have you; it's something that gets inside you and never let's go. I know it hasn't let go of me, and that in the not too distant future, my name will appear on a ballot near you. Until that time I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I leave office knowing that each of you has given me more than I ever could have hoped for, and far, far more than I deserved. If I can assist you in any manner, my home is well known, I'm easily found in the phone book, and it would be my great pleasure to give back to you the kindness of spirit you have extended to Laura Jane and I for so many wonderful years.

Yes, Killingworth, please drive carefully during your busy, busy travels. Join with me in wishing Marty, Fred and Ed the very best of luck. This chapter of our Town's proud history and the office of the First Selectman is now closed. To each of you, though, my door, and my heart, is always open.

David Denvir