Letter To The Editor: 'It's About Credentials'

I am a supporter of Paul DeRensis and his re-election campaign for selectmen.  His continued support of our high-quality education system and his vast experience as a leader of Sherborn brings him to the forefront as the best candidate for the town.

Paul has a long list of credentials, and it continues to grow. His experience is simply unmatched. A graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law School, he has been practicing municipal law for a very long time.

We are exceptionally fortunate to have a municipal expert providing guidance to our town as a volunteer, who is also a resident and parent of a student currently in our school system along with two graduates from Dover-Sherborn High School.

Within Sherborn’s government, Paul has held numerous positions including being a selectman for the past fifteen years. He has been on the Sherborn Planning Board, the Sherborn Advisory Committee, the Sherborn Groundwater Protection Committee and the Sherborn Housing Partnership.

He understands how our town works and he is diligent in protecting our way of life.

Paul understands the importance of our schools, and the value they bring to our families and our community.

He continues to work to grow our revenue sources, and at the same time, reduce town operating costs.

Paul’s involvement with the state helped to increase Chapter 90 funds by 29% to repair Sherborn’s roads. Also, the selectmen recently negotiated agreements to have town employees join a health insurance rate-savers plan that will reduce our costs by nearly $200,000.

Paul sees the positive impact that regionalization can have on Sherborn. We recently received a $160,000 grant from the state towards the development of a regionalized emergency dispatch center.

At the state government level, Paul was recently elected President of the Massachusetts Selectmen's Association and also is a member of the Executive Committee of the Massachusetts Municipal Association, an organization that represents the cities and towns of the Commonwealth.

It is key for Sherborn, to have representation in these circles, for it gives us the ability to influence state leaders and have first access to information on decisions affecting towns and municipalities.

Current issues being discussed are unfunded mandates and unfunded pension liabilities that could impact Sherborn in a big way.

Paul is an advisor to the Governor on local government, and he serves as a member of the State’s Local Government Advisory Committee.

He recognizes that Farm Pond is our town’s jewel. Until recently, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (technically) owned the water rights to Farm Pond. Paul fought for, and secured, all of the water rights for Sherborn without costing the town a penny. Sherborn now has full control of Farm Pond.

Paul balances the needs of our community and highlights areas that need our continued focus.

He is a strong supporter of our senior community. He has been involved in creating the senior tax credit/assistance program, the senior transportation program and maintaining a quality of life at Woodhaven through various building upgrades.  As Paul stated at a recent public meeting, “we need to take care of our seniors and support the Council of Aging and its Director.”

Paul has remained steadfast in his commitment to our town. His vision for Sherborn to be a “green community” through various programs and investments is exemplified through his support for the current warrant on solar power along with our continued recycling campaign at our transfer station. He has represented other towns in preparing the legal documents for projects such as these. Paul has both the knowledge and the experience to continue to propose and support “green” efforts for our town.

Paul DeRensis has the credentials to continue to lead our town through these challenging times and ensure and preserve what Sherborn means to us all.

Please join me in re-electing Paul as Selectman.

Respectfully,

Jim Byrnes

Sherborn