By DAN TOMASELLO
LYNNFIELD — The Select Board voted to appoint two members to two different committees during a recent meeting.
Mayberry Lane resident Ann Walsh was appointed to the Recreation Commission.
“We moved to town 10 years ago with four little kids at the time,” said Walsh. “Rec was really our first interaction to the community. My kids have done every Rec program under the sun. It has been wonderful for our family, and I would love to give back and be part of the Recreation Commission.”
According to Walsh’s resume, she has worked as a consultant for Carbone Metal Fabricator, Inc. in Chelsea since 2011.
Select Board Chair Phil Crawford said Walsh is “extremely well-qualified” to serve on the Recreation Commission.
“I appreciate you stepping forward and volunteering your time,” said Crawford. “It is a very important commission here in town.”
Select Board Vice Chair Alexis Leahy thanked Walsh for applying to serve on the Recreation Commission. She noted that Walsh serves as the board secretary and girls’ in-town basketball coordinator for Lynnfield Youth Basketball.
“I am aware of all of your contributions in basketball,” said Leahy. “It seems like a natural fit. I appreciate the application.”
Select Board member Dick Dalton agreed.
“Thanks Ann for applying,” said Dalton. “Knowing your family and your parents, everyone is committed to public service. It would be great to have you on board.”
After the discussion, the Select Board unanimously voted to appoint Walsh to the Recreation Commission. Walsh’s term will expire on June 30, 2027.
“Congratulations and welcome,” said Crawford.
COA Board appointment
The Select Board also voted to appoint Anne Hourihan to the Council on Aging Board of Directors.
“Anne is a former member of the Council on Aging, and she has applied to get back on the board,” said Crawford.
Hourihan said she joined the Friends of the Lynnfield Senior Center in 2004, and was appointed to the Council on Aging Board of Directors in 2005.
“I served as the secretary for 14 years,” said Hourihan. “After the 14 years, we moved out of Lynnfield so I turned my resignation in. I stayed on as the volunteer secretary for the six years while we were not in Lynnfield. Last year, we moved back and this is the first opening that has come up on the Council on Aging Board. I was hoping that you would consider me for this position.”
Hourihan said she would bring “a lot of continuity and background knowledge” due to being involved with the Council on Aging Board of Directors for the past two decades. She said that will be able to assist with the Senior Center’s transition due to Director Linda Naccara’s retirement.
“I feel very passionate about the work that we do at the Senior Center to keep our community active, healthy and informed,” said Hourihan. “We have a wide variety of exercise classes, and programming about things like diabetes, Parkinson’s and osteoporosis. We have support groups for caregivers and programs where seniors can develop their artistic talents like painting, crafts and language. We also have a chef who prepares homemade healthy meals for the seniors to eat. I feel very passionate about this and I hope that you will reconsider my reapplication to be on the board of the Senior Center.”
Crawford said he has frequently seen Hourihan at the Council on Aging Board of Directors’ meetings.
“You have always been a big contributor and a great supporter of our Council on Aging,” said Crawford.
Leahy welcomed Hourihan back to town and thanked her for applying to serve on the board once again.
Dalton said the Select Board “could not find a more qualified candidate” to serve on the Council on Aging Board of Directors than Hourihan.
“Anne has served on the board for 15 years, and she has been actively involved for over 20 years,” said Dalton. “You are a great candidate and thank you for volunteering.”
After the discussion, the Select Board unanimously voted to appoint Hourihan to the Council on Aging Board of Directors.
Hourihan will be succeeding former Council on Aging Board of Directors member Gloria Lemieux, who recently resigned after serving on the panel for the past decade.
“I have truly enjoyed being on the board, but since I am now spending four to five winter months in Florida, I feel that it is unfair to the board, as I am not here to vote on major issues regarding the center,” Lemieux stated in her resignation letter. “Since my retirement in 2002, it has been like my second home, and I have thoroughly enjoyed all the classes, volunteering whenever needed at the Lynnfield Senior Center.”
Lemieux commended Naccara for being “wonderful” and “caring” to “all seniors who enter the doors.” She also thanked the Select Board for “letting me be part of this wonderful happy place: The Lynnfield Senior Center.”
Crawford thanked Lemieux for her service on the Council on Aging Board of Directors.
“Gloria, thank you for your time and efforts on the committee,” said Crawford. “We appreciate all of the work you have done.”
Veterans Memorial Committee
Town Administrator Rob Dolan said War Memorial Committee Chair Joe Connell and fellow committee members Bruce Siegel and Tom Bogart are the three remaining members of the nine-member panel. He said the three members recommended renaming the committee and updating its mission.
“They are calling for a new committee called the Veterans Memorial Committee made up of five individuals,” said Dolan.
Dolan said Connell, Siegel and Bogart want to continue serving on the Veterans Memorial Committee. He said the revamped panel will be tasked with developing rules and procedures for the Veterans Memorial that was completed last year, including “who qualifies to be on the wall.”
“Right now, since the initial opening last Veterans Day, we have 30-plus applications from individuals who would like to be on that wall,” said Dolan. “We need a formal process as well as a vote from that board to approve those names.”
Dolan said the Veterans Memorial Committee will include two additional members in addition to Connell, Siegel and Bogart. He informed the Villager that the two new members have to be veterans.
If residents are interested in serving on the Veterans Memorial Committee, they can send an email to retired Assistant Town Administrator Robert Curtin, who is still working part-time for the town, at rcurtin@town.lynnfield.ma.us.
Special police officer
The Select Board unanimously voted to appoint Edward Tansey as a special police officer.
Police Chief Nick Secatore stated in a letter sent to Assistant Town Administrator Bob Curtin that Tansey recently retired from the Lynn Police Department.
“Ed Tansey would help us with traffic work, detail work and road construction work,” said Secatore during the Select Board’s meeting. “It is the same as the other special police officers we have brought forward about three years ago.”
Secatore said the Police Department began hiring special police officers in addition to retired police officers.
“We used to just use retirees from our department,” said Secatore. “It has been very successful. It has kept more officers on the road and has enabled traffic work to continue. We have somebody leaving and we would like to bring somebody on board. Mr. Tansey is highly qualified.”
Secatore said Tansey will be a helpful addition as a special police officer.
“It was done in participation with the union,” said Secatore. “There was no animosity or anything like that. It has been very successful.”