To the Editor:

I grew up in Newtown, worked as Assistant Town Clerk for five years and Town Clerk for 20 years, then moved from Newtown after living there for 59 years. To say that the Edmond Town Hall played a large part in my life is an understatement! Tom Mahoney was part of that experience at Edmond Town Hall.

When I was a teenager going to the movies, we had “Francis” as our “guardian” at the Town Hall. He knew each and every one of us and our parents. He watched over us and kept us out of trouble as best he could. When my children were teenagers, it was Tom Mahoney who watched over them and all the other teenagers who frequented Town Hall, particularly on weekends. He knew each of them and their parents. Tom even gave many of those teenagers their first job! Working at the “candy counter” at the movie theater was a very popular job in those days.

Then there was a point in my life that as a single mother with a daughter in college, I needed a second income while being Town Clerk. Tom hired me to work the box office a few nights a week. I will always be grateful to him for that opportunity.

This brings me to the point of this letter: I read with great sadness that Tom’s position was suddenly eliminated (The Newtown Bee, October 30, 2020, “Theatre Coordinator Released As ETH Grapples With Losses”). He was given two weeks notice that he would no longer be needed. What does this mean exactly? How do you eliminate a position that will eventually be necessary to manage the Town Hall and all of its activities once the pandemic is over? When the pandemic is over and the movie theater reopens, as well as the Town Hall events, who will run the theater and Town Hall? Tom Mahoney has run that Town Hall for 39 years. There is not one person that could even begin to know how to manage the theater.

It is crazy to me that you suddenly eliminate a position with two weeks notice to someone who has served this town and its Town Hall for almost 40 years. Edmond Town Hall is well known throughout the state for its theater and for Tom Mahoney. He is respected throughout the “theater” community. Tom has served our community tirelessly for these last 39 years and the Board of Managers would do well to rethink their position on eliminating Tom’s job. He has earned the right to work there again when the theater and Town Hall reopens for activities. You will not ever find a more qualified person. You all should know that already and should not need me to remind you. Is this really how we want to treat someone who has devoted almost 40 years of his life to this Town Hall and community? I certainly hope not, and urge the Board of Managers to reconsider Tom Mahoney’s future at the Edmond Town Hall.

Sincerely,

Cynthia S. Curtis

3590 NE 107th Street Road, Anthony, Fla. November 10, 2020

This letter was originally addressed to Jennifer Chaudhary, chair of the Edmond Town Hall Board of Managers.