The Board of Selectmen recognized Town Clerk Pam Dohan and Director of Finance Ed Sbordone at the Board’s regular December 9 meeting. Both Dohan and Sbordone will be retiring at the end of the year after many years of service to the town.
First Selectman Pat Del Monaco read proclamations recognizing both. In her proclamation for Ms. Dohan, Ms. Del Monaco noted that she was elected Town Clerk in 2014, and re-elected in 2018, serving in the position for 8 years. Ms. Dohan also served as Assistant Town Clerk for 10 years prior to her term as Town Clerk.
In the proclamation, Ms. Dohan was also recognized for overseeing “the successful protection of the Town of New Fairfield’s records and the integrity of national and local elections while navigating the Global Pandemic.”
After reading the proclamation, Ms. Del Monaco added, “I want to add my gratitude to Pam. I’ve learned so much from her about how the municipality works, all of the details that go into the Town Clerk’s position…the Town Clerk’s office touches upon every aspect of our lives, whether it’s vital records, birth certificates, death certificates, marriage licenses, dog licenses to making sure that the town’s documents are preserved, making sure every meeting is properly noticed…it’s a tremendous amount of work…Pam, I really appreciate everything that you have done.”

Selectmen Khris Hall and Lori Beninson thanked Ms. Dohan as well, as did many others including Board of Finance Chair Wes Marsh, former Selectman Kim Hanson, and Finance Director Ed Sbordone.
Ms. Dohan responded, “Thank you so much. You’re tearing me up. Not too many people have the ability to have a job that they love, and I have, and I thank everybody. Thank you.”
In her proclamation recognizing Mr. Sbordone, Ms. Del Monaco noted that he was hired in June, 2006 as an Accounts Payable Clerk in the town finance department. In July of 2007, he became the finance department’s Accounting Manager. He was promoted to Finance Director in March, 2017, and elected as Treasurer on November 9, 2019. The proclamation also recognized Sbordone for his “detailed knowledge of all town financial matters” and for maintaining the town’s AAA bond rating and preserving a healthy general fund balance. He was also recognized for serving as a current member of the Board of Education and the Permanent Building Committee.
Ms. Del Monaco thanked Mr. Spordone saying, “Over the past 4 years, there was so much to learn about municipal finance, and I am so grateful for everything that you have taught me, and your patience to teach me some of those things and…your dedication to the Town of New Fairfield both as an employee and as a citizen, serving on the boards and commissions that you have. It’s much appreciated, and I wish you the very best.”
Again, Selectmen Khris Hall and Lori Beninson thanked Mr. Sbordone as well, as did many others including Board of Finance Chair Wes Marsh, former Selectman Kim Hanson, and Town Clerk Pam Dohan.
Mr. Sbordone thanked everyone saying, “Thank you all. These last 16 years have been a pleasure. It’s nice to hear all these nice things, but it’s really the staff that we have in the finance department that has supported me through the years…it’s not so much myself, but the support I get from people in that department. Thank you all, and I thank them as well.”
In other business, the Board appointed the Chairman and Clerk for the Board of Finance. At the last BoF meeting, current BoF Chair Wes Marsh was nominated to remain in the position, and Thora Perkins was also nominated . The regular Board members voted, and were evenly split 3 to 3. The vote for BoF Clerk was the same. Incumbent Michael Cammarota was nominated, as was Mark Beninson. Once again, the Board vote was split 3 to 3. By state statute, the decision falls to the Board of Selectmen.
Selectman Lori Beninson stated that she had wished cover letters and resumes from each of the candidates had been provided, saying that she did not know who the other two candidates were.
Ms. Del Monaco and Ms. Hall both indicated their support for Mr. Marsh and Mr. Cammarota, saying that the Board needed experienced leadership.
The Board voted 2 to 0 for Mr. Marsh and Mr. Cammarota, with Ms. Beninson abstaining.
The Board also voted unanimously to accept an in-kind donation from Timmy Masonry for $700.00 for work done on the brick chimney at town hall.
In her Covid-19 update, Ms. Del Monaco noted that the number of cases statewide has spiked once again. New Fairfield’s case rate has increased to 18.5 per 100,000, and is rapidly increasing. She said that there had been 18 new cases reported the day of the meeting (December 9), and that the total number of active cases in town is 35. Fifteen of those cases were children under the age of 12. She urged those who are not vaccinated to consult with their healthcare provider about any issues or concerns they might have. She also stressed the importance of masking in crowded places and social distancing whenever possible.
In discussing town vaccination rates, Ms. Del Monaco said that 21% aged 5 to 11 were vaccinated. Vaccination rates continue to lag behind other area towns in all age groups. Right now, 74% of the overall population in town have been vaccinated.
The next regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen will be Tuesday, December 21 at 7:30pm.

By Greg Slomba