Update: RTM Member John Toner Is Appointed To Greenwich Board of Selectmen

Updated: 1:45 p.m.:

In an emotional special meeting of the Greenwich Board of Selectmen, First Selectman Peter Tesei and Selectman Drew Marzullo unanimously agreed to appoint Republican John F. Toner to the three-member board.

The appointment of the 68-year-old Toner means a continuation of his long service to the town. Since 1998, he has served as a member of the Representative Town Meeting. He had been representing District 9 — the Pemberwick-Glenville area of town.

As Tesei and Marzullo explained the appointment process, Toner sat with Kerrin Coyle, the long-time partner of Republican Selectman Dave Theis who passed away Dec. 23. Toner will serve out the remaining five-and-a-half months of what was Theis’s third two-year term.

In making his nomination, Marzullo said, “Today’s appointment is the sheer result of unfortunate circumstance. The First Selectman and I have been charged to make a judgment on behalf of the Greenwich electorate — adecision that Peter and I never wanted or intended to ever have to make.”

Coyle dabbed tears from her eyes as Marzullo continued, “While there is no replacing Dave Theis as Selectman, Peter and I both endeavored to find a person who shares many of the qualities Dave embodied. It is my hope that the majority of interested people will agree that our decision today appointing John is a good one. “

Tesei said, “We must be diligent in our duties while suffering a major personal loss. … We are blessed community, one that has an abundance of people who live to volunteer and give of their time to this town.” Tesei acknowledged there were numerous people who expressed an interest in serving out Theis’s term that expires in December.

Following the vote, Tesei attached a small Greenwich Town flag pin to Toner’s lapel. Toner was sworn into office by Town Clerk Carmella Budkins.

Toner then took the seat on the dais that Theis had occupied next to Tesei. “It is a distinct honor to be appointed. … It is an honor to folllow the path carved out by Dave Theis. I know that this board will carry out his legacy of service to the town.”

Toner later said, that in addition to the upcoming annual budget process, “There’s a lot to accomplish … the appointments of people to boards and commissions … I will take my cues from Peter and from Drew.”

Before the selectmen’s meeting, Toner submitted his resignation from the Representative Town Meeting to Budkins.

Updated: 10:30 a.m.:

The Greenwich Board of Selectmen unanimously appointed Republican John F. Toner as selectman filling the vacancy created by the death of Selectman Dave Theis.

Check back for updates to this story.

Original story: 10 a.m.

Representative Town Meeting member John Toner is expected to be appointed to the Greenwich Board of Selectmen Wednesday morning.

Town hall sources say Toner, a Republican who has represented District 9 since 2008, is the choice to be voted upon by Republican First Selectman Peter Tesei and Democrat Drew Marzullo at a special meeting to be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday in the Town Hall meeting room.

Toner would fill the vacancy on the three-member board created by the Dec. 23 unexpected death of Republican Selectman Dave Theis. Tesei and Marzullo have 30 days to appoint a successor to serve the remaining five-a-half months of Theis’s term.

Tesei would not comment on whether Toner would be the appointee.

Toner grew up in Bruce Park, and has spent most of his life in Greenwich. After graduating Fairfield University, he served two years in the Peace Corps in Ghana, West Africa, where he taught English language and literature. After the Peace Corps, Toner worked in the banking industry, at Chase Manhattan Bank in New York for 27 years.

Toner was first elected to the Representative Town Meeting in 1998 and has served on the Appointments, Parks and Recreation and Public Works committees. He also served as a member of the Transportation Committee of the Plan of Conservation and Development Implementation Committee.

In his retirement, Toner has volunteered at Greenwich Hospital and its Volunteer Auxiliary Board and Board of Trustees, Call-A-Ride of Greenwich and the Board of the Transportation Association of Greenwich.

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Photo 1: GreenwichTown Clerk Carmella Budkins administers the oath of office to Republican John F. Toner, the new Selectman. Credit: Barbara Heins.

Photo 2: Town Clerk Carmella Budkins prepares to swear in Selectman John Toner, left, as First Selectman Peter Tesei, Kerrin Coyle and Selectman Drew Marzullo look on. Credit: Barbara Heins.

Photo 3: First Selectman Peter Tesei places a Greenwich town flag lapel pin on new Selectman John Toner. Credit: Barbara Heins.

Photo 4: New Selectman John Toner speaks with First Selectman Peter Tesei and Kerrin Coyle. Credit: Barbara Heins.

Photo 5: New Selectman John Toner takes his seat at the dais for the first time. Credit: Barbara Heins.

Photo 6: Republican Greenwich Selectman John Toner. Credit: Barbara Heins.

*Editor’s note: this story has been updated to correct the reference to the lapel pin given by First Selectman Peter Tesei to newly-appointed Selectman John Toner.