Brother urges town to name meeting room for late volunteer firefighter Christopher Willis

Timothy Willis told a town meeting that he requested the town name a meeting room after his late brother, Christopher Willis, citing Christopher’s service as a volunteer firefighter and as a commissioner on Seymour Ambulance.

Willis, who identified himself at the start of public comment, described Christopher’s service from about age 18 until the time of his death at about age 24 and said Christopher helped run CPR and first-aid training for middle school students. ‘‘He was credited saving the woman's life, jumping into the water, holding her head above water while they could extricate her,’’ Willis said, referring to a motor-vehicle collision on Dec. 10, 2000.

Willis said a tree was planted in his brother’s honor in June 2002 near the loading dock at Seymour Middle School, but that he later discovered the tree had been removed and a playscape installed when a Head Start program moved there. ‘‘It was due to them moving the Head Start program there. I’m sure it was not done maliciously. However, it was done, and in my opinion, it has never been rectified,’’ he said.

He told officials he had discussed placing a plaque or otherwise recognizing his brother when some downstairs town offices relocate to 20 Pine Street and said he had spoken with Chief Administrative Officer Miller, building official Baldwin and Director of Facilities Tim Connors, who at the time expressed support but said the town must follow a formal process.

‘‘It is my request,’’ Willis said, asking the board to consider naming a meeting room in Christopher Willis’s honor. The transcript records no formal motion or vote on the request. After a brief solicitation for further comment, the chair closed public comment and moved to adjourn at 6:36 p.m.

The transcript identifies the subject as a request to name a town meeting room after Christopher Willis; it does not record the board taking action at that meeting or specify which board body was present.