Michael Mason Resigns From Board Of Estimate And Taxation

GREENWICH, CT — As Michael Mason began his new role as the labor contract consultant with the Town of Greenwich last week, he officially resigned from the Board of Estimate and Taxation where he served for 18 years, which included two stints as board chair.

Mason handed in his letter of resignation to the town clerk's office on July 1, his first day in his new job. Mason was awarded the two-year contract last month after the Town issued a solicitation of Requests for Proposals for the position, which reports to First Selectman Fred Camillo. Mason, who is not considered a town employee in the new job, will be paid $12,500 per month as a subcontractor.

It was Mason's hope to finish out his term on the BET this year, as he told the Greenwich Republican Town Committee that he did not plan on running again this fall. But questions and criticisms about a potential conflict of interest were raised after Camillo's office made the hiring announcement last month, so Mason decided it was best to just step down.

"I think the optics of [serving in both roles] would have created descension. I'm not here to do that. I'm here to serve the town. It was just easier to do this," Mason said.

Mason leaves the BET after almost two decades of service.

"I'll always miss the BET. I served with some tremendous people. It was a great run. It was time to look at a new way to serve the town in a different light," he said, noting that he's excited to get to work in his new position.

"I had 10 years on the Representative Town Meeting, 18 years on the BET. This will be a change, but if I get the support that I had while serving on the RTM and the BET, hopefully we can represent the town very well here," he added.

Karen Fassuliotis is now the acting chair of the BET, since she served as the vice-chair under Mason. Fassuliotis wished Mason well in this new chapter of service to Greenwich.

"I'm glad that he has an opportunity to continue to contribute to our town," she said. "It really was a privilege to serve as his Vice Chair and I wish him well in this new position."

Fassuliotis said last week that she plans on calling for a special meeting of the BET to fill the vacancy left by Mason. The member must be a Republican, as the 12-person board is split evenly between Democrats and Republicans. Fassuliotis also anticipated voting for a new chair during the meeting, too. The chair serves as the tie-breaking vote.

There have been talks between Fassuliotis and Democratic Caucus leader, Leslie Moriarty, about finalizing a date for a special meeting. As of Tuesday, no date was listed on the BET's webpage on the town site, but Fassuliotis said last week the meeting could take place during the next full BET meeting on July 19.

The BET has 30 days from Mason's resignation announcement to fill the vacancy, otherwise the Board of Selectmen will handle it.

"I'm hoping that's not going to occur," Fassuliotis said.

The Board of Education recently filled a vacancy left by Meghan Olsson, who is moving out of town. Dr. Gaetane Francis, a former BOE member, was selected as a replacement.

Mason said he hopes the BET can follow a similar pattern, and find someone who is familiar with how the board operates who doesn't have intentions of running for election in November.

"I think that is how the BET should handle it. But it's their choice, not mine," Mason said.