[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6312219,"mediaKeyId","2391396-cca26100b1432158ba69bd0c1641d11a","parentId",2391396,"title","Town council confirms Matthew Jacques as director of public works","audioSeconds",975,"startMs",2766000,"endMs",3741000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2391396-cca26100b1432158ba69bd0c1641d11a&start=2766&end=3741","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2391396-cca26100b1432158ba69bd0c1641d11a/thumbnail_2766000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6312219/Town-of-Braintree/Norfolk-County/Massachusetts/Town-council-confirms-Matthew-Jacques-as-director-of-public-works","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6312219-897a57eab3f9a9eefdcb2b9b53aa59e5/orig.mp4?Expires=1770431410&Signature=nKtT8oQew-Oq02obwoVrLaNgsVNyL7zvx6L4Xfn6tV30dztUL756-de0MSnB-I16b1LT-H3SxJlCY7aLSwt1tRClxg-TZfhEbkLNoSL5ayJpOU8-u~d89~MGrrorfpBjBLiThXWdNoGqohmBSuh9VuYL4KpYAIRgXLTjfchCb7R8~VTIWOtYFl~412nCddMnXQ14SxKk-nFEldXNUORwgmX6xEgzgOJRMI4syymFkOkwmjwaXgzRiFBouF9nbw-8ptXpGCdVCNeOU24gammDH1w5NPC33xZNz3z45GSTUg0Fo0iaE4qQtW4GDhrXErr7y1A4co5m3pOqG~XO0Jg46A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town of Braintree, MA","date","2025-02-26T00:00:00Z","article","Mayor Joyce presented Matthew Jacques as her nominee for director of public works and noted the appointment followed an extensive search and interviews, including an internal candidate.

\"Matt brings a dedication to the position, leadership, real energy and an outside perspective,\" Mayor Joyce said, describing Jacques' experience in both public and private facilities work.

Matthew Jacques addressed the council and outlined his background: more than 30 years of managerial experience, seven years as director of facilities for the Mansfield public schools, and prior private-sector experience managing portfolios for BJ's Wholesale Club (managing roughly 193 to 213 stores). Jacques said his first 30 days would focus on listening and meeting staff and that he expected to start March 17.

Councilors who served on the Ways and Means committee reported a detailed interview process and issued a unanimous favorable recommendation. Councilor Baraka, chairing the committee that moved the nomination forward, said the committee spent over an hour interviewing the candidate and recommended confirmation. Councilors Morin, Maglio, Hume, Ringuis and others voiced support at the full council meeting, noting Jacques' facilities management experience and the strength of the existing DPW staff.

A motion to approve the appointment passed unanimously.

What happens next: Jacques is expected to begin on March 17; councilors asked him to tour districts and meet department staff prior to assuming full responsibilities.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Braintree Town Council 2.25.25 7:30pm","oneSentenceSummary","The Town Council unanimously approved Mayor Joyce's appointment of Matthew Jacques as director of public works. Jacques, the former Mansfield director of school facilities with private-sector facilities management experience, is slated to start March 17.","taxTitle","Town of Braintree , Norfolk County, Massachusetts","taxId",57175,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6312224,"Braintree council hears mayor's update on school redistricting as neighbors warn of neighborhood harm",1024,1280000,2304000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2391396-cca26100b1432158ba69bd0c1641d11a&start=1280&end=2304","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2391396-cca26100b1432158ba69bd0c1641d11a/thumbnail_1280000.jpg","/articles/6312224/Town-of-Braintree/Norfolk-County/Massachusetts/Braintree-council-hears-mayors-update-on-school-redistricting-as-neighbors-warn-of-neighborhood-harm","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6312224-cb391ff126e612bf8dda42af8e245a0d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770431410&Signature=ZxYWU3s72edaCG7HN0tVX1cQe7nKfis6XFGIhSSm84d-jc~hIOWbMQRdOQ9E3OGQ7eUYCIbBbovifS75SqrAAoKKAzup2G~g5EcqC8gLq1aTO7Jr-C7WVsT-vHVaot1Q788HH8R1k221iTbjA9tVeVB6R0gSa9MdBZcmaE-EPt-3F48aZWU52lVRHy0-VntnCZ9ViFpg1PZpwE8Mnw15B0eQcoG~tzrmpzHxFe1KRUtmmbpxG3pYFHYiK8slV8g2ox4k4C38idmLVl2JlwrkblPX2ngDZlPF0E6svRyZU1L4HQE6H3ZYF0nkBCqQr4YlK~kW6Od7U5XeDVQlW1HSvQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mayor Joyce told the Town Council the school committee is continuing to develop options for redistricting and will hold a public hearing the following Monday in this chamber.

\"We've shared some ... facilities perspective on all the schools,\" Mayor Joyce said, and told the council the town had provided a facilities estimate that was \"in the ballpark of probably a hundred million dollars across all our school buildings\" for maintenance needs alone.

Several councilors and residents used the council's time to raise substantive concerns ahead of the school committee's public hearing. Councilor Ward said two of three options discussed the prior night would close Highland School and criticized the process for narrowing options before public input. He called the committee's approach \"reactionary,\" warned of travel-distance increases for students and said his district had already supported debt-exclusion and override measures.

