Letter to the Editor: Attendance and Effective Participation Matter in Public Service
Tim Griswold says voters should consider Devin Berke’s 2025 attendance record on the Board of Assessment Appeals when filling a vacancy on the Region 18 Board of Education.
To the Editor:
On Oct. 6, a Special Town Meeting will be held at the Middle School auditorium at 6 p.m. to elect a new member to the Region 18 Board of Education. This opening has been created due to the resignation of Scott Brown.
The Democratic Town Committee has endorsed Devin Berke as its candidate for this opening. I am writing to express serious concerns that Mr. Berke is not the right choice for this position.
Here are my reasons:
- Mr. Berke was an alternate member of the Board of Assessment Appeals (“BAA”) during the Town’s revaluation hearings during March and April 2025. Of the nine meetings held, Mr. Berke was present for only three of those meetings.
- In addition, of the three meetings Mr. Berke attended, he either arrived late or left early.
- Mr. Berke’s poor attendance and performance handicapped the BAA’s work during the 2025 revaluation because there were generally only three regular members and one alternate to handle 176 appeals.
- Mr. Berke claimed that work constraints and other commitments caused his poor performance. However, he knew in advance how important it was that all members attend faithfully yet he was unapologetic about his chronic absence. Since he did not show up routinely for the BAA hearings, he is clearly the wrong choice to be elected to be a full member of the Board of Education.
Based on this background, it is my strong recommendation that Mr. Berke not be elected to the Board of Education at this time. He must prove to the voters that his attendance and effective participation have improved to the high level required for one to be elected to the Board of Education.
Quite simply, Mr. Berke needs more seasoning before he is elected to be a full member of the Board of Education.
Happily, there is a much stronger and qualified candidate that we should elect. Please join me to elect Ms. Brandy Campbell to fill the Board of Education seat on Oct. 6.
Respectfully,
Timothy Griswold
Old Lyme
Editor’s Note: Griswold is a Republican member of the Old Lyme Board of Assessment Appeals.
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Tim,
Your letter attacking Devin Berke’s volunteering for the Lyme-Old Lyme Region 18 Board of Education lacks some key, real details. You know full well that the BAA schedule of holding meetings during the workday makes it very difficult for those with full-time jobs, but who volunteer for the BAA to serve the public, to attend meetings. ln consulting with Devin, I learned that there were always three required voting members of the BAA present at the meetings he was unable to attend.
Old Lyme voters clearly appreciate the training Devin gained as an alternate member on the BAA and his directly-applicable work experience: they elected him to a regular seat on the BAA in the last municipal election. Since being elected Devin has made all the meetings of the BAA.
Devin’s experience on the BAA requires listening and finding a fair settlement. These are skills that make him just what we need on the Board of Education.