001We should pick an area of the parking lot where we need to be cheaper. Just give them like sheed us. >> Oh, yeah. >> It depends what shoes I will wear if I'm walking versus clothes I will wear versus being in a car. We got to change that time. >> Not tonight obviously, but for maybe for Tuesday. >> You can play with it during submission. >> I play with it during subcommittee. understand. >> Um, well, Jason, I wanted to see if we had time on Friday, but we just wanted change the time. >> Cool. Old school, right? >> You know what that term used to be called? Savior. >> Really? Yeah. >> That's what it started off as. >> Okay. We have to put the instructions in there, too. >> I noticed the colors in
002it. >> That's why I don't want to get somehow >> get it down, but I think >> Oh, absolutely. No, you definitely for what I missed. >> Absolutely. Good evening everyone. It is now 6 p.m. I would like to convene the special board meeting tonight, May 20th, 2026. I now ask that you stand for the pledge of allegiance led by Boy Scout Troop 52. >> Right hand over to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you. Moving on to item C. Roll call. If you could please. Miss Davidson. >> Miss Balen >> here. >> Miss Hosking >> here. Miss Faressa >> here. >> Mr. Malagudi >> here. >> Mr. Balikica >> here. >>
003Miss Lton >> here. >> Miss Martino >> here. >> Mr. Gavales. Mr. Gavales. Moving on to item D, ceremony. If you please, Miss Hoski. >> John C. Gavales, loving father, grandfather, brother, and uncle. John C. Gavales 80 of Watertown, Connecticut passed away peacefully on March 25th, surrounded by his loving family and welcomed into the arms of the Lord. He was the beloved husband of the late Roxanna Hayes Gavales. John was born in Meridan, Connecticut on November 22nd, 1945. a son of the late Nicholas and Sarah Clayton Gavales. He grew up in Wallingford where he attended local schools and later served honorably in the United States Navy during the Vietnam era. After his honorable discharge, John earned an associate degree in criminal justice from Madata Community College. Thereafter, he began his law enforcement career in August
004with the Watertown, Connecticut Police Department. Starting as a patrol officer, John rose through the ranks to serve in the positions of detective, detective sergeant, chief inspector, deputy chief, and ultimately as chief of police from June 2007 until his retirement on December 31st, 2020, concluding 51 years of devoted service to the Watertown community. After his retirement in 2020, John continued to serve the community he loved in many ways. He was twice elected to the Watertown Board of Education and served on the police commission. He also served as chairman of the board of directors for the Connecticut Law Enforcement Memorial Foundation, honoring and remembering officers who lost their lives in the line of duty. In addition, John served on the board of directors of the Connecticut Police Chiefs Association, where he held the position of president from
005June 2017 to June 2018, as well as on the boards of the Hundred Club of Connecticut and Water Oak Crimestoppers. More important than his dedicated service to his country and community, John was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, and uncle. He provided for his family and created countless cherished memories. Each summer, he loved taking family vacations, often to Virginia Beach, as well as on numerous treasured trips throughout New England. John and his family shared many joyful holidays together, especially Christmases, Thanksgivings, and summer celebrations at the beach or watching fireworks on the 4th of July. He always supported his children in every endeavor, even serving as Cub Scout master for Pack 52 while his boys participated. Known lovingly as Poppy, John adored his four grandchildren and took immense joy in attending their soccer, basketball, and softball
006games, track and cross country meets, dance recital, and band concerts. He was present for every birthday and holiday, his love shining through in his kindness, generous time, encouragement, and pride in his family. In his free time, John was an avid reader of true crime and political books. Left to honor and cherish his memory are his two sons, Tim Gavales and his wife Heidi of Watertown, Matt Gavales and his wife Christine of Berlin, his four cherished grandchildren, Tag, Ty, Bella, and Gina. His brother Nicholas Gavales and his wife Alita of Miami, Florida. his sister-in-law um Joyce Krebus of Cheshure, brother-in-law Guy Hayes, and his wife Nancy of Wake Forest, North Carolina, Tammy Hayes of Waterberry, Tina Hayes of Waterberry, as well as several nieces and nephews. He also leaves behind his adored granddogs, Lucy and Marshmallow.
