Draft seeks to codify practices on paper

BY WILLIAM J. DOWD

Marblehead Select Board has created a comprehensive draft policy aimed at making uniform procedures for their appointments and reappointments to the town’s local boards and committees.

The board members recently looked over the initial results of a survey filled out by roughly 50 volunteers and discussed the need for additional community engagement before settling on the new rules.

Board Chair Erin Noonan emphasized, “We want representation from every board, at least a couple of people from each.”

The board has put forth this draft policy as part of an effort to foster wider civic involvement in town governance. While largely affirming current procedures, the policy introduces some notable amendments, such as setting term limits for a number of appointees.

The draft suggests a typical term limit of two consecutive three-year terms. Exceptions can be made for roles necessitating specific expertise, like the Zoning Board of Appeals, where terms could be extended based

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they registered for selective service if applicable.

Under current law, in-state students pay $17,357 in tuition to attend UMass Amherst, while their undocumented/illegal immigrant classmates who do not qualify pay $39,293.

The provision was included in the Senate version of the budget but was not included in the House version. The conference committee opted to include the provision in the compromise version.

Supporters of rule suspension said it is unfair and undemocratic for the provision to be included in the final budget

JCC have been friends since their days as kindergarteners in Revere and they meet up every month at the J.

“This is the best day of the month,” Paul said. “The music is so good. You get a real lift from it.”

Her favorite song? “It Had to Be You.”

“Mine is ‘Kiss Today Goodbye,’” added Bass.

Ronda and Stuart Spitzer, of Lynnfield, look forward to the jazz lunch every month.

“The band is excellent and there’s a very friendly atmosphere,” Ronda said. “ They play older music and it’s nice to reminisce.”

Tyler has been playing music his whole life, and taught music in the Burlington Schools for years. He’s been in many different bands, and even put out a pop record in the 50s with a band called “The Storm Trio.” on the Select Board’s discretion. Board member Jim Nye brought up uncertainties about how term limits would impact long-serving incumbents. Questions remain unanswered as to whether their service length would reset or if they would receive an additional three years prior to any reappointment procedures. The draft doesn’t provide clarity on this.

“The record was called ‘My Wonderful Lover.’ We played on the radio,” he said.

In addition to term limits, the draft policy indicates a drive toward greater appointee diversity. However, the board suggested revising language relating to factors like race, gender identity and sexual orientation.

As Nye pointed out, the town currently does not solicit such personal information from applicants. Therefore, the board agreed that the diversity language should be softened to circumvent any potential discrimination.

The proposed policy also includes rules about advertising vacancies, interviewing potential appointees and voting on appointments to ensure transparency and consistency.

For those reaching six years of service and seeking reappointment, the draft policy when the House never had the opportunity to vote on it.

Opponents of rule suspension said that suspending the rule would result in hundreds of amendments, not just the one dealing with undocumented/ illegal immigrants’ tuition rates, being proposed to the budget and starting budget debate all over again. They noted that both Republican members of the conference committee signed off on including the tuition provision.

The provision seems headed to become state law since Gov. Healey in the past has expressed support for allowing these immigrants to pay the lower rate. In May, she said that offering in-state tuition requires them to reapply instead of receiving passive approval. The board would then open up the process to other candidates and conduct interviews before considering any second terms.

Board member Alexa Singer highlighted that the detailed responses from the survey have led to further questions that need to be addressed before casting her vote. A follow-up meeting has been scheduled for Aug. 16 to reassess the policy after gathering more feedback from the community.

This interim period provides members with the opportunity to properly process the feedback received so far. The ultimate goal is to secure input from all local committees and boards prior to policy implementation.

Board member Moses Grader voiced his satisfaction, saying, “I’m really impressed with the feedback we’ve received from some of the volunteers.” Noonan shared that they have already received thoughtful feedback on improving the appointment process. The board aims to incorporate such constructive ideas into the final rules.

Alongside term limits, the draft policy mentions the for undocumented immigrants is “absolutely essential and a no-brainer.” (A “Yes” vote is for rule suspension. A “No” vote is against it.)

