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Health & Fitness

Previous Finance Committee Member Supports Dick DeFreitas for Chelmsford Moderator

Dear Editor,

 

I am writing to support Richard DeFreitas as Chelmsford’s Town Moderator.  Richard appointed me as a member of the Finance Committee and even though my tenure was short I learned Richard has no political agenda when appointing Finance Committee members.

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  It is crucial that a Town Moderator leave his/her personal politics and agendas at home.   Choosing Finance Committee members is a very big responsibility, not an opportunity to push an agenda.  The Finance Committee should be a reflection of diverse opinions and skill sets, because they represent the tax payers of Chelmsford.   While I was Chairman of the Finance Committee some budget were strongly debated and Richard heard the grumbling. I would like to point out that this is not a bad thing, since the Finance Committee is supposed to ask questions and share concerns about the budget. Richard did not take sides when a controversial issue came up. Richard left it up to the Finance Committee to debate issues, free from his influence. 

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Richard would tell me that once he appointed a Finance Committee member it was their Finance Committee, not his.    The Town Moderator should not see the Finance Committee as a reflection of his/her point of view or a reflection of his/her ego.  This Town needs to have an independent body, free from politics, take a hard look at the budget.  Richard appoints members who are free thinkers and willing to do their homework.  Richard will not set one profession above another when looking at potential members.  It takes more than a title to be a good member of any committee, and Richard knows what it takes.  I have heard others compare the job of a Town Moderator to driving a play down the field. This is not Richard; he can be compared to a referee, an official who watches a game closely to ensure that the rules are adhered and who keeps his personal opinion where it belongs, out of the game.

 

So I ask you to vote for Richard DeFreitas on April 1st and keep political agendas away from the Chelmsford Finance Committee.

 

Patrice Garvin

Previous Chairman of the Chelmsford Finance Committee

 
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