Meet the Candidates: Bruce Spinney

(Editor's Note: Grafton Patch submitted a series of questions to the two selectman candidates, Brook Padgett and Bruce Spinney. Some of these questions were submitted by readers via Facebook. Both men are seeking the seat Padgett currently holds. Spinney's answers are posted here. Padgett's answers were posted yesterday. We encourage everyone to get out and vote May 15.)

Name: Bruce Spinney

Address: 19 Brielle Rd., North Grafton

Age: 35

Education: Bachelor's Degree in Management Studies and Psychology from the University of Maryland, Asian Division; graduate work at Boston College, Northeastern and Tufts University.

Relevant Experience: I served as a Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps.  I have been Chairman of the Planning Board for the past three years. I also worked to help develop the Mill Villages Park in South Grafton as a member of the Streetscape Committee. I helped arrange funding for the Park and for Apple Tree Arts' renovations of One Grafton Common as a member of the Community Preservation Committee. 

I rekindled Grafton's small business forums as a member of the Economic Development Commission, and I worked to improve communications by getting the EDC's website up and running. I have also worked to develop a capital plan as a member of the Capital Improvement Planning Committee, and contributed to education as a volunteer on the GEA Scholarship Committee. 

What is the most economical and sensible way to handle the library situation? 

Unfortunately, by the time the library debt exclusion was put to a vote and was rejected, there was very little time left for a plan B before daily fines would begin to accrue. Now, the most sensible solution is to take the steps necessary to bring the library into compliance, and consider alternative plans for additional improvements down the road.

What should be the town's number one capital improvement priority?  How about the top five? 

My biggest priority as selectman will be to develop a plan incorporating all of Grafton's immediate and long term captial needs. That being said, the town has certain immediate needs that can no longer wait for an elaborate building project, such as the leaking municipal center roof, the non-compliant library building and the quality of life concerns at the DPW. We need to fix those issues using funds that are on hand and that can be appropriated at town meeting, and then consider additional projects once we have a comprehensive plan for going forward.

What changes, if any, should be made to the traffic flow around the Common? 

Several options are being considered by groups including the Traffic Advisory and Historic District Commission. Any traffic flow improvements will need a thorough assessment of the Common including surveying and a traffic study. On a more immediate basis, we need to improve safety with better signage and more visible crosswalks.

What is the town's greatest strength and most glaring weakness? 

I have always said that this town's greatest strength is its volunteers. It is volunteers, working with our paid municipal staff, who run the town boards and committees, coach our kids' sports teams, work to preserve our land and bring culture to our community, and who do countless things every day that make our town the great place that it is. 

The most glaring weakness is the absence of a comprehensive development plan.

What are the three most important characteristics for a successful selectman? 

I have received great advice from many renowned former selectmen in Grafton, and I believe that to be a successful selectman, one must be be a patient listener, an effective communicator, and must exercise sensible judgment.

There has been talk that Grafton is not a business-friendly community.  Is that assessment accurate and, if so, what can be done to improve the perception? 

Economic development is crucial to our tax base, and any perception that Grafton is not business-friendly needs to be remedied. I have always been a proponent of bringing town boards and committees together to get things done.  That is why I asked the Planning Board to petition the current Selectmen to create a position on the EDC for a member of the Planning Board. I wanted to reinvent the EDC as both an advocate and an outreach forum to improve business relations. 

By invigorating small business forums, with the backing of the EDC, I believe I helped put us in the right direction, and I hope that we can use the information exchanged at those forums to lay the groundwork for better business relations in Grafton.

What will be your top priority as selectman? 

My top priority will be to propose, develop and implement a roadmap for Grafton that includes the fiscal, capital and maintenance considerations, which are critical for voters to make confident and informed conditions.

For more information:

Please see my website at www.spinneyforselectman.com.
On Facebook: www.facebook.com/SpinneyforSelectman.
Email: spinneyforselectman@yahoo.com
Phone: 774-277-0466