ABOUT JOHN

A DEMONSTRATED COMMITMENT TO OUR COMMUNITY

  • Resident for 22 years
  • Board of Selectmen, 6 years, has served as Chairman
  • Town Meeting Member, 10 years
  • Facilities Working Group, Chairman
  • Permit Streamlining Committee, Chairman
  • Solid Waste Committee, Chairman
  • Memorial Park Trustees as Selectmen's Representative
  • Wall That Heals Committee, Chairman (Brought Vietnam Wall That Heals to Needham)
  • Needham Education Foundation (NEF) Board of Directors
  • Needham Business Association (NBA) Board of Directors
  • Needham Schools 2000 Override Committee, Chairman (Broadmeadow and Eliot reconstruction)
  • Friends of the Needham Elderly
  • Friends of the Needham Public Library
  • Friends of the Needham Board of Health
  • Green Needham
  • League of Women Voters
  • Norfolk Masonic Lodge
  • Temple Beth Shalom congregation
  • Needham Democratic Town Committee
  • Needham Historical Society
  • Needham Community Theatre
  • Needham Heights Neighborhood Association
  • Needham Housing Planning Task Force
  • Middle School Task Force
  • Town Hall Centennial Committee
  • Needham Little League Baseball Coach
  • Needham Youth Soccer Coach
 ADDITIONAL PUBLIC SERVICE EXPERIENCE
  • Braintree Representative, MWRA Advisory Board
  • Commissioner Braintree Water & Sewer (an elected position)
  • Town Meeting Member, Town of Braintree
QUALITY LEADERSHIP AND SUPPORT RESULTING IN A WELL MANAGED TOWN
  • Needham Municipal Bonds continue to be rated AAA by Standard & Poor's. The rating is attributed to the town's strong fiscal management and careful planning. Only 14 towns in the state have the rating and, therefore, pay less interest on bonds.
  • Implementation of the Town Manager form of government - completed. This allows a more efficiently managed town government.
  • Broadmeadow & Eliot Elementary School Reconstruction - completed. Needham has experienced almost constant growth in enrollment since 1990. The additional space and improved facilities were absolutely essential.
  • Needham Public Library Renovation - completed. Use of the facility has increased dramatically since the reconstruction.
  • Needham High School Renovation - completed. Because the town acted quickly and efficiently, we were able to complete this construction at a far lower cost than current projects in other communities. The town was also reimbursed for nearly 50% of the cost, while current reimbursement levels are a maximum of 40%.
  • New High Rock 6th Grade School - opening this fall. This project was also essential to deal with increased enrollment.
  • Negotiation of a new lease with the Needham Golf Club - completed. This lease enables the town to maintain an amenity that adds to the desirability of Needham, that all residents can use on certain days and times, that the high school team uses at no charge, where open space is maintained at no cost to the community, and through which the town receives income.
  • Memorial Park Athletic Complex Reconstruction - completed. As our school enrollment has grown and more adults become physically active, use of our fields has grown rapidly. Maintaining these athletic facilities must also be viewed as one piece of maintaining our infrastructure.
  • DeFazio Field Athletic Complex Reconstruction - in progress.
  • New Public Services Administration Building - in progress. The building will provide improved health and safety to our employees and a more efficient DPW operation.
  • New Senior Center Proposal - in development. Seniors are the fasted growing segment of our population, we cannot and should not ignore the need for a top-notch facility through which we can provide quality services.
  • Needham Town Hall Renovation and Restoration of the Great Hall - awaiting final Town Meeting authorization this spring. Through much deliberation and an open process with much citizen input the Town has developed an excellent plan for Town Hall that will serve the community well for many years.
A PROFESSIONAL BUSINESS BACKGROUND
  • Owner, BostonBlinds, Newton, MA for 13 years
  • Accountant and Auditor
  • Held several retail and wholesale positions in the Window Fashions Industry
  • BS degree in Business, Boston University
  • Brookline High School graduate

VALUING FAMILY

  • Married to Janet for 19 years. Janet is a Human Resources professional and John's closest confidant.
  • Proud father of Max, a senior and Jake, a freshman at Needham High School. Both attended Broadmeadow and Pollard, and are active participants in activities at the High School.