Josh Levine- Candidate for Re-election to the Longmeadow Select Board

Candidates for Select Board and School Committee in the upcoming Longmeadow Annual Town Elections on June 11 were asked to provide their election profile and answer a series of questions so that town voters would be better informed about their candidacy.  The following information was submitted to LongmeadowBuzz blog by Joshua Levine- a candidate for relection to the Longmeadow Select Board.

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Josh Levine

Why are you running (again) for Select Board?

I have lived in town since 2018 with my wife Katie and three children currently attending Center School. We love Longmeadow’s vibrant and welcoming community and I want to continue the good work I have been doing for the past 3 years to keep it that way.

Being a Select Board member (as with any town position) requires a lot of learning on the job, and there is a real value in keeping experience on the board as new members learn the ropes. My position on the SB also allows me to serve as a voting member of the Middle School Building Committee, which is currently very active.

What are your qualifications including relevant experience?

I am a solo attorney in East Longmeadow with experience in real estate, estate planning, and litigation. All of my practice areas are helpful in my work on the Select Board, some in surprising ways.

For real estate, I bring a lawyer’s perspective on contracts for the town and help strengthen our negotiating positions. I also help our residents buy and sell homes every day and hear firsthand that our schools and green spaces are what brings new folks to town.

For estate planning, I work with clients to consider the legacy they want to leave for their children. I think of our town in the same way - I want to make sure to leave it in a better condition than when I arrived.

My litigation experience helps the Select Board behind the scenes, as I am able to ask probing questions of our outside counsel and assess situations with an experienced eye.

Also, with a term on the SB under my belt and a prior stint on the Planning Board, I have learned a lot from my fellow members, town officials, and other volunteers, and I want to use that knowledge going forward.

What are the key challenges facing Longmeadow as a community?

It’s no surprise to say that town revenue is the foremost concern and drives many of the other issues facing our town. We are a built-out community with a residential tax base around 95%. This means that there are no obvious growth areas, and we can’t rely on forms of revenue other than property taxation for our budget. We can’t raise taxes too much both under state law and because residents don’t want to feel squeezed. This revenue shortfall leads to many challenges. The top challenges include the following:

- Many of our roads are in abysmal shape, and there is little room in the budget for paving. The state Chapter 90 money barely makes a dent in what we need to do.

-Our water and sewer system is, in many places, approaching 100 years old. We will continue to have water main breaks and sewer collapses, at great expense, unless we take proactive action.

-For a town that prides itself on green spaces, we are in danger of losing a great number of our trees. We need to care for our existing trees and plant new ones every year to give them time to grow before we lose our existing cover.

-Many of our town facilities are in need of repair. Town offices are being temporarily moved to Greenwood, which will give us the chance to do some important updating at our town hall and community house, although it will be challenging to find the money to do so.

-The Eversource pipeline is an issue about which many residents are concerned. This redundant project, if approved, is not only an environmental and safety risk, it will also be a massive drain on our resources.

-Finally, through my work on the Middle School Building Committee, it is clear to me that our middle schools are not serving our student population as well as we would like. Middle school students are at such an important transitional age and we need to provide a resilient, effective, and safe place for them to grow.

How would you propose to resolve the top 3 issues?

-As for revenue, our current tax base can only handle so much. There is very little space to build in Longmeadow. I am hopeful that senior housing will be considered by owners of available space. This would allow our tax base to grow without causing undue burden on our schools.

We also are coming up on a unique opportunity with the middle school project. If we do consolidate to one school, we will have a parcel available to create revenue for the town. I don’t know in what form that will be, but I’m excited to work on the problem.

We also need to continue to put pressure on our state officials to find funding for Western Mass and Longmeadow in particular. We have done a fantastic job of finding grants for projects in town, but there should be more available to us.

-The pipeline issue is currently in a holding pattern while we wait for the state to take up the matter, but Town Meeting has fully funded the attorney and consultants guiding us through the process. This could heat up at any moment and I hope to be on SB to contribute when it does.

-The middle school process is proceeding apace and it will be up for a vote at Town Meeting before we know it. I think updating our middle schools is incredibly important. Longmeadow is known across the state for its schools and that is what makes our town desirable. A state-of-the-art middle school will show everyone that we are committed to providing our kids the best education possible.

I appreciate you taking the time to read my answers and I ask for your vote again on June 11th. 

https://www.facebook.com/joshlevineforlongmeadow/

Peterson announces candidacy for Select Board in June election

This information published by Reminder Publications on March 21 was submitted to the LongmeadowBuzz blog by Leah Peterson who is running as a candidate for Select Board in the upcoming Longmeadow Annual Town Elections on Tuesday, June 11.

