Bristol Appoints new Councilman

A new councilman  was appointed to fill the vacancy left behind last month by the resignation of Tony Devine at Wednesday nights brief council meeting.

Bryan Johnson was approved by council to fill the north ward seat for the next two years unanimously last night.

Surrounded by his family, the new councilman was sworn in by District Justice Frank W. Peranteau Sr.

Council President Ralph DiGuiseppe said Johnson was at the top of every council members candidate list when going  over candidates to fill the seat- of which there were about 11 or 12.

We felt he could bring a lot to the table, DiGuiseppe said, adding Johnson holds the same vision for Bristol as council in terms of the goals the borough seeks to achieve in the future.

“I know we made the right decision,” DiGuiseppe said.

When offered the opportunity to say a few words, Johnson smiling, politely declined.

The north ward seat opened up when former Councilman Tony Devine resigned in November citing a lack of transparency by council in deciding how to proceed with the hiring of a new chief of police for now retired Steve Henry.

Devine was in the middle of his third term when he resigned.