Town Admin appoints new Town Planner
Published on December 19th, 2001
STONEHAM , MA - George H. Russell of Vernon, Conn. will be the new Stoneham Grants/Community Development Coordinator if Selectmen do not object.
Selectmen have seven working days to reject Town Administrator David Berry’s Dec. 13 appointment. A majority vote of the full Board would be needed to reject the appointment. As of press time Selectmen had made no move to challenge Russell.
Russell is originally from Winthrop, Mass., and he said he and his wife are looking forward to returning to the Greater Boston area.
“I’m going to commute to Stoneham at first to get the lay off the land... probably look for a house in the area in the summer,” Russell said.
Russell graduated from Boston State College and earned a master’s degree from Bowling Green University in Ohio. He took post graduate courses in public administration and management at UConn.
From 1978 to 2001, Russell was the Director of Planning for Vernon, and he has taught undergraduate and graduate courses in geography at UConn since 1979.
As the Vernon planner Russell managed an operating budget in excess of $200,000 and a grants budget in excess of $6 million. Vernon is 18 square miles and home to 20,000 people. Russell said writing three conservation master plans and updating the town’s antiquated zoning code were his major accomplishments in Vernon.
“My management style is to surround myself with smarter people... I like a free flow of ideas... but I like to put things in writing so there are no communication problems,” Russell said.
If the appointment is not challenged, Russell and the town will finalize salary negotiations, and he’ll start in January. The salary range posted was $48,371 to $57,497, starting no greater than $50,819 for the 37.5 hours per week job.
“First, I want to learn about the ongoing projects and then find out what people want to do,” Russell said.
Russell was one of five applicants tapped for interviews from the pool of 23 resumes. One of these semifinalists took another job; his name was not released. Another, Donald Borchelt of Stoneham, withdrew his application. The names of the other two semifinalists were not released.
The selection committee included Joe Slavet, a development consultant working for the town; Planning Board Chairman Gus Niewenhous; Personnel Director Betty Luciano; and Berry.
Vernon Town Clerk Joyce Mascena said she had “a good working relationship” with Russell. Hopefully, Stoneham officials will enjoy the same.
Drinking space
Selectmen acting in their role as the Liquor Licensing Board voted 4-1 last Tuesday to require applicants to show 750 square feet of seating on their site plans to qualify for a liquor license.
The majority of the Board supported the regulation as a condition of the 50 seat requirement. New applicants will no longer be able to cram 50 seats into tight quarters and claim qualification for a liquor license.
The regulation applies only to new applicants, not existing license holders. Although a Town Meeting vote would be necessary to ease the license requirements, Town Counsel Bill Solomon said Selectmen were within their authority to add stricter conditions.
Since Town Meeting dropped the seating requirement from 100 to 50 last year, Felicia’s and D’Agostino’s remodeled and got liquor licenses. Angelo’s is doing the same, and the owners of Kromel’s have discussed adding more seats and going for a license.
Selectman Bob Sweeney opposed the new regulation. He argued that the new rule made things more difficult for Stoneham businesses for no good reason.
In related drinking news, the State Legislature passed H.4739, a law that allows the town to grant a liquor license to the Stoneham Theatre.
Fire Dept. staffing
The subcommittee charged with recommending how to implement the Mass Municipal Associations report on Stoneham Fire Department staffing will include the following people:
•three at large citizens, one of whom must be a former Stoneham Fire Chief,
•two Stoneham Fire senior officers, including the current chief,
•two firefighters,
•a Selectman,
•a Finance Board member
•and TA Berry.
The town will advertise for the at large positions this week, and Berry will work with the Fire Department to choose their representatives. The subcommittee will serve under Berry’s direction and come before the Selectmen with recommendations by April.
VFW building sold
Last week the VFW sold their 89 Hancock Street hall for $315,000 to Stoneham business owners John Macone of Powderhouse Plumbing and John Gardner, David Lynch and Byron Kincaid of Gardner and Lynch Electrical.
VFW President Frank Geary said the organization is discussing possible locations. The bulk of the $315,000 is available to pay for new space. But for now the VFW shares space with the Elks at 471 Main St.
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