Outgoing Town Manager Crimmins Honored by Selectmen, Stoughton Community

With his last day as Town Manager on March 31, the Stoughton Board of Selectmen held a Collation for Francis T. Crimmins, Jr. at their Tuesday meeting, with the Board, government officials and members of the community gathering to offer their well wishes.

Crimmins, who has served as Stoughton's Town Manager since February 2010, had in a  addressed to Board of Selectmen Chairman John Stagnone, dated Jan. 24, 2012. 

Crimmins called his tenure as Town Manager one of the highlights of his professional career. 

"I took the job to do a job," he said. "I love the town...I gave my best to it.'

Crimmins said his legacy will be that "I left [the town] better than I found it."

Noting that it was the first day of spring, the outgoing Town Manager told those in attendance at the March 20 Collation that it was the "season to take the next step."

Crimmins, a former First Justice at the , said he will be practicing law starting in April. His practice will be called Ab Initio (From the Beginning) Elder Law Solutions, LLC. 

The practice will handle issues such as estate planning. Crimmins will have an office in Boston as well as in Stoughton at 1 Cabot Place.

Crimmins thanked his department heads for their work and for their show of support. A group of 14 department heads to the Board of Selectmen in February asking the Board to reconsider the Town Manager's resignation.

"It's been a pleasure to work with [Crimmins] these past two years. I think I speak for most department heads when I say that," DPW Superintendent John Batchelder said later in the meeting, after the Collation had taken place. 

At the start of the Collation, members of the Board took time to thank Crimmins for his service. 

"Judge Crimmins has shown his strong management skills...he's brought so much to the town," Selectman John Anderson said. "He exceeded my expectations."

Selectman John Anzivino said he was "somewhat stunned" by Crimmins' resignation letter, but thanked the Town Manager for all of his help and guidance.

John Stagnone, the chairman of the Board of Selectmen, said Crimmins "has done a great job", noting how "tough" the position is.

Selectman Cynthia Walsh recalled a couple of instances where she sought legal advice from Crimmins, before his tenure as Town Manager or First Justice and thanked him for being sympathetic, yet practical.

"I know you will treat all of your clients with the utmost respect," she said.

Crimmins, who acknowledged he and the Board had some philosophical differences over the past two years said those disagreements were "never personal."

State Representative William C. Galvin (D-Canton) was in attendance and thanked Crimmins for always keeping him apprised of what was going on in town. 

"Our 15 minute meetings [at Maxie's] would last an hour and 45 minutes, but we all know Frank can talk," Galvin joked.

A handful of department heads, including and were in attendance for the Collation, as was Crimmins' brother, attorney Barry Crimmins. A number of Chamber of Commerce members were also present. 

At the conclusion of his remarks, Crimmins received a standing ovation from those in attendance. The crowd then gathered in the Yaitanes Room for a dessert buffet, prepared by Linda Ross of Catering by Linda.