Selectmen Candidates Speak Out

The five candidates for Board of Selectmen answered questions on subjects from electronic signs to tackling tough financial times during a candidates night tonight.

The event was sponsored by the League of Women Voters and held at the Municipal Center.

Candidates John L. Carlson, John B. Dowling, Robert W. Lewis, Daniel Pogorzelski and Bruce W. Spinney III are running for two open seats on the board. Current selectmen Mary Ann Cotton and Christopher LeMay are not seeking re-election.

All this week. Grafton.Patch.com will publish the candidates' answers to the questions posed by audience members. We will start with the issue of improving the town's infrastructure.

Question: The town needs to spend millions of dollars on capital expenditures, such as roads and equipment. How does the town do that?

Carlson: "Reality is going to slap us in the face,'' he said. With less money projected in state aid, "we must find a way in the budget to do the best we can.''

Dowling: He suggested allocating a certain portion of the budget to infrastructure issues, regardless of economics. Federal funds were allotted in the past but "we need to have shovel-ready projects.''

Lewis: Town Meeting, not selectmen, determine how money is spent. "We just need to collectively come to an agreement on what to present.''

Pogorzelski: "To say we can make all roads perfect is just not possible.'' The town needs to think outside the box by securing used equipment, for example.

Spinney: The Highway Department needs to be fully staffed and a town engineer hired, he said. "As you let [roads] deteriorate, they get more expensive to repair.''

Tomorrow: Where do the candidates stand on electronic signs?