Rep. Jennifer Armini No ALSO UP ON BEACON HILL

$375 MILLION FOR ROADS AND BRIDGES (S 2375) - Gov. Healey signed into law a bill that includes authorizing $200 million in one-time funding for the maintenance and repair of local roads and bridges in cities and towns across the state. The $375 million package, a bond bill under which the funding would be borrowed by the state through the sale of bonds, also board’s duty to “ensure” that both new and experienced members are appointed to all bodies. The language was suggested to be softened to “seek” or “encourage” such diversity instead. includes $175 million for several transportation-related grant programs.

The draft policy also outlines procedures for handling resignations, vacancies, oaths of office and, if required, the removal of appointees. Any approvals would necessitate a majority vote from the board.

Noonan stressed the overarching objective is to ensure fairness in all aspects of appointments so as to leverage the full potential of Marblehead’s talent pool.

The programs funded by the $175 million include the municipal small bridge program; the complete streets program; a bus transit infrastructure program; and grants for municipalities to purchase electric vehicles and the infrastructure needed to support them.

HEARINGS – The Judiciary Committee held a hearing on several proposals including:

PRISON LABOR (H 1400)

– Would prohibit any prisoner from being transferred to other states and being required to work on labor projects in that

“We have really, actually very thoughtful responses from 48, 49, I guess almost 50 of our volunteers have responded to the survey,” said Noonan. “I think it makes sense to do a second push-out and improve on that.” state. The measure was first filed in 2017 when former Bristol County Sheriff Tom Hodgson was planning to transport Bristol County prisoners across state lines to the nation’s southern border to help build former President Trump’s proposed border wall.

The surveys completed by the volunteers are anonymous. However, the board plans to cross-check with the names of boards that have not yet provided feedback and make efforts to reach out in the forthcoming weeks.

The officials have stated that they continue to welcome and encourage further input.

NO/LIMITED SOLITARY CONFINEMENT (H 1740) –Would prohibit prisoners under 21 years old from being held in solitary confinement.

DEDICATE 1 PERCENT OF MARIJUANA EXCISE TAX TO YOUTH SUBSTANCE USE PREVENTION (H 103) – Would require that 1 percent of the excise tax on recreational marijuana be used for youth substance abuse prevention.

CURRENT PHOTOS / LEIGH BLANDER

not think of the full picture or the future implications, both financially and educationally, for our children. They just had to act on personal agendas without caring about the town as a whole.

And most important, why was public input denied? The School Committee’s action will prove to be political suicide for them. Marbleheaders have long memories.

David Becker Nonantum Road

Transparency matters

To the editor:

The Marblehead School Committee is overstepping its bounds in its closeddoor decision to remove our superintendent. This is problematic for many reasons, but I am particularly disappointed that the committee is not considering the advice and opinions of everyone in our community. It appears that the committee listens to the loudest critics, disregarding the opinions and advice of others. The volunteers who work to support our students, staff and school leadership are being ignored. Citizens who have their finger on the pulse of the school cultures are being ignored.

In my role as a volunteer, I have met regularly with Dr. Buckey for the past three years and I have always been impressed by his optimism for our district. He is a person who shows up for students and staff. This spring, he ran laps with kids at our Fun Run and cheered from the audience at Village School chorus concerts. He’s at almost every performance, big sporting event and cultural celebration. This kind of support matters to families.

The removal of a dedicated superintendent during the summer when most families are checked out of school happenings can be described as sneaky at best. The removal of the superintendent not only costs our town and taxpayers money we don’t have, but also sets our district back years. We deserve to know the reasons why the School Committee is removing the leader of our district.

Abby Lewis Park Lane

Focus on trail repair, not bridge beautification

To the editor:

As a Marblehead resident who spends a minimum of two hours a day on our wonderful rail trail, I was disappointed to learn that the town appropriated $1.4 M of federal pandemic relief funds on two bridges, rather than address the surface of the trail itself. The two bridges are perfectly fine while the rest of the trail suffers from erosion and the wear and tear of traffic. The exposed rocks, eroded gullies, large non-draining puddles and narrowing of the soft sand are hazardous to those of us that use the path regularly. This should have been the priority for the funds, not the bridges which function just fine and provide a stunning view of the harbor. I know that I am not the only regular trail geek that feels this way.

