Mark Sullivan Named Chair of Foxborough’s Board of Selectmen

As is customary following a town election, Foxborough’s Board of Selectmen reorganized Tuesday to welcome a new member into the fold and appoint a chairman, vice-chairman and clerk for the coming year.

Recently reelected selectman James DeVellis, who served the past year as chairman of the board, said he had “no desire” to remain chairman for the coming year and “would appreciate it if someone would nominate someone” else to the position.

“I enjoyed my time … well I didn’t enjoy it all the time … but I appreciate the year as chairman,” DeVellis said.

Selectman clerk Lorraine Brue chose to follow the “natural order” of the board and nominated vice-chair Mark Sullivan to replace DeVellis as chairman.

Newly elected member John Gray seconded Brue’s motion and the board appointed Sullivan to chairman by a 4-0-1 vote with Sullivan abstaining.

“I thank the board for trusting me to be in this position again,” Sullivan said. “Jim did a great job last year. We will all work together. I’m no different than any other [members] I’m just sitting in the middle.”

Sullivan last chaired the board in 2009.

Continuing with the “natural order” of the board, Gray nominated Brue for vice-chair. Selectman Ginny Coppola seconded that motion and the board appointed Brue to vice-chair by a 4-0-1 vote with Brue abstaining.

As for the board’s clerk position, DeVellis suggested it become more involved in the coming year.

“Clerk position has turned somewhat into a ceremonial position where we read a citation or read a newspaper advertisement [for a public hearing],” DeVellis said. “I think the clerk has to be more responsible for meeting minutes, schedules and invitations. Clerk should be responsible for that and be active for the next year.”

Brue agreed and asked Coppola if she was interested in the position. Coppola declined, prompting Brue to nominate Gray for the position. The board approved the motion with a 4-0-1 vote with Gray abstaining. 

“I’m grateful that the election is over,” Gray said. “It’s an exhausting process. I’m equally grateful for the vote of confidence the voters of Foxborough gave me and the opportunity to join this board. A lot of work in front of us and I am looking forward to it. I’m ready for the journey.”

Gray defeated incumbent Lynda Walsh by 182 votes in last week's town election.

A look at the new board:

• Chair – Mark Sullivan
• Vice chair – Lorraine Brue
• Clerk – John Gray
• Members – Ginny Coppola, James DeVellis

DeVellis took a moment before the board’s reorganization to thank former selectman Walsh for her six years on the board.

“I wanted to reach out to Lynda Walsh,” DeVellis said. “It was a campaign I would say was very positive. It was positive from beginning to end. Lynda worked for this town for six years as a volunteer and she left her heart and a lot of her soul at this table.

“Not to take anything away from John [Gray] but she worked hard and I think she will be missed here. I hope – and know – she will be back at some level.”

DeVellis then took a playful jab at Sullivan, who will be up for reelection next spring.

“Hopefully [Walsh] can run again next year and make the board a little better,” DeVellis said.

DeVellis also thanked those who supported him, primarily his wife, Nicole and children for allowing him to commit to the town for three more years. He also took a minute to thank Town Clerk Bob Cutler and his staff of volunteers for successfully running two elections.

“[They] worked from sunrise to very late in the evening cleaning up after the polls came out,” DeVellis said. “It was a very long night. … From what I’ve heard it was a very positive experience for the voters to come in and get two different ballots. I was very proud of the effort.”

Something DeVellis wasn’t proud of was the 28 percent voter turnout.

“At the end of the day there was about 28 percent turnout … that is woeful in the United States,” DeVellis said. “We did better than other towns but if you could come out once a year or twice a year to vote it should be higher than 28 percent.”