BRISTOL — Peter Coffey will not seek re-election to the Bristol selectboard next year.
Coffey, whose term expires in March, officially informed fellow board members at the Dec. 16 meeting.
It was a decision he had made more than a year ago, he told the Independent Thursday morning.
“My wife and I would like to do some traveling and maybe spend some time in warmer weather at this time of year,” he said, chuckling. As he spoke, it was 4 degrees in Bristol, according to weatherunderground.com.
“I didn’t think it fair to miss selectboard meetings because we were traveling,” Coffey continued, “but I also didn’t want to schedule travel around those meetings.”
Coffey was first elected to the selectboard in 2016, when he ran unopposed to fill a vacant seat. He was re-elected in 2018, again running unopposed. During fiscal year 2019 he chaired the board.
In addition to serving on the selectboard Coffey was a longtime member of the Bristol Fire Department. He’s also a talented woodworker.
Current selectboard chair Joel Bouvier told Coffey at this past Monday night’s meeting that he was sorry to hear the news.
“Peter’ll probably sit glued to his TV out in the shop on Monday nights, watching (selectboard meetings),” Bouvier joked.
Coffey’s is one of two selectboard terms set to expire in 2020.
Fellow Bristol board member and current vice-chair Michelle Perlee confirmed last week that she will seek re-election in March.
Bristol residents interested in learning more about the work of their selectboard are encouraged to visit bristolvt.org/meeting-minutes, where they will find agendas and minutes of past meetings.
Those who wish to run for a seat on the selectboard must collect at least 30 signatures from registered Bristol voters and submit them to the Town Clerk by Jan. 27, 2020. Petition forms are available at the Town Clerk’s office.
Election Day is March 3.
Reach Christopher Ross at [email protected].