Greenwich RTM Honors Stalwarts Of Town Government

GREENWICH, CT — The Greenwich Representative Town Meeting bid farewell and honored three stalwarts of town government on Monday during the final scheduled meeting of the year.

Moderator Thomas Byrne, RTM member Arline Lomazzo and Town Clerk Carmella Budkins are all leaving their posts after years of service.

Byrne has been a member of the RTM in District 6 since 1988, and has been the moderator of the town body since 1996, the longest tenure of any moderator in Greenwich history.

"It is indeed the end of an era for the RTM, worthy of a celebration of gratitude," said RTM member from District 1 Ed Dadakis. "Tom has some strong opinions. Tom knows the moderator's job is to subserviate his own opinion, but to make absolutely certain that our opinion and the opinion of the town's people are heard. Tom, you can be rightly proud that you made sure all opinions were welcome in these meetings."

Dadakis and RTM Moderator Pro Tempore Alexis Voulgaris calculated that Byrne stood behind the podium for an equivalent of 25 straight days, and presided over 203 meetings, 2,776 agenda items and countless motions to amend, refer and postpone.

Voulgaris presented Byrne with a plaque that will be fixed to the moderator's podium, which renames it the “Byrne Griswold Podium.” It was previously named for George Griswold, a past moderator.

Dadakis praised Byrne for handling a diverse group of RTM members, and protecting the decorum of the legislative body, one of the largest in the United States at 232 members.

Former RTM member and BET Chair Michael Mason, who currently serves as the town's labor negotiator, said Byrne is "a man of commitment with a love for this community." Byrne never missed a meeting during his tenure.

"His attention to parliamentary governance and understanding Robert's Rules with a great respect and belief in our government system we have here in Greenwich, gives him a drive to make him the strongest pillar of this community," Mason said.

State Sen. Ryan Fazio (R-36) read a citation from the Connecticut General Assembly and the Greenwich delegation to Hartford.

"Greenwich will always remember your steady hand and contribution to our local democratic process," Fazio said.

Byrne will continue as moderator until a new one is elected in the coming weeks. He will still serve as an RTM member.

After 30 years as town clerk, Carmella Budkins is retiring. The town clerk also works closely with the RTM to prepare meeting materials.

"Some call Greenwich the gateway to New England. If you were to choose the gateway to Greenwich, it would have to be the town clerk's office and our beloved town clerk Carmen Budkins," said Dadakis, a longtime friend of Budkins. "When Carmen called me this fall to tell me she had decided to retire, I was both sad and happy. Sad for our town that she was departing, but happy for her because she has most certainly earned a long happy and healthy retirement."

Former First Selectman Peter Tesei said Budkins was responsible for his involvement in town government many years ago. Tesei is the youngest person ever to be elected to the RTM.

"Carm spoke to the heart of Greenwich. Everything she did, she did to help her fellow human beings. She saw things in terms of people, not in terms of politics. That to me has been her hallmark. She always put people first," Tesei said.

Lomazzo is leaving the RTM after 38 years of service. Her fellow district member, Coline Jenkins, praised her dedication and her ability to turn grief into a good cause.

Lomazzo's 16-year-old son was killed after he was hit by a car on Hillside Road near Greenwich High School. Since then, Lomazzo has been an advocate for pedestrian safety.

"She turned grief into action. Armed with her irrefutable arguments about sidewalks and public safety, she persuaded the powers to examine and fund 19 sidewalk gaps on Route 1 between Byram and Old Greenwich," Jenkins said. "Today, she departs but she and her colleagues leave a legacy, an enduring gift to the town of Greenwich, a safer sidewalk situation."

Michael Spilo, Chair of the RTM's Public Works Committee, thanked Lomazzo for her service.

"Arline has always been thorough, very detail oriented and on top of progress with all town projects," he said. "Our children are safer walking to and from school largely due to her efforts."

First Selectman Fred Camillo and Selectwoman Lauren Rabin issued proclamations for the three outgoing members.

Dec. 14 was declared Carmella Budkins Day in Greenwich; Dec. 15 as Arline Lomazzo Day; and Dec. 16 as Thomas J. Byrne Day.