Respectfully,

Saw superintendent’s long hours firsthand

To the editor: coffee one morning this week when my cats and I heard an unfamiliar noise outside. It sounded like thin metal clinking. Followed by a gentle scritch, scritch, scritch. I glanced out the window to see the landscapers manicuring the yard next door — with rakes. It was music to my ears.

Do you see that empty parking spot on top of the hill between the trees at the school administration office? That’s Dr. Buckey’s spot. It is directly across the street from my house and viewed from my top step. Throughout COVID and ever since, his spot has been filled every weekday, early mornings, long into evening hours, long hours on Saturdays, many hours on Sunday nights and long summer hours.

Buckey was at every event I attended for the kids. He was always there.

After years of shutting windows all summer to block the obnoxious noise of gaspowered leaf blowers, I can finally hear birds chatting, the leaves rustling before a storm, chipmunks battling for territory. It sounds like summer. And I can air out my house before another New England winter and still hear my husband calling from the next room. I want to extend a heartfelt thanks to the people who brought us this gas-powered leaf blower ban. I know it took dedicated work over years to accomplish. I know people got nasty about it. But by sticking with it you have transformed summer for me and countless others who have been forced to live with the ear-splitting noise for years.

Thank you, also, to the people of Marblehead who voted, multiple times!, for this ban.

Elizabeth Lutwak Robert Road

How did we get here?

Marcy Schwam Garden Road

The summer sound of silence is golden

To the editor”

I was sitting at my computer reading the news and drinking

To the editor, As I unpack everything that has transpired over the last few weeks concerning The School Committee and Dr. Buckey’s resignation, I keep coming back to the same question: How did we get here?

As Wednesday’s School Committee meeting approached, it felt like Dr. Buckey was walking to the gallows with hundreds of people in

I am struggling with the financial implications this will have on our town. The search three years ago cost the town around $250,000 — money that could be used for education, teachers, building-level needs.

I want to know what will be done differently this time around? With two sitting committee members who were on the previous search committee and hired Dr. Buckey and then turned around and three years later terminated, what will change in the process so we aren’t back here every few years?

Plain and simple, I don’t like how this was handled. I am wary of the collateral damage that will come from this, which leads me back to my initial question: How did we get here?

And this urges me to ask people to go out and vote. Learn about the candidates and what they are standing for; understand how your vote matters — because it does.

Bit Coppola Beverly Avenue

Two bridges to nowhere

I am not posting to tell you about rights, wrongs, wouldacouldas, dislike him, like him… etc.

Given the location of my home, I have the unique perspective of seeing how hard Buckey worked for our community. THE HOURS. You won’t find someone who worked harder than he did… for you and our kids. I told him one day in passing something to the effect of, “I’ll go to bat for you if it’s ever needed. I know without question you put everything you’ve got into that job.”

He thanked me and laughed… and today I am seeing that comment through.

Michael R. McCarthy Cornell Road

attendance. It felt icky. Is this how we want to treat people? Is this the precedent we want to set with the School Committee moving forward, that they can terminate a superintendent without cause without a full committee eligible to vote? That seems like an incredible breach of power.

Like or dislike Dr Buckey, agree or disagree with him, I think most people can see that this process was bad and a bad look for our town and public school community. I don’t understand how we can have a functional and effective School Committee when one of the members has to recuse themself because of the personal grievance they filed against Dr. Buckey (which was not disclosed until the bitter end — an unbelievable conflict of interest), which leads to the most obvious point: How and why is it okay to conduct such a hugely impactful vote with four people?

And on top of that, many (if not all?) sitting School Committee members were elected into their positions under the platform of transparency. I understand that there are certain things the public is not privy to, but it is very clear that in this instance, the lens of transparency fell to the wayside. I want to believe in our elected committee members, and I want to know that they have education in the forefront of their decisions, but this just doesn’t feel right.

I also am having a hard time wrapping my head around the fact this is all happening five weeks before the start of the school year, with so much turnover already happening in all of our schools and leadership. All this is doing is perpetuating chaos instead of holding onto stability.

community to develop a vision for Marblehead mobility 2035 and beyond.

