Brookfield elections include selectman, town clerk, constable races

By Ruth M. Lyon

Turley Publications Reporter

BROOKFIELD – This town, as all towns around, continues to battle continuing loss of state aid with rising expenses, especially regarding schools. Contests between candidates for selectman, town clerk, and constable positions exist, with contenders for town clerk seeking a position that may not last for long.

Michael Seery, who has, and continues to hold several town positions, is seeking to win the town clerk election. He cites, in his campaign statements, his long association with the town’s business as a former selectman, planning and advisory board positions and his present positions as chairman of the board of health, zoning board of appeals and cemetery superintendent.

“I’d like to make the town clerk’s office more readily accessible to the people I’d be serving. I’d be available to the public during evenings and weekends. I’m also a notary public; I’ve often been called to the town hall to notarize a document when the town clerk is unavailable. I’ve proven in every town job I’ve held to be hard-working, responsible, and know the job, the town, the people, and the town history. I love this town, I’m a lifelong citizen. I’d be honored to serve as town clerk, and would work hard at it. And by the way, contrary to what has been said and written, any instruction for the position would not be at any cost to the town. Linda Lincoln has assured me there will be no costs involved.”

He said he would probably resign from the ZBA and cable access committees, but would like to continue to serve on the board of health and cemetery commission. “I’ve checked, I can be on as many boards as I wish,” he said.

He favors keeping the job elective, rather than appointive. “I’m not in favor of being overseen by the selectmen. In the case of an appointive position, that’s what would happen.”

Seery, 43 and his wife, Janet, have four children. He is employed at Olde Village Realty.

Sheila Frangiamore, who also wants the town clerk position, has served as assistant town clerk for most of the past five years. She believes that the position should be appointive. “The job is complex, increasingly so. I believe the selectmen should have the authority to find the right person for the job. And that board changes regularly, the townspeople could let the selectmen know if they weren’t happy with an appointee. I have the know-how, the commitment and energy to be a great town clerk. I’d like to organize the election equipment, the vault area. I’d especially like to put the by-laws on line, get better, more complete information on the website, and better organize records and resources. I really feel I could walk onto the job tomorrow and do well at it. And, I can offer flexibility through extended hours.”

She is 54 years of age, she and her husband, William, have one child, a junior at Tantasqua Regional High School.

The town will, at annual election, have the opportunity to change the position from elective to appointive; that question will be on the ballot. The selectmen are in favor of the change. If the town votes to make the change in that office from elective to appointive, the elected candidate will serve only for the time it takes for the board of selectmen to appoint a town clerk.

Retiring town clerk Linda Lincoln originally suggested changing the position from elective to appointive, citing the increasingly complex responsibilities inherent in the job. She recently announced that she’d changed her position, however, saying the townspeople have been outspoken; they do not wish to lose their privilege in the matter. “I support what the townspeople want, and they want to vote for the town clerk,” she said.

Selectman Rudy Heller is seeking another three year term, saying that he wants to continue with a job he feels he has performed competently and well. He disagrees with contender David Olson on several issues, including the budget-making power. Heller maintains that the selectmen look to the advisory board for assistance on preparing the town’s budget, but the selectmen review all department budgets spending plans, and, working closely with the advisory board, present the budget to the town. “That’s how it should be,” he said.

Olson maintains that the advisory board should have a greater part in the process, and decide where final cuts should be made. “That’s their job,” he said.

Another source of disagreement is the present practice of limiting the public’s access to speak at board meetings. Olson believes, he says, that anyone who wishes to speak should be allowed to do so, as long as order can be maintained. “That’s how residents can provide input,” he said.

Heller, citing the lengthy history of confrontations between the board and political gadfly David Holdcraft, maintained that the present system of three minute public access sessions at the beginning and end of meetings enables the board to conduct its business in an orderly manner. “Anyone who wants to offer an opinion on every issue should run for selectman,” he said.

