*Video Added* Flatto Feted After 16 Years on Board of Selectmen

First Selectman Ken Flatto, who's scheduled to leave his post April 28 after nearly 16 years on the Board of Selectmen, isn't the longest-serving town official by a long shot.

But Town Public Works Director Richard White, who's worked for the town since 1985 and as DPW director since 1993, said Flatto set a high standard for future first selectmen to live up to.

"No one worked harder," White said, adding that he gained a lot of respect for Flatto over the years. White said Flatto treated town employees well and that Flatto was "always very compassionate in his response" if town employees needed his advice or assistance. "It's a side of him I don't think a lot of people knew," White said.

White said Flatto was diligent, conscientious, a hard worker and always paid attention to residents' complaints. "Those are real. Those are real things," White said.

Fire Chief Richard Felner, who's worked for the town since 1959, said, "We're very fortunate in this town. It's been run well and I've worked for all the first selectmen from John Sullivan on up, and Ken did a good job in his 16 years." Sullivan served as first selectman from 1959 to 1983.

"I enjoyed working for him, and I wish him all the luck in the world," Felner said of Flatto.

Gerald Lombardo, director of the town's Parks and Recreation Department since 1987, said Flatto let him speak his mind, and, while they didn't always agree, they had respect for each other's opinions and Flatto was always fair. "He had the town's interests first and foremost," Lombardo said.

Deputy Police Chief Christopher Lyddy said Flatto was a "consummate professional who deeply cares about public safety."

"He was always fair and put the public's interest before all others," Lyddy said.

About three dozen town employees and residents attended Flatto's farewell party in the Old Academy, which is a former schoolhouse that's a stone's throw from Sullivan-Independence Hall. Flatto's wife, Liz Flatto, was in attendance, along with Diana and Evan, two of their children. Town employees and residents socialized and enjoyed a spread of bread, meats and cake before Selectmen James Walsh, Sherri Steeneck and Flatto offered remarks.

Steeneck said she appreciated the time Flatto devoted to the job and how hard it was on Flatto's wife and children to have him working late and attending night meetings of town boards and commissions. "We all really appreciate and understand the time commitment and how often you have been without your husband and father," Steeneck said to Flatto's family.

Walsh also thanked Flatto's family, saying Flatto was "a pretty hands-on guy throughout his tenure and that involved some 80-hour weeks."

"It is truly a great effort someone needs to put in that job, and Ken has done that and put in the work," Walsh said.

Walsh noted that Wednesday afternoon's Board of Selectmen's meeting, which followed the farewell party, would be Flatto's last meeting.

"Assuming I don't change my mind on Wednesday," Flatto said, which prompted Steeneck, who will become first selectman on a temporary basis after Flatto leaves, to interject, "That's fine by me."

Flatto replied, "Just in jest."

Flatto said the town had a great workforce and that he wished residents could see how hard town employees worked. "The truth is, this is the finest workforce I've ever seen in government," Flatto said. "I wish the 59 and-a-half thousand citizens in town could see you upclose...and really see the quality of the employees and managers."

Flatto said he, Steeneck and Walsh, who comprise the three-member Board of Selectmen, "worked unbelievably well together." But he added that their working together was bittersweet because Steeneck and Walsh had replaced selectmen who died in office. Steeneck replaced former Selectman Denise Dougiello, and Walsh replaced former Selectman Ralph Bowley.

State Rep. Brenda Kupchick said she would miss Flatto, saying she had worked with him for a long time. "I've known Ken since he started in town," said Kupchick, a former member of the Representative Town Meeting and Board of Education, "and you build a relationship working for the betterment of the town."

"I appreciate his service. It takes a lot of dedication to be the first selectman in Fairfield," Kupchick said.

Town Fiscal Officer Paul Hiller, who sometimes disagreed with Flatto over fiscal matters, said, "We've had our moments...but any relationship like that has. But the town is healthy, the town is very financially strong right now."

Flatto said his political career in Fairfield, which began with his election to the Board of Selectmen in 1995, wouldn't have been possible without the support of his family. Flatto, a Democrat, first won election as first selectman in 1997, returned to the position of selectman in 1999 after losing his re-election bid that November to Republican John Metsopoulos, and then won election as first selectman in 2001 in a rematch with Metsopoulos. After his 2001 victory, Flatto won three consecutive elections to the town's top job. His last victory, in November 2007, was to a four-year term.

"We're still standing and we made it through almost 12 incredible years," Flatto said to the crowd. "This town has been great for us, and we're going to be here for a long time to come."

After Flatto leaves on April 28, it will be up to Walsh and Steeneck to decide on Flatto's replacement. The Democratic Town Committee endorsed Michael Tetreau, a member of the town's Board of Finance, to serve as interim first selectman until the November election, but Walsh would have to agree to the DTC's choice.

Republican Town Committee Chairman James Baldwin said last week that the person who serves as interim first selectman should not be someone interested in running for the town's top job in the fall because it could politicize the Board of Selectmen and give the interim first selectman an unfair advantage. Steeneck has indicated her preference for Tetreau, while Walsh indicated something else Wednesday afternoon. Steeneck will serve as first selectman until either she and Walsh agree on Flatto's replacement or the matter is put before a handful of elected Democrats in Fairfield, which would happen if Steeneck and Walsh don't agree within 30 days.

"I can't say I'm going to enjoy doing this, but I am until Jim Walsh agrees on something," Steeneck said of serving as first selectman.

"I'd pick out some new carpeting," Walsh said to laughter from the crowd.