Dawn Niles convened the meeting at 7:31 p.m.
Windham Democratic Committee Minutes of 13 Dec 2004 Meeting
Tom White made a motion to move agenda items 6a, Acceptance of Resignations, to first order of business for the meeting. The motion was seconded by Don White and was passed unanimously.
Acceptance of Resignations: Walter Pawelkiewicz moved to accept with regret Yolanda Negron’s resignation from the Board of Selectmen. The motion was seconded by Leslie O’Brien and passed unanimously. Dawn Niles read letters of resignation from the Windham DTC from Loretta Kuchinsky (dated October 24), Rene Goss and Tracy Lambert (both dated October 19). Yolanda Negron moved to accept Tracy’s resignation. Don White seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Don White moved to accept Rene’s resignation. Yolanda Negron seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. John Lescoe moved to accept Loretta’s resignation. Yolanda Negron seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. All three resignations were noted with regret from the DTC members.
Andy Carey made a motion to move item 5b, Nominating Committee Report, up on the agenda. Yolanda Negron seconded the motion and it was passed unanimously.
Nominating Committee Report: Dennis O’Brien reported for the Committee, which includes Jose Rosario, Mildred Hazley and Walter Pawelkiewicz. He noted that it was sad to lose members, but it was good that it happened around an election, because good candidates came forward. The Committee recommended six candidates to fill the six open seats. (The three members whose resignations were accepted tonight and three previous resignations -- Victor Rayhall, Diane Rayhall and Bill Sayers.) The six are:
Betty MacDonald, Pam Wright, Bunny Lescoe, Josh Niles, Dennis Cronin and Trenton Wright. The Committee also recommended Lynne Ide to fill the Board of Selectmen seat vacated by Yolanda Negron.
Leslie O’Brien made a motion to move item 6b, Filling of Open Seats, up on the agenda. The motion was seconded by Tom DeVivo and passed unanimously.
Filling of Open Seats: Leslie O’Brien moved that the nominations be closed and that one affirmative ballot be cast to support the Nominating Committee recommendations to fill the six DTC seats. The motion was seconded by Don White and passed unanimously. Yolanda Negron made a speech to nominate Lynne Ide to fill the Board of Selectmen seat vacated by her resignation. Tom DeVivo made a seconding speech. Yolanda Negron moved to close nominations and cast one affirmative ballot for Lynne Ide. The motion was seconded by Leslie O’Brien and passed unanimously.
Approval of Minutes: Gordon Muir made a motion to accept the October 11 DTC Meeting minutes. The motion was seconded by John Lescoe and passed. Yolanda Negron, Jerry Iazetta and the new DTC members present abstained.
Treasurer’s Report: Leslie O’Brien reported that we have $1,594.32 on hand. We still owe rent for the DTC Campaign HQ. A $700 surplus was received from Walter Pawelkiewicz’s campaign. Walter Pawelkiewicz moved to accept the report. The motion was seconded by Yolanda Negron and passed.
Chair’s Report: Dawn Niles reported that Brian Anderson will be up for election tomorrow evening to fill the Democratic State Central Committee seat vacated by Bill Sayers.
Lynne Ide reported on the DTC’s collective effort in the November elections. Dawn thanked Don and Marge White and Joe and Sheila Marsalisi for their work on coordinating absentee ballots. Joe Marsalisi was thanked for his work to make the phones work and set up the HQs. Walter Pawelkiewicz, Andy Carey, Mary Lou DeVivo and Tom DeVivo were noted for their contributions toward the phone bank costs.
By-Laws Committee Report: Barbara McGrath reported that the Committee will report at the next meeting.
2005 Meeting Schedule: The DTC will meet the second Tuesday of each month January-May in 2005. The meetings will be at 7 p.m. at a place to be announced.
Other Items: Dawn Niles announced that Walter Pawelkiewicz will hold office hours at Town Hall from 5:30-6:30 p.m. on the 4th Thursday of each month January-May 2005.
Walter Pawelkiewicz thanked folks for their support during his primary race in August. In particular, he noted Chris Marot and Shelley Buchbinder as his campaign staff.
Walter Pawrlkiewicz then thanked Yolanda Negron for her service to the community. He hopes it will be only a brief break from public service, and noted that she has been a role model for Latina women.
Dawn Niles asked the Democratic Board of Ed members to develop a position paper on education issues for discussion at the February DTC meeting.
It was announced that Mary Ann Daley gave birth to a healthy baby boy.
Manny Diaz and his wife, Jane, will be traveling to Minnesota for three months for treatment of Jane’s cancer.
Dawn Niles announced that she had been appointed to the statewide Connecticut Intergovernmental Affairs Commission.
Walter Pawelkiewicz made a motion to adjourn the meeting. The motion was seconded by Tom DeVivo and passed unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 8:49 p.m.
Respectfully submitted by Lynne Ide, Recording Secretary
Rev 4/11/05 MAS Copyright © 2005 Windham Democratic Town Committee
