Harry Fisher Elected Chair of Greenwich Board of Estimate and Taxation

On Monday night after the members of the Board of Estimate and Taxation  were sworn in by town clerk Jackie Budkins, they voted on officers: Chair, Vice Chair and Clerk.

The BET Chair is elected from the party with the most BET votes. In November 2023, that was the Republican party.

BET Chair: Harry Fisher

Republican Karen Fassuliotis nominated Republican Harry Fisher for chair, noting he was a third generation Greenwich resident and life long Republican with a long history of volunteering. Fisher served on the RTM for 12 years.

“He is committed to building bi-partisan consensus on our board while maintaining core fiscal values that have kept Greenwich the best place to work, raise a family and retire,” Fassuliotis said.

Democrat David Weisbrod seconded the nomination.

Next, Lucia Jansen nominated Nisha Arora.

“It is with pride that I endorse our current incumbent BET member, a dedicated public servant who has demonstrated unwavering commitment and exceptional leadership in our community,” Jansen said, noting that Arora had been integral to the budget analysis and discussion on the budget committee and the board.

Jansen noted that Ms Arora had spent two decades managing the operations of financial firms which she said would bring a fresh perspective to town governance, emphasizing efficiency, service and a focus on data driven policies.

She also noted that Ms Arora had a BS in chemical engineering and mathematics from Rutgers and an MBA from Yale.

“Her vision is clear: Bring people together around sound policy create a Greenwich that thrives on unity,” Jansen said.

David Alfano seconded Arora’s nomination.

Yes for Nisha Arora: Alfano, Arora, Jansen and Leslie Tarkington.

Yes for Harry Fisher: Karen Fassuliotis, Harry Fisher, Scott Kalb, Matt DesChamps, Stephen Selbst, David Weisbrod, Leslie Moriarty, and Elliot Alchek.

The vote was 8-4 for Harry Fisher as chair.

Vice Chair: Karen Fassuliotis

Mr. Fisher nominated Ms Fassuliotis for vice chair.

“We all know Karen. This is her fourth term on the BET. She has served multiple terms on the RTM – so many she can’t recall. While on the RTM she was chair of the Health and Human Services committee and at various times she has served as the chair and vice chair of this board.”

He noted Fassuliotis had also chaired the HR and Law committees.

Ms Moriarty seconded the nomination.

There were no other nominations.

Abstain: David Alfano, Lucia Jansen, Nisha Arora and Leslie Tarkington.

Yes for Fassuliotis: Fassuliotis, Fisher, Moriarty, Selbst and Kalb, Weisbrod, DesChamps and Alchek.

The vote was 8 for Ms Fassuliotis; 4 abstentions.

Clerk: Karen Fassuliotis

Mr. Fisher also nominated Ms Fassuliotis to be the board’s clerk.

Ms Tarkington nominated David Alfano to be clerk. Fisher seconded.

Mr. Alfano declined to accept the nomination.

Abstain: Alfano, Jansen, Arora, Tarkington

Yes or Fassuliotis: Fassuliotis, Fisher, Kalb, DesChamps, Selbst, Weisbrod, Moriarty, Alchek.

8-0-4 for Karen Fassuliotis.

From there, Mr. Fisher announced some committee assignments:

Budget Committee: Tarkington chair, Fisher, Moriarty and Weisbrod members

Policy and Procedure: Fassuliotis chair, Moriarty member

Law Committee: Fassuliotis as chair Selbst as member

Mr. Fisher said he would take over as the liaison for the Central Middle School building committee. Ms Arora had been the liaison.

After the meeting, Democratic board member Moriarty emailed to say, “Democrats on the BET care deeply about our town, residents and taxpayers. Our Town Charter and the results of the recent municipal election require that the BET members choose one of the six Republicans for BET Chair. Our caucus was unified in voting for the person we believe affords the BET the best chance of operating in a cooperative and bipartisan manner.”