\"No school has to close under this process,\" Ward said, and urged alternatives. He recommended creating a special education stabilization fund to smooth unpredictable special-education costs; he said the school business manager had identified a $648,000 gap on an $82,000,000 budget and that the administration's projection included a 15% increase in special-education spending.

Other councilors similarly urged caution and public engagement. Councilor Maglio noted the town will meet with the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) on Friday to discuss implications for future partnerships and potential payback obligations tied to past projects; he said the council hoped to share MSBA feedback publicly at the upcoming hearing.

Speakers from East Braintree and parents urged preservation of neighborhood schools, emphasizing Ross School's role serving a high-needs, diverse population. One speaker said Ross has the town's highest percentage of high-needs students (56%) and that losing the neighborhood school would harm community revitalization efforts.

Councilors and the mayor repeatedly framed redistricting as complex and important, with Mayor Joyce stressing the decisions rest with the school committee but asking for council feedback and public participation at the committee hearing.

What the council did: This item was an informational communication; no formal council decision was taken. Councilors pledged to attend and participate in the school committee's public hearing and to raise constituent concerns there.","Mayor Joyce updated the council on the school committee's redistricting work and maintenance-cost estimates; several councilors and residents urged caution, argued against closing neighborhood schools and called for alternatives such as a special education stabilization fund.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6312228,"South Shore building trades donate scoreboard, dugout repairs to Braintree High School",836,262000,1098000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2391396-cca26100b1432158ba69bd0c1641d11a&start=262&end=1098","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2391396-cca26100b1432158ba69bd0c1641d11a/thumbnail_262000.jpg","/articles/6312228/Town-of-Braintree/Norfolk-County/Massachusetts/South-Shore-building-trades-donate-scoreboard-dugout-repairs-to-Braintree-High-School","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6312228-076423ec7b292e29a2f0d61c0869e81b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770431410&Signature=U8FA4qZLUMlCAMTKx~1C7q3sPp2lp6MfcCU02W-lOq9pS2X9TD1bqMHA6B8H6ctWc5DK7WchP6N1sz71XFp5R0FoasGFCndAmFb44tpXePTg0jPpCCx3LU6H9Kvkq8GxGFVnEuBJgcvIzWDk2BcrrAqdMgdFsVgpe2IeFHr3ZRbryPWsB9CGF5qTfyF6sWkIYfh7QM3v3ISkN24u8OUlDB09YfQ00~iGs3q8vrXPdQFngzyBCwHOLiGoZ5yl6RvDsWVw4yt3MAH36Lnc~ahpwvAs-5-na5TPFazGboZO9zGdHT~gPD-vypZ3dCJPIaMBSoZmOyfDJNZTS6uTA7QgJQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mayor Joyce opened the discussion by asking the council to take up a same-night acceptance of a donation: a new scoreboard and dugout repairs for the Braintree High School varsity baseball field.

The donation was offered by the Quincy South Shore Building Trades and affiliated signatory contractors, including the Greater Boston Plumbing Contractors Association, National Electric Contractors Association (Boston), New England Mechanical Contractors Association, Crane Marr & Rigging, and Buckley Elevator. Patrick Mulkerin, identified in the meeting as president of the Quincy South Shore Building Trades Council and a Braintree resident, described the donation and the group's goal of showcasing the trades to students.

\"We wanted to remind the kids there's somewhere else to go other than college. You can come get a free education and learn a trade and make a hundred thousand dollars a year doing it with no debt,\" Patrick Mulkerin said.

Mayor Joyce said the donors will use union labor to transport, wire and install the scoreboard and that the scoreboard mock-up included a notation on the bottom reading \"proudly sponsored by the trades.\" She called the offer \"a really, unique opportunity\" to both improve athletic facilities and highlight career options in the building trades.

Councilors who spoke largely praised the donation as a community-minded partnership. Councilor Reynolds thanked the unions for the gift and said their involvement was important as the town faces budget challenges. Councilor Baraka (who moved acceptance) and others said the donation would provide student engagement opportunities and recognized the symbolic value of trades participation.

The council moved to accept the donation and any related action; the motion passed unanimously.

The donation includes installation of the electronic scoreboard, cosmetic repairs to dugouts and additional signage. Town staff and the donors said installation would use union labor and that the scoreboard design was included in the council's meeting packet. Councilors also asked to take a group photograph after the vote to publicize the partnership.

Votes at a glance: The Town Council voted unanimously to accept the donation and any action relative thereto.

What happens next: The donors and town staff will schedule installation and coordinate any on-site work; councilors expressed interest in signage and student engagement events tied to the project.","Quincy South Shore Building Trades and affiliated contractors offered a donated electronic scoreboard and cosmetic dugout repairs for Braintree High School's varsity baseball field; the Town Council voted unanimously to accept the gift on the same night.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Town council confirms Matthew Jacques as director of public works

Braintree council hears mayor's update on school redistricting as neighbors warn of neighborhood harm

South Shore building trades donate scoreboard, dugout repairs to Braintree High School