Last Word Before the Election: Robert Hogan

In the lead-up to to Burlington's town election this Saturday, April 6, Burlington Patch interviewed the three candidates for the two open seats for Board of Selectmen.

We asked each candidate the same five questions. The following is based on our conversation with Selectman Robert Hogan. Visit Burlington Patch's homepage to find the interviews with and candidates Christopher Hartling and Virginia Mooney.

The Burlington Town Election will be held this Saturday. The polls are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Burlington High School.

Hogan is a current member of the Board of Selectmen and is the town's Director of Veteran's Services. He has been living in Burlington since 1976 and grew up in Chelsea. He has a degree from Salem State University. Hogan is a Vietnam veteran and served there with the United States Army from 1967 to 1968. He also served the Town of Burlington for 11 Years as a member of the Board of Health.

What made you decide to run for reelection? 

"I just think there are a number of projects I’m seriously concerned about that I'd like to help move forward down the road over next the year," Hogan said. "I wanted to be here to either finish them or get them further along."

Hogan said those projects include the refurbishment of Fire Station Two, getting a new DPW location and finishing the Grand View Farm.

What do you see as the biggest issue coming up for the board?

"I think all of the capital projects will be a major issue," he said. "We have a 10 year plan we are looking at. We are looking to keep up the town's buildings, including the Human Services Building. The police station also needs to be looked at."

"With the DPW, we need to find right location," Hogan added. "With the second fire station we have the right location but need to purchase the land. It's a matter of putting those items into the debt schedule in the right way so we don’t overload. We have to put them in appropriately but not overdo capital debt."

Hogan also said there are school projects on the horizon that the town will have to take up.

What is something you’d like to accomplish in your first term if elected?

Hogan said he would like to complete the Grand View Farm project.

"I'd like to see us finish the Grand View project," he said. "We need to get it open and utilize it for a meeting space. We have to make it look good - it's right in the center of town with Town Commons right across the street. It's a beautiful building."

What do you think of the FY13 balance of the town’s split rate tax, which is set at 11.85 per $1,000 for residential and for 31.70 per $1,000 commercial?

"I’d like to be able to say we could make the tax burden easier for everyone," he said. "Currently the commercial side pays about 60 percent of tax bill. But we also want to make it easier for residents to live here. Our residential tax rate is one of the lowest in the area and we are able keep up the services people want."

Hogan said that the town is currently doing well with its finances and is thus able to keep the cost of living down for residents and he would work to keep it that way.

"We have good numbers right now, compared to anyone else," he said. "We don’t charge for any services and we give a lot of services people have become used to getting."

There was a recent vote by the board to allow a liquor license for a convenience store that was controversial. What do you think about the decision?

Hogan, who voted against granting the license with fellow Selectman Michael Runyan, naturally said he was not in favor of the decision.

"On the retail sides I’m not crazy about giving convenience store liquor licenses," he said. "There had been beer and wine stores in the past that just didn’t do well."

Hogan said he's rather keep the licenses for restaurants.

"Restaurants I have a different opinion on," he said. "They are more controlled in some ways. Also, we don’t get a lot back when give out licenses to retail locations as when compared to restaurants. We get a lot of funds from the meals tax."