Breton Receives Final Board of Selectmen Sendoff

Finding the energy to make it to one last meeting, Bruce Breton, who is officially stepped down from the Board of Selectmen this week due to health problems, received one final sendoff Monday from fellow board members and town staffers.

Town Administrator Dave Sullivan presented Breton with a plaque for his nine years of service to the Board of Selectmen, explaining to him that it's not often that someone serves that long on the board.

Sullivan reminisced about the long conversations he used to have with Breton on Griffin Park walks, and how it was Breton who said the words that kept Sullivan in the town of Windham a while back.

"Our chat we had in the gazebo back behind the town administrative buildings back when I was looking to move on years ago, you told me: 'Dave, you can either be a big fish in a little pond or a litle fish in a big pond," said Sullivan. "I would like to just say I appreciate those words, those words. meant a lot back then. I stayed in Windham and I'm very happy I have."

Sullivan told Breton that it wouldn't be right not to have him come back for one last meeting.

Breton joked that an employee at Parkland Medical Center, where he stayed for the last four weeks, told him he broke the record for the amount of people visiting.

He thanked the Windham Fire Department and his wife for saving his life, and then made sure to remind the board that while he will miss Monday nights in front of the town, everybody needs to know that they are missing some great television shows.

Fire Chief Tom McPherson also presented Breton with a gift – a small model ambulance for all of the rides Breton has taken over the years.

"I think what stays the most is the friendship that Bruce and I have had and the relationship that he's had with the administrative staff," said McPherson.

Selectman Roger Hohenberger also gave a goodbye to Breton, thanking him for his near perfect board attendance, save for the last couple of months.

Fellow Selectman Phil LoChiatto, who said he met Breton nine years ago while serving on the Planning Board, thanked him for his passion and dedication to the town.

Breton will be replaced on the board by Al Letizio, Jr., who won the open seat on Tuesday over his opponent Alan Carpenter.