So Moved: An Interview With Retiring P&Z Chair Bob Hammersley (Part II)

Robert Hammersley has been involved in politics one way or another ever since he campaigned for Ronald Reagan at the tender age of ten. He has been a Republican member of Southington's Planning and Zoning Commission for the past ten years and Chair of the Commission for the past six. After he announced that he was stepping down from office due to health reasons, the Outsider arranged to conduct an interview with him, which was held on October 9th. This is the second part of the interview; the first part can be found here. The transcript has been lightly edited for clarity.

You’ve been on Planning and Zoning since 2015. Why did you decide to step down at this point?

I have health concerns. I was diagnosed with Stage-4 neck cancer in March of 2023. I’ve gone through several different treatments involving chemotherapy, radiation, and immunotherapy, over the past two and a half years. Those have had various degrees of success. I was given a prognosis recently that it has kind of run its course. I didn’t think it was fair to myself, or to my town, or to the Planning and Zoning commission, or to the Republican Party, to run this year. Even more importantly, I had made a determination that I wanted to spend whatever time I had left with my family and friends, and devote my time to them.

Another part is this: I feel that, after a certain amount of time, public servants should give way to new thoughts, new people, new perspectives. This decision gave me an opportunity to fulfill all those wishes – chief among them, that I wanted to spend more time with my family and friends.

How did you get into politics in the first place?

I’ve always had an interest in it. When I was ten years old in 1976, the presidential election was between Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter. I was a Reagan fan so I ‘worked’ for Reagan. At ten years old I was doing my best, which was not very much, but I did what I could. I got involved at that age.

I majored and got my degree in political science because that’s what I loved doing. I’ve always gotten involved in political stuff. And I think that speaks to a larger commitment to public service. I think public service is something all people should do to the extent that they’re able to do it. And I think it makes us all better by having as many people involved as possible.

Was Planning and Zoning your first fling with elected office?

I served on a couple of different commissions, both state and local. When I was 18 years old I served on the Zoning Board of Appeals for Wallingford.

Wait - 18 years old, you just graduated high school…

I was in college then. I was appointed by the mayor of Wallingford, whose campaign I worked on in ’81, when I was a sophomore in high school.

Heady stuff for a teenager.

Yeah, it was enlightening to understand what the responsibilities were. Which goes to my point about listening - listening to what’s being said and absorbing what’s being said and finding out what your role is. Through that you start being able to provide some valuable input. So I did that.

I did run for elected office in Wallingford when I was out of college, in ’91. They had an elected board of selectmen. The selectmen's responsibility was mostly settling property disputes – really minimal – but I thought it was an opportunity to put my name on a ballot. I didn’t win that election. I tried, but it wasn’t going to happen,

From there I went to work for a variety of federal and state government entities. In 2015, I was approached by the town committee because they had an opening for an alternate on Planning and Zoning and asked if I would be willing to do that. From that I ended up running and winning election in 2017.

Do you have a favorite book, one you’ve read recently?

I just finished up Devil in the White City, by Erik Larson. Devil in the White City is the story of the 1893 World’s Fair held in Chicago. I love the way he writes. I’m a non-fiction guy, so I tend toward those historical, biographical-type books. Devil in the White City is about the awarding of the World’s Fair to the city of Chicago, and the three years that the city had to put all the infrastructure in place. But it also follows a parallel track of another individual in Chicago then who was a serial killer. He used the World’s Fair to get his victims. All of this is going on separately.

There was a World’s Fair in Paris three or four years earlier, and at the fair, the Eiffel Town was given to the city of Paris. There was a guy named Eiffel and he gave the tower, which was the center of the fair. So when the 1893 World’s Fair was coming, the big focus was, we’ve got to outdo Eiffel! The architect who was put in charge was always focused on that, so you get things like the Ferris Wheel. The Ferris Wheel was first revealed at the World’s Fair of 1893. It’s everywhere now but back then it was a novel idea. You’re able to go 100 feet in the air and look around. They didn’t have drones or anything so they were like, this is a great thing. It was a fabulous book, easy to read.

Favorite place in Southington?

My home. Honestly it is. That’s where the most important part of my life is.

I love the way that our town is receptive to people like me who didn’t grow up here, to have such a big input in our community. But I think that it speaks to the question: what is the best thing about the town of Southington? It’s the people, the community. The diversity of opinions. I live with people who don’t ideologically agree with me, and that’s fine. We have discussions about that, respectfully. The diversity of the community, the enthusiasm of the community, of the people that live here and serve in office on all sides, their willingness to give back to the community, to devote time and talent and resources back to the town, it’s a great thing to have.

Where I live geographically affords me great access to things. When I first moved here I lived in a different part of town. It wasn’t difficult to get to the store but it was more secluded, it had more of a rural feel out there. I love that we have that. If you go out to Karabin Farms, it’s very different than being in downtown Southington, but it’s still part of the same town. If you go out to Crescent Lake and you hike that area, you have all that natural beauty, but it’s different than downtown. That’s the best thing about Southingtion, that it has a diversity of environments and opportunities. It's fabulous. The educational system is fabulous. I’ve put three kids through the school system, and it’s all good stuff.

Board Of Education Student Updates November 13, 2025

PHILIP THIBODEAU PHOTO

At each meeting of the Board of Education, three student representatives from Southington High School update the Board and the public on school system news. This year’s representatives are Ethan Hoffman, Arshi Roy, and Samrath Singh. What follows is the report delivered by Roy and Singh at the November 13 meeting, which Hoffman was unable to attend due to a conflict with an athletic banquet.

Arshi Roy – District Report

At Derynoski School, the Therapeutic Learning Center participated in a district food drive to support students in need, with K–2 and 3–5 classrooms teaming up to collect donations.

