By DAN TOMASELLO
LYNNFIELD — A political newcomer and an incumbent pulled nomination papers for the Board of Library Trustees on Jan. 30.
Three seats on the Board of Library Trustees will be appearing on the Town Election ballot on Tuesday, April 9. Two seats are for three-year terms and one seat is for a two-year term.
Friends of the Lynnfield Library President Anne Malenfant pulled papers for a three-year term on the Board of Library Trustees on Jan. 30. She is running for office for the first time.
“While I have been a dedicated user of the Lynnfield Library for the 13 years I have lived in Lynnfield, in 2019 I became actively involved with the Friends of the Lynnfield Library, and eventually co-president/president for the past three years,” said Malenfant in an email sent to the Villager. “Through my increasing involvement with the Friends, I have gotten to know the amazing staff and Board of Library Trustees, and better understand their goals and challenges. At the same time, I am inspired by libraries in our surrounding towns and how they serve as the heart and center of the community. Lynnfield is a town of so many dedicated individuals. Wouldn’t it be wonderful for the library to be a place they can come together? This collaboration could allow them to be so much more than the sum of their parts.”
Malenfant and her husband, Michael, moved to town in 2011 to raise their two sons who are currently Lynnfield Middle School and Lynnfield High School students. The Mitchell Road resident works as a project manager/professional engineer for CDM Smith, and has been working on the Lynnfield Center Water District’s $20.5 million capital improvement program for the last several years.
“I have nearly 25 years of experience in the engineering industry, managing multimillion dollar projects throughout New England, including my hometown for the Lynnfield Center Water District,” said Malenfant. “The library is presented with critical opportunities over the next few years, whether it be a new structure or reimagining of the existing building. As a project manager, I have the skills, insight and construction experience to guide the library through those decisions, communicate with residents and work to make the best decision for our community.”
Library Trustee Russell Boekenkroeger pulled papers for a two-year term on Jan. 30. While Boekenkroeger is running for a fourth term, he is looking to serve the remaining two years of Library Trustees Chair Bob Calamari’s term instead of the full three-year term. Calamari, who was re-elected to a sixth three-year term last year, will be resigning from the Board of Library Trustees on Tuesday, April 9.
Boekenkroeger has lived in town for the past 32 years and has served as a library trustee since 2015.
“I became involved with our library because I believed I could contribute to addressing Lynnfield’s future needs for space and programming,” said Boekenkroeger. “I also felt I could contribute to the creation of a 21st century library that brings together our community in a place to learn, connect, grow and have fun. Over the last nine years, I have worked hard to make the library responsive to the needs to the population. Working with my fellow trustees, we have improved services, kept the library open during the pandemic and ensured full staffing. However, the biggest hurdle lies ahead, which is to either build a new library or renovate the old because it is clear that the present building cannot provide the accessible and user-friendly environment that Lynnfield residents deserve. Creating a new building presents many challenges, but I’m up to addressing them. The rewards will be long lasting.”
Boekenkroeger said one of his “greatest accomplishments” while serving on the Board of Library Trustees was securing a $9 million construction grant from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) for the proposed building project. The MBLC approved an extension for the library project earlier this year. A Special Town Meeting will tentatively be voting on the project a second time on Monday, March 18.
“At the last Town Meeting, the new library project got a majority of votes, but not the two-thirds needed to pass,” said Boekenkroeger. “Since that time, we secured an extension and I helped organize meetings to bring the architect and community together to address concerns about the look of the library and the cost. We will be sharing this new design concept and any savings at a Special Town Meeting on Monday, March 18, 2024. I hope you make time to attend.”
Boekenkroeger, who is mostly retired, worked in senior leadership roles for information technology companies.
“I honed my communications skills, learned the importance of continual product improvement and the need to listen while meeting the needs of customers,” said Boekenkroeger. “As a trustee, I am continually looking for ways we can spend your tax dollars more wisely while delivering you the library services you need and want. I love what libraries represent, which is making education accessible to anyone no matter their age or background, and the role they play in connecting people to information and connecting people to people, which is something Lynnfield residents want: Havens for kids, providing after-school homework help, games, book clubs, offering computer classes and allowing older adults to stay engaged in a digital world. I humbly ask for your vote on Tuesday, April 9 so I may continue to put my skills and experience to work for you as a library trustee.”
Finance Committee/Library Building Committee (LBC) member Joe Gallagher recently had his papers for a three-year term on the Board of Library Trustees certified. Similar to Malenfant, Gallagher is running for office for the first time.
Library Trustee Andrew Kenneally has yet to announce whether he is running for a second three-year term.
If residents have any questions about Malenfant and Boekenkroeger’s respective candidacies, they can email Malenfant at malenfantfortrustee@gmail.com and Boekenkroeger at russell.boekenkroeger@verizon.net.
Additional candidates
Two separate races for School Committee currently headline the Town Election on Tuesday, April 9.
The three-candidate race for two three-year seats on the school board currently includes School Committee Chair Kate DePrizio, Pine Street resident Brendan Cooney and Planning Board Chair Brian Charville. Town Clerk Amanda Haggstrom recently certified Charville’s nomination papers.
In addition to the three-year race, the Town Election also features a contested race for two one-year seats on the School Committee. Bryant Street resident Kristen Grieco Elworthy, Russet Lane resident Jenny Sheehan and Winchester Drive resident Kimberly Baker Donahue are looking to succeed School Committee members Jim Dillon and Tim Doyle. Elworthy, Sheehan and Baker Donahue’s papers have each been certified.
Select Board Chair Joe Connell recently turned in his nomination papers to the Town Clerk’s Office, and they have been certified. He is running for a second three-year term.
Mayberry Lane resident Steven Walsh took out nomination papers for a one-year term as town moderator on Jan. 24. He is looking to succeed incumbent Town Moderator Joe Markey, who announced in late December that he will not be running for re-election due to family and professional responsibilities. Walsh is a former state representative who currently serves on the LCWD Board of Water Commissioners.
Planning Board member Amy MacNulty pulled papers for a full five-year term in early January.
Board of Assessors Chair Don Garrity took out nomination papers for a fourth three-year term in early January.
Elected officials and prospective candidates looking to run for office are able to pull nomination papers at the Town Clerk’s Office. The Town Clerk’s Office has been relocated to the Senior Center/Lynnfield Public Schools Central Office, 525 Salem St., due to construction of the new $63.5 million public safety buildings and Town Hall project.
Candidates will need to receive the signatures of 50 registered voters in order to have their name appear on the ballot. The last day to submit nomination papers is Tuesday, Feb. 20 at 5 p.m. The last day for candidates to have their name removed from the municipal ballot is Thursday, Feb. 22 at 5 p.m.
