With Election Day now behind us, we will see many new faces on Town boards and commissions come December 1. This includes the town’s top elected official, with Jeff Capeci replacing Dan Rosenthal as the new First Selectman. Rosenthal chose to not run for the seat again after three terms.

The Newtown Bee continues to extend its gratitude to all the town officials who are leaving office, whether they chose to do so or whether their vote totals fell short on November 7. Each of these board members and commissioners gave up multiple nights per month, going out and meeting to do work for the town. Other than Rosenthal, every one of them were unpaid for that hard work and service.

Those public servants gave up two or more years for a term of service, helping guide the town through various difficulties and triumphs in the wake of a global pandemic. Each one of them deserves the gratitude and thanks of all Newtown residents for their tireless work and late nights, doing what needed to be done to govern the town.

Among those leaving office are, on the Board of Assessment Appeals, Scott Reiss and Alex Villamil.

On the Board of Education, Deborra Zukowski (Dan Cruson left his seat but will be serving on the Board of Selectmen).

On the Board of Finance, John Madzula (though Madzula will still be serving roles in the governance of the Borough of Newtown), Erica Sullivan, Sandy Roussas, and Stephen Csordas.

On the Board of Selectmen, Maureen Crick Owen (Crick Owen will continue to serve the town on the Borough’s Board of Burgesses), Rosenthal, and Ed Schierloh.

On the Legislative Council, Ryan Knapp, Lisa Kessler, William DeRosa, Charles Gardner, Dan Honan, Matthew Mihalcik, and Phil Carroll. While Michelle Embree Ku is no longer a councilman, she will be heading over to the Board of Selectmen with Cruson.

On the Planning & Zoning Commission (and alternates), Dennis Bloom, Corinne Cox, Kersti Ferguson, and Brian Leonardi.

On the Police Commission, Joel Faxon, Neil Chaudhary, and Stephen Sedensky.

On the Zoning Board of Appeals, Ross Carley, Jane Sharpe, and David Landau.

We pre-emptively apologize to anyone who is overlooked here. This editorial focused on the elected boards and commissions for direct mentions, but The Bee also wishes to express its thanks, gratitude and recognition to those who served on the town’s many other committees, workgroups, boards and commissions who will also be ending their terms this month or earlier this year.

While some officials have been or will be honored for their service, like Faxon at a recent Police Commission meeting and Rosenthal at a planned gathering at the end of the month, not all will receive similar recognition, though they all certainly deserve it.

So thank you, outgoing representatives of Newtown, for all your hard work, dedication, late nights, and willingness to serve. We thank you, especially now as the spirit of volunteerism seems to be becoming something in short supply. Finding time to serve the community when you have the same busy schedules as others is to be commended.