Association membership have elected two new Executive Board Officers. Medford Retirement Board member Jim Vieira and MWRA Board Chairman Jim Fleming were elected at the 2024 Annual Meeting held in September at the enVision Hotel and Conference Center, Mansfield MA.
The election was held as part of the biennial election process of Association officers and executive board members. Both of the new members’ elections were held to fill the vacancies resulting from the passing of the former founding father of the Mass Retirees Association, President and Vice President at Large, Ralph White and the unexpected passing of Northern District Vice President and Lynn Retirement Board member Buzzy Barton.
Long time friend and colleague of former President White, Denis Devine took Ralph’s Vice President at Large seat, and Jim Vieira was elected to fill the Middlesex District Vice President seat vacated by Devine. Vieira, a retired State Director of Human Resources of the Metropolitan District Commission, with 30 years of service, currently serves as the appointed member on the Medford Retirement Board.
Jim has served on the Board for the past 25 years and during his tenure was also an active member of the Mass Association of Contributory Retirement Systems Executive Board. An Air Force veteran who has remained active in local veteran affairs, Jim served as past Commander of the Medford Post 45 American Legion. He is a Medford resident where he resides with his wife of 45 yrs., Joyce Vieira.
The Northern District VP seat was vacant due to the sudden passing of Lynn retired firefighter, City Councilor and Retirement Board member Buzzy Barton. Attorney James Fleming was elected to fill his seat.
James Fleming, Esq. is serving in his eleventh term on the MWRA Employees Retirement Board and has served as Chairman for the past 25 years. He has also served on the Salem School Committee for 20 years and on the City Council for 5 years.
Jim retired from the MWRA as a claim’s specialist with the MWRA Treasury Department. A graduate of the Wharton School’s Pension Fund Program and the NCPERS Accredited Fiduciary Program, he is also a graduate of Boston College and Georgetown University Law School.