Andrew Buzzi Returns To The School Board, Takes Fetchick’s Seat

By Eliza Hallabeck

Former Board of Education secretary Andrew Buzzi was appointed to the open Republican position on the school board during its meeting on Tuesday, October 6.

Mr Buzzi decided not to run for reelection for his school board position in 2007, after roughly five years of service on the board. After the 2007 election, his vacated seat was filled by Republican Kathryn Fetchick.

Now, after a three-year absence, it was Ms Fetchick’s seat Mr Buzzi was appointed to fill.

Board of Education Chairman William Hart said both candidates who applied for the seat, Mr Buzzi and Adam Welber, were excellent.

The Republican Town Committee did not have time to officially schedule a meeting and formally recommend either individual for the school board, however. Instead, according to RTC Chairman Dennis Bloom, several local GOP leaders met with Mr Welber and reviewed a resume submitted by Mr Buzzi, before turning the names over to Mr Hart to make a recommendation if one was required before the RTC could convene a meeting to affect a formal endorsement.

(The online posting of this story on October 6 said the candidates were referred to the school board by the Republican Town Committee. Mr Bloom contacted The Bee to clarify that neither Mr Buzzi nor Mr Welber were recommended by the local GOP.)

 “Both Mr Buzzi and Doctor Welber went to the Board of Ed offering to serve out the vacancy,” Mr Bloom said. “They were then referred back to the RTC, but we didn’t have time to meet to make a recommendation.”

By charter, Ms Fetchick’s seat had to be filled by another Republican, and, after announcing the open position in the press and on the school district’s website, only Mr Buzzi and Mr Welber expressed interest.

Ms Fetchick, who had been serving as the school board’s vice chair, resigned from her position on the school board on September 15 to fill a vacant seat on the Legislative Council. Ms Fetchick has also been voted to chair the council’s Education Committee.

After the interview process ran over its allotted time on Tuesday before the school board’s regularly scheduled meeting, the school board voted Mr Buzzi into the position in a 4-1 vote. Town Clerk Debbie Aurelia then swore in Mr Buzzi, a practicing attorney of law in Danbury. Board of Education Republican member Debbie Leidlein was the only school board member to vote against Mr Buzzi’s nomination to the board. Member Christopher Lagana was not present at the meeting.

“I’m glad we’ve got [Mr Buzzi] on the board,” Mr Hart said on Wednesday, October 6. “I’m glad [Mr Buzzi] decided to jump back in.”

Mr Buzzi brings several years of Board of Education experience with him, and, said Mr Hart, Mr Buzzi was one of the first people Mr Hart called for advice when he was elected to the position of chairman in August.

On Friday, Mr Buzzi said one of the last things the school board did during his last term on the board, was hire Superintendent of Schools Janet Robinson.

With a laugh, he said he told her, “Good luck. It’s all yours.”

Now, Mr Buzzi said he is looking forward to working with both Dr Robinson and the Board of Education members.

The school board postponed voting for a new vice chair, Ms Fetchick’s open position on the board, until its next meeting. After some nudging by board member Lillian Bittman, Mr Buzzi also accepted a position on the school board’s policy subcommittee, which Ms Fetchick had chaired.

“We’re looking forward to working together,” Mr Hart said of Mr Buzzi’s appointment.

Mr Buzzi’s seat, along with the seats of Lillian Bittman and David Nanavaty, will be up for election in November 2011.