MARBLEHEAD — The Select Board held interviews for the three residential positions of the new Traffic Safety Advisory Committee at their latest meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 11. After an hour-long interview process in which 11 candidates were heard from, the Board ultimately voted for David Kucharsky, Gary Hebert, and Rick Smyers.
At Town Meeting in May, Article 49 was passed, allowing for the creation of a TSAC with the purpose being “to implement the Marblehead Complete Streets Policy and evaluate public safety issues involving traffic, roads, and other transportation, infrastructure in the town,” according to the article in the 2023 Town Meeting Warrant.
Before the interviews commenced, Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer explained how the voting process works. In order to establish staggered terms for the new Committee, the lead vote recipient will earn a three-year term expiring in 2026, the second will get a two-year term expiring in 2025, and the third place vote-getter will get a one-year term. Kucharsky led the way with five votes, one from each Committee member. Hebert earned the second spot with four votes. After the initial round of voting, Smyers was tied with Byron Rizos. The Board held a tiebreaker vote, and Smyers won with a deciding vote by Chair Erin Noonan.
Kucharsky’s resume is highlighted by his time as Town Planner for Lexington, as well as his most recent position as Director of Traffic and Parking for Salem.
“I live and breathe this stuff,” Kucharsky said. “I’m looking to give back to the community.”
Kucharsky also has experience with the Complete Streets Committee.
Hebert was asked to summarize the aspects of his career that bst qualify him for TSAC in his own words.
“I’ve worked around the country,” Hebert said. “Back in 1976 I wrote a manual on how to plan and implement priority techniques for vehicles which was done by the Urban Consortium for Public Technology.”
Hebert recently retired in 2022, but served as a Consultant and Transportation Specialist in the Boston area for nearly 40 years.
Rick Smyers credited his 20 years working at Fidelity for giving him the necessary skills to work with multiple constituents.
“While I would advocate for pedestrians and cyclists, I recognize that this role would be about integrating the perspectives of a lot of different constituents.”
Smyers informed the board of his involvement in other relevant local activities, including the construction of the trails at Green Street woods and the founding of Bike Marblehead.
After the three members were officially selected, Noonan appointed the other members of TSAC who are made up of department heads or their designees of town departments that are responsible for public safety and the transportation infrastructure. These members were the Police and Fire Chiefs, Department of Public Works Director, Town Engineer, and Town Administrator.
