b'C H A P T E R T W Olarging, the state league undertook a five-year study of fiscal policy in the Commonwealth. In Weston, she served on the Conservation Commission and was the first woman to go on the Finance Committee. Through a Governors appointment, she joined the Special Commission for a Master Tax Plan in the Commonwealth. Then, in 1972, Governor Francis W Sargent named her associate commissioner of the tax department.I felt I was kind of a crusader on the backs of local assessors to adopt computer-based assessment systems, says Debby Ecker. They didnt like that. It was very early in the field of computers.To sharpen her skills, she began in 1974 an evening study of computer programming. One thing led to another: an invitation to head up the staff of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means, concentrating on tax policy, local aid and revenue forecasting.To her, That was a very exciting period of another five years.Gradually, the Weston-based Eckers extended their stays in Chatham, and in 1998 they moved down full-time. Even before then,Debby Ecker had brought her experience toOne of FCWs my dynamic board bear for FCW. Early in 1997, she presentedmembers for years, Mrs. Hoyt her economic study of the town to a largeEcker (Debby) completed two breakfast audience at Chatham Bars Inn. Theeconomic studies of Chatham, cofollowing year, she joined FCW directorsmanaged FCWs Quality of Life Barbara Streibert and John Geiger in focusingproject in 1988, and joined John Geiger in the memorable effort to a town-wide assessment of the communitysrevise the Zoning Bylaw to help Quality of Life. No sooner had that beenguide town growth.completed than FCW launched an initiative toPhoto bj Rob Carlislerewrite the towns Zoning Bylaw; for long months, Mrs. Ecker, along with Geiger, lifted the heaviest loads on thismuscle-bending project.4Harwich native and South Chatham resident Hillary LeClaire joined FCWs board with an entirely different range of experiences. In retirement he wasworkingregularly as a shellfisherman; that gave FCW a direct point of contact with the towns commercial fishermen. His earlier life could scarcely have had less in common with scratching for clams: for more than 35 years he flew Marine fighter planes. In flight training during the Korean War, he moved into27'