Tom Arkinson appointed to Milton council

By a unanimous vote, Milton Town Council approved the appointment of Tom Arkinson to be the council’s newest member.

Arkinson, current vice president of Milton Community Foundation, will be sworn in at council’s Monday, Oct. 7 meeting. Arkinson will serve the remaining two years remaining on former Councilwoman Annette Babich’s term. Babich resigned in July due to conflicts with her job. The seat will next be up for election in 2025. 

Mayor John Collier announced Arkinson’s nomination at council’s Sept. 11 meeting, saying he had had a great deal of interest from prospective candidates. 

Arkinson, 73, is not a new face in Milton. He has lived in town since 2006 and has been involved with the Milton Community Foundation since its founding in 2008. He said he first got involved in town affairs very early on when he moved to Milton after he met the late Charlie Fleetwood, who was putting together the celebration for the town’s 200th anniversary. Fleetwood got Arkinson involved as the volunteer coordinator. Besides the community foundation, Arkinson was also on the board of the original Milton Farmers Market and has volunteered for Bargains on the Broadkill. 

Arkinson said his sister vacationed in Lewes and it was a time when he was visiting her that he first discovered Milton. He spent his professional career as a middle school teacher in Trenton, N.J., but was born in a small New Jersey town. Arkinson said when he first came to Milton, it reminded him of the small town he grew up in. 

He said he wants to add a thoughtful, considered voice to the council, and that his main goal is to continue to make sure the town functions well. 

“It’s an opportunity to contribute to a town I think is great,” Arkinson said.