Maryann Thorpe announces candidacy for the Zoning Board of Appeals

Maryann Thorpe has announced her candidacy for the 2 year position on the Sturbridge Zoning Board of Appeals. Below is an excerpted page from Maryann's web page, which can be found at: www.maryannthorpe.com.

My husband Michael and I moved to Sturbridge 14 years ago. I fell in love with Sturbridge while visiting a friend and was moved by the heartwarming sense of community I found here. Michael and I knew that our children would enjoy a superior quality of life here and decided to make Sturbridge our home.

I have two wonderful daughters; Samantha who is presently studying for Part 2 of the CPA exam and Emma - an 8th grade student at Tantasqua Jr High who loves softball and Showchoir.

I am the Office Manager at Radius Management Services Inc., headquartered in Framingham, MA; I work directly with the President, Vice President, and CFO. Radius Management Services has over 2,000 employees.

Prior to assuming responsibility for managing the Corporate Office, I served as the Marketing Director for the Radius Worcester facility. I have been with Radius for over 9 years. In addition, I have served on the RSVP Board of Directors for the Worcester Senior Center and the Domestic Violence Task force at Umass Memorial campus.

The Massachusetts Citizen Planner Training Collaborative (CPTC) defines the role of the Zoning Board of Appeals as one that "...adjudicates (passes judgement on) requests placed before them. The ZBA is a quasi-judicial body that operates under the authority of Chapter 40A of the General Laws of the Commonwealth for the purpose of promoting the health, safety,convenience and general welfare of the town/city that it serves." I believe that my background in both labor and management, along with my experience in understanding the complexities of the Health Care Industry provide a solid basis for recognizing the importance of informed, objective, and balanced decision making.

In addition, the Mass. CPTC states that "Being an effective ZBA member requires a willingness to get involved in your community, to become informed, and to use common sense, fairness and objectivity towards all matters before you. You must try to balance the public good with private rights and interests."

Giving service to my community is something I love and enjoy. I serve as the Chief Marketing Officer for the REAS Foundation - a Sturbridge based non-profit organization providing energy assistance to qualifying Sturbridge seniors. I am also a member of the Tantasqua Music Association and I am currently privileged to serve as a member of the Sturbridge Master Plan Steering Committee.

The Master Plan Steering Committee has been an inspirational experience and one that has made me acutely more aware of the need for a balanced approach to ensuring and maintaining the highest quality of life for Sturbridge residents. My family and I are very fortunate to call Sturbridge home and I welcome the opportunity to do more for our community. I do hope that you will consider supporting me and allowing me the honor of serving YOU on the Zoning Board of Appeals.