Questions About Milford Finance Committee Appointment: Letter

Note: The following is a letter to the editor and does not reflect the views of the Milford Patch.

As members of the Milford community, we feel compelled to express our genuine concern and disappointment in the recent decision by the Board of Selectmen not to reappoint Jeff Niro to his position on the Finance Committee.

As a life-long Milford resident, Jeff has repeatedly demonstrated a genuine interest in his community and its future. In his role on the FinCom, he has clearly proven he is a man of integrity, honesty, and dedication. He has shown attention to detail and a strong belief in the responsibility of the FinCom to meet the needs of the community with a budget that demonstrates fiscal responsibility and accountability. Differences in opinions and perspectives provide an invaluable dimension to discussions and decisions that impact the financial future of our community and should not be a reason to dismiss an invaluable member without, at the very least, the input from the FinCom, which is best prepared to evaluate a member’s performance.

Furthermore, it is clear from the statements Jeff made during Town Meeting and a recent BOS meeting, that he was unaware such a decision was even under consideration. Members of the FinCom have also registered their concern that it was unknown to them such a valuable member would not be re-appointed. It is very troubling to see this type of action unfold without any input from the FinCom chair, its members, or the person involved.

At a time when community engagement is vital to the successful future of every town, this unexpected and unwarranted action sends an unfortunate message to those who might want to contribute to the town’s future by “getting involved”… by either seeking office or volunteering their time and talent… knowing that the “reward” for one’s efforts could be their arbitrary removal from the position.

We respectfully ask the selectmen to show true leadership by reconsidering this troubling decision and reappointing Jeff Niro to his position on the Finance Committee.

George and Beverly Swymer, Milford