Opinion: Supporting Trail Makes Sense For Town, Residents

A Letter to the Editor from Lynnfield's Kevin Sullivan:

I am writing in response to my colleague Nancy Alexander’s recent letter to the editor.

Nancy expressed her reasons for not supporting the $348K article to fund the final design. Though I share her concerns about the town’s infrastructure, the town can, and should, and is addressing areas of need and opportunity. In a last capital budget, the town approved funds to build a new septic system that will be used for the meeting house and library. The town has been addressing sidewalks and street issues. I understand we would all like to address road and sidewalk issues as soon as possible. But this is not realistic for funding and operational issues. DPW Director Tomacz, on more than one occasion speaking to the Finance Committee, has said this investment in roads and sidewalks by the town is significant.

In regard to Police, Fire, and Library, these issues will need to be addressed. The recommendations of the Strategic Advisory Committee will inform these decisions. The town will have the means to address these issues. Over the next several years much of the town’s debt will be paid. This is the debt for the purchase of the Reedy Meadow golf course, school and fields projects. Each year the town pays these debts from the annual town operating budget. In the current fiscal year - 2020 - the total payments will be $3.2M. Each year this payment will decrease significantly. By fiscal year 2026 the payment will be $683K. This is a decrease of $2.5M in debt payments. This money can and should be reinvested in our infrastructure – namely Police and Fire, Library, and Town Hall.

In short, we can address town needs without having to forsake a rail trail. The rail trail can be used by everyone in town. In several surveys done over the last twenty years the number one need addressed has been hiking and biking trails. The town is making a 3% investment in the rail trail - $348K to gain a $10.3M asset.

These are some of the reasons why 80% of Finance Committee members (by a vote of 8-2) recommended funding $348K to complete the final design for the rail trail. I urge everyone to support this warrant article at the special town meeting.

Kevin Sullivan