Farmington Council Bids Farewell To Old Friends, New Ones Start Jan. 2

FARMINGTON, CT —While "out with the old and in with the new" is a common New Year's mantra, Farmington's top elected board only did half of that at their last meeting.

The Farmington Town Council at its last meeting Dec. 12 officially said goodbye to several members who are leaving to pursue new endeavors or were not elected.

Meanwhile, the new council will have its first meeting Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024, at 7 p.m. at Farmington Town Hall, a week earlier than originally scheduled so the new council can get going quickly.

A reception and swearing-in ceremony for the new council will take place that night as well. The Jan. 9 meeting was canceled.

As for the last council gathering, it was Republican C. J. Thomas' last one as chairman, as he retired from the board. He will be replaced as chairman by Republican Joe Capodiferro, who was elected last month.

Thomas was one of four council members honored by colleagues for the service in a bipartisan display of smiles and handshakes on Dec. 12.

Much of the final meeting of 2023 was dedicated to proclamations, speeches, and a reception honoring the quartet.

Also honored were outgoing council members Rafeena Bacchus Lee, a Democrat who ran for council chair but lost to Capodiferro; Johnny Carrier, a Republican; and Edward Giannaros, a Democrat.

In saying goodbye, Thomas also heaped praise on Farmington Town Manager Kathleen A. Blonski, who he worked with over the years in overseeing the town.

"I would like to officially recognize the outstanding work you have done over the past four years in the face of obstacles both large and small," he wrote to her on Dec. 12.

Thomas especially praised Blonski's leadership amid the chaos of the COVID-19 pandemic and other situations in the community, which turned town operations topsy-turvy in the spring of 2020.

"Your response during all of this was level-headed excellence and nothing short of spectacular. You had to re-write the book on operations for Farmington in a manner that kept disruption as far away from our residents as possible. Your experience, knowledge, and staff support allowed Farmington and Unionville to not only survive but to thrive during a time of global disruption," Thomas wrote.

For the minutes of the Dec. 12 Farmington Town Council meeting, click on this link.