League of Women Voters Grill Selectmen Candidates

If you couldn't make it to the League of Women Voters debate on Thursday night at the Chelmsford Police Station and haven't seen the debate on Telemedia yet, here's the answers to each of the questions asked to the five selectmen candidates.

Should Residents and Businesses Have The Same Tax Rate?

Janet Askenburg - The same rate is fair, any meaningful tax relief for residents by lowering their rates would have a disproportionate impact on commercial and industrial properties. 

Bob Joyce - Supports an equal rate, but believe evaluation is an issue on things like businesses getting tax relief on empty buildings while residents do not. Believes there should be an analysis on the subject.

Pat Maloney - Not in favor of different rates. Other towns that have done this have seen a higher vacancy rate. Businesses help local charities and they don't reap the benefits of things like trash collection or schools, they should not be penalized.

Matt Hanson - Has voted against different rates on the board. Economic Development Committee uses the single rate as a selling point and strong business provides tax relief in itself to residents.

Roland Van Liew - The issue is not relevant because there is not a large enough percentage of commercial properties to make a difference. Focus should be on reducing vacancy rates and fixing evaluations.

What Are The Two Biggest Issues You'd Face as a Selectmen

Bob Joyce - #1. Free Cash should not be used toward further projects. #2. Making Chelmsford a place where our kids can afford to live in.

Pat Maloney - #1. Maintaining the level of services provided by the town. #2. Maintaining stabilization fund at an appropriate level and other issues.

Matt Hanson - #1. Maintaining the quality of life and services. #2. Providing tax relief is possible by continuing to be proactive on initiatives like being a green community, which has helped get rebates on school building projects.

Roland Van Liew - #1. Maintaining high quality of life #2. Preserving open space, maintaining cost effective services.

Janet Askenburg - #1. Taxes. #2. Commercial Vacancies.

Should There Be A Solar Field at the Dump?

Pat Maloney - Whatever saves the taxpayers money is good, but the concerns of neighbors need to be taken into account.

Matt Hanson - Similiar to Maloney. Project may not be needed for town needs as the town is almost 100 percent solar already. If abutters concerns can be address, the field might become a "solar farm" that residents can use.

Roland Van Liew - Good idea, but technological issues need to be looked at as well as cost issues on things like removal of toxic materials inside solar panels.

Janet Askenburg - No opinion. It's a very positive concept, but the pros and cons need to be weighed.

Bob Joyce - This failed at Town Meeting because of no support of neighbors. That is the top priority and the Planning Board has a better package in place than before. Getting excess energy back to the grid is a problem.

Regionalizing Services

Matt Hanson - Definitely a good idea. Chelmsford has already pursued this with the School Department food director and regional purchasing of things like salt and hoping to pursue this with the Northern Middlesex County of Government's idea of a Regional 911 Center.

Roland Van Liew - Hopes to push for regional solutions for 40B and supports Governor's plan to abolish local housing authorities and replace them with regional ones.

Janet Askenburg - Agrees with Hanson that regionalizing food director was a good idea, also pursued regionalized special education transportation, which saved the town $280,000.

Supports a new efficiency study from the Massachusetts Department of Revenue, which is free and has not been done for Chelmsford since 1989.

Bob Joyce - Disagrees with regionalization for 911 Center due to safety concerns unless 911 Dispatch Center was in Chelmsford due to importance of local knowledge among dispatchers.

It would be a good idea on other projects.

Pat Maloney -- Regionalization is the way of the future, but a work in progress. The main issue is maintaining local control.

Electing the Zoning Board of Appeals

Roland Van Liew - An emphathic yes. Sees the ZBA as a rubber stamp for the Town Manger on 40B projects, not supporting interest of the town.

Janet Askenburg - No. Board is specialized group of individuals, provides balance of power.

Bob Joyce  - Would like to investigate what other towns do. Thinks current ZBA does a good job, but believes Town Manager only appoints those he likes and believes elected Planning Board is positive.

Pat Maloney - No. ZBA is a judicial branch of town government. They need to interpet the law and be neutral, not be subject to political whims.

Matt Hanson - No. ZBA needs to stay out of political arena. ZBA members need to make sure projects comply with the law. Current board has good record with avoiding appeals. If appeals go to litigation in higher courts, it costs the town money and needless lawsuits are wasted money for the town.

Double Telephone Poles: Take Them Down or Charge $300 per the Town Bylaws?

Janet Askenburg: Pledges whatever is needed to take them down.

Bob Joyce: Topic has not gone away for 20 years. Can mitigate the issue by holding up utilities when they ask for new poles. Outright refused a new pole request once at the corner of Summer Street and Billerica Road.

Hopefully new Fire Station will help issue near town hall.

Pat Maloney: Some situations delay may harm residents or businesses needing power, but each situation is different. Would try continual telephone calls as method to ensure oversight of utilities.

Matt Hanson: Current Board of Selectmen has been working on it. Utilities need to coordinate with each other, but whenever utilites currently ask for new poles, they have to spend about half an hour listening to the board on other poles around town.

Helped eliminate poles in town center through new underground wires.

Roland Van Liew: Yes. Believes the underground wires should have happened 28 years ago.