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Driscoll announces resignation from Board of Selectmen

Date: 7/24/2012

By Chris Maza

chrism@thereminder.com

EAST LONGMEADOW — East Longmeadow Selectman James Driscoll announced at the July 24 Board of Selectmen meeting that he intends to resign from his seat on the board.

Driscoll cited new work responsibilities as the primary reason for his exit from the board for which he was in the midst of serving his third term, which is scheduled to end in 2013.

"After careful consideration, I have accepted a position with a company that is a great opportunity for me personally, but unfortunately — or fortunately — it's going to require 100 percent of my attention and I can't do both that career and continue my work on this board effectively," he said.

Earlier this month, Driscoll confirmed to Reminder Publications that he had accepted a job as national sales manager for Secure Bill Pay, based in St. Paul, Minn., but said he had no intentions of moving from East Longmeadow.

Rumors of Driscoll's departure had been circling around the community due to a perceived lack of presence in East Longmeadow. From May 1 to July 24, Driscoll was absent from just one meeting on July 10 but also participated in two meetings — May 9 and 29 — via speakerphone, in accordance with the new remote participation statute offered by the Attorney General's office and accepted by the Board of Selectmen. He was also late to the May 21 meeting, which took place prior to the Annual Town Meeting, and left the Annual Town Meeting prior to its adjournment.

He also was not present at the annual Fourth of July parade with the other board members.

Driscoll and his ex-wife also recently sold their home at 53 Ridge Road, according to the Registrar of Deeds' office. According to Town Clerk Thomas Florence, he changed his voter registration address to 281 Porter Road in East Longmeadow in May.

Driscoll will remain a member of the board through Sept. 4, telling the fellow board members Jack Villamaino and Paul Federici that he had picked that date in hopes that they would be able to schedule a special election in conjunction with the upcoming elections, if they decided to go that route, however that was not possible.

Driscoll apologized for his secrecy regarding his decision.

"I sent a notice to our town clerk and our town administrator and asked them to keep it confidential because I didn't want any misinformation getting out there and that was probably, in retrospect, not a good thing to do because it put them in an awkward position and I take full responsibility for that and apologize," he said.

Town Counsel James Donahue told Reminder Publications that the town is not legally required to have a special election and could operate with a two-member board until the Annual Town Election in April, however, if the board chose to pursue one, the election date must be set 100 days prior to the April election.

Villamaino, currently the board's chair, said the Selectmen would take no action until there is an actual vacancy.

Driscoll told the board that he was honored to serve with them and the town since he was first elected in an uncontested race in 2004. He was twice re-elected in tight contests against William Gorman in 2007 and William Townsend in 2010.

"It's been an honor to serve with you two gentlemen particularly and serve the folks from East Longmeadow. It's been my home for 45 years and it's been an honor and I've had nothing but a positive experience," he said.