Shelton Board of Aldermen President John Anglace began the board’s monthly meeting Thursday by reading a letter he sent to high school student Zak Shilleh apologizing for interrupting him during a public hearing on the budget.
Anglace angered many in attendance at the end of Tuesday’s budget hearing when he asked Shilleh, who had been speaking for about 4 minutes, to wrap up his remarks.
A video of the exchange posted on the Valley Indy Facebook page went viral and was seen by more than 11,000 people and generated about 80 comments, most of which were statements of support for the student.
The video touched a nerve because Shilleh was explaining his learning disability to the crowd, and about how teachers in Shelton have motivated him to succeed. In addition, previous speakers at the budget hearing were allowed to talk for as long as 11 minutes each.
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Anglace called Shilleh Wednesday and apologized over the phone, he told his fellow Aldermen Thursday.
“I explained that I wanted to deliver a letter and apologize in person for any inconvenience I may have caused him,” Anglace said. “He said that wouldn’t be necessary.”
Anglace has a long history of public service in the Shelton and the Naugatuck Valley. And he’s helped countless young people through a long association with the Boy Scouts.
Anglace’s letter to Shilleh, as read by Anglace Thursday, follows:
Dear Zak,
I write to apologize to you for seeming unappreciative of your public comments at last night’s budget hearing and for prematurely interrupting your presentation.
No matter what the intent, I made a mistake and I am sincerely sorry for it.
You showed a great deal of courage to step forward and make your public statement on the 2015 – 2016 Shelton budget.
You should be applauded, because you set the example for public involvement in government. You taught me something about patience, understanding, and respect.
In life, we never stop learning. When we err, we must own up to it and take corrective action, and that is the purpose of this letter.
I shall read this letter into the record of the next Board of Aldermen meeting. I hope you accept my apology and that I can be of help to you in your future endeavors.
“Zak was very pleased with this letter and felt he had reached closure on this issue,” Anglace said after reading the letter. “I hope we have. Thank you.”
Student Reacts
Reached by phone Thursday, Shilleh said he appreciated Anglace saying he was sorry.
“It was still rude, but as long as he apologized, he saw what he did was wrong, as long as he saw that was the case I’m content,” Shilleh said.
The 18-year-old junior said a video published by the Valley Indy of Tuesday’s exchange made him something of a local celebrity overnight.
“I went into school and a lot of people recognized me,” Shilleh said. “They said ‘You’re that kid from the video.’ It’s great. People appreciate what I did and I’m happy because of that.”
He said he’ll be even happier if Aldermen increase funding to the city’s public schools, the point he attended Tuesday’s public hearing to make.
“Hopefully they’ll see how much teachers help students when students have trouble,” Shilleh said. “Where would I be without my teachers? I wouldn’t be anywhere, to be honest.”
Shilleh said he was most appreciative of the torrent of positive comments made on the Valley Indy’s video from the public hearing.
He posted a comment himself thanking those who had written:
“Thank you all for the support, this is more positive effect than I could ever imagine from one speech. I am filled with joy on an unimaginable scale from just reading these comments. This was my first meeting and just receiving this much positive feedback will push me to continue attending these meetings. I’d like to thank the community of Shelton, for truly moving my heart.”