The town administrator has not yet embraced the TSAC.

The Select Board has chosen to hold off on appointing new members to any town board until November. These delays will make it difficult. Until the TSAC begins operating, residents will have to take it upon themselves to ask probing, pointed questions. Otherwise, we’re apt to spend $1.43 million on a pair of bridges to nowhere.

Dan Albert Leicester Road

Sudden departures serve no one well

To the editor:

In light of recent events in the School Department, it does not escape attention that former Town Administrators Jason Silva and Jeff Chelgren also left their positions suddenly and without public explanation.

To the editor:

At its July 26 meeting, the Select Board voted to spend $1.43 of the town’s American Rescue Plan Act (APRA) funds to improve the Lead Mills section of the Rail Trail.

When Selectwoman Alexa Singer asked about the rationale for the project, Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer responded that it was scored under “infrastructure” and, “I think, economic.” (He did not know the score.) Chairwoman Erin Noonan then asked how the project met the ARPA criteria that monies be used for economic development, noting that covid had decimated small businesses in town.

It doesn’t. The project doesn’t add a link to Salem, and it doesn’t connect trail users to Marblehead’s business districts. To shop at Marblehead’s stores and patronize its restaurants, cyclists risk being hit by large utility vehicles (the Marblehead Municipal Light Department uses its substation as a storage yard). The path dead ends at Round House Road and Bessom Street, a hostile environment of illegally parked cars and heavy traffic, including semi-trailers serving Gilbert and Cole.

In contrast, Salem has provided a network of protected and designated bike lanes that access commuter rail, amusement parks, beaches and the Witch City’s vibrant downtown.

What about infrastructure, the other justification Mr. Kezer thought might apply? Here, things grew a bit fuzzy. Ms. Curran explained that the project is listed under three separate master plans: NetZero, Complete Streets and Rail Trail. But Sustainable Marblehead, the organization behind NetZero, disbanded its Transportation Actional Group years ago. (I briefly headed the SM TAG when Judith Black took a hiatus.)

Although the Select Board signed the Complete Streets policy in 2018, it has failed to implement it. Worse — and there is no other word for it — residents have been lied to when it comes to Complete Streets.

That’s why I sponsored the new bylaw creating a Traffic Safety Advisory Committee with the express purpose of overseeing the Complete Streets Policy and dealing with all facets of the town’s transportation infrastructure. It will include three members of the public appointed in open session by the Select Board, and those members will be empowered by virtue of the annually rotating chair provision. Regular, monthly, public meetings will provide a venue for the

The sudden departure of multiple school and town leaders in the past 10 or so years serves no one well. The engineer in me tells me it is time for elected leadership to sit down and understand the root cause. We are in a financial crisis. Perhaps a look in the rearview mirror will help understand how we got here and how we can recover.

Jim Zisson Mound Road

Time to come together for children’s sake

To the editor:

We believe that the change in leadership will not have an immediate impact on the upcoming school year. The 2023-2024 school year planning is already underway with the teachers and the Office of Teaching and Learning working together to plan professional development.

Towards the end of August, there will be a Leadership Institute for all lead teachers to help drive our professional learning communities for the year. The math and literacy coaches will continue to provide support to the staff in delivering instruction and analyzing student data. Our building administrators are strong, and we have amazing PTOs and families. When we return to school, our teachers will continue to do what they do best: teach.

Now, we need to come together as a community to benefit the children of Marblehead. While there may be differences of opinion at times, I believe we all share the same goal of providing an exemplary education to the children of Marblehead.

We need to work together to build a budget that will attract and retain the best educators possible. This can be done by establishing a payscale that competes with top school systems, reducing class sizes, increasing salaries for our ESPs to provide a livable wage, focusing on the social-emotional health of students by increasing guidance and therapeutic support in each school, and providing more opportunities for professional development and planning time for teachers to collaborate, review and discuss student work, review curriculum, and communicate with families.

There is still much work to be done, but we are hopeful that as teachers, administrators, the School Committee, families and a community, we can work together to make Marblehead Public Schools an exemplary district for our children.

Jonathan Heller and Sally Shevory, co-presidents Marblehead Education Association