Published in the May 24, 2017 edition

By MAUREEN DOHERTY

LYNNFIELD — In honor of nearly 50 years of continuous service to the town of Lynnfield, Selectmen Chairman Chris Barrett has proposed renaming the Selectmen’s Meeting Room at Town Hall in honor of H. Joseph Maney.
“He is one of our most admired and respected town fathers,” said Barrett, who credited Maney with convincing him to get involved in town affairs.
Barrett announced his proposal at Monday’s selectmen’s meeting and also provided an overview of Maney’s extensive record of service to the town, which still continues today.
“He was elected to the Board of Selectmen in 1968. He served on the Board of Selectmen for six years. He was Town Moderator for 18 years, and that’s the longest-ever Town Moderator,” Barrett said.
“He was Town Manager for 12 years, from 1992 to 2003. Mr. Maney is one of the reasons I sit here tonight because he told me to get off the sideline about 10 or 15 years ago when he was Town Manager and asked me to serve on the Personnel Board. I certainly know the work he has done to get people involved in town,” Barrett said.
He added that Maney has been a member of the LIFE Board for 28 years, noting that is term does not expire until 2019.
Maney also coached Lynnfield Youth Basketball, Youth Hockey and Little League, Barrett said, adding, “This past Sunday I saw him at the middle school field watching his grandkids play soccer. Mr. Maney is somebody I think certainly exemplifies service to the town he loves. He is somebody that I think is worthy to be considered to possibly have the Board of Selectmen Meeting Room named in his honor.”
The selectmen’s recently adopted policy on the naming of town buildings, rooms within buildings, parks and other public spaces after individuals requires that a public hearing be held “to discuss this matter and allow public comment. This is a very important room in the town,” Barrett said.
Barrett had little trouble convincing fellow Selectmen Dick Dalton or Phil Crawford to schedule that public hearing for Monday, June 12 at 7:15 p.m.
“Mr. Lynnfield”
Dalton said, “I think it’s a wonderful idea. I’ve known Joe Maney since I moved to town over 30 years ago. To me, he defines the meaning of public service in its very best form. I think it would be so appropriate to have that room named after someone I consider ‘Mr. Lynnfield.’”
“There hasn’t been anyone in this town that had a larger impact on the town than Joe Maney Sr. and I would be happy to have the hearing and discuss naming the Board of Selectmen room at Town Hall after Joe,” Crawford said, adding, “I honestly can’t think of anyone more deserving for that honor.”