3 vying for 2 board seats

Friday, March 5, 2010

Jack Flanagan Age: 52. Address: 4 Sawtelle Road. Years of residency: 21. Education: BA, Boston University; MBA, Southern New Hampshire University. Employment: Currently unemployed. Political: Hollis Brookline Coop School Board 1993-98 (vice chairman 1994-98), SAU 41 chairman 1999-2001, Brookline School Board 1999-2001 (chairman 2001), Brookline Finance Committee 1999, 2000, current Brookline Board of Selectmen 2009. Family: Married, wife Laura. Three daughters, 21, 17, 14.

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Name: John Joseph Carr Age: 49. Address: 8 Barber Way. Years of residency: Two. Education: Roger Williams University, associate degree, administration of justice; Anna Maria College, bachelor’s degree, administration of justice. Employment: Retired police law enforcement officer, city of Brockton, Mass.; consultant to law enforcement agencies. Assocations: Founding Member of the Brockton Boys and Girls Club, New England Community Police Partnership for Cities and Towns;, Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus, Knights of St. John, Massachusetts Police Association. Family: Married to Margie, six children.

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Name: Clarence L. Farwell Age: 73. Address: 25 Lake Road. Years of residency: 73. Education: Bachelor of Science in civil engineering, University of New Hampshire. Employment: Former owner of C.L. Farwell Construction; now, the company is owned by my son and I am a consultant to him and the company. Political history: 61⁄2 years as selectmen, 25 years as road agent. Affiliations: Melendy Pond Authority, Planning Board, tree warden, sexton, Trustee of Trust Funds, Trustee of the Brookline Community Church, 50-year member Masonic Order; founding member of the Lions Club, member of the Brookline Historical Society, Acacia Fraternity. Family: Married to Marcia for 48 years, three grown sons.

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Jack Flanagan Age: 52. Address: 4 Sawtelle Road. Years of residency: 21. Education: BA, Boston University; MBA, Southern New Hampshire University. Employment: Currently unemployed. Political: Hollis Brookline Coop School Board 1993-98 (vice chairman 1994-98), SAU 41 chairman 1999-2001, Brookline School Board 1999-2001 (chairman 2001), Brookline Finance Committee 1999, 2000, current Brookline Board of Selectmen 2009. Family: Married, wife Laura. Three daughters, 21, 17, 14.

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2010 Brookline Town Meeting
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Brookline Board of Selectmen

Jack Flanagan

Age: 52.

Address: 4 Sawtelle Road.

Years of residency: 21.

Education: BA, Boston University; MBA, Southern New Hampshire University.

Employment: Currently unemployed.

Political: Hollis/Brookline Coop School Board 1993-98 (vice chairman 1994-98), SAU 41 chairman 1999-2001, Brookline School Board 1999-2001 (chairman 2001), Brookline Finance Committee 1999, 2000, current Brookline Board of Selectmen 2009.

Family: Married, wife Laura. Three daughters, 21, 17, 14.

Name: John Joseph Carr

Age: 49.

Address: 8 Barber Way.

Years of residency: Two.

Education: Roger Williams University, associate degree, administration of justice; Anna Maria College, bachelor’s degree, administration of justice.

Employment: Retired police law enforcement officer, city of Brockton, Mass.; consultant to law enforcement agencies.

Assocations: Founding Member of the Brockton Boys and Girls Club, New England Community Police Partnership for Cities and Towns;, Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus, Knights of St. John, Massachusetts Police Association.

Family: Married to Margie, six children.

Name: Clarence L. Farwell

Age: 73.

Address: 25 Lake Road.

Years of residency: 73.

Education: Bachelor of Science in civil engineering, University of New Hampshire.

Employment: Former owner of C.L. Farwell Construction; now, the company is owned by my son and I am a consultant to him and the company.

Political history: 61⁄2 years as selectmen, 25 years as road agent.

Affiliations: Melendy Pond Authority, Planning Board, tree warden, sexton, Trustee of Trust Funds, Trustee of the Brookline Community Church, 50-year member Masonic Order; founding member of the Lions Club, member of the Brookline Historical Society, Acacia Fraternity.

Family: Married to Marcia for 48 years, three grown sons.

Three people are running for two three-year seats on the Brookline Board of Selectmen. They were asked to discuss the effect of the economy on town operations, including how a town should negotiate contracts with its employees.

Jack Flanagan:

It must also consider what the taxpayer can afford. In today’s economy, the Board of Selectmen has had to look at every expense, with a concern for the current economic slowdown and still providing essential town services. The question assumes that the process is different now. I would respond the process is always the same. The result may be the difference, i.e., changes in salary and benefits.

One can always judge success in negotiations by turnover rates. If there is a mass exodus of staff, one must re-evaluate the process. In the process, we are always evaluating and comparing Brookline with the other towns in the area. The process assumes there isn’t a weakness in a department head management skills if there is an area of high turnover.

As a public servant, I have always viewed this process as the taxpayers’ fiduciary – always getting the most for the taxpayers’ dollar. However, the town must be competitive in the current job market. It is that simple.

John Carr:

The town of Brookline has been forced to cut or examine new ways to level fund the budget during this recession. I believe that Brookline is a terrific place to live, work and raise a family, but our tax burden is too high. If elected, I will work to bring commercial development to Brookline. I pledge to you, the voters, that I will examine all of our planning, zoning and growth ordinances to see what can be changed to benefit the taxpayers. The services that should not be cut are public safety (fire, ambulance and police). They are our safety net in these turbulent times. Roads and highways must be maintained and improved to ensure growth. Programs that could be cut are nonessentials with excessive oversight or administration.

Clarence Farwell:

Absolutely, unions had their place in the past, but in this present economy, taxpayers have to be considered.