Politics & Government

Town Thanks Ann Thompson for 40 Years of Service

A party was held for Thompson on Saturday, March 23.

 

More than 200 family and friends gathered on Saturday to thank Ann Thompson for 40 years of service to the Town of Medfield, as a member of the Board of Selectmen (30 years), Warrant Committee (5 years) and Board of Library Trustees (5 years).

The event was celebrated at The Center at Medfield with a full buffet catered by Basil Restaurant. 

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Highlights of the event included:

* Former Police Chief Bill Mann as Master of Ceremonies.

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* Ann’s daughter Barbara, the driving force behind organizing the event, introduced her siblings and all of Ann’s grandchildren.

* Father Leroy Owens of St. Edward Parish gave Ann a special blessing and thanking her for 40 years of service to the town. 

* Representative Denise Garlick presented a proclamation to Ann on behalf of the Massachusetts House of Representatives.

* Senator Jim Timilty presented a proclamation on behalf of the Massachusetts State Senate. 

* Friend and town Assessor Ed Beards sang one of his now-famous tributes, this time a tribute to Ann to the tune of “When Irish Eyes Are Smiling,” leaving those in attendance in hysterics as he poked fun of Ann’s time as a selectman and the 11 other selectmen with whom she had served.

* Members of the Girl Scouts thanked Ann for all her work with the Girl Scouts in Medfield.

* Friend and Town Administrator Mike Sullivan recalled many of the events he shared with Ann during their 30 years working together and current selectmen Mark Fisher and Pete Peterson, along with selectmen secretary Evelyn Clarke, presented Ann with a number of gifts on behalf of the Town of Medfield.

* The five member Board of Selectmen from the Town of Walpole sent a letter thanking Ann for her 30-years of service as selectman.  

In addition, Town Historian Richard DeSorgher (who is running unopposed for Thompson's seat on the Board of Selectmen) read a history of events taking place in 1983, the first of Ann's many terms as selectmen. 

Here is a transcript of DeSorgher's presentation.

The year was 1983 and Selectman Richard DeSorgher stepped down after a term as selectman, opening up a seat on the Board of Selectmen. In the race for that seat, former warrant committee chairman Ann Thompson defeated Walter Tortorici (1,278 to 296) to begin a run for selectman that has lasted now 30 years.

I have been asked to give a look at what things were like during Ann’s first year as a selectman. 

*In 1983, Ronald Reagan was President of the United States, with Tip O’Neil the Speaker of the House.

* The US Embassy was bombed in Beirut killing 63 U.S. Marines

* Sally Ride became the first American woman in space

* The then-Soviet Union shot down a South Korean airliner killing all 269 on board

* Tom Brokaw became the lead anchor for NBC Nightly News

* Martin Luther King Day became an official holiday, celebrated on the 3rd Monday of February

* Jesse Jackson announced his candidacy for the Presidency of the United States for the 1984 Democratic Presidential nomination

* Return of the Jedi was the country’s top movie

* The number 1 and 2 songs on the top of the charts for 1983 were “Every Breath You Take” by Police, and “Beat It” by Michael Jackson

* Cost of a regular gallon of gas at the Crocker and Johnson Sunoco Station was going for $1.24 

* The population of Medfield was 10,521, Barney Frank was our Congressman, David Locke our state senator, and Andrew Natsios our state representative. Ted Kennedy and Paul Tsongas represented us in the United States Senate.

* In town hall, Nancy Preston was the town clerk, Ed Barrett treasurer, Chuck Fuller town council and Mike Sullivan the Executive Secretary (Mike Sullivan? whatever happened to him anyhow?)

* Joe Ryan was our fire chief and Bill Mann our chief of police

* The local building inspector was Tony Calo

 * Superintendent of Streets, Water and Sewer was  the recently appointed Ken Feeney and the school committee consisted of Jane Jackson, John Harney, David Stephenson, Barbara Tupper and Bill Hajjar.

* Despite efforts by the town to save it, in 1983, the private Trustees of Reservations voted to end the skating program at Rocky Woods that had been a winter tradition and highlight for Medfield and area residents for a couple of generations; sadly ending one of the finest recreational programs in Massachusetts. (I was told not to editorialize, so I will leave it at that)

* In 1983, the national economy was beginning to bounce back after the so-called Reagan recession, touching off a building boom in Medfield. It resulted in the building of 80 new houses as well as the building of the School House Park condominium complex on West Street.

* The Mt. Nebo Water Tower was completed and the school enrollment was declining.

* According to the selectmen, the most pressing problem facing the town in 1983 was the disposal of solid waste. The landfill on the old Grove Street/Route 27 was nearing its life expectancy. The appointed landfill study committee was working on possible recommendations of a new site.

* Thanks in part to the efforts of our state representatives, the state budget included the purchase of a new 1,000-gallon-a-minute pumper truck for the fire department to try to help off set needed fire protection for Medfield State Hospital.

* The Capital Budget Committee was established and the Cable TV Study Committee recommended (and selectmen voted to begin) the licensing process of establishing cable TV in Medfield.

* Due to low numbers of people attending town meeting, selectmen voted to ask the 1984 town meeting to reduce the number of voters to reach a quorum, presently at 250, because of the apathy of many of our voters.

* The town’s Technology Study Committee prepared a proposal to the Massachusetts Technology Park Corporation for a micro-electronics center to be located on the site of Medfield State Hospital. The proposal eventually was not successful with the final location going to the town of Westboro.

* Selectmen recognized and honored Police Sergeant Robert Ripley, who retired after 26 years of service and presented a plaque to Warren Sheard, who was moving out of Medfield, in recognition of many, many years of service with the Medfield Youth Soccer program.

* The final disposition of the St. Edward Church building was held up when the Norfolk District Court ruled that the Medfield Zoning Board of Appeals had exceeded its authority in denying the requested use variance. The church was later demolished on October 15, 1985.

* For the first 200 years, the town’s business was conducted from the First Parish Church on North Street, which served as the town’s meetinghouse. In consideration of this historic relationship, the Board of Selectmen accepted the Parish Committee’s invitation to conduct the September 20 selectmen’s meeting in the historic church, the first selectman’s meeting held there since 1872 when our town hall was built. 

*  Superintendent of Schools Robert Cresto announced that he was resigning at the end of the 83-84 school year.  193 seniors graduated from Medfield High School in 1983, an active Students Against Drunk Driving Chapter (SADD) was organized and for the first time the business department acquired two computers for staff training. It was noted that many in the teaching staff were becoming involved in the use of the computer. A computer science program was established with the school purchasing three Apple computers for the new work station that was established.

* Finally, as Bill Mann is today’s MC, I will end with a look at the police log in Medfield during Ann’s first year in 1983.  There were 137 arrests:

  •  1 armed robbery
  •  2 arsons
  • 14 automobiles stolen
  • 35 breaking and enterings
  • 16 power failures occurred during the year
  • And my favorite police statistic: There were 135 patients who escaped from Medfield State Hospital -- 43 were found by police.

A sincere note of appreciation as a citizen of Medfield for all the time Ann has given to the town, she is indeed one of the best examples of what Thomas Jefferson called the Active Citizen—Thank you Ann!


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