Brian Valcourt attended his last meeting as a member of the Westport Select Board meeting Monday evening, following his decision earlier this year to not seek another term.

Valcourt, who had been on the board for nine years, said family and other obligations won't allow him the time he believes is needed to give the job his all. Without being able to put everything he has into it, he said, he would rather step aside, though with regret.

"It was a very difficult decision," he told his fellow board members Monday. "I just couldn't put the focus in on this that I need to."

Still, he said he is proud of his time on the board, and believes it has come a long way from the contention that he said marked the first third of his term.

"I feel like we've done a really great job putting the town on a proper footing," he said of he and his fellow board members.

The current board is "always courteous and civil," he said. "My first few years ... were very contentious (but) these last six years have been much better and easier."

Much of that is due to his fellow members, he said, and "it's only because you're here that I feel like at this point I can actually step aside."

Valcourt was a member of several subcommittees and other boards, and he said he will likely stay involved in some capacity, naming the recreation board as a possible landing place.

He closed an informal speech Monday with a note of thanks to Westport's citizens:

"Thank you to the citizens of this town for entrusting me with these decisions and leadership, because without you I wouldn't be here either."

Incumbent Steven Ouellette and challengers Christopher Thrasher and Manny Soares are contending for two open seats — Ouellette's and Valcourt's — in this coming Tuesday's election.