(Left to right) Selectman Robert Findley, Selectwoman Trish Danka, First Selectwoman Annmarie Drugonis and Deputy First Selectman Al Bruno.
SEYMOUR — A proposed ordinance to change the title of the Board of Selectmen to the gender-neutral “Board of Selectpersons” is scheduled for a vote by the board 7 p.m. Sept. 21 at Town Hall.
The ordinance also officially recognizes the title of First Selectwoman, in addition to the traditional First Selectman.
The board held a public hearing Tuesday (Sept. 6) on the proposed title change.
Selectman Fred Stanek, who initially proposed the title change, was the only person to speak.
“The history of the term ‘selectman’ and ‘Board of Selectmen’ dates back to colonial times,” Stanek said “The adult voting population in New England towns, like Seymour, gathered annually for a town meeting to act as the local legislature to approve budgets and ordinances,” Stanek said. “Day-to-day operations were simply delegated to different people, to take care of matters. But as the populations of towns and the services required grew, the towns began to elect executive boards of ‘selected men’ to run the operations of the town. Of course, at that time women were not allowed to vote. It wasn’t until about 100 years ago that women gained the right to vote. However, the use of the term ‘selectman’ or ‘selectmen’ continued in our charter and statutes all these years.”
Stanek said his late wife Karen, a former Selectwoman, and longtime Seymour educator, often discussed the need to change the masculine term ‘selectmen’ to a gender-neutral term, such as ‘selectperson.’ Stanek said it’s his hope that he can honor his late wife’s wishes.
“I think it’s time we pass this,” he said. “It’s important, it’s long overdue.”
The board’s ordinance subcommittee spent the last few months making tweaks to Stanek’s proposal.
First Selectwoman Annmarie Drugonis is Seymour’s second female to hold the town’s top elected position.
The late Anna L. LoPresti was an educator/administrator in town for more than 45 years and served as the town’s first female First Selectwoman from 1973 to 1977.
In Derby, voters approved a charter change in 2016 that altered the name of its legislative body to Board of Aldermen/Alderwomen.
In Ansonia, former Alderwoman Diane Stroman suggested the city use gender-neutral titles when she first came onboard in early 2020. Stroman proposed replacing the term ‘Aldermen’ with the term ‘Alders.’ She had said the move to modernize the terminology was important to demonstrate Ansonia’s commitment in making the city “more equitable to all people.” The matter went nowhere.