007He was predesceased by his beloved wife Roxanna Gabalis, his brother Joseph Krebus, his brothersin-law Clifford Hayes and Kevin Hayes. Thank you, Miss Hosking. I now ask that you take a moment to reflect in silence. Thank you. Miss Davis will now read a small poem. A life well-lived from someone who has made our world a brighter, better place. It is filled with moments sweet and sad with smiles and sometimes tears with friendships formed and good times shared and laughter through the years. A life well-lived is a legacy of pride and joy and pleasure. A living lasting memory our grateful hearts will treasure. Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that a child. I once was lost but now found but now I see. through many dangerous and snares. I have already decided. Hallelu for glory. Bow for
008glory land. Hallelu. Bow for glory. B for glory. Hallelu. B for glory. When we glor, thousand years, the sun shine We pro to sing God's praise. And when we first began, Thank you. I would now like to call up some people to say a few words, starting with our town manager, Mark Ramo, Amazing Grace, breaks me down every time, but that was beautiful. Tonight, as we gather to recognize and remember Chief John Gabales, I spent some time reflecting on what I wanted to say about a man who was my boss, a mentor, and a friend for more than 40 years. As I've gotten older and perhaps gained a better understanding of life, one thing one thing has become very clear to me. We all grow because of someone and sometimes we even even in spite
009of someone. Often that growth can come from the very same person. That is not to say that we do not grow through our own experiences or personal reflection. But so much of who we become is shaped by through our interactions with others. For me, John was one of those people. I grew because of him and at times in spite of him. But all of that growth came through mentorship, challenge, guidance, and maturity. Looking back now, I better understand the value of those experiences and the role he played in shaping not only my career, but also my understanding of service, responsibility, and community. Tonight's ceremony gives us all the opportunity to recognize someone who truly understood the importance of recognizing others. It is fitting that the board of education proposed this tribute, not only to honor
010Chief Gavales, but also to honor the values he represented. Community service, respect for others, and love for this town. I would like to thank the board of education for organizing tonight's event and thank everyone who took the time to attend ensuring this meaningful recognition. Chief Gavales, well done. Your contributions to this town continue to keep us connected, grounded, and reminded of what truly matters. Your legacy lives on not only in what you accomplished, but in the people you helped shape along the way. Thank you. You guys did a great job. This is welld deserved. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mark. Next, I'd like to call up State Representative Joe Petta. Good evening and um thank you to the board of ed for hosting this superintendent. Um to Matt and Tim and to your entire family,
011I can say um it was 2011 and um I had just graduated college and I called John to tell him I was going to run for town council and he was police chief at the time and he uh along with Herman Dino and Louis Raza, the late Louis Raza um got together at my office for coffee and we talked talked about it and they said, "Do you really know what you're getting yourself into?" It's hard to believe that that was 15 years ago, but John was there for me every step of the way. Um, he supported me when I ran for council. He supported me when I ran for state rep. And um just a couple years ago, speaking of the hundred club, um you have to excuse me because John and I spoke regularly
012and he really was a mentor and Tim especially, you know, that and it was an honor to see him at the house um just a little while ago, but you know, I was at the Capitol and um I got a call from John. He said like two times on my cell phone and I said, "What what does he want? um you know in meetings and kind of dismissed it. Um but then I picked up and he said, "I'm here at the Capitol and I'm looking for you." And I said, "Geez, you didn't tell me you were coming up here." And he was there to advocate for fallen officers for their families. He was already retired. You know, he didn't need to give the whole day up there, but he was with other members of the
013Hundred Club. He roped me into joining the Hund Club, which was a great thing, and I'm very happy that I did it. Um, but his advocacy that day was just unbelievable. I I was I was in awe of the amount of people he knew in the building, the amount of people just through the Connecticut Police Chief's Association that were going up to him, Chief Gavales, you know, thank you for being here. we worked with you. You know, there was some connection to Watertown and people coming up to me afterwards saying, you know, you're lucky. You got you have a gem in your town, a guy that is well known throughout the state and has advocated for police officers and for those that have died in the line of duty. And you know, I took a
