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MILLBURY, Mass. - Just prior to the end of the Board of Selectmen's meeting in Millbury Town Hall on Tuesday night, Selectmen Kenny Schold was reading the mail aloud to the meeting as he's done countless times before.
But as he read to the audience, his family slipped in to the conference room unbenownst to him to surprise him on his last meeting as a member of the board as he's soon to retire from public office.
Schold, a local business owner, has served the town of Millbury for the past 18 years, the last nine as a selectman, but decided that this term would be his last. The surprise his family had hoped for was evident by the shocked look on his face when he glanced up to see all of them seated there.
Former selectman and current candidate for assessor Joe Coggans read a letter from the state of Massachusetts, but first said, "Kenny, it's and honor and a pleasure for me to be up here and represent our state Senator Mike Moore, who couldn't be here tonight, an official citation from the Massachusetts Senate." Coggans called Schold a good friend, a good sSelectman and a good man.
The citation honored Schold for "his 18 years of dedicated service to the town of Millbury. The Senate also congratulated Schold and wished him good luck upon his retirement from office.
Coggans was followed by Board of Selectmen Chairman E. Bernard Plante who spoke glowingly of Schold. "This town is losing a terrific selectman," Plante said, "but I'm losing a good friend on the board. On behalf of the Board of Selectmen and the townspeople of the town of Millbury, this is in appreciation Kenny of your many years of dedicated service to the town - from 1994 to 2003 on the Planning Board and from 2003 to 2012 on the Board of Selectmen, a member of the Restoration Committee, Ponds and Lakes Commission. Kenny, we wish you the best of luck and we're certainly going to miss you."
Schold, not one to make a long speech, said, "no speeches for me" and pausing he said, "I want to thank you. It's been my pleasure for the last 18 years. It's been good and I appreciate it."
After pausing for a few pictures in front of the Selectmen's desk, it was right back to work as the board went into executive session. Schold wouldn't have had it any other way. He went out the way he conducted himself for the past 18 years, working quietly for the town.
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