News
Tuesday, January 06, 2009
RTM Veteran John Booth Resigns Due to Health
John W. Booth, a senior member of Westport’s Representative Town Meeting (RTM), announced his resignation tonight. He had served since 1993.
John W. Booth: Served since 1993. WN file photo
In a message read by Moderator Hadley Rose, Booth said: “Tonight is my last meeting. This is principally because with the onset of Parkinson’s disease, I can’t be as dependable in my presence at RTM and committee meetings.”
Rose said he “was obviously disheartened that John could not make it anymore.” He added: “I understand his reasons why. John was, frankly for me, kind of a mentor when I first arrived on the RTM.”
The 76-year-old Booth, who represented District 5 in the Greens Farms area, was a longtime chair of the legislative body’s Finance Committee. Under the town’s charter, fellow district representatives will select a successor to fill out Booth’s term, which expires in November.
Comments: Comment Policy
The RTM owes you much more then one can imagine. Thank you for serving our town and teaching so many, so much. I will miss seeing you at our meetings and never forget your common sense attitude. Thank you for teaching me so much of what I know today. You have been a mentor to us all…Be well my friend….Stephen Rubin, RTM District 7.
SECOND !!!
Thanks John ... Sean
Wish you all the best, and thank you for all your years of community service neighbor.
Best regards, John
John,
All the best and thanks for the service to our community.
Sean, cute! For those reading this. John was always the fastest gun in seconding a motion. John, your “second” will be missed.
John…
So sad to learn last night that you will be resigning from the RTM. I wish you good health and many more wonderful times. You have been a mentor to so many of us, you showed us by example the true functioning of a non partisan body. Your expertise at evaluating complex financial requests and your willingness to not force your views on others…helped many of us learn how to run a committee meeting….on a personal note…many thanks for all the times you came through when i was the scheduler of the invocations…i would always save you…and after several calls when some had a myriad of excuses ...you always came though….and always had something meaningful to say..so hopefully…you will continue to give us your good counsel…and bless us with your presence..
Lisa
John took me under his wing when I was elected to serve in the RTM in 2001, and was put on the finance study committee It was not unusual, as others have mentioned, he was a mentor to many new RTMers. From him I learned that a Chairperson needs to be above the fray and to allow all members to say their piece. He was tough when he had to be, but always cordial. He has been a source of knowledge and a calming influence on scores of RTMers. I know he’ll be watching the proceedings at home with a watchful eye.
Best wishes in your retirement, John.
Charlie Haberstroh
John, you have been such a part of the RTM for me. It won’t be the same without you at committee meetings; without your warm greeting at the start of every session; without your “calling the question” as debate wears on to all hours; and, without your seconding the motion at a speed second to none.
Thank you for all that you have done for the town and for the RTM, for being there for me and for us all. Please come back and visit, soon. Keep us on our toes. Remind us to second the motion, keep debate crisp, and get to the core of the question.
Best Wishes Always,
Judy
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