Photo by Jean Falbo-Sosnovich
(First row left to right): Selectwoman Trish Danka, First Selectwoman Annmarie Drugonis, Selectman Fred Stanek. (Back row left to right) Selectman Robert Findley, Deputy First Selectman Al Bruno, Selectman Phil Wilhelmy, III and Selectman Pat Lombardi.
SEYMOUR — A familiar face has returned to his former seat on the Seymour Board of Selectpersons.
Phil Wilhelmy, III was appointed to serve the remaining term until November of former Selectman Chris Bowen, who resigned the seat last month because he’s moving out of state. Because Bowen was a Democrat at the time he was elected, his replacement needed to be from the same party.
The board during its meeting Tuesday (Jan. 17) welcomed back Wilhelmy, a 1981 graduate of Seymour High School.
“I hope to be a positive part of this organization and do the best I can,” Wilhelmy said.
Wilhelmy was Deputy First Selectman under former First Selectman Paul Roy, and has served as chairman of several town boards and commissions over the years, including Inland Wetlands, Open Space, Public Works, and Charter Revision. He currently serves on the Zoning Board of Appeals and is chairman of the Seymour Democratic Town Committee.
During his work on those boards and commissions, Wilhelmy, in part, had a hand in beefing up various town ordinances, including enforcing rules aimed at reducing the amount of litter entering wetlands from industrial, commercial and building sites.
Wilhelmy, 59, also does his part for charity. He nabbed third place in 2016 during the annual taco-eating contest at Hot Tamale’s that benefits TEAM’s Meals on Wheels program.
Now that he’s retired after a 33-year career with Metro-North Railroad, Wilhelmy said when he heard the news of Bowen’s resignation from the seat, he decided to step up.
“I feel compelled to serve and give back, and want to stay involved,” Wilhelmy said.
Married to his wife Maureen for 31 years, the father of three children and two grandchildren, Wilhelmy is excited about the upcoming municipal election in November. Although the Democrats haven’t had a challenger for the First Selectman’s seat since 2015, Wilhelmy said the Democrats plan to run a full slate of candidates this year.
Republican First Selectwoman Annmarie Drugonis, who just announced her intention to seek re-election this week, said she’s looking forward to working alongside Wilhelmy again.
“Its nice to have a full board; Chris Bowen will be missed, and Phil is a welcome voice,” Drugonis said. “He has a lot of good ideas, and he wants to work with all of us and he has the experience.”
Fellow Selectman Fred Stanek, the other Democrat on the board, administered the oath of office to Wilhelmy prior to Wilhelmy taking his seat at the table on Tuesday.In addition to First Selectwoman Drugonis, the other Republican Selectpersons are: Pat Lombardi, Robert Findley, Trish Danka and Deputy First Selectman Al Bruno.
Fred Stanek swears-in newly appointed Selectperson Phil Wilhelmy, III into the seat recently vacated by Chris Bowen. They are the two Democrats on the seven-person board.
