The Board of Selectmen (BOS) held its regular meeting Tuesday evening, Oct. 22.
Although the selectmen moved forward on a number of business matters, it’s clear they cannot yet turn the page on the controversy stemming from the Wilton Library‘s dismissal of Aisha Gawad, the library’s inaugural writer-in-residence. The board continues to hear feedback from residents about the matter, including from State Rep. Keith Denning, who compared the events surrounding Gawad’s dismissal to the witch trials of long ago.
Main Agenda
The selectmen efficiently worked through their agenda for the evening, which addressed a number of initiatives:
- Social Services Department leadership: Town Administrator Matt Knickerbocker reported a “very strong candidate” has been identified for the position vacated by former director Sarah Heath, who retired last spring. Knickerbocker said he would report back to the board after some final details are resolved.
- Cannondale Master Planning: The BOS responded to a memo sent by Historic District and Historic Properties Commission (HDHP) Chair Lori Fusco requesting the BOS’ acceptance of an Historic Preservation Enhancement Grant which was awarded to HDHP. The $20,000 grant will provide funds to hire a consultant to develop an “historic preservation guide” as a preliminary step in a master planning process for Cannondale. The board voted unanimously to accept the grant. (The Board of Finance must also vote to accept it.)
- I&I Sewer Work: The board unanimously approved a new agreement with engineering firm Wright Pierce, with whom the Town has been working to identify and reduce “inflow and infiltration” (I&I) in Wilton’s sanitary sewer system. The contract includes the design and bidding phase for repair work along an estimated 8,900 linear feet of pipe and 325 manholes throughout the system. The roughly $110,000 cost will be paid from the Town’s sewer fund. Limiting the excess flow in Wilton’s sewer system has been critical for the Water Pollution Control Authority‘s (WPCA) ability to approve new sewer applications in recent months.
- NRVT Ridge Route: The board unanimously voted to move forward in partnership with the Friends of Norwalk River Valley Trail to submit an application for a LOTCIP (Local Transportation Capital Improvement Program) grant to fund construction of a new section of trail in north Wilton. The “Ridge Route” would be approximately 6,000 feet along a ridge to the east of Mountain Rd. on state-owned land.
- Comstock EV Charger: The selectmen unanimously approved a grant application to replace the non-working electric vehicle charging station at Comstock Community Center.
First Selectman Toni Boucher made a motion to add an agenda item, which included discussion of a preliminary FY 2026 BOS budget forecast. Boucher indicated the budget numbers had been shared with the Board of Finance for developing budget guidance on the FY’26 BOS and Board of Education budgets. The BOF is holding a special meeting at 7 p.m. tonight, Wednesday, Oct. 23, to discuss the preliminary budget numbers. [Editor’s note: GMW has requested a copy of the documents discussed during the meeting, which were not posted with the BOS meeting agenda, and have not yet been posted with the BOF agenda.]
More Fallout from Library Decision
As happened at the Oct. 7 BOS meeting, the public comment portion of the Oct. 22 BOS meeting focused on the dismissal of the Wilton Library‘s writer-in-residence, Aisha Gawad.
First, Wilton resident Kevin Hickey spoke, with criticism for what he called “an organized mob” demanding Gawad’s removal and “highly sensational” reporting by Good Morning Wilton. He also criticized First Selectman Toni Boucher‘s Sept. 24 public statement, which he believes conveyed “bullying and threats” that resulted in Gawad’s dismissal.
State Rep. Keith Denning made a lengthy statement in which he characterized the opposition to Gawad and events leading up to her dismissal as “the 21st-century equivalency of burning witches.”
“In our world of rampant shaming and ghosting on social media, it has become all too common for us to burn witches again — all of the hate coming out of our fear of those who think differently. I would have hoped we would have learned to stop and think this through before taking such harmful actions to our neighbor,” Denning said.
Denning apologized for not “protecting” Gawad’s rights while she was “sent to trial…. condemned… and incinerated in social media” before losing her position.
“As an elected official, I must always remember that I represent all of my constituents, and not just the ones that I agree with, socially or politically. The role of a leader is to protect the rights of all involved, to work towards justice under the law and the protection of those who may not have the loudest voice. In the events regarding the dismissal [of Gawad] from the library as author in residence, I feel I have failed in my duty to fulfill that protective role,” Denning said.
“I apologize to [Gawad] for not coming to your aid when you were indicted, convicted and executed for modern day, social media witchcraft and for the harm done to you,” he said.
Denning specifically criticized Boucher’s Sept. 24 public statement.
“I should have pushed back publicly regarding the statement made by the First Selectman, who I and many others believe made a threat to cancel the town funding for the library if [Gawad] was retained,” Denning said.
With a call to “understand more and condemn less,” Denning urged the public to “rethink how we treat each other” and “have more compassion and understanding when these conflicts occur.”
Longtime resident Sara Curtis echoed Denning’s suggestion, saying “I think we all need to look at how we’re treating one another and how we are doing things.”
In contrast, 10-year resident Michael Spiro applauded the Library’s action.
“I think one of the great things about this community is that it always has felt like such a welcoming place for us as a Jewish family, and especially the library,” he said. “The library has been a very important part of our our experience in this town and this community, and that’s why, when the national news was reporting that the new writer-in-residence had refused to sit on a panel with a ‘Zionist’ — for the first time, as Jewish residents of Wilton, we really felt concerned.”
