DeSorgher Returns to Selectman's Seat

Thirty years after he vacated his seat at the selectmen's table, he's back.

On Monday, Richard DeSorgher was elected to the Board of Selectmen.

"I'm getting my old seat back with a 30-year gap in between," DeSorgher said after the election. 

DeSorgher was first elected to the board in 1980. He served just one term, deciding not to run again because his children were young, he was in graduate school, and he didn't have the time to devote to the job.

"Now that I'm retired, I have the time," he said. "I've always had the interest and now I also have the time." 

Interestingly, DeSorgher is taking the seat occupied by Ann Thompson for the last 30 years. When Thompson was elected in 1983, she took the seat that DeSorgher was vacating. 

Just over six percent (539) of Medfield's 8,403 registered voters went to the polls to vote in 10 uncontested races on Monday.

Those who were at the polls saw DeSorgher supporters holding signs, despite the race being uncontested.

"We wanted to thank people for their vote," DeSorgher said.

Because he was a shoe-in, DeSorgher has spent the last few months getting ready to take his seat. He has attended various meetings of town board and committees including the warrant committee as it prepares for next month's annual town meeting.

"I'm up to speed and ready to go at the first meeting which is April 2," he said. "I'm raring to go."

When asked why he ran, DeSorgher said:

1. Long-range planning. The town needs to space out long-term projects such as the highway garage, police and fire station, renovations to Dale Street School, etc., so the large expenses don't hit the tax rolls at one time.

2. Communication. "We need to do a better job about communicating what goes on at Town Hall, and filtering that out to the people so they know what's going on," he said. He suggested holding "mini town halls" with residents in different neighborhoods to share ideas and concerns regarding town business. He would also like selectmen to appear on Medfield TV to let viewers know what's coming up at Town Hall in the following month. 

3. Finances. "Somehow we have to get very creative dealing with the finances of the town," he said, noting that the main reason people move to town is because of the schools and they want other high-quality services as well. "We can't just keep going up and up on the tax rate" because it will drive seniors out of town and their homes will be bought by families with young children who will fill the schools and the cycle continues. 

He also suggested the town improve its recycling program through education. "The less that comes out of Medfield, the more money we have," he said, noting the garbage is hauled away at a price per ton. 

4. Industry. The town has to market the town to bring in business. There is little business in town, with very little industrial land left, which leaves the tax burden on the residential taxpayer. "We need to try to go out and try to get an Electric Time or something [small industrial] like that that's a win-win for the town," he said, noting that the approved 40B project off West Street took precious industrial land off the tax books.

5. Medfield State Hospital. "That's the biggest impact on the town," he said. "We're going to have to really look at all the alternatives there and see what the best financial picture is for the town," adding the State Hospital Reuse Committee will have a big job ahead of it once the mediation process is complete. 

"I'm very, very happy," DeSorgher said about his election.

Also elected on Monday were:

• Moderator: Scott McDermott
• Assessor: R. Edward Beard
• School Committee: Christopher Morrison and Timothy Bonfatti 
• Library Trustees: James Whalen and Andrea Cronin
• Planning Board: Wright Dickenson
• Park Commissioners (3 year term): Melville Seibolt and Nicholas Brown 
• Park Commissioner (1 year term): Kirsten Young
• Housing Authority: Neil Duross
• Trust Fund Commissioners: Gregory Reid

Results are not final until the Town Clerk certifies them on Tuesday morning. The official results will be posted on the town's website.