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Leah Peterson

Leah Peterson recently announced candidacy for a seat on the Longmeadow Select Board in the town election to take place on June 11. 

Peterson stated she seeks to represent the multi-generational needs of Longmeadow residents and give back to the community where she grew up. She attended the Longmeadow public schools and was captain of the Longmeadow High School girls track and field team. After college and living abroad, she returned to Longmeadow ten years ago, began working for MassMutual, and received her master of business administration degree from Bay Path University. She currently works as an executive for another financial services firm and her professional experience has been focused on leadership of multi-million dollar technology and business transformations, mergers and acquisitions, and strategy development.  

“I enjoy having a career that exposes me to so many different challenges, I get to collaborate and learn about new viewpoints every day,” Peterson said. She noted she is especially excited about how her work developing environmental stewardship strategies can inform her role on the Select Board and help ensure that the town is climate-conscious in all its decisions. 

As a mom of pre-school aged children, Peterson is vested in many of the issues facing the town. “Last year I was proud to support the Americans with Disabilities Act improvements for our elementary school playgrounds, because in a town like Longmeadow, we should be delivering a world class education and opportunities to thrive for every single one of our children. Looking ahead, my children will attend the new middle school, and as we face enormous decisions about funding, school location and possible consolidation, we need leaders who will be directly impacted by these decisions.”

Peterson’s parents still reside in her childhood home, and she supports policies that will make it more affordable for seniors to remain in Longmeadow. “Many in our community, including my parents, have called Longmeadow home for decades. Living on a fixed income during retirement can pose a challenge for folks who want to stay in the town where they built their lives.”

Peterson added, “Longmeadow is a truly unique community that has so much to offer its residents at every stage of life. I want to preserve the town’s special charm and believe that long-term planning and strategic financial management are essential to maintaining the services we enjoy for future generations. But I also know that we cannot continue to kick the can down the road on important decisions and we need to address our financial situation with honesty and creativity.” 

Beyond the dedication to her town and desire to represent the three-generations of her family who live here, Peterson is motivated to run because she believes we need different voices at the table. If elected, she would be the only woman on the Longmeadow Select Board. “My first job was a paper route delivering copies of The Reminder to the neighborhoods around Glenbrook. There are so many different roles for all of us to play in making our community better. I am excited to step into this new role on the Select Board and give back to the community that made me.”

ICYMI- Andrew Lam Announces Run for Longmeadow Select Board

This information originally published by Reminder Publications on February 29 was submitted to the LongmeadowBuzz blog by Dr. Andrew Lam who is running as a candidate for Select Board in the upcoming Longmeadow Annual Town Elections on Tuesday, June 11.

 

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[click image to large]
reprinted courtesy of Reminder Publications

 

Why I am running for Planning Board as a Write-in Candidate

 This letter was submitted to LongmeadowBuzz by Robert Bryant Miller- a write-in candidate for the Longmeadow Planning Board. 

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I want to take a moment to introduce myself. My name is Robert Bryant Miller, but my family, friends and neighbors know me as Bryant. I am running for the open seat on the Longmeadow Planning Board as a write-in vote. The upcoming annual town election is on June 13th at the Community House, polls are open from 7am-8pm.

Longmeadow runs deep in my family. My wife and I met while working together at the L’amitie, a French restaurant that was in the Longmeadow Shops in the early 80s. Then, in 1996, after having our 2 children, we decided to move to Longmeadow for the school system and community. My wife, Joan, is a nurse at the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home while I’ve worked my whole life as a classically trained chef in fine dining restaurants. Now I am retired and have been watching my 2 grandsons full time in what I like to call “Grandpa Daycare” for the past 4 years.

One of my first involvements in town was when I joined the senior abatement program. I was assigned the job of fire hydrant inspection and painting through the water department. After finishing the program, I was actually hired on part time for another season to continue the inspections. I also participated in the Citizen’s Police Academy, learning about the town’s police department and even going for a ride-along. These opportunities opened my eyes to the fragility of our town’s infrastructure and were instrumental to my involvement in the Longmeadow Pipeline Awareness Group. To this day, I am still fighting and educating, for the safety of our town, regarding the redundant and dangerous pipeline proposal.

I believe with my awareness of the town’s current issues and my goal to see this town succeed for future generations; I would be an asset to the planning board. I am more than willing to learn the procedures, rules and regulations of the board and maintain our quality of life here in Longmeadow that all of us have worked so hard for.

I would like to ask all of you to please write in a vote for me, Robert Bryