February 16, 2009
Over the past couple of weeks many people have asked me that question. To best answer, I often need to determine why I am being asked since the question may have three different answers.
#1: Yes, I am still running. I started running road races last year to lose weight and get into better shape. I just ran “The Old Fashioned 10 Miler” in Foxboro yesterday (2/15/2009). Photo at left is approaching the finish area. So, after starting with 5K runs and twice Falmouth’s 7.1 miles (including once for charity -- runfortwins.josephgillisjr.com) I was able to complete a 10 mile race.
#2: No, I am not up for re-election to the Bridgewater-Raynham Regional School Committee this year. I was first elected in April 2004 and re-elected in April 2007. My term expires in April 2010.
#3: Yes, I am running for the position of Bridgewater Town Clerk. Most every official action taken in the Town of Bridgewater is “touched” by the Town Clerk. The person has varied duties including Town Meeting records & filings, Town & State/National elections, marriage certificates, dog licenses, passports and census (to name a few).
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Joseph Gillis Jr.
You can do something!
At this precipice, there must be a course of action to guide government in the 21st century.
First priority is a review of the functions and duties to determine how the costs can be reduced. Can the annual census forms be computerized to minimize the number mailed out and/or manually entered into databases? Can town records be recorded digitally to preserve and also to reduce the paper storage of documents?
Second priority is to determine how to best maximize revenue. And let me be clear, I am not referring to raising fees, only improving the collection of the funds. Can the processing of dog license fees utilize the internet to allow owners to review their status on-line and make appropriate payments? While there has been success in processing passport documents, can this be better publicized so that our Town can derive additional processing fees for these services rather than residents and neighbors traveling to other locations?
Third priority is to bring my computer and private-sector experience to the Town Clerk’s Office. With one individual in town responsible for the operation of computer systems, the impetus and work for improvement of the specific systems must come from within the departments.
I look forward to opportunities to discuss these important issues with the community. Further if elected, I plan to bring the same determination, creativity and attention-to-detail to the role of Town Clerk as many have seen in my position on the B-R School Committee.