014step back and I said, I've always thought of John as a friend. I've never realized the impact that he's had around the state of Connecticut. And that really stayed with me for a while. And then of course I joined the hundred club and we spoke often about their goals and some legislation that they had passed. But much bigger than that was the man that he was and what he meant to our town. Um, you know, politics is a is a weird strange dynamic for a lot of people. For me especially, John never got in the mud on politics. He wanted what was best for the town of Watertown. He wanted even national politics, even state politics. He would call me often and we would we'd have long conversations about everything. But never once would he
015subscribe to negativity. He was always looking at he knew history well as you guys know. He knew every president and you know every act and every governor and lieutenant governor and I was amazed at the history he knew. He was like a walking history book. But he ne he always focused on the positive, focused on what could be done to better our state or better our country and not to tear people down. That will always stay with me for as long as I'm I'm in public service. So, uh I just to the Gavalos family want to say thank you for sharing your dad, grandfather, um father-in-law with us for all these years. Um when John finished his career as a police officer and we were so fortunate to get our current police chief here who's
016also a gem but John moved on to the town manager's role for a temporary time and I remember having that conversation with him as well and he led us through a very difficult time during the pandemic. Um he showed up every day at work when it wasn't always you know safe to do so. He put his life on the line, you know, being a man of his age, but he said, "I have to do a job. I'm going to do it." And he led our town through a difficult time. And, you know, the service just continued. It continued here on the board of ed uh winning two elections as the top vote getter. And it just shows you the trust uh and the love that people had for him in this town. So, um I'll
017end there, but just know that um for me going forward, he's always on my mind. And you know, I hope he's up there with Louis looking down and um happy with what we're doing. >> Thanks, guys. >> Thank you, Joe. >> State Senator Eric Pthell cannot be here tonight, but sent in a note that will be read by board of education member Christine Feresa. Uh, good evening everyone. I'm sorry that I cannot be with you all in person this evening as you recognize the service of the late John Gavales to the Watertown Board of Education as I'm out of town of legislative business. Thank you to Christine Faressa for reading my statements into the record. Chief Gabbalis of Simply Chief as many of us called him was a gentle man with an enviable desire to
018serve others. With a career that spanned 51 years after his retirement from the Watertown Police Department, he took on the interim role of town manager and then ran for a seat on the Watertown Board of Education. When I asked him why he would continue in a very public position after his retirement, he simply said, "Why not?" And that he felt he needed to remain involved and to make a difference to the community he loved so much. And even after he became ill, he continued to participate in whatever capacity he could when he could have more easily and quietly just stepped down. Chief Gabbala showed us all through his example what it truly means to be a humble servant of the people. We thank you for your example. We thank you for your service. Watertown is
019indeed a better place today because of you. You have left indelible mark on our community and that is a very good thing. May you rest in peace in the loving arms of God. Thank you. >> Thank you Christine. Board of Ed comments will be given by Karen Hassim. Good evening. It is both an honor and a privilege to speak tonight on behalf of the board of ed in tribute and memory of our member, friend, and mentor, John C. Gavales. How do you sum up a life that was so well-lived? So many people have been given the opportunity since John's death. They have included his family, his friends, his colleagues, dignitaries, officials, and his church leader. Each story, each memory offer a glimpse into a life that touched so many. There are not many people that
020I have known that I can say led a life of service and selflessness. The more I had the chance to know John, the more I saw the thoughtful, empathetic, honest man we are honoring and remembering this evening. As far as his time on the board, he was and still in many ways is an unifying force. John often shared that in Berlin, where Matt lives, members are elected to the board of ed not as political party members, but as community members. He looked past the politics and stayed true to his convictions and his values. John helped to serve as a bridge between our members and we all recognize that we are stronger because of him. John ran for two terms as Joey mentioned on the board of ed and was the overall top vote getter in
