LoChiatto, DiFruscia Stepping Down in 2014

A debate on who should be named chairman and vice chairman of the Windham Board of Selectmen turned into a pair of surprising public announcements on Monday as two members said they will not seek re-election in 2014.

Selectmen Phil LoChiatto and Kathleen DiFruscia, who have both served on the board since March 2011, will both step down after one term. 

LoChiatto was named chairman of the board for the coming year while DiFruscia will serve as vice chairman.

New Selectman Al Letizio Jr., who was sworn in to the board just minutes earlier, nominated LoChiatto for the position. He later said that part of the reason for the nomination was that he knew LoChiatto was only going to serve one more year, but that he didn't know DiFruscia was also leaving.

Both made their own cases for chairman, with LoChiatto talking about his time as chairman of the Planning Board while DiFrusica spoke about everything she has learned sitting sitting on that same board as a selectman.

In the first vote, Selectman Ross McLeod voted in favor of DiFruscia while Selectman Roger Hohenberger abstained.

Hohenberger later decided on LoChiatto for the head position, saying that a motion was made for LoChiatto first and that it was really a coin toss between "two excellent people" looking for the chairman position.

DiFruscia voted for LoChiatto in the second vote, which came down 4-1.

Departing the board for good last week was Bruce Breton, who finished out his nine years as a selectman battling health issues. Breton formerly served as chairman while McLeod was vice chairman.

Letizio took Breton's place after securing a seat on the board last week over former Selectman Alan Carpenter.