By DAN TOMASELLO
LYNNFIELD — The Select Board is accepting nominations for the Daniel Townsend Award for Excellence.
The Townsend Award is named after Daniel Townsend, who perished on April 19, 1775 in the first battle of the Revolutionary War.
“The Daniel Townsend Award for Excellence was created to honor excellence in volunteerism,” said Select Board Chair Phil Crawford during a recent meeting.
Local stonemason Tony Tropeano and Historical Commission Chair/Conservation Commission Vice Chair Kirk Mansfield were the recipients of the 2024 Townsend Award. Late Planning Board/Conservation Commission member Donald Harriss and late Zoning Board of Appeals Chair John Smith received the Townsend Award in 2023.
Additionally, former Selectman/Town Moderator/Fields Committee Chair Arthur Bourque, late Selectman Al Merritt, retired Town Administrator/Selectman/Town Moderator H. Joseph Maney, late Selectman David Drislane, former Council on Aging Board of Directors Chair Fred Santangelo, retired Conservation Administrator Betty Adelson, late Selectman Dr. Robert Weiss and longtime volunteer Ellen Crawford were also named recipients of the Townsend Award.
Crawford recalled that former Select Board member Chris Barrett proposed creating the Daniel Townsend Award for Excellence in 2017.
“It was Chris’ idea at the time,” said Crawford. “I thought it was a great idea to recognize the people in town who put in their time and effort, particularly on a volunteer basis. I thought it was fantastic.”
Residents can email nominations to retired Assistant Town Administrator Bob Curtin, who is still working part-time for the town, at rcurtin@town.lynnfield.ma.us or mail them to the Town Administrator’s Office, 55 Summer St., Lynnfield MA 01940.
The deadline to submit nominations for the Daniel Townsend Award for Excellence is Tuesday, Sept. 30. Crawford encouraged residents to submit nominations for the Daniel Townsend Award for Excellence.
“If you have somebody you think deserves an award for volunteerism and all of the work they put into town selflessly, we will certainly take that into consideration,” said Crawford.