When I first considered running for selectmen three years ago
I felt that, Wayland, like our neighboring towns, was at a crossroads.
With state aid diminishing and growth slowing, towns like ours
faced the choice between making severe cuts or managing frequent
overrides to maintain our basic services. I felt that I could
no longer sit on the sidelines when such difficult choices were
before us. Our AAA bond rating had received an unfavorable outlook
and real efficiencies needed to be made to minimize the size of
the deficits we were facing. New commercial growth needed to be
identified to broaden our tax base and reduce the impact to our
residential tax base.
Three years later, Wayland is making great progress, matching
or surpassing our peer towns in nearly every measure. This despite
increases in fixed costs like health care, retirement, and utilities,
all of which continue to grow faster than revenues allowed under
Proposition 2½. Over the last three years the Board Of
Selectmen has advocated and passed strong fiscal reforms and policies
to mitigate our dependence on residential taxes. Retirement programs
were revised, conservative labor contracts negotiated, engineering
audits preformed and the approval of the Town Center commercial
development was supported in order to grow our commercial tax
base. The efforts of the ad hoc budget committee identified over
a million dollars in savings over the last two years.
Today our town enjoys a very strong fiscal footing despite the
challenges we’ve faced. The unfavorable outlook on our AAA
Bond Rating was lifted only last month. The recent passage by
the Planning board of the Master Special Permit for the Town Center
Development will insure additional commercial tax revenue sure
to reduce the scope of future overrides. Due to policies and programs
installed under our watch, the growth of health care and retirement
costs are trending downward. The Proposition 2½ overrides
we face are getting smaller and the town has sustained the vital
core services that help define its character. In light of this
progress, I am very comfortable supporting this years override.
The services included are core needs important to all Wayland
residents, not luxuries, as some opponents would suggest.
Personally, I have been fortunate to identify many areas that
the town could change operations saving or generating hundreds
of thousands of dollars in savings or new revenues. By establishing
a competitive market for dirt to cover the landfill trash, the
town received $140,000 in new revenue. I’ve helped lead
the debate in support of the new town center development, which
will generate additional commercial taxes revenue in the range
of $750,000 to 1 million dollars annually. Further, I was a strong
player in negotiations with the developer for over three million
dollars in unencumbered “gift” mitigation to the town
as part of this development. When this money is matched with state
and federal grant money, Wayland will be able to make great improvements
to the downtown historic and commercial districts.
My dogged support of the Nike Site affordable housing development
helped sustain this project to allow the $3.9 million state and
Federal grants that will fund 80% of this ground breaking local
housing model. Finally, this year I have advocated and convinced
the town to join the Metrowest Regional Transportation Authority,
saving some 80,000 in FY 08 and 09 while leveraging hundred of
thousands of federal and state dollars to allow for expanded service
to our seniors and handicapped community. More local service for
no local money!
The challenges that face Wayland have not been caused at town
hall and will not entirely be fixed there. While we continue locally
to identify efficiencies and support sound fiscal policies, we
also need to advocate on the state level for legislation supporting
the needs of suburban towns. State aid to cities and towns is
down over 600 Million dollars annually since 2001. We need a dedicated
revenue stream from the state to allow for more stable local budgets
going forward.
Further, state supported, outsized, and uncontrolled 40b projects
threaten to change the character of Cochituate Village over local
opposition. 40b laws need to be revised to protect our small town’s
character.
My family and I are fortunate to have many close friends in town.
Born and raised in Wayland, I am deeply invested in our community.
My wife Elizabeth and I have three children Ally and Ryan in Loker,
and Jamie on his way. My mother Mary, is an active senior living
in the Cochituate Housing development. I am involved in numerous
local organizations and am proud of what we stand for as a community.
As selectman, I have endeavored to be a responsible and pragmatic
public servant.
I am often asked me why I chose to run for selectman. Service
on the board of does not pay a salary, and the position requires
many nights away from home. The answer is that I do it because
it matters and because I earnestly care. The decisions made at
town hall on Monday nights will impact all our families’
futures for years to come. Over the course of my first term I
have consistently supported prudent long term fiscal planning
that will preserve the qualities that make Wayland great now and
long into the future. Sound governance is a marathon that should
not be subject to the easy sound bites or quick fixes too often
preferred by those with the near view. Our community is a great
treasure that we need to protect while guiding its growth. It
is for all these reasons that I have decided to seek a second
term on the Board of Selectmen.
It has been my great honor and privilege to have a seat at the
table as we forge our community's future and I thank you for having
granted me the opportunity to serve. I humbly ask you to consider
supporting me for a second term on the Board of Selectmen by voting
for me on Tuesday April 8th, 2008.
