Submitted by John Mancini, Killingworth Republican Town Committee
(April 9, 2025) — Are you interested in serving our community? Do you want to have an effect on navigating change in our town? The Killingworth Republican Town Committee is seeking residents who are willing to run for town office this November. These elected positions include the Board of Selectmen, Town Clerk, Board of Assessment Appeals, RSD 17 Board of Education, Board of Finance, Planning and Zoning Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals. A quick summary of their roles and responsibilities follows.
The Board of Selectmen is the chief executive branch of local government. They call town meetings, propose budgets to the town meetings, set public policy, call elections, issue licenses, set certain fees, oversee certain volunteer and appointed bodies, and create basic regulations. The First Selectman implements the policies of the board and manages the town’s daily activity. Furthermore, the First Selectman is responsible for providing oversight into all aspects of town operations, acts as supervisor to town employees, and interacts with all town departments.
The Town Clerk’s Office is the information hub of our town government. It is generally the first stop for a new resident. The office records deeds, vital statistics, voting records, town meetings, dog licenses, hunting and fishing licenses, transfer station permits, commission records, survey maps, record and book maintenance, terms of elected officials, Town Charter and Ordinances, resignation, and appointment of elected officials. They help with genealogy work, certify petitions, and prepare elections and referendum.
The Board of Assessment Appeals hears and acts on the assessment appeals as submitted by taxpayers.
The Regional School District 17 Board of Education oversees school district educational programs. District citizens elect board members to represent them in setting policies and objectives. Killingworth is part of RSD17 along with Haddam.
The Board of Finance reviews and approves the annual budget, including the capital budget; manages and monitors the current budget; and performs long range capital planning.
The Planning and Zoning Commission seeks to attract responsible economic growth that is in harmony with Killingworth’s bucolic character and landscape. It does so by reviewing and approving zoning applications, updating the Town’s zoning regulations, and reviewing housing developments.
Finally, the foremost responsibility of the Zoning Board of Appeals is to review requests for variances from zoning regulations.
If you are not sure you are ready to run for office, there are a number of appointed volunteer positions on committees and commissions for which people are needed to serve. These include Committee on Aging, Conservation Commission, Ethics Committee, Fair Rent Commission, Health and Safety Committee, Historic Review Committee, Inland Wetlands and Watercourse Commission, Open Space Committee, Park and Recreation Commission, and Sustainable CT Committee. Serving on one of these groups can provide valuable experience before deciding to run for an elected office.
These boards, committees and commissions require a time commitment of one to two hours every few months, while others meet more often. If you are remotely interested in getting more involved in our town, please consider attending our monthly Republican Town Committee meeting held the third Thursday of each month at Killingworth Volunteer Fire Company, 333 Route 81, or reach out to any of the individuals listed below. There is no commitment in simply seeking information. We hope to hear from you!
John Mancini: jfmct@att.net
Eileen Blewett: emblewett@aol.com
Nancy Gorski: nancy_gorski@comcast.net
