STONINGTON — A longtime former member of the Board of Finance and chairman of the Stonington Republican City Committee is stepping out of retirement and returning to the board to fill a time period left out of the blue vacant following the demise of a well-respected social gathering member.
The Board of Finance final week introduced that Bryan Bentz, who was a member of the Republican social gathering and Board of Finance for the higher a part of 20 years earlier than stepping away from politics for private causes in 2019, will serve the rest of the time period for the late David Motherway Jr.
Motherway, 54, and a pal had been killed in mid-August when a ship they had been piloting crashed off the coast of Latimer Level.
In a press launch, Board of Finance Chairman Timothy O’Brien stated Bentz data of the board and its course of can be particularly helpful in a yr the place finance members will face challenges balancing quite a lot of altering revenues.
“The city is going through difficult instances with a revaluation occurring in addition to federal funds for packages ceasing, and thus we wished to seat somebody who already knew the workings of the board,” O’Brien stated. “Bryan is effectively revered locally in addition to revered by the members on the board who served with him.”
The appointment marked the primary time through which the Board of Finance immediately named a substitute to fill a emptiness. Underneath the present constitution guidelines in Stonington, a political social gathering might current suggestions however city committees not serve any official function within the candidate choice course of
Previous to the change in constitution coverage, together with throughout a earlier emptiness in 2017, whichever social gathering had earned election to the seat was answerable for presenting a candidate to fill the emptiness.
O’Brien stated in a press launch that to assist guarantee a easy transition and to keep away from partisan considerations, the board selected to pick out the longtime Republican to fill Motherway’s seat for the rest of the time period, which can expire in November 2023.
Bentz, 62, stated Monday that he’s already working to evaluate latest paperwork and any supplies related to the American Rescue Plan Act and city funds, an effort to rise up to hurry earlier than the upcoming price range course of. A neighbor of Motherway’s dad and mom, Bentz stated a change in circumstances just lately gave him an opportunity to grow to be extra lively once more and Motherway’s demise motivated him to step ahead.
“I had been just lately trying to get entangled once more and this can be a good first step,” stated Bentz, who famous the time period is just for one yr. “It isn’t an enormous dedication, and it offers me a chance to do one thing that’s acquainted and the place I consider I can have a constructive influence.
A 1977 graduate of Stonington Excessive College who earned a bachelor’s diploma from the Massachusetts Institute of Expertise, Bentz and his spouse Mary Ann returned to city to boost a household and he turned lively in politics within the late Nineties. He’s the proprietor of Bentz Engineering the place he works as a guide on Synthetic Intelligence-related analysis initiatives.
For almost 20 years, he held seats with each the Board of Finance and Republican City Committee together with serving as chairman of each till retiring from political life in 2019 for private causes. When Bentz stepped down, it left a emptiness that performed a task in permitting Motherway to hitch the board as a first-time candidate that very same yr.
Bentz has additionally volunteered across the neighborhood in quite a lot of different roles together with as a member of the Quiambaug Hearth Division.
With the remaining time period, Bentz stated he’s ready to roll up his sleeves and work with the general public to supply a considerate, conservative spending plan that takes into consideration the quite a few elements that include a revaluation. He stated the board can be tasked with not solely offering stability, however guiding the general public by a course of that may usually be complicated because it impacts each property values and the neighborhood’s mill charge.
“As officers, we must be very cautious proper now to not overspend, to share what it’s we’re working with and stay clear, and to assist the general public perceive every step of the method,” Bentz stated.
O’Brien stated that regardless of the appointment, members of the board are nonetheless mourning Motherway’s loss like many others on the town. O’Brien stated that in Motherway’s service on the board, he confirmed a dedication to creating Stonington an amazing place to be.
“(Motherway) and his household are integral to the material of this neighborhood,” O’Brien stated.
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