By Setarreh Massihzadegan
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE

There’s an election coming up at Brooksby Village, in Peabody, and we’re not just talking about the country’s Presidential election. Those who live at Brooksby are gearing up to vote in six new members of their Resident Advisory Council (RAC).

Having a voice
Almost a month after they head to Brooksby’s polls to vote a new President into the White House, those who live at Brooksby will decide on changes to their 11-member RAC, a council that acts as a liaison between the community’s residents and management. Once the new members have been sworn in, all members will vote to delegate roles, including that of council chair.

If there’s one person who knows the ropes of RAC, it’s the current chair Richard (Dick) Thornburg, who is about to serve the last year of his second and final two-year term.

“The challenge is just to see that we have heard the issues that the residents have wanted to raise and we have done our best to address them with the appropriate management,” says Thornburg, who has been chair since he was first elected to RAC three years ago.

Love of governance
Thornburg came to Brooksby about four years ago, with nearly 50 years of experience as a Methodist minister under his belt. He says his pastoral work contributed to his ability to preside over meetings and take on administrative responsibilities.

“I just love governance, and I thought the community governance was important and I could add to it,” he says.

RAC members meet twice a month and hold monthly town meetings, which usually bring out a number of residents and members of management, including Brooksby’s Executive Director Jim Wingardner.

Thornburg says issues over the years have ranged from staff changes to parking to sewage disposal, but that generally things are in good shape, as evidenced by the smaller issues people often bring up in the monthly meetings.

“If we’re down to the small issues that only affect one person, that’s pretty good,” Thornburg says.