Letter: Glenn Kessler is a Leader

To the Editor:

The term “leadership” is used liberally by many candidates during their campaigns so let me share the kind of leader Glenn Kessler is and why Swampscott needs this kind of leadership for three more years.

Leadership is being bold enough to have vision and yet humble and open enough to recognize that achieving these goals will take the effort of many people — people who are most fulfilled when they are share their ideas and talents, rather just doing the bidding of others. Leaders create a culture that serves the greater good and inspires others to do their very best. This is Glenn Kessler.

Glenn is a leader of people and a man of action. He is humble, friendly and open, qualities that bring people together not push people apart. Glenn has served as a liaison to a number of town committees and commissions and has earned their unqualified support and respect (the Athletic Field Advisory Committee, Athletic Field Study Committee, Veterans Committee, Council on Aging, Disability Commission, Renewable Energy Committee, Regionalization Committee, Harbor and Waterfront Advisory Committee and the Historical Commission). Glenn has served with integrity, transparency and always for the greater good of his fellow residents.

Trish Morrison Malpharus, chair of the Disability Commission is out campaigning for Glenn on weekends and evenings because he has helped her achieve the goals of her commission. Bill Hennessey, formerly of the Harbor Advisory Committee, stated in a previous letter to the editor than Glenn has done more in his tenure than any other selectman serving in that role. As chair of the Historical Commission, I can attest to Glenn’s support to help get real work done. He attended meetings, provided sound counsel and when we hit roadblocks he facilitated action. As with many town initiatives, multiple stakeholders are involved including residents, town administration and others. Contrary to Mary Dechillo’s assertion that Glenn has “pet projects”, Glenn facilitates and prioritizes, he seeks to understand the issues and help his committees achieve their goals and get real, meaningful work accomplished. We need more selectmen like Glenn, not fewer.

Glenn also has been a leader who is clear on his positions and has taken decisive action even when unpopular. For example, he stood up for the residents of Greenwood Avenue, rejecting the appeal that would have had the town spending hundreds of thousands of tax dollars to sue its own residents. (Mr. Spellios said at a recent meeting that he would have voted for the appeal, he advocated for the developer rather than his fellow residents). Glenn continues to demand greater transparency from town government, focus on improving our aging infrastructure and persistently push for greater fiscal responsibility and accountability.

Mr. Spellios represents himself as a “clear and decisive leader.” However, having seen Mr. Spellios act in a variety of capacities and knowing who his key supporters are (Jill Sullivan former Chair of Board of Selectmen and Bill Dimento, the attorney representing the developer at Greenwood Avenue, Barry Greenfield, former selectman and others) what this really means is that Mr. Spellios is coming in with a predetermined agenda with little regard for input from residents and town committees. As a ZBA member, Mr. Spellios was often rude, dismissive and confrontation in his dealings with residents and property and business owners. He consistently erred on the side of developers, voting to grant extensive zoning relief in the face of great opposition from residents.

More people are involved and being heard in Swampscott than ever before. New programs and projects like a cultural arts center are coming to fruition. Glenn Kessler has been a big part of this by changing the dynamics of the Board of Selectmen so it is a more inclusive body and by bringing people together to get real work done. We need more leaders like Glenn Kessler.

Thank you,

Susan Post Munafo
Resident, Precinct 6
Chair, Historical Commission