MOOREcol.02-24-05 .. . . . . . . .32


Hed :

What kind of change
Will you go for?

By BOB MOORE


If there's one thing clear about the April 5 election of two new
selectmen, it's the growing desire to bring about a change.

Raising the current 4-1 board from the dead, like Lazarus. That's the
main issue. How it will work out is another matter. A new chairman?
Who? And how?

The current board is losing Chairman Chris Ross who never did like
being pushed into that post. And former Chair Esther Hopkins who's
also retiring.

Change. Two new candidates - FinCom member Dennis Giombetti, a man
experienced in government affairs and guiding teams in private
business and Activist Ellen LaRose, a Town Meeting member interested
in how the government is or is not working and also experienced in
operating a private business.

There are six candidates in the race now and all agree that the
selectmen went off the deep end when they recently rushed through an
18-month extension of the manager's contract - until Dec. 31, 2007 -
taking away a choice shortly before a new board takes over.

In a word, Manager George King threw a challenge and the board
complied. all in a matter of hours, Taken with the fact that board
meetings are scarcer than hen's teeth there's a strong feeling for
change in the public at large :

Take a lead, get back in the habit of meeting more often, bring more
efforts to completion. Listen up. See yourself as others see you.

THE QUESTION IS : How do you line up the new board? Long silent,
ex-Rep. John Stasik joined this week the growing body that hopes the
contract extension could be taken back. That the 4-1 board's
exclusion of Selectman Ginger Esty could be turned into a new
majority.

Here's where I'd like to be clear. Would the new board elect Esty? Or
would it give Selectman Katie Murphy's wish to be chairman? Or how
about picking one of the new members to be chairman? How to get a new
start?

Conventional thinking holds that a chairman should be familiar with
the procedure. What? Wait a minute. "The procedure'?  Go along with
the "yessir" habit of the old board? The infrequent meetings? Aren't
those the habits that call for a change? In which case, would either
Murphy or Charlie Sisitsky suit the call for change? Murphy thinks
the board is taking the initiative . . . . when it is not!

Procedure is one thing we'd like to improve on. Procedure is
something that needs to be set up new, with a new board. Think that
over and see how much you'd like to get started on a new plan, well
within what manager government calls for.

UNREALITY - Something I mentioned last week - the fact that no one
mentioned Assistant Town Manager Mark Purple as next in line were
King to take another job.  Think it over. Paid $100K as the second
man in line and not ever mentioned as ready to step in and run the
show.

I'd call that a bit of "unreal realization" when the No. 2 man is
seen as "assistant manager" with a salary approaching what King got
in 1999 is not seen as qualified to be manager.

I think that's an example of how little Framingham government is
understood.  Called "assistant town manager" in common
parlance. But. When you come down to it, he's not really the person
who can take over. "Seeing" both ways, and not "seeing" the
unreality?

Think about it. What if - King were to be taken seriously ill next
week? Or the week after? Maybe it's time to look over what we think
we have.

MOTHER & SON RUNNING - Yes, the town clerk is elected and this year,
Valerie Mulvey is running for re-election, but her son, Alexander
J. Mulvey, is also on the same ballot.

As he is better known, AJ is seeking a three-year term on the Keefe
School Committee. AJ made a name for himself as a dependable whiz in
lacrosse at Framingham High School and at the University of
Denver. He takes to public service in a family that has been active
in campaigns and computers for two decades.

"I have always been interested in public service," AJ tells me.
Currently he is a member of the Violence Prevention Roundtable
[police community group] and was encouraged to run by Margo Deane,
director of the Framingham Coalition. Recently, in preparation, "I
have been working with John Kahn going over all the issues with Keefe
and EGA reports and listening to Charlie Lyons, superintendent of
Shawsheen Valley High School, on how vocational schools
work". "Preparation makes a difference", AJ adds.

WHEN? - It's been about two years now since a million dollar gift and
some spirited campaign for funds started the move to relocate the
Senior Center on Union Avenue. Off to a quick start, ready for
occupancy "right after New Year's", it's been slow going since.  Town
Counsel Chris Petrini called a halt to "immediate occupancy" when
serious soil hazards were discovered. That took months to work out
. . . . to save the town unnecessary expense. But it didn't go
ahead. The spacious parking area and ample footage for most anything
awaits construction of an elevator. Still going on. Needed : Climbing
stairs are not one of things seniors do well.

I bring this up again. When "something good" is amply financed, people tend
to think - well, that'll happen in no time at all. Uh- at this rate those in
their Forties may be the first to enjoy the new quarters. Sort of like what's
going on with Social Security?

_______________________________________________________
You can reach Bob Moore at edmoore4@aol.com or at
1-508-620-1449. [Let it ring; he'll get there, and he listens.]