Perkins offers parting words at last meeting

MIDDLEBORO – Before changing the guard, interim town manager Joe Perkins left the people of Middleboro with one piece of advice: Get off social media and talk to people in real life.

Perkins ended his term as interim town manager on Tuesday, Sept. 15 after replacing Jay McGrail in March. In his final town manager’s report at the Sept. 14 Select Board meeting, Perkins spoke candidly about managing the town’s financial struggles and how the town should move forward.

In June, Perkins had to lay off 20 town employees due to the town’s deficit. “I know a lot of families and people impacted by the deficit,” Perkins said. “And it really bothered me, being in the position that I was in. But I know it had to be done. [I] did not relish it. It was very bad.”

He said he thought many people in the community were doing their best, and that he felt “embarrassed” by the behaviors he’s seen from fellow residents online.

“I think social media is evil. I think the town’s addicted to it, and needs to quit to move forward,” he said. “I think people need to talk to each other instead of fire shots across keyboards.”

Perkins thanked the staff that helped him transition into the town manager role, including his assistant town manager Josh Porter.

He also spoke directly to the Select Board. He said while each member has their flaws, he believes they have the town’s best interests in mind. “I just wish you would talk to each other more and not get caught up in rumor and social media bull crap,” Perkins said.

He said he learned a lot about town government being on the inside. He said people think the town government can do more than it can. “We don’t have all the answers,” he said.