021both elections. That is a testament to the trust and connections he has throughout our community. On the board, he took on two important subcommittee chairs, budget and finance, as well as facilities PBC and operations. John was always available to meet with the superintendent and board leadership to strategize, bring calm and optimism. He was likewise instrumental in keeping the doors of communication open with our town manager and town council as well as the Republican town committee. Many times he would take it upon himself to say, "I'm going to call Maryanne and set up a time to talk." In my view, he was the catalyst and the one person everyone respected to come to the table so that communication was civil, open, genuine, and without prejudice. I will continue to hold on to those standards and aspire
022to be like John. When Kareem and I shared our sadness and attempted to make sense of losing a great man, we were grateful for his leadership by example and his softness as a mentor. We thought, how do we go on? Well, we've all seen the little bracelets that say WWJD. Well, in our case, it's with every decision, what would John do? And if we did that, we would be okay. It was through tough meetings and tireless effort that our friendship was forged. I shared with Heidi that one of the best parts of serving on the board of ed was forming a friendship with John. Maybe it was because we were the seniors or old-fashioned, but I'm not sure what cemented the bond, but I know I am lucky. John was my biggest cheerleader, confidence booster,
023my voice of reason, my sounding board, and the one I measure myself against. I know many of us on the board have felt his presence, his calm, and his character at every meeting. I read books now that I would never have selected, watch Netflix series that he recommended, and learned how easy it is to order just about anything on Amazon. I know what sandwiches to order at Leons and how he liked his Duncan. I know I tired him out during our often long visits, but John, as always, was too much a gentleman to say, "Go away." I miss my time sharing thoughts, opinions, setbacks, and philosophies, many of which were a direct quote from Ronald Reagan. Most importantly, I learned to hold family and friends close and to live a life that changes the lives
024of others. John, your heartfelt encouragement and guidance will always be something that we as a board cherish and hold close in our continued service to Watertown. We will continue to work as we know you would for the good of our schools, our children, our staff, and our town. Tonight, let us remember and be thankful not for the quantity of time we had with John, but for the quality In the words of AA Mil and the great wisdom of Winnie the Pooh, how lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard. Thank you, Karen. Town council comments will be given by Maryanne Rosa. This is hard for me because John was a close friend. I met John and his wife and we became close when the boys entered South School, Griffin School where
025I worked. And over the years that friendship was cemented knowing his commitment to his family, to his country, and to the town, which I valued so much, we supported each other when tough times came and in good times. He went to the police chief's association meeting that honored my father as a founder. He was there for me and I tried to always be there for them even when he lost his wife. He had a commitment that few people have had. And having been involved in town for a long time, you know who is willing to give their time unselfishly and John always did. He never thought of himself. He always thought of what was best for the town. So when it came time to consider a political position, we had a lot of conversations and
026a lot of talk. And he didn't want to get into politics, but he wanted to do something for the town again. And I encouraged him to run for the board because I cared about the board and I knew what he would bring to it. And it was as non-political as you can get in Watertown. So, it seemed like the place for him. I'll miss him, but I'll remember him and I'll always try to have the same values that he had, how he treated other people. God bless you, John. Most important thing, >> most important thing, the council is establishing a John Gales community service award to be given annually to a member of the community that has the commitment and the concern that John did. >> Thank you, Marian. >> No. Thank you to all
027those who shared thoughts tonight. Thank you to the Watertown High School Chamber Choir and WPS music teachers for singing. This concludes the meeting portion. As soon as we formally adjourn, I invite you to come outside and gather around the flag pole where we will have a small ceremony to finish this celebration of life. Do I have a motion to adjurnn? >> Yes, Mr. Chair. I motion that we adjourn at 6:30. >> Do I have a second? I second. >> All those in favor? >> I >> opposed. Abstensions. >> Motion carries. >> We are injured. >> Yeah. I got you. Of course. Yeah. >> I got I got one.