FinCom member challenges selectman; Town election set for May 12.

• Author: Ellery, J.P.
• Position: Local

Byline: J.P. Ellery

EAST BROOKFIELD -- A veteran Finance Committee member will try to unseat a longtime selectman in the annual town election May 12.

Theodore A. Boulay Jr., who has served 10 years on the Finance Committee, will go head-to-head with Selectman Leo E. Fayard, who has held that post for nine years and has faced opposition only once in that period.

There is just one other race for voters to decide. Three candidates are vying for two Spencer seats on the Spencer-East Brookfield Regional School Committee. The posts up for grabs are at-large seats, meaning East Brookfield residents help elect Spencer representatives on the committee.

Mr. Boulay, 43, was quick to point out that he is not running "against'' Mr. Fayard. He praised Mr. Fayard for being a mentor. "I have a lot of respect for Leo Fayard.''

"It's more of a new blood kind of campaign,'' he said of his quest for the selectman's post. "Just to keep the town moving and get new people in positions of leadership.''

Mr. Boulay said he has some issues that he believes are important to bring to the table. He said it is time for an independent feasibility study to determine the future of the Spencer-East Brookfield Regional School District.

A move was initiated in town within the past few years to consider either extracting kindergarten though Grades 6 from the combined school district or having East Brookfield entirely divorce itself from the two-town district. The idea is in the study phase.

Mr. Boulay also said it is time for attention to be given to East Brookfield's master plan.

"I want to revitalize the master plan,'' Mr. Boulay said. "That was approved by voters approximately eight to 10 years ago and nothing was done with it.''

Mr. Fayard, 60, said selectmen have prodded the Planning Board over the years to take up the master plan, but that is all the selectmen can do. He said the master plan is the purview of the Planning Board, and it is an elected board answerable to the voters. Selectmen have no authority over the Planning...