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Reminder Assistant Editor EAST LONGMEADOW On Jan. 15, Marilyn Richards was at Town Hall early, reviewing the language of the zoning bylaw co-created by the Planning Board and the East Longmeadow Small Business Association. That day was the deadline for the submission of petitioned articles and she wanted to make sure everything was in order before the bylaw was submitted for approval at the Annual Town Meeting. Richards also had a little time to sit down with Reminder Publications to discuss her past and her future, as she will be leaving her post as chair of the Planning Board on April 8. The daughter of German immigrants, Richards was born in Bergenfield, N.J., and attended the University of Evansville School of Nursing in Evansville, Ind. "I have a love of people," she explained in her soft voice. "That's why I do what I do." She married her high school sweetheart Norman and together they have two grown sons, one who lives in East Longmeadow and one who lives in Westborough, and four grandchildren. Richards had been living in Virginia with her husband, who had a career with the U.S. Air Force, when he was offered a position in the Springfield area. The couple decided to settle in East Longmeadow. "We had always heard about what a great town this was and how great the schools were," she said. Her first residence in the town was on Heatherstone Drive, and one of her sons now inhabits that same house. Richards worked for years as a pediatric cardiology nurse clinician at Baystate Medical Center before officially retiring in November 2006. She still works per diem in pediatrics, however. "I'm not sure I've felt retired life yet," she laughed. "I've spent more time caring for my grandchildren and taking care of town obligations." Her town obligations have been extensive over the years. In 1980, she began her journey as a public servant of East Longmeadow with an appointment to the Council on Aging Advisory Board. By 1988, she was the first woman elected to the town's Board of Selectmen. She said she was pleased to serve her entire career on the Board of Selectmen with Steve Manning and Larry Levine. "We often had 'spirited discussions,'" she said, "but our ability to make decisions was a credit to our close relationships with each other." This board was the first to initiate regional Board of Selectmen meetings. "We discussed areas of common interest," Richards explained, "including one that's still shared today, town health insurance. We discussed ambulance contracts and household hazardous waste collection." She added that under the board of herself, Manning and Levine, East Longmeadow was the first local town to institute a mandatory recycling program. Richards served a total of nine years on the Board of Selectmen and chose not to seek reelection after her near-decade of service so she'd have more time to care for her mother. When current Selectman Jim Driscoll resigned from his position on the Planning Board in October 1997, Richards was approached by the Board of Selectmen and the Planning Board to fill the last year of his term. "I fell in love with the Planning Board," she said. "It was exciting to bring to that position a background of experience and to grow in a way that was challenging and exciting for me." Her first position on the Planning Board was the clerk's position, which allowed her to get a clear overview of all the issues that came before the board. Soon after joining the Planning Board, she was elected chair. "The more you serve, the more you develop this pride of ownership," Richards said. "I wasn't done yet. There was so much to learn about zoning and planning. You work on forecasting the future of the town." She said that the Town Center Square project was the most challenging part of Richards' 10 years on the Planning Board. "We had to find out if we were conceptually improving the town center and how easy it would be to have access to the amenities therein," Richards said. "There are still challenges as to the impact of the center with every new business that comes in -- will it enhance the area or complicate it?" Overall, she said she believed the board is pleased with the way things are turning out. "To not run for the Planning Board again was a tough decision because I love what I'm doing," Richards stated. "There's a lot of change coming and with that change comes higher stress levels. It's time to focus on healthier things in my life." She said that working for the town can be all-consuming. She's looking forward to going to the grocery store just to shop and going to church just to attend services and not answer zoning questions as well as going to town meetings and challenging boards to do their jobs and not vice versa. Richards said she would not count out the possibility of offering her advice in the years to come, though. "It hasn't been a bad experience. It's hasn't been all blood, sweat and tears," she explained. "It's been a rewarding experience. I will offer assistance if asked." Robyn MacDonald, director of planning, zoning and conservation for the town, said, "Working with Marilyn has been a wonderful experience. I have yet to meet a person with more dedication to and compassion for the town in which she resides." MacDonald went on to say Richards has "a work ethic that is beyond reproach" and that she has "always been prepared for any project that is on the agenda." "I have enjoyed working by her side throughout her tenure with the [Planning] Board and have learned a great deal from her," MacDonald continued. "Her not seeking re-election will be a detriment to the town." What will Richards be doing with her free time after April 8? She said she's had her eye on a book club for a while and plans on spending more time with her grandchildren. "I've really enjoyed serving this town and its people," Richards said. "They're like my extended family. It's all about the people." She added that she wanted to thank her family for being so supportive during her town career. Vice-chair Tom Morrissette will most likely be taking her place as chair of the Planning Board, but Richards said no reorganization of the board has been discussed yet. | ||||||
