Quick Chronicles – Article 5
A smart, friendly, and helpful answer to vexing questions about town government is available for free weekly. It comes in the form of 84-year-old David Wanger, who sees his volunteerism as a personal act of service to the community he calls home.
He brings decades of experience, including service on the town’s Finance and Advisory Committee, to launch what he believes is the first volunteer ombudsman program in Massachusetts. He’s just a few weeks into his new initiative, where he holds open office hours each Wednesday morning, providing free guidance to residents looking for help navigating municipal questions.
The free sessions are on Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to noon, designed to help residents better understand how town government operates and get the support they need to address their town-related questions. In June, he will host the office hours at the Council on Aging building at 299 Bay Road.
His research found only one other community with a resident advocate position in the state, which is filled by an assistant town manager, not an independent volunteer.
“I have an interest in serving the community where I reside,” Wanger said at one of his sessions in May, where he worked from the first-floor meeting room at Patton Homestead, which is serving as the temporary Town Hall. “I have an interest in contributing. It makes me feel good, and at my age, it keeps my mental faculties going.”
The idea emerged from Wanger’s observation that residents often feel overwhelmed by complex municipal issues, particularly when expert opinions conflict and information becomes difficult to parse. His approach centers on mediation skills honed through years of pro bono work at Lynn District Court, where he handles small claims mediations.
“Part of mediation is listening and giving people an opportunity to express themselves,” Wanger said.
Wanger used the town’s school infrastructure debate as an example of where his volunteerism could be valuable. With residents flooded by statistics, expert opinions, and conflicting cost estimates about whether to consolidate schools many felt overwhelmed.
“There’s enough information to flood even an AI-driven environment,” Wanger observed. “Which stance is telling the truth? Which estimate of cost is reliable?”
Wanger’s methodology involves careful listening and helping people understand each other’s perspectives. Using the school example, speaking with someone favoring small schools, he might explore why that environment appeals to them, then present how proponents argue that large structures can create equivalent neighborhood feelings within the building.
“The skill of mediation primarily involves carefully listening,” he said.
Wanger focuses on helping both sides understand the alternatives and a middle ground.
“If an outcome is to be had in mediation, it requires compromise,” said Wagner.
Wanger’s approach tries to get conflicting sides to appreciate what is at stake. He showed the listening skills and critical thinking he can offer to Hamilton’s municipal topics and help residents understand their issues.
Wanger pitched his concept of volunteering through open office hours to Town Manager Joseph Domelowicz in February, emphasizing that it would provide a helpful service at no cost to taxpayers.
He’s willing to consider altering the schedule to accommodate residents currently unable to attend for residents who cannot meet during the daytime.
For residents feeling lost in the complexity of local issues, Wanger offers something increasingly rare in today’s polarized environment: a patient ear, an experienced perspective, and a commitment to find common ground.
Note: David Wanger’s volunteer service as a community ombudsman is a personal initiative and a valued contribution to his fellow residents. Any opinions, interpretations, or guidance provided by Mr. Wanger reflect his own views nor are they reviewed or endorsed by the Town of Hamilton, its elected officials, or municipal staff.
This article is part of Quick Chronicles, a series of brief blog-format stories celebrating the people, events, and history of the town. Inspired by the legacy of the Hamilton-Wenham Chronicle, the former print community newspaper, these mini features will shine a spotlight on the vibrant Hamilton community and the remarkable individuals who live and work here.“ Quick Chronicles” aims to keep the spirit of local storytelling alive, sharing snapshots of what makes Hamilton unique while fostering a deeper connection among residents.
Quick Chronicles stories are available for media to share as long as the writer is credited and the story links to Hamiltonma.gov. Credit – A Patient Ear: Volunteer Ombudsman David Wanger Offers Free Guidance on Understanding Local Government is written by Robert Gates.
