Wilton selectman to leave board in June
Selectman Paul Gooch, pictured here at Amateur Radio Field Day in 2010, is resigning from the board in June. Gooch, in addition to serving on the board, is a member of the Amateur Radio Disaster Service group.
WILTON - Selectman Paul Gooch has submitted a letter of resignation to the town office, informing the town he will be stepping down in June.
Gooch, who joined the board in 2005, will resign at the June town meeting with two years left on his term, with the advanced notice giving those interested in his seat time to apply. Gooch and his wife, Susan Gooch, will be moving to Wells to live on a family farm.
The resignation means voters will choose two selectmen at the June 12 election, Town Manager Rhonda Irish said, with Selectman Tom Saviello's three-year term also expiring. Nomination paperwork will be available at the town office on March 19 for the available two- and three-year selectman seats, as well as Director Angela LeClair's seat on the Mt. Blue Regional School District school board.
Interested residents need to collect 25 to 75 signatures and resubmit the paperwork to the town office by 5 p.m. on April 30 in order to qualify for the June 12 election.
Gooch, who has 28 years of experience as a principal, worked in the then-MSAD 9 school district until his retirement and subsequent service on the board of selectmen. Gooch said Thursday he was looking forward to moving to the family farm in Wells but that he would miss Wilton.
"The community's been good to me," Gooch said. "A great career, real good friends - it's going to be a tough move. [Wilton has] been my whole life."
Gooch said he felt the board and town were in "good shape," crediting Irish and the town office staff as well as the other selectmen. The town was working on the collection of back taxes, economic development strategies and generally "holding our head above water, without big tax increases," Gooch said.
"It's a good working board," Gooch said, "We have a good balance of viewpoints and tend to compromise."
Irish said she was "really, really sorry" to see Gooch depart the board and town. Gooch was the chair of the board in 2009, when Irish was hired as the town manager.
"He has always been a great selectman," Irish said, "and really easy to work with."
Entries(RSS)
Sorry to see you leave Paul, but you both deserve it.
You gonna live on the farm and visit the boat, or live on the boat and visit the farm?
I've had the privilege of setting on the board with Paul since June and have come to respect his desire to "do what's right" for the Town of Wilton. He has shown the increasingly rare trait of being able to disagree without being disrespectful, those are big shoes to fill. The Town will miss him, but we wish him well. Thank you Paul.
Paul has played an important part in education and public safety here in Franklin County for a number of years. Hard to replace that experince. Enjoy the farm!
Thank you for all you've done for the town and the children of Wilton, Paul. Wishing you and Susan all the best. Visit often.
Thank you, sir, for your years of service not only to Wilton, but the surrounding communities as well.
Any of us that spend significant time in Wilton have benefitted from your leadership, passion, and stewardship.
And on a more personal note, I will miss the smiling nods, the quick thumbs up, and the quick words of encouragement you afforded me when I was finding my voice as an educator around these parts.
Thanks, Paul.
one of the good guys....
I think the entire town will miss both Suan and yourself Paul. Between all you have done with the town and the schools and Susan's Daycare many will feel the loss. From my family to yours: Good luck in your complete retirment in Wells.
We will be losing some great neighbors. Thank you for being influential, integrous and respectable members of this community. We will miss you.
A big loss for Wilton, and a big gain for Wells! Thank you for your kindness, generosity and support in our community! Paul you were wonderful to work for. I will always be grateful for the support of you and my Academy Hill School co-workers when Mike was deployed. You will truly be missed!