Above: Advisory Committee’s John Butler (foreground right) at the 2011 Town Meeting, with then-member Tim Langella. (photo by Chris Wraight)
John Butler has become a well-known member Town government over the years. Largely, that’s because he’s been an active voice, asking a lot of questions and making his opinions known. But it’s also because of his lengthy service.
Butler has served on on Southborough committees in one form or another for the past 33 years, with 18-20 of the most recent ones spent on the Advisory Committee.
When Advisory meets this Wednesday night*, Butler won’t be casting any votes. His term came to an end on New Year’s Day.
As Butler phrased his happy news, “Blessedly, even marathons have finish lines.”
He explained that the reasons for stepping down are personal, not political:
The new year and holidays are always a time for family and reflection. I have realized that I simply want to be able to plan travel and family time without thinking about Advisory Committee meeting schedules or about Town issues. All things considered, I decided that it would be best if I resigned now, when the Subcommittee [on Debt Capacity and Uses] has finished its work, but before the full Committee begins an intense period of activity.
The resignation was made through the Town Clerk’s office, not at an Advisory Committee meeting.
Congratulations to Butler on a well-earned retirement from Town government.
Of course, this means there is a seat to be filled on Advisory (and explains that agenda item on tonight’s Board of Selectmen meeting.)
If you’d like to toss your hat in the ring, click here for the volunteer application form. [Note: The form is now set up for online submission with no obvious way to attach documents. It is possible that options pops up after you click submit. If it doesn’t, I suggest emailing one with a letter to selectmensoffice@southboroughma.com in addition to submitting the form. (The Town Website’s FAQ answer confirms that including a resume with your application is expected.)]
*I didn’t list the Advisory Committee in my meetings for the week. It hadn’t been posted to the Town website yet. That’s why I always include a reminder to check the Town website for updates. A quick glance shows that the Planning Board, Recreation Commission, and Council on the Aging have also added meetings.
First, while the BOS is free to discuss appointments to Advisory the Advisory committee reports to Town Meeting not to an executive body and is appointed by Town Meetings leader, the Moderator.
Anybody who pays taxes in town, cares about governance and transparency has a large debt of gratitude due to John. He has always been one of the hardest working volunteers in town. If you wanted to disagree with him he was happy to debate but you had better bring our A game or you were doomed.
John made me a permanent convert with his analysis of why the size of the stabilization fund did not impact our bond rating. Like many this made intuitive sense to me but I was wrong and John was right. He convinced me with detailed analysis, facts and more than a little humor.
The town owes the automation of the budget process and many of the tools currently in use to John. His dedication to transparency and his fight against petty politicos who tried to hide and manage information that all citizens have a right to is also to his credit.
I do not think there are a lot of people in town that know just how hard John worked for their benefit as he fought to bring town government kicking and screaming into the latter half of the 20th century.
Fortunately, this is not a political obituary, and after a well deserved break I hope he will resurface in some place where he is needed.
Thank you for all your hard work these years, Southborough is much the richer for it because you cared.
Al Hamilton
Sorry to hear that Mr. Butler has resigned. I was always certain he had done his homework from just listening to his remarks at TM. Most certainly he will be missed.
I wonder if the K-8 school committee will finally answer his pertinent question of several years ago: Why are per student costs in Shrewsbury less then ours with similar or better results?