Retiring Town Councilors Honored Thursday Night

"Christmas has come a little early" for the wives of Councilor-at-Large Leland Dingee and District 4 Councilor Henry Joyce now that they have their husbands back full-time, Mayor Joseph Sullivan said.

Then, turning to the councilors Thursday night, Sullivan joked, "Maybe not."

Dingee and Joyce received mayoral citations and commendations from Rep. Mark Cusack, Sen. John F. Keenan and U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch Thursday at their final Town Council Meeting.

Both councilors, along with District 5 Councilor Ronald DeNapoli, declined to seek re-election this fall. Dingee and Joyce said they wanted to spend more time with their families, and DeNapoli cited his health.

Clerk of the Council Jim Casey and Council President Charles Kokoros presented Dingee and Joyce with plaques containing copies of the birth certificates of Braintree natives John Adams, John Quincy Adams and John Hancock.

DeNapoli was unable to attend Thursday. He was ready to come Tuesday night, Casey said, but the meeting was pushed because of the snow storm and he could not make it Thursday night. His parents picked up his plaque ahead of the meeting.

A plaque was also created for former councilor Harold Randolph.

In January, the council will see a few new faces: current School Committee Chair Shannon Hume (At-Large), UMass Senior Michael Owens (District 5) and Stephen O'Brien, with a background in cyber security (District 4).

For more on the careers and many years of public service of Dingee and Joyce, see this article: Braintree Chamber Honors Retiring Councilors.