Parker: Collaborative Approach Is Best On Major Projects

A Letter to the Editor:

My name is Raymie Parker, and I am asking for your vote on Tuesday, April 3, 2018 for a seat on the Stoneham Board of Selectman.

My husband, two daughters, and I have lived in Stoneham for the past 15 years and have made wonderful friends. It is these friendships and community involvement that inspire me to be even more involved with our town. Since moving to Stoneham, I have been involved with many community events (Relay for Life, Socks for Seniors, Sandy Hook Vigil), civic groups (STAC, MAPC), and youth sports (Board member of all, SYFC, CYFC, SYSBA). In working with these groups and organizations, I have learned what it takes to be a team player and get things done. Among my strengths in community involvement is the ability to mobilize people to accomplish the agreed upon goals. For me, conversation, collaboration, and community is what excites me and is the cornerstone of leadership.

My husband Jamie is a twenty-six-year veteran with the Boston Police department and is assigned to the Bomb Squad. Our daughter Vanessa (22) is a recent URI Graduate, and Teagan (16) is a junior at SHS. Both of our daughters have reaped the benefits of the great education offered in the Stoneham Public School system. Stoneham Public Schools have great educators and support staff who are doing right by our children. Although we are in need of a new high school, it's the solid education that occurs inside all of those buildings – old and new - that makes our schools terrific in preparing our children for college and beyond. I am a strong supporter of our school department and hope to be involved with the school committee when it comes to decisions about the future of Stoneham High School.

I currently work part-time at the Stoneham Police department. Being a part-time employee gives me perspective as to how the town departments operate and what are some of the important needs to make them run efficiently. As a town employee, I will be held to a higher standard than a non-town employee in an elected position by the State Ethics commission. All elected officials must follow the rules, however the legislators in the Commonwealth thought it important enough for town employees to get involved with in local government that they provide guidance for town-employees serving in elected positions. Included in the guidance:

1 - No job advancement for the three-year term on the board, and for six months after term ends.
2 - The stipend of $3000.00 allotted to the Selectman cannot be paid to a current town employee.
3 - Individual cannot vote on issues related to a family member, or where the individual may receive some financial gain.

I do believe any issues related to my employment will be minimal and are not unlike issues facing current board members who must recuse themselves for a number of reasons. We have a very knowledgeable Town Administrator and Town Counsel who advise the BOS in such situations.

Over the past few years, I have attended nearly all the BOS meetings. There has been significant turnover of department heads and support staff in the recent past. Lack of staff continuity and new hiring has made the past few years chaotic. In the same vein, I believe the use of mitigation money to hire staff is inappropriate. Mitigation money is the only money the BOS can spend without Town Meeting approval. In my opinion this is poor management and a direct reflection on the BOS. These one-time funds should correlate directly to the project for which said funds are specified.

The primary needs facing a collaborative Board of Selectmen include:
- Weiss Farm
- New High School
- Eversource
- Complete Streets
- Senior Citizens
- Collaboration with all town boards

I consider myself to be a fair, reasonable, and responsible person who is deeply invested in our community. I hope that you will support me as I take on this journey again. I am here for you and Stoneham, and I ask for your vote on Tuesday April 3, 2018.

If you have any questions or would like to know more about me, please call me (781-435-1555) or e-mail me RaymieforStoneham@gmail.com and I would be happy to discuss any issus with you. I also encourage you to visit my FaceBook group page at Raymie Parker for Stoneham Selectwoman, which will include updates about my campaign.

Raymie Parker