Fred is the incumbent Town Moderator, running to fill one open seat against Joann Stocklin.
Why do you want to serve in this position?
I have had the pleasure of serving as Town Moderator since 2003. It has been a wonderful experience as I have had the opportunity to meet and interact with many Northborough residents. I take the role of Town Moderator very seriously and have worked to gain more knowledge each year. When I served as President of the Massachusetts Moderators Association, I worked with Town Moderators throughout the Commonwealth. I want to continue as Town Moderator because my experience, knowledge and integrity contribute to my ability to lead an efficient town meeting and during the selection process when appointing individuals to boards and committees.
What special qualifications and experience will you bring to the office?
My experience in the role and my ability to effectively work with others have helped me to be successful as Town Moderator. My style as Moderator is have meetings that ensure that everyone in attendance understands the motions so that they can participate in the discussion and vote on the motions. My professional career has included roles in the field of Human Resources. My experience in Talent Management, Training and Development and Employee Relations has enabled me to develop effective listening and evaluation skills. These skills have proven to be helpful when meeting with individuals to be considered for openings on committees and boards and when interacting with individuals before, during and after Town Meetings.
Describe ONE other activity or (sub) committee you’ve been involved with within the town. What has this meant to you and how did it shape and impact the town?
About a year ago, I had a conversation with the Northborough Police Chief about the recruiting process for new police officers in Northborough. I asked the chief about efforts to recruit women and members of underrepresented groups and indicated that I had recently received a certificate for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Workplace. I have served as a member of the interview team when candidates for Police Officer are interviewed. This has been a great opportunity for me to utilize my human resource skills and knowledge and to represent the Town of Northborough to potential new members of the police department.
Describe THREE key issues/challenges facing the town and how will you address them in this role?
The three key issues/challenges facing the town are:
- The number of projects with significant financial impact on the town.
- Exploring ways that administration, boards, committees, and residents can continue to work to expand the lines of communication.
- Continuing the volunteerism that Northborough is known for.
As Moderator, I appreciate the willingness of busy people stepping up and volunteering to serve on boards and committees. The Appropriations and Financial Planning committees work with the Town Administrator and the Finance Director to develop the overall financial plan each year. They meet with departments and groups throughout the year to better understand the impact of all the planned expenses. When considering the appointment of members of these important committees, I consider the specific skills they bring and that they can serve on the committee in a fair and unbiased way.
Effective communication is key in every organization, but it is essential for success in municipal government. I will continue to have regular communication with members of the administration, elected officials, members of committees and boards, and residents of the town.
We are fortunate that volunteerism is high in Northborough. One of the challenges going forward is keeping volunteerism for the citizens of Northborough growing. So many of the successes in Northborough have been the result of people taking an idea and with hard work, making it a reality. I will continue to recognize volunteerism in Northborough and work to continue being involved with the community.
Is there anything else that you would like to share about yourself?
I believe in Northborough and the sense of community I have repeatedly experienced. I have very simple joys in life. My family is extremely important to me and I like being involve with organizations that “pay it forward” with programs that focus on making opportunities for young people more accessible.