Swampscott board to make call on federal lobbyist

SWAMPSCOTT – Selectmen tonight will host a conference call with a lobbying firm to discuss if the town should hire a federal lobbyist, according to Selectman Barry Greenfield.”It’s purely educational,” Greenfield said Tuesday of the call planned for the board’s Wednesday meeting. “I’m hoping to get the other selectmen to recognize that this is something we should undertake.”Greenfield presented the idea of hiring a federal and/or a state lobbyist to the other members of the board in September.He said Tuesday the town could benefit from having a person to lobby Congress and seek out federal grants.He also said a lobbyist could help the town be more proactive in preparing for future legislation.Greenfield said a representative of the Arlington, Va. lobbying firm Alcalde & Fay will speak about the firm’s services and experiences with towns.But Greenfield said this conversation is a preliminary step.He said the estimated $50,000-$60,000 cost to hire a lobbyist would have to be added to the 2013 budget and approved by Town Meeting.The town would then issue a request for proposal to determine which firm or individual would be hired to represent the town, he noted. He predicted that a lobbyist – if hired – would not start until midsummer.Selectman Jill Sullivan praised Greenfield’s initiative for “outside-the-box” thinking.However, she said she still has questions.”I have a healthy dose of skeptical optimism,” she said. “But I will listen to any idea that’s out there.”Cyrus Moulton can be reached at [email protected].