User:Jean de Smet

Jean Marie de Smet moved to Windham, CT in 1979. Jean Marie de Smet and Robert Lee Hackemack married in December, 2008.

Jean graduated magna cum laude with a degree in English from The University of Connecticut in 1978. She worked in the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 53 for 30 years, serving 2 terms as an elected officer in the union.

Jean served as First Selectwoman in Windham from 2007-2009. Running with a slate called “The Bottom Line,” members eschewed partisan politics at the local level and won an upset victory. Over the next two years the Board of Selectmen brought energy efficiency measures to municipal buildings, initiated single stream recycling, stopped construction of both an ash landfill and a peaking power plant, and balanced the budgets in very difficult economic times. Engaging citizen activists, the Board formed ad-hoc committees, which produced a Noise ordinance, a Master Parks Plan, outlined a process for hiring a Town Manager, and recommended the town no longer have a preferred developer. Active committees include a Traffic Calming Committee, Senior Center Building Committee, Ethics Board, Historic District Study Committee, Library Building Committee, and Skateboard Park Committee. Working together with staff, Jean concentrated on customer service, zoning and housing enforcement, beautifying parks and the historic downtown, humane animal control, and fiscal accountability. In November 2009, Windham changed it's form of government from First Selectperson to Mayor/Town Manager.

In 2010, Jean coordinated the first Co-opARTive Fiesta, which featured 4 temporary gallery openings, vendors, and music in a variety of indoor and outdoor locations along the historic Downtown Main Street of Willimantic, as well as Peer Teachers from a large variety of New England co-operatives. Jean started the 3rd Thursday Street Fests in 2002. As a member of the Willimantic Victorian Neighborhood Association, Jean organizes and gives tours of Willimantic during the Annual Victorian Days. Jean helped to produce the first Annual Riverfest, to organize the first Romantic Willimantic Chocolate Fest, and has marched in all 26 Boom Box Parades. As Vice-President of Thread City Development, she works on strategic planning for the downtown historic district. As a member of Neighbor-to-Neighbor, Jean initiated the “December Artisan’s Store”, an experiment that proved both that a local craft store was wanted and needed, and that our community would work cooperatively to make it happen. Jean is a community activist. With others, she won the battle to prevent mercury-laden medical waste from being burned at the Windham Energy Recover Facility in North Windham and prevented the construction of a statewide ash landfill along the Shetucket River in Windham Center.

Jean chaired the Windham Recycling Committee for six years, creating the first recycling flyer, establishing leaf composting, and writing monthly articles on environmental actions for residents. She served on the Town of Windham Affirmative Action Commission and the Open Space and Conservation Commissions. Jean was on the Board of Directors of the Willimantic Food Coop, the YMCA, and President of the Community Land Trust of Windham, which developed 14 units of permanently affordable housing. Jean was Co-chair of the CT Green Party.

Jean has received the Secretary of State Citizen Award; the Storrs Chapter AAUW Woman of the Year; Access Agency's Community Service Award, WILI-AM's Ray of Sunshine, and was Windham's Romantic Willimantic Cupid for 2003.

Resume

2010 Coordinator, Co-opARTive Feista. Grants, media, artist outreach, fundraising, volunteer coordination, entertainment, vendors, program, etc. 2007-2009 First Selectwoman, Town of Windham. Wrote Community Revitalization Strategy and other plans; wrote and obtained grants; managed 26 direct reports, from Chief of Police to Animal Control; lobbying; ambassador for Windham, facilitate Board meetings, instituted an effective committee structure, in particular the Renewable Energy Committee and many successful temporary task-specific committees which engaged and empowered citizens to participate in their government. 2009-2010 Treasurer, 2004-2007, 2010 Vice President, Thread City Development, Inc. TCD is a community development corporation formed to engage in the revitalization of Windham, including business, housing, economic conditions. Wrote Design Guidelines and Chair of Real Estate Acquisition Committee. 2002-2010  President, Secretary, Member Willimantic Renaissance, Inc. WRI produces the 3rd Thursday Street Festivals involving grant writing, budgeting, marketing, publicity, advertising, fundraising; coordinating agencies, businesses and volunteers; and administration of committee chairs. 1980-2010  Electrician, journeyman wireman. Commercial to residential. 2001-2007  Elected Recording Secretary, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 35;  Officer of Executive Board, auditing committee, record minutes, trial board. 2001-2007  Secretary, Windham Conservation and Open Space Commission 2002-2004  Windham Affirmative Action Committee 1996-2007  Established Northeast CT Green Party Chapter. Treasurer of local chapter; serving on media and outreach, events, by-laws, membership and elections committees. Worked on procedures for State party internal elections and revision of State party by-laws. 1999-2001   Board of Directors, Willimantic Food Co-op. Studied and adopted Policy Governance for administration of Coop Board and Management. Wrote and executed procedures for elections. Revised personnel policies. Developed new outreach and marketing techniques. 1995-1997  Board of Directors, Willimantic YMCA. Successfully chaired $100,000 fundraising drive to “Save the Y,” including production of two Shaboo All-Stars concerts and public, corporate and membership outreach. Searched for and hired a new director. Monitored budget compliance. 1990-1996  Chair, Windham Citizens Advisory Recycling Committee. Produced and mailed 10,000 recycling flyers. Initiated composting for leaves and grass. Wrote monthly articles for the Chronicle. Educated children through school visits, poster contest, Earth Day. 1988-1993  President and/or member, The Windham Community Land Trust. Successfully applied for CT Department of Housing funds to redevelop 2 houses on Union St. Developed a coalition of funders and oversaw reconstruction of 7 unit house on Windham St. Both houses have handicapped accessible units and provide permanently affordable housing. EDUCATION 1978  UConn, BA in English, magna cum laude 1984  JATC, E-2, licensed Electrician 1998  E-1, Master Electrician MEMBERSHIPS Thread City Development, Inc., Willimantic Renaissance, Inc., Willimantic Victorian Neighborhood Association, Willimantic Wildlife Habitat, Garden Club of Windham, Windham Arts Collaborative, Willimantic Whitewater Partnership, Windham Parent Network, Windham Regional Arts Council, Windham History and Textile Museum, Willimantic Food Co-op, Joshua’s Trust Conservancy, many more state and national organizations.