[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 14]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 20063]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING MAUREEN NICHOLSON FOR HER SERVICE TO THE TOWN OF POMFRET, CT

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JOE COURTNEY

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 10, 2015

  Mr. COURTNEY. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to salute Maureen Nicholson's 
more than thirty years of service to the Town of Pomfret, Connecticut. 
Maureen has served in all corners of local leadership since she moved 
to Pomfret in 1988, most recently as the town's First Selectman.
  From her start in Pomfret, Maureen was involved in the Parent Teacher 
Organization, Recreation Commission, Democratic Town Committee, 
Planning and Zoning Commission, Board of Finance, and Tree Warden, 
among many more town and regional organizations. In 2009, she was 
elected to the Board of Selectmen, and in 2012 was elected First 
Selectman.
  During her years as First Selectman, Maureen secured almost half a 
million dollars in grants for the Town of Pomfret. She secured the 
town's emergency shelter and began work to bring large-scale solar 
power to the town. Maureen saw the potential cost-savings in 
collaborating with neighboring towns to share accounting and auditing 
services, and launched an innovative initiative with the Town of 
Brooklyn. It is this enterprising spirit that delivered forward 
thinking policies to Pomfret, and the town and region have benefitted.
  Maureen also worked to increase awareness for residents of Pomfret by 
founding and editing the Pomfret Times, and redesigning the town's 
website to promote and inform residents of the town's resources and 
news. Her other non-governmental achievements include service on the 
Day Kimball Hospital Women's Board, founding of the Pomfret Gardeners, 
membership on the Community Regional YMCA Board, and serving as 
Director of the Performing Arts of Northeastern Connecticut.
  I ask my colleagues to please rise to thank Maureen for her years of 
steadfast dedication. Although her leadership as First Selectman will 
surely be missed, I am confident that her commitment to Pomfret will 
continue in the years to come.

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