Candidate Profile: Joseph Montecalvo

NORTHBRIDGE, Mass. – Joseph Montecalvo was a member of the Board of Selectmen for about 20 years, with a few years break in between years of service. He was voted off the board two years ago. He said he has unfinished business on the board so decided to challenge Selectman James Marzec.

A resident since the late 1950s, Montecalvo and his wife Margo live at 279 North Main Street. They have three grown children, Joseph, an employee of Syracuse Universty; Michael, an attorney in North Carolina; and Ann, a math teacher at Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School.

Montecalvo has a bachelor’s of science degree from Boston University and a master’s plus 60 from Worcester State College and Assumption College. He retired from the Shrewsbury Public School system after serving 30 years as high school vice-principal. He previously served as health education teacher in Shrewsbury.

In addition to volunteer work, Montecalvo served as interim town manager for the towns of Northbridge and Millbury. He was chairman of the Town Charter Study Committee and was a member of the Finance Committee for six years before being elected to the Board of Selectmen. He has been president of the Mass. Teachers Association, the Mass. Municipal Association and was president of the Shrewsbury Credit Union for 10 years.

He was a charter member of the Northbridge Lions Club and remains a member of the Shrewsbury Rotary Club.

Q. What are you most proud of during your years as selectman?

A. “I think first of all helped to create a Charter form of government. It makes a big difference to have a town manager. It takes the pressure off the Board of Selectmen and we have someone trained to run the town. I’m also proud to have had a hand in making sure we had the right people at the right job so the town ran smoothly.’’

Q. What would you like to accomplish in the coming three years on the board?

A. “There are some projects I didn’t have the opportunity to finish or follow up on, such as roads, the Department of Public Works and the Fire Station. I am also concerned about water. My wife has said that one day water will be as valuable as oil, and I think she’s right. As a board member you have to think ahead and plan for the future.

“That didn’t happen when the new high school was built without an athletic complex. They wanted to keep the project at a certain price they thought voters would support, and that is leading to the problem we’re having today with athletic fields.’’

Q. What is your position on the hot-button question – artificial turf at Lasell Field, and why?

A. “I do not support it at this time. We need it, no doubt about it, but not now. We have to prioritize our needs. We have to come up with a capital outlay plan and have to follow through with it. One of the most important responsibilities of a selectman is to look ahead and plan – leadership and direction.

The Annual Town Election will be held Tuesday, May 15 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Northbridge High School, 427 Linwood Ave.

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