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Mangiafico Named Police Commission Chairman

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Mangiafico Named Police Commission Chairman

By Andrew Gorosko

The Police Commission has elected Paul J. Mangiafico as its new chairman. The Republican is a newly elected member of the commission.

Commission members unanimously elected Mr Mangiafico to the chairmanship at a December 6 session. The members also unanimously named Republican Brian Budd to again serve as vice chairman.

Mr Mangiafico will preside over a five-member panel, which holds three new members based on the results of the November 8 municipal elections. The two other new members are Democrats Joel Faxon and Andrew Sachs.

Also, continuing as a Republican commission member is James Viadero.

The current composition of the commission is three Republicans and two Democrats. Before the elections, the panel had three Republican and two Independent members.

Although new to the Police Commission, Mr Mangiafico in the past served for two years on the Board of Selectmen and for four years on the Board of Education.

Mr Mangiafico noted that while serving as a selectman, he considered certain items submitted to the selectmen for review by the Police Commission.

“The [police] commission has 60 percent of its members that are new now…It’s quite a change from the old commission,” Mr Mangiafico said this week.

Commission members Mr Budd and Mr Viadero have done a good job, Mr Mangiafico said, noting the importance of having continuity in the organization.

Mr Mangiafico said he opted to run for a seat on the Police Commission in the November elections after being approached by the Republican party to again seek elective office.

“I think our police department is an absolutely fine, fine organization,” he said.

Among the issues that he would address as commission chairman is the public’s concern about the hazards of distracted driving, especially the dangers of speaking and/or texting on a cellphone while driving, Mr Mangiafico said.

Other areas of concern include general traffic law enforcement, with a focus on issues such as speeding and stop sign violations, he said. Some areas of town seem to be especially prone to speeding problems, he noted.

Mr Mangiafico said he will be familiarizing himself with Police Commission issues.

As a procedural matter, he recommended that the commission handle certain routine meeting agenda items on a “consent agenda” basis to expedite its meetings.

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