DEERFIELD — Leonard T. Grybko Jr. is back for more.
Grybko ended a nine-year stint on the Deerfield Board of Selectmen about 13 years ago and has decided to run again. This time, he is aiming for fulfill the final year of a three-year seat being vacated by David Wolfram, whose job requires him to relocate.
“I think I’d like to give the people a choice. They’re looking for change,” he said. “It’s time for change — new ideas, new people.”
Deerfield’s election is Monday. Voting takes place between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. at Deerfield Town Hall, 8 Conway St,
Grybko is vying for the seat with Trevor McDaniel.
Grybko, 60, said he has three goals he would like to achieve in the coming year if he wins the election. First, he said, he wants to scale back the Board of Selectmen’s power and give the town administrator more authority to run the town’s day-to-day operations.
“I think the Board of Selectmen micromanages all departments,” the lifelong Deerfield resident said. “And we pay a town administrator and … that’s his field. He should be driving and directing the Board of Selectmen.”
Douglas C. Finn is the interim town administrator.
Grybko also said he wants to strengthen the town’s capital planning committee, which he said has been inadequately funded since it was formed when he was on the board, and establish a housing authority for Deerfield’s elderly.
“Twenty years ago, they started talking about (elder housing) and it still hasn’t come to fruition,” Grybko said. “They’ve been talking and talking and talking and nothing’s been done.”
He said he wants Deerfield’s taxpayers to ask themselves if they are better off today than they were 10 to 15 years ago.
“If they are better off, they maybe I’m not the guy for them,” he said, “but if they aren’t better off, then I am the person to make change.”
You can reach Domenic Poli at:
dpoli@recorder.com
or 413-772-0261, ext. 257.
On Twitter, follow @DomenicPoli