New Senior Director has big plans for Stoneham
Published on July 5th, 2000
STONEHAM, MA - Jane Lavender of Melrose accepted the position of Stoneham Council on Aging Director with great expectations.
"I want to build on what we have and add more, more lectures, more activities," Lavender said after formally accepting the position last week.
Lavender is a Fisher College graduate, a licensed social worker and a mother in her early fifties.
She starts July 10 at $37,709 per year.
"Barbara Mahoney has done great things, and I want to continue them with the help of the wonderful staff," Lavender said.
At a selectmen's meeting in June, Town Administrator Jeff Nutting said experience was a key factor in his decision to appoint Lavender. (A vote by selectmen to reject the appointment failed by a 2-3 margin.)
Lavender was the Lynnfield Council on Aging Director for the past five years, during which time participation in the local senior center increased by four times, according to Lynnfield Council on Aging Board Chairman Tom Carmichael. An average of 120-150 people visit the Lynnfield center daily.
"She created a fantastic atmosphere," Carmichael said.
Lavender said she simply tries to give everyone a "warm welcome."
As she did in Lynnfield, Lavender plans to survey Stoneham seniors to see what they want and then create programs to serve them.
Some specific goals Lavender has already set include setting up a computer lab at the Senior Center and increasing the volunteer staff.
"I am very excited about starting," she said.
Carmichael described Lavender as capable and creative.
"While she was at the (Lynnfield) Senior Center, they developed the motto: A home away from home," Carmichael said.
Tension in Lynnfield
Lavender and Lynnfield Selectmen Chairman Mark McDonough had a hard time working together.
In 1998 following a verbal argument, Lavender and members of her staff filed a complaint against McDonough in Peabody District Court.
The complaints were dismissed, and McDonough said the incident was "exaggerated," but he was censured by his fellow selectmen.
In June of this year, Lavender referred to "ongoing harassment" by McDonough in her private letter of resignation to Lynnfield Town Administrator Joe Maney. Maney mistakenly read the letter at a selectmen's meeting. He then waived her two weeks notice, accepting her resignation immediately. (She was paid for the two weeks.)
Lavender's attorney Alice Whitewall Wiseberg said her client does not want to publicly discuss this personnel matter.
"Jane has objected at every step of the way to the making public of her resignation letter," Whitewall Wiseberg said. "She is handling the matter through the appropriate channels."
Subscribe and get Home Delivery of The Independent
Save 36% off the newstand price — that's like 18 FREE issues!