Chris Ettori announced his resignation from the Board of Aldermen at the end of a meeting on Nov. 7.
Ettori gave his resignation letter after explaining generational poverty, drug use and addiction are dramatically impacting Rutland schools. He said he wanted to be more present for his children, ages 12 and 14.
“My children need me,” said Ettori, whose term was up in March 2024.
He explained an incident where a student in one classroom impacted neighboring classrooms so much that the neighboring classroom needed to move.
“Our children are suffering,” he said.
Ettori said he was giving his time to the city two to three nights a week.
“I will not stop working for this city but I need to change my priorities right now,” Ettori said. “I need to prioritize my children. I need to be home for dinner.”
Ettori has been on the Board of Aldermen since 2015 in addition to being part of multiple boards and organizations. He was a founding member of the Wonderfeet Kids’ Museum and was part of the Downtown Rutland Partnership. He’s also been involved in community groups like Project Vision and Rutland’s Promise, which provides temporary housing for homeless Rutland families. Ettori was the assistant director of operations at Community College of Vermont in Rutland for 12 years before he was laid off during the pandemic. In January, Ettori was named the regional director of the Vermont Adult Learning Center. Ettori unsuccessfully ran for mayor in 2021 and he was a vocal critic of Rutland Redevelopment Authority Executive Director Brennan Duffy, which, in part, led to Duffy’s resignation in October.
Several Aldermen praised Ettori for his service during Monday night’s meeting , Nov. 7.
“You have to choose between your passions in life but when it’s family it makes it a lot easier,” Alderman Presidnet Mike Doenges said. “For myself and obviously for youself, family does come first.”
Alderman Matt Whitcomb called the problems Ettori spoke of “the most critical crisis facing the community.
“We really don’t have a prayer moving forward if we can’t fix what’s happening with our youth in our school systems, if we can’t show up and be there,” he added.
