Hello Topsfield friends!
Thank you so much for entrusting me with your vote. I am honored to serve you. Now, time to get to work.
-Bob
Why am I running?
To move Topsfield FORWARD to the future, while preserving its best qualities. Over the last few decades, Topsfield has evolved. Families still move here for schools, safety, and bucolic environs with a historic feel. But there is also a desire for a more vibrant social environment beyond the soccer sidelines. Major increases in housing prices make it very difficult for local workers and first-time home buyers to get started in Topsfield. Continued diversity growth would positively benefit the community.
Over the years, Janet and I have tried to “give back” with volunteer work on town committees and boards in appreciation for Topsfield’s benefits. Now years later, I am semi-retired and would like to again “give back” and serve you, my neighbors.
What do I propose to do?
Find opportunities to move Topsfield into the future through judicious selection and thoughtful management.
Focus on maintaining quality in our core public schools, safety, senior services, and our semi-rural historic feel.
Let’s work together to:
Move the “Pocket Park,” which was supported at the 2023 Town Meeting, from a plan to a reality, but make sure the costs stay within our remaining Federal Funds and provide funds for ongoing maintenance.
Encourage a casual restaurant or tavern that would provide a community gathering place, with an experienced well-capitalized owner-operator.
Encourage a well-designed multi-family development in the new MBTA District to provide a variety of housing choices for new and down-sizing Topsfield residents.
Beautify and keep up our town-owned spaces; for example, the corner of Main and Park St. bisected by the Rail Trail.
Responsible management means maintaining high-quality core services, with reasonable budgets to contain tax increases:
Continue to benefit from the vast expertise and energy brought by our many volunteer committees and boards, including the FINCOM, Planning Board, Zoning Board, and others including the TAA.
Encourage the School Committees to focus on in-classroom, student-facing staff and resources, and be frugal where it counts.
At the high school level, encourage the School Committee to maintain a balanced program of music, theater, and athletic activities that can provide lifetime foundational opportunities.
Maintain quality public safety staff and keep training current, but be frugal with buildings and vehicles.
Senior Services: Carefully balance and provide the resources needed for the well-being of our seniors.
Roads and Parks: Keep staff adequate for upkeep. Stretch vehicle life to the point where repairs exceed amortization. Continue to pursue grants aggressively for road repair.
Nurture Growth and Development: Encourage high-value businesses and creative ways to stimulate development in the town center and Rt. 1 business zones to improve our quality of life and gain tax revenues. Use adequately sized locations and be flexible about new types of establishments such as restaurants and gathering places.
Transparency and open communication among employees, citizen leaders, and the general citizenry.
Children are our future
It’s an absolute joy to watch my grandkids play on the playground at Proctor School that Janet was so instrumental in building back in the 90s. I watched my kids play there and now to see my grandkids play there, is a testament to the roots we have in this community and commitment I have for keeping Topsfield a place where kids can learn, grow, and play, safely.
You might even catch me somedays practicing my tennis swing on the brick wall there.
My experience and qualifications
Professional Experience:
Over 40 years of financial and operations management experience in both Fortune 500 companies and small, emerging enterprises and non-profits. Learned and applied a wide variety of management methods and controls. Team managed large real estate development projects and assertively negotiated numerous leases. Guided for long-term profit stability and growth. Accomplished financings and sales of companies, often during financial stress. Goals always included quality services for customers and fair compensation and full benefits for employees.
Past President and Treasurer of the North Shore Technology Council, a professional association focusing on educational events and networking for technology-focused professionals and organizations. President during the initial shutdown phase of the pandemic, maintaining significant membership and capital resources during a transition from in-person to virtual activities.
Town Committees:
Finance Committee: Liaison to Masconomet, North Shore Technical School, and the Police Dept. Successfully defended the Masconomet budget amid heated opposition during a recession. Helped achieve a town-wide budget where all departments reduced requests in a difficult economic time.
Masconomet Building Committee: Chairperson, led turnaround from negative votes by our neighboring District Members to winning two rounds of funding votes in all three towns, managing the design process, and construction. Four years later when I stepped down as Chairperson the project was on time and 15% under budget.
Family:
Janet and I have three children who were educated in Topsfield’s public schools and received religious education at St. Rose. We are proud grandparents of two darling grandchildren.
Education:
St. Lawrence University, BA in Government;
American University, MA in Economics;
University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School, MBA.
Community Engagement:
Treasurer, Friends of the Topsfield Town Hall.
TAA Youth Soccer (coach for 10 years), Adventure Guides, and Cub Scouts.
Participated in fundraising for the St. Rose Church now in use. Very grateful to have been a guest member of the Congregational Church Choir for 5 years.
Ten-year Member of the Topsfield A-League indoor over 40 soccer team, with one Championship.
