Lawsuit threatens civic spirit of Greenwich
The town of Greenwich runs on volunteers—neighbors who step up to serve on boards, committees and commissions. Today that civic tradition is threatened by First Selectman Fred Camillo’s protracted legal attack against five Board of Education (BOE) members.
A lawsuit without a purpose
Seventeen months after filing a lawsuit against the BOE, Camillo continues his attacks on five unpaid volunteers—even though the original dispute has long been resolved. Paul Cappiali, Camillo’s pick to fill a vacancy, serves on the BOE following the November 2025 election.
Yet, taxpayer-funded legal costs for the lawsuit continue to mount—approaching $500,000 and climbing. The town is paying the First Selectman’s legal bills, but refuses to provide funds for the BOE members’ legal defense, withholding already appropriated money.
In an unprecedented escalation, Camillo and the town argue innew court filings that BOE members are not entitled to legal defense for their board duties, despite clear protection under Connecticut law. In plain terms, the First Selectman has taken a disagreement over authority and procedure and weaponized it by threatening volunteers with hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees.
Camillo took to the airwaves last week, demanding on a radio show that the BOE “admit” he has the authority to fill a BOE vacancy as a condition for ending his lawsuit—even though no such power exists in the Greenwich Town Charter, town ordinances, or BOE policy. Importantly, court documents show the BOE relied on written advice from the town attorney when they filled the vacant seat.
A warning to us all
If a dispute with the First Selectman means basic protections can be stripped away, then all volunteers across town—from the Board of Estimate and Taxation and Representative Town Meeting to Planning and Zoning and building committees—face real personal risk. That’s not just wrong—it violates Connecticut law and undermines the Greenwich tradition of volunteerism that has been a cornerstone of our town—until now.
Greenwich RTM approves FY27 budget
In a decisive session this past Monday night, the Representative Town Meeting (RTM) voted 170-13 to approve the town budget. By choosing investment over deferral, we are moving forward with:
- Dorothy Hamill Rink: Full replacement of the aging facility and major investments to improve Morlot Park.
- Greenwich High School: Critical soil remediation, funding for a proposed new swimming pool, and tennis court upgrades (or replacement) and a secondary egress.
- Julian Curtiss School: Funding for the final-phase renovations.
- Byram River Bridge/Dearfield & Grove Lane Culvert:Addressing flooding issues and risks.
- Senior Center: Essential improvements to enhance services.
- Public Safety: Enhanced measures to protect our community and first responders.
BET’s unanimous budget
The Democratic-led Board of Estimate and Taxation (BET) has addressed Greenwich’s challenges head-on by leading with a collaborative, bipartisan approach. Their leadership resulted in a unanimous 12-0 budget vote and the delivery of a fiscal plan to the RTM that maintains the lowest mill rate in the state while finally prioritizing critical infrastructure.
The unanimous tally—six Democrats and six Republicans voting together—capped months of structured deliberation that BET Chair David Weisbrod credited to “productive dialogue among all BET members throughout the budget review process.”
Ahead: A transparent process
“This is a clear departure from last year, when the Republican-led BET delayed posting guidelines until late November—after the election,” said Laura Erickson, BET Budget Committee chair. “By releasing them early in the budget process, we empower departments to prepare their budgets with a clear understanding of our fiscal goals, rather than rendering the guidelines ineffective as a planning tool.”
Fiscal discipline meets community investment
The approved budget totals approximately $542.4 million. Notably, the BET trimmed more than $6 million from First Selectman Fred Camillo’s initial proposal—the result of granular, department-by-department review rather than across-the-board reductions.
The Board of Education operating budget was funded in full, and the capital tax levy was increased on a bipartisan basis to begin addressing a long-acknowledged backlog of deferred town infrastructure projects.
Responsible governance
This is what responsible governance looks like: smartly structured fiscal management, addressing long-standing problems today, and planning for the future rather than deferring it to the next generation. Under this new Democratic leadership, Greenwich is proving that we can maintain our fiscal strength while building a better town.
What we’re reading
As the school year comes to a close, we want to highlight Greenwich special-educator Joy Colon, who recently received the Connecticut Education Association’s highest award for her more than 25 years of dedicated excellence.
“Colon is recognized for her professionalism, high expectations, and dedication to her students, colleagues, and students’ parents.”
The citation continues by praising “her ability to make a meaningful difference in the lives of her students and create environments where students see themselves reflected in their learning.” More about Colon here.
Action Calendar
May 15. Drop in.
Join Greenwich Selectwoman Rachel Khanna for coffee and conversation. Hear about what’s happening in town and bring your questions or comments. 1-2 p.m., Coffee for Good, 48 Maple Avenue.
May 17. Play.
Join us for Popsicles in the Playground. Bring the whole family, enjoy a popsicle, and share a chance to meet other families, make new friends, and chat about what’s happening around town in a welcoming, easygoing setting. All are welcome—especially those new to Greenwich! Meet at 1:30 p.m. at the Bendheim Western Greenwich Civic Center playground, 449 Pemberwick Road. Questions? Contact us.
May 20. Learn.
The League of Women Voters hosts tax assessor Lauren Elliott and BET chair David Weisbrod for a conversation about the town’s recent revaluations, with new property values to be reflected on tax bills as of July 1. 11 a.m., Zoom only. Register here.
May 20. Gather.
Greenwich Democrats monthly meeting. Open to all Democrats in town. 7:30 – 9:30 p.m. Town Hall Meeting Room.
May 25. March.
Join the DTC at the Memorial Day Parade to honor the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country. Gather at 9:30 a.m. on Lincoln Avenue, just off Sound Beach Avenue in Old Greenwich. Parade begins at 10 a.m.
| Volume 4, Number 46 • May 14, 2026 |
| Paid for by the Greenwich Democratic Town Committee. |
| Greenwich Democratic Town Committee P.O. Box 126 Greenwich, CT 06836 |