Morton excited about new role


(From left) James Morton, City Councilor Jose Tosado, and Mayor Charles Ryan. Reminder Publications photo by Michael Dobbs.

By G. Michael Dobbs, Managing Editor

SPRINGFIELD James O'S. Morton didn't know until about 10 days before the recent announcement by Governor Deval Patrick that he was even being considered for a position on the Finance Control Board (FCB).

"I was totally surprised," he told Reminder Publications during a reception in his honor presented by the Latino Breakfast Club on May 22 at

Morton, the CEO and President of the YMCA of Greater Springfield, is looking forward to his time on the FCB. He is no stranger to public service.

Morton was an attorney for 18 years, but left to become a public school teacher at the High School of Commerce. He worked there for five years, but was asked by Mayor Charles Ryan to serve as the head of the Hampden County Employment and Training Consortium. He served there for about six months, before Ryan asked him to be the executive director of the scandal-plagued Massachusetts Career and Development Institute (MCDI).

Morton spent two and a half years at MCDI before recently replacing Steven Clay as the leader of the YMCA.

He said the agenda of the FCB will be "challenging and important work." The board's focus will be on economic development, improvement of the city's schools and a review of how the city is governed.

The newly revised FCB would also work to develop better relationships within the city and with the area's legislative delegation.

City Councilor Jose Tosado, the co-founder of the Latino Breakfast Club, said the reception was to welcome Morton in his role as the executive director of the YMCA to the Latino community. He said the Latino community in Springfield has had a long association with Stephen Clay and noted successful collaborations such as the founding of the North End Youth Center.

Tosado said the Latino Breakfast Club would be presenting its annual community service awards and scholarship event on June 21 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Quadrangle. He said at that event an announcement about a major project will also be made.