Heller favors finding a new, permanent home for the police; that department will be paying $2,000 per month in leasing fees in the coming year. Olson would like to see the police housed in the emergency squad’s Central Street quarters “for a couple of years, until we see where we are financially.”

Olson, in general, states his concern for the town’s and the taxpayers’ financial position, saying “we’re nickeled out. The selectmen have done pretty well, but I think we can do better. We have to consider the prospect of installing sewers in town in the next three years. This is a concern especially in the trailer parks (of which the town has two). People here have blinders on when it comes to sewers. That’s an attitude we can’t afford and a situation we have to face.”

Olson has a proposal regarding the town hall’s slate roof, currently named a danger to the surrounding area, despite its relatively recent installation. He suggests selling the roof and replacing it with a metal roof. “It will look like slate and have a 50 year warranty,” he said.

Heller says the board of selectmen is working to resolve the multiple problems – falling slate shingles caused faulty installation and the roofing company’s subsequent failure. “We’re hoping to come out of this with no expense to the town,” he said.

Olson and his wife Bonnie have lived in town for more than 42 years, having raised their two daughters here. He is a veteran of the US Marine Corps and the Army National Guard. “I was the first full-time police officer in Brookfield, I was a police officer here from 1972 to 1987,” he observed in a recent interview. “This is a tough time to be a selectman. There’s another reduction in local aid this coming year. I think it’s important to pay off outstanding debts before we take on any more. I’ve lived here for a long time; I care about the town. I care about the effect of the cuts on our departments. I know what a dollar looks like. It’s important to keep the tax rate stabilized and for all departments to work together for the good of us all”

Heller and his wife Sarah, 18 Common St., have lived in town for 35 years; they operate the Tip Top Country Store and a language translation service. They have two daughters and five grandchildren. He is vocal when it comes to listing his achievements of the past three years and his goals for the future. He, too, stresses the importance of working together with the townspeople and departments. “I’d like to continue in this position; I have goals, working with the other board members that have yet to be met. I’d like to continue with projects underway, installing solar panels on the highway barn and transfer station. We’re working with the tax collector to collect more than $1milliion in delinquent taxes. I want to help solve the police station problem, and especially to make the town hall accessible in a way the tax collectors will not feel to be burdensome. I offer valuable experience, a willingness to listen and discuss, and especially, civility in town government. I consider that important in a job and in a town.

“In the past three years we’ve accomplished a lot; I’m proud to have taken a part in working toward sensible development, on the master plan, and the open space and capital planning committees. I’ve supported the remediation of the town lakes – the beach will be open this summer. We’ve worked together to solve some tough personnel issues. We’ve reduced costs and increased efficiency. I hope the voters will continue to support me.”

Constable candidates Richard Lapierre and Nicholas Abair are seeking positions currently held by incumbents Joseph Murray and his son, Kris.

Lapierre and his wife, Carol, have lived in Brookfield for more than six years. They own and operate Grandpa’s Kettle Korn. They have three children and 11 grandchildren. “We like living in this community. I like the spirit of the place, going to town meetings and getting to know people, it’s our kind of place. Before we came here, we lived in Spencer for 39 years. I served on the Spencer police department for 15 years, the fire department for 18 (years). I was civil defense director or 12 years, and served on a lot of other committees over the years. I like being useful and making a contribution to life in the place where I live. I served as constable for 29 years in Spencer, so I bring that experience to the job.

“At the candidates’ night, someone asked whether I’m bonded. I am bonded; in order to serve civil process, bonding is required by Massachusetts law; it is not required for the posting of warrants. According to Linda Lincoln, Joseph Murray is bonded; his son Kris is not as far as she knows.

“I hope I can serve this town; I know I’d do a good job. I hope the good citizens of Brookfield will elect me.”

Incumbent constables Joseph Murray and Kris Murray could not be reached by press time; Challenger Nicholas Abair also could not be reached by press time.