What Are Your Top Three Issues on Election Day?
April 2 is just around the corner. Last night at the Chelmsford Center for the Arts, we heard the candidates' top three issues, what are yours?
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We've got less than a month to go before the 2013 Chelmsford Town Election, and today we want to ask you what your top three issues will be when trying to choose your two votes, or for that matter, what are the top three issues facing the town overall.
Here's what the candidates said last night at the Chelmsford Busines Association debate. You can see the full debate on Chelmsford Telemedia, we'll have more on the issues brought up during the debate later on as well.
And don't forget our live chat at noon today with candidate Bob Joyce!
Janet Askenburg -
#1. - Having town government run as efficiently as possible
#2. - Active oversight of town government, particularly with monthly budget analysis
#3. - Filling commercial vacancies in town.
Roland Van Liew
#1. - Proper oversight and transparency of town government.
#2. - Revamping the town's accounting process to control costs.
#3. - Work toward regional solutions on things like affordable housing and the preservation of open space.
Matt Hanson
#1. - Helping residents in Williamsburg who could see their insurance go up due to the nearby proposed Pawtucket Bladder Dam.
#2. - Moving to a regionalized 911 dispatch center
#3. - Increasing volunteering in town.
Pat Maloney
#1. - Continue appropriate management of capital projects in town.
#2. - Maintain the town's stabilization fund.
#3. - Keep an open and fair mind on issues such as grinder pumps.
Bob Joyce
#1. - Controlling the rising cost of taxes through deferring free cash in the budget back to taxpayers rather than funding new projects.
#2. - Better visibility of town spending.
#3. - Keeping capital costs under control.
Tom Christiano
7:41 am on Friday, March 8, 2013
I thought all five Selectman candidates did a nice job at their debate last night, at the CCA. It's well worth catching the repeat on the internet or on TV if you haven't seen it yet.
Barbara
8:10 am on Friday, March 8, 2013
Hi Tom and Andrew! Could you get a follow up from Matt Hanson regarding Roland's point that the DPW building needed an 850K roof? Roland is correct that this would not affect the assessed value, but would decrease an appraisal substantially. Legal costs would not have been 850K. It was an interesting point that stood out to me.
Tom Christiano
8:17 am on Friday, March 8, 2013
Hi Barbara....I just emailed Matt Hanson your question....as soon as I hear back from him, I'll post his answer, or Matt may post it himself. Good question BTW.
Matt Hanson
9:23 am on Friday, March 8, 2013
Hi Barbara,
Thank you for your comment. I do not have the exact dollar amounts on me but I can follow up with them shortly. The building was assessed for tax purposes for approximately $3.5 million. The town was able to negotiate a price of $2.75 million. We were also able to negotiate the addition of two abutting parcels valued at over $100,000 and we saved probably $100,000 is attorney fees and what could have been multiple years in court. In addition, we had expert legal counsel advising us on the likelihood that a jury would award the Town the lowest possible price in an unfriendly eminent domain. We knew what a likely outcome would have been if the case was taken to court. That is an overview of some of the more major details which Roland refuses to acknowledge. Considering all of those factors, the Town actually negotiated a price that was lower than we were expecting to have to pay for the property! If you have any additional questions. You can feel free to call me on my cell phone at any time (978) 319-5393 or contact me by email votehanson@gmail.com. I also don't mind commenting here on patch. Thank you for your great question! I will answer in more detail at the next debate if this comes up again.
Best,
Matt
Andrew Sylvia
9:57 am on Friday, March 8, 2013
Thanks Matt!
Mr. G
2:35 pm on Friday, March 8, 2013
It should also be noted that the original DPW plans floated a few years back were in the $30 million range. The PBC, and Dave Duane in particular, did an outstanding job in identifying an existing structure that could meet the towns needs for a fraction of the price. Kudos to well executed project.
Phil stanway
9:43 am on Friday, March 8, 2013
"Work toward regional solutions for Open Space" not a fan of this. I think the town and town meeting should have the final say on our open space. This was talked about in detail at Oak Hill Committee and a very strong feeling that the town should always control its own open space that is why a LOCAL CR was recommended not a state one.