Republican Bill Tinsley will take his official oath of office tonight at 7:30 p.m. in the Brookfield High School library.
Tinsley, 62, took part Sunday night in the ceremonial swearing-in festivities for all of the other town officiails; by charter, however, the Board of Selectmen do not officially take office until they are sworn in at the first meeting in December.
On Monday morning, Tinsley was meeting with Town Hall employees and others in the conference room; the first selectman’s office will not officially be his until after he is sworn into office. The outgoing First Selectman Bill Davidson is to now become the minority selectman on what is now a three-member, Republican-dominated board. In fact, the Republicans and its endorsed minority party, won all 19 open seats this year.
He was striving to get right down to business, with his agenda one focused on promoting business development in town so that the revenues needed to provide the services residents want can be collected. But the controversy related to his decision to accept a no-contest plea to a misdemeanor after he was charged in Vermont 22 months ago with embezzlement and petit larceny from a liquor store where he worked two to three nights a week for a couple months is likely to be somewhat of a shroud for at least the immediate future.
But he is firm that he will do his duty, and if people have something to say, he will let them say it.
The town’s Board of Ethics has retained an attorney to assist them with the process that must follow were they to receive requests of an investigation into whether Tinsley violated the ethics code, or if they opt on their own to pursue charges against him. Tinsley said on Monday the ethics board will do what it does. He has no intention of allowing their decisionmaking process to interfere with the town’s day-to-day business.
Tonight’s meeting is open to the public, and Tinsley said he welcomes local participation, regardless whether that comes from supporters or critics.