Mansfield Fincom Now Up to Five Members

Mansfield’s Finance Committee is starting to shape up to its former numerical strength. The Mansfield Board of Selectmen in a 5-0 vote appointed Michael O’Brien, of 38 Lantern Ln.

O’Brien has lived in Mansfield for more than a decade and works as a lawyer. He said he also has a background in psychiatric social work .

Selectmen went right off the bat and asked O’Brien what possible biases, if any, he might have. 

“With two kids in the schools, I’ve got a bias,” he said.

Selectman Jess Aptowitz said that a bias towards any one part of the town could be detrimental to the whole, and should be looked at closely.

“We all have three kids in school,” he said. “That being said, we have a lot of other factors two. We have seniors that have needs, we have police, fire, public safety, roads; there are a lot of things that need concern, that need attention … Obviously we have personal passions and interests, but you really need to look at every issue and try and make a decision that you really do think is… the best way for Mansfield to go.”

O’Brien responded by saying that bias is not necessarily a bad thing, arguing that as long as a bias does not influence a rational decision-making process, it would not be a problem.

“I think we all tend to have biases,” he said. “My approach in life is identify it and get it out on the table so we can deal with it and move on to more objective course.”

Finance Committee member Steve Schoonveld said that bias is not allowed in the committee when discussing town issues, and “check your bias at the door.”

“We often joke about the ethics test as being like you can’t fail it,” he said. “Ethics are one of the single most important things on the Finance Committee, Board of Selectmen or the entire town.”

O’Brien said that he is involved in the schools with his kids in the theater program. Schoonveld asked him if he would approve a budget that would cut that program in favor of something necessary for the town. O’Brien said he absolutely would.

The Finance Committee now has five appointed members and will be meeting on June 14 for the first time since Town Meeting.