December 2025: Party Affiliation Drives Important Town Hall Decision
Selectman Mitch Goldblatt, an expert in pension administration, has served on Orange’s Pension Board for decades. The Pension Board plays a significant role in maintaining the town’s long-term financial stability.
At the Board of Selectmen meeting this week, Selectman Goldblatt announced that the First Selectman did not reappoint him to the Pension Board. The First Selectman told him this decision was based on his party affiliation.
In his remarks, Selectman Goldblatt said:
“No one is irreplaceable… however, I am saddened that there is now retribution towards political adversaries. As for me, I'm not going anywhere. I will provide any guidance that the Pension Board would like because I refuse to put party politics over what is best for the town of Orange.”
We encourage you to watch his full statement to stay informed about decisions being made in Town Hall.
January 2026 Update: Residents Denounce Unjustified Pension Board Decision
In addition to a flurry of letters sent to the First Selectman and the Board of Selectman requesting reversal of the decision NOT to reappoint Mitch Goldblatt to the Pension Board, two residents spoke at January's Board of Selectmen.
Sean-Michael Green asks how NOT reappointing Mitch serves the community, citing Mitch’s extensive board experience and professional expertise with pension issues. Are residents OK with decisions such as this being made unilaterally and without cause?
Jody Dietch reminds residents that Mr. Zeoli removed Mitch from the pension board as an act of revenge, despite it not being in the town’s best interest. She calls on every member of the Board of Selectmen to denounce this political move.
Gary DelPiano, in a Letter to the Editor of the Milford-Orange Times titled “Pension Board Move Is Ridiculous,” makes a compelling point when he asks who wouldn’t want someone who loves his hometown, has deep expertise, and is willing to volunteer his time serving on the town’s pension board.
To the Editor: In 1985 my family and I moved to Orange. One of the first people to welcome us was Mitch Goldblatt when I introduced myself at an Orange event. That was over 40 years ago, and since that time Goldblatt has been on several committees, been elected as first selectman, and later selectman several times. Over those years as a human resource director in another town, Goldblatt has honed his skills as a pension administrator, been advisor to several towns on the topic as well as been a speaker at many events on the topic. Lucky for Orange we have had him volunteering to serve on our Pension Board as selectman representative for years. What a deal, a small town like ours has a man who loves his hometown, is an expert and has offered to volunteer on our pension board. Who wouldn’t want someone like him working for us for free?
All of this was why learning on Dec. 10 that Goldblatt was not reappointed to the Orange Pension Board was quite a surprise. This is an appointment that is made on a regular basis by the first selectman. Apparently, our reelected First Selectman James Zeoli has decided, in his infinite wisdom, that the town no longer needs an expert on one of its committees. When Goldblatt asked Zeoli why he was not reappointed, he was told he was not given the reappointment because the Democrats in town during the last election had suggested that change was needed and the first selectman, Zeoli, thought taking Goldblatt, an expert in pensions who had also won reelection as selectman, off the Pension Board was the way to do it. Worse than that, Zeoli had congratulated the winners of the election from both parties and said we should work together to move Orange forward. Is this working together?
This is ridiculous. Goldblatt is a pension expert; he was given the award of Mr. Orange to help recognize the over 40 years of voluntary service he has given to the town. This man deserves our support. Call, write or text Zeoli (203-891-4737/jzeoli@orange-ct.gov) and demand that Goldblatt be reappointed and stop the partisan politics that happens after an election in our town. We need all the experts we can get, and Goldblatt is one who plays no politics; when he spoke at the last Board of Selectmen meeting Goldblatt said that even though he was not reappointed he would offer his support to the board because he loves his town. Does Zeoli?