At JFK Middle School they held a Hats for Hope on Friday. Students and staff wore hats to raise funds for the Tommy Fund, supporting children with cancer.

The Student Leadership Council implemented a gratitude wall in the cafeteria with cards featuring positive messages.

Southington Community Services recently filled their van with donations of canned goods and non-perishable items that will go out to local families for Thanksgiving.

The Comprehensive Learning Center is sponsoring the annual BINGO event that helps raise funds for field trips showcase the program and raise funds for field trips.

On November 7, students at Flanders Elementary held their 21st Annual Veterans Day Ceremony where they honored those who served with breakfast, student artwork, readings, and musical performances honoring veterans.

At DePaolo Middle School, 8th-grade students decorated Veteran Stars that will honor veterans tand their own family, and they wrote letters to veterans through Operation Gratitude. They would like to thank Army Sergeant Lou Urso, a Vietnam veteran.

DePaolo’s International Club explores and celebrates the beauty and diversity of the myriad of cultures represented in the student body of our school. Every day they learn about new cultures and research their traditions. Students will learn about geography, history, and traditional foods, fostering connections across cultures.

The First Lego League Competition on Saturday will be held at DePaolo, hosted by members of the High School CyberKnights robotics team.

DePaolo’s Leadership Program is currently collecting toys for the annual holiday toy drive.

High School – Samrath Singh

Over the weekend The Blue Knights Marching Band performed at Nationals at Met Life Stadium. They placed 2nd with a score of 96.45, which I have been told is the highest in recent history. Color Guard as well was awarded Best Color Guard at Met Life.

Currently, students and teachers are in Italy on their trip, completing an educational and cultural immersion experience. This week they are taking Italian classes.

The Veterans Concert was performed on Monday night, featuring both vocal and instrumental pieces. Members of Team 195, the robotics team, also visited the American Legion, connecting performance with community service.

The American Legion Oratorical Contest, which one of our students won at the state level last year, will be held again this year.

Powder Puff students are practicing strategies and team coordination in preparation for this spirited event on Saturday, November 15.

Parent–Teacher Conference are being held today, November 13, with another session in the spring. This is the first year without an open house.

For the Culture Night, December 3, students are preparing to participate in the school’s cultural showcase.

Everyone at the Pep Rally & Homecoming had a great time.

Athletic Highlights

This is the last time you will hear about fall sports as we are about to get into the winter.

Katie Cavanaugh, one of our Girls Cross Country captains, qualified for New England Regionals with a top-25 performance at the State Open and competed in Vermont this past week. (She came back to Southington High School to attend homecoming the same day.)

Eight swimmers from the Girls Swim Team advanced through Class LL time trials and competed in the championships this past Wednesday.

The football team defeated previously undefeated #4 ranked Windsor High School, 28-7 at home in a crazy upset, and will host Maloney this Friday for Senior Night, celebrating senior athletes’ achievements.

Many student athletes attended a CAS/CIAC conference for Student Empowerment Day, which focused on leadership, confidence building, and community engagement, including panels specifically for men of color and women’s leadership.

New Board of Education Sworn In With Democratic Majority

Board of Education Democrats Dawn Anastasio, Robert Brown, Lisa Cammuso, and Zaya Oshana PHILIP THIBODEAU PHOTOS

The mood at the start of Thursday’s Board of Education meeting was generally upbeat as friends and family members gathered to watch the nine members of the Board being sworn in for their two-year terms.

Town Clerk Kathy Larkin came to the podium to deliver the oath to the five Democrats on the Board – Zaya Oshana, Lisa Cammuso, Bob Brown, Dawn Anastasio, and Terri Carmody – along with the four Republicans – Colleen Clark, Joe Baczewski, Cecil Whitehead, and Sean Carson. All were present save for Carmody, who was unable to attend in person.

After 18 years as the minority caucus, Democrats won a majority in the recent election and with it gained the ability to select the Board's Chair. Oshana was nominated by Carmody and approved by a 9-0 vote. In brief remarks that followed, he paid tribute to his father, Zaya Oshana Sr. – the namesake for Southington’s Oshana Elementary School – who served on the Board of Education for 34 years.

The process of choosing the Board’s Vice-Chair and Secretary involved a bit more drama. Carmody, who was attending via speakerphone, was nominated by Brown for the position of Vice-Chair. Baczewski, speaking on behalf of the Republicans, then nominated Brown for the same role, praising his experience and engagement. The vote broke along party lines, and Carmody was elected 5-4.

Next, Cammuso nominated Anastasio for the position of Secretary, citing, among other things, the 34 years of experience of her father David Derynoski. Once again the Republicans nominated the nominator, with Baczewski praising Cammuso’s skills at listening and collaboration. By a 5-4 party-line vote, Anastasio was chosen secretary.

After a short recess, Oshana asked for a moment of silence in honor of two longstanding members of the Southington educational community who recently passed away: music teacher Conrad Gozzo, and Angelo Coppola, who served in a variety of educational roles during his long career.

Beyond that, the Board's agenda for the evening consisted of various pro forma announcements and approvals. The longest speech of the evening was delivered, not from the dais, but from the podium during public comment. Jillian Carlson stepped forward to request that the Board openly address problems with the Department of Pupil Services, both in the way it is led and the way it is run. Noting that the office serves nearly 1,000 students, she read quotes from various stakeholders indicating that the department has been in various ways dysfunctional. She cited statistics which seemed to indicate that the Southington school system is diagnosing a rapidly growing numbers of students with emotional disabilities, against a statewide trend headed in the opposite direction, and suggested that cognitive disabilities were being misdiagnosed as emotional ones.

The meeting concluded with Board members going into executive session to discuss a student matter.