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I appreciate Ms Murphy’s volunteerism but am not voting for her for Select Board.
Melissa Murphy chose to put residents, particularly our youth at risk, in her capacity as a member of VASC (Volunteer Appointment Select Committee), a subcommittee of the Select Board. Melissa Murphy decided to vote to appoint a fish salesman as a full voting member to the Board of Health over a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) with pediatric expertise.
Both the Chair of the Board of Health, a physician, and the Vice Chair of the Board of Health, a public health expert, asked the Select Board to grant the LICSW a full voting appointment, and to the fish salesman, an associate, non-voting appointment citing the pediatric clinical expertise and experience of the LICSW as the reason. Reading had recently completed their annual youth risk assessment survey a that revealed Reading youth are experiencing a high degree of stress and increase in mental health challenges. Results that had been shared with the Select Board.
Hmm, who would serve the residents better? Which appointment would serve to show support of nighttime government from the Select Board?
Melissa Murphy cited the fish salesman’s background in food inspection as the reason for her vote. Please review RCTV Select Board 6/18/2024 starting at 2:31:09 for her comments. Board of Health members, as the fish salesman applicant was informed in his public interview, don’t do inspections, the Town has licensed inspectors for that. The applicant had no licensed industry inspection qualifications listed in his published resume and during his public interview mused that health inspections were potentially bad for businesses. Hmm…
I have no issue with any interested resident applying for a volunteer position within our community, I happen to be a town volunteer. My issue is with a member of the Reading Select Board that choses to appoint less qualified candidates over public health experts in order to undermine public health and safety. That should concern all of us.
Join me in voting for both Tony D’Arezzo and Karen R. Rose-Gillis for Reading Select Board as both have documented service to all of Reading.
Nancy Docktor PMHCNS-BC
Pearl St
Precinct One Town Meeting member