“I wanted to thank Toni [Boucher] and the library board for taking such quick and decisive action to make clear [that] this is a town where all are welcome,” Spiro added.
Boucher thanked Hickey, Denning, Curtis and Spiro for making their statements, but did not offer a response.
Selectman Ross Tartell also expressed his support for the library during the meeting.
“I want to be very clear and very strongly in support of the Wilton library and its work,” said Tartell, referring to the library’s support of the Confronting Hate initiative. “The Wilton library is dealing with the full range of what is going on in America and trying to make sure people’s voices are heard… They are deeply supportive of efforts to build a respectful society.”
[Editor’s note: This story has been updated to include Tartell’s comment, which was inadvertently omitted in the original story that was published.]
The Board of Selectmen will have its next meeting on Monday, Nov. 4.
I would again like to thank our amazing First Selectman Toni Boucher for standing up to Antisemitism in our town when it was under the guise of Anti-Zionism. She has a true moral compass and we should be proud to have her as our First Selectman!
I also want to thank the Wilton Library Association for doing the right thing. Overall I agree with Ross Tartell, the library has been a wonderful resource for the whole community and that is why it was so concerning recently given the Ms. Gawad situation. I want it to remain a wonderful resource for all free from hate.
Unfortunately, although well spoken, State Rep. Keith Denning’s remarks completely miss the mark. There was no witch hunt against Ms. Gawad here; instead, there has been a well-organized witch hunt against Jews that intensified post-October 7th. It has been under the guise of Anti-Zionism and questions Israel’s every move in ways no other country would be questioned. Ms. Gawad does not deny refusing to be on a writer panel because the moderation was a proud supporter of Israel. Ms. Gawad is on the side of silencing Jews and we should not and cannot support giving her a platform to spread this new insidious subtle form of Antisemitism. I find these comments discouraging coming from State Rep. Denning but not surprising given his own questionable comments since October 7th.
Mr. Denning’s remarks are late! Remember, this guy also said earlier that Hamas terrorists are “freedom fighters”!
Thank you Mr. Spiro, Mr. Kesselman and Mr. Katz for reinforcing exactly what I just said during the meeting. Keep the woodpile full as there will be more to burn.
Wow. Keith Denning thinks he is being very reasonable. Let me turn things around a bit:
Ms. Gawad is the one that cancel-cultured a Jewish author by not appearing at a panel alongside her on a unrelated topic, simply because this author believed Israel had a right to exist, and yes even to defend itself after the outrageous crimes against humanity that were committed against the kibbutz communities on October 7th. In my mind, Israel was a nation born after the nightmares of the Holocaust, a time from which every story makes me weep about the inhumanity and cruelty humans are capable of in our worst moments, and it has a right to exist as the single country for Jewish people to call home. Also bear in mind Israel is still defending itself from on-going rocket attacks today and every day for the past decade.
In Mr. Denning’s own words: “In our world of rampant shaming and ghosting on social media, it has become all too common for us to burn witches again — all of the hate coming out of our fear of those who think differently.”
Ms. Gawad, please take this to heart, and next time agree to sit next to someone who thinks differently than you do, and open your heart to other viewpoints.
Only 2.4% of the U.S. population is Jewish. If an “organized mob” attacked the Wilton Library (by writing emails of concern – what an attack!!), perhaps this small minority felt quite persecuted, and this country should sit up and listen.
Do you think it’s an “attack” to refuse to continue supporting and donating to an organization that would appoint Ms. Gawad? Because some of us were quite angry and did not stop to give benefit of the doubt that perhaps the decision was made in ignorance, and really why should we pay for an organization that we don’t feel includes us?
Continuing my thoughts on 2.4% of the US population: In Mr. Denning’s own words “The role of a leader is to protect the rights of all involved, to work towards justice under the law and the protection of those who may not have the loudest voice.”
Instead of criticizing Toni Boucher, Mr. Denning should be give her a big thank you for having the moral clarity to call the library to task, and helping them come to their decision to remove Ms. Gawad from her position. A big thank you also to the Wilton Library, for correcting an understandable oversight, as the incident by Ms. Gawad happened after the library decided to appoint her. It made it immediately clear she was a poor choice, emails were sent, and the library reacted promptly to this new information.
Mr. Denning, in a prior personal email conversation, you really made me feel heard, and I was under the impression that you believe you have made mistakes in the past regarding choice of language and would like to heal the wound that you have caused. Here is an opportunity, please take it. I can understand you don’t love the way some people may express themselves in anger with “attacks”, it’s not the most polite and not usually the way I would do things, but I hope you can understand that the original “attack” was made by Ms. Gawad, who decided to ghost a writer’s panel by refusing to sit next to a Jewish author. I take this Antisemitic behavior to heart, and will not stand by it. As a member of 2.4% of the US population, I can say that this country has been a wonderful melting pot and has made myself and my family feel welcome, and I will fight for that to continue and not revert back to the 1930s Germany mentality.
From me personally, thank you Toni for taking to heart the burden of ensuring an inclusive culture here in Wilton!
Thank you Toni Boucher.