Weston board appoints Houshang Zagami to trustee seat after debate over special election

The Village of Weston Board of Trustees voted Wednesday to appoint Houshang Zagami to a vacant trustee seat, ending a contentious debate over whether the board should hold a special election or let voters decide at the next regular election.

Trustee Steve Cronin moved to appoint Zagami to the term beginning April 15, 2025 and ending April 19, 2027; the motion was seconded and carried by roll call. President Mark Maloney recorded ayes from Maloney, Cronin, Ermeling and Jordan and nays from Pinsonault and Weiland. Clerk Shannon Grama administered the oath to Zagami immediately after the vote.

The appointment followed an earlier motion by Trustee Jim Pinsonault to direct staff to prepare a plan to advertise the vacancy and let voters fill the remainder of the term in the April 2026 election. That motion failed after debate; the chair described the outcome as “4 against 2.”

Trustees debated how to balance respect for recent election returns with the practicalities of filling a board vacancy. Pinsonault said the board should give residents a direct choice at the ballot box and earlier told the newspaper he would ask that “people decide.” President Maloney, noting that a candidate had received 2,292 votes in the recent election cycle, said denying appointment would be “discounting 2,292” voters’ preferences.

Cronin, who made the appointment motion, argued the board should appoint someone who had shown a willingness to serve and participate in local committees. After the board vote, Maloney welcomed Zagami and trustees arranged committee assignments that included Zagami on several commissions.

The board also debated whether the motion’s effective start date was immediate or began April 15; the clerk read the motion language into the record and Zagami took the oath during the meeting.

The appointment concluded the special meeting’s primary item; the board then moved on to committee assignments and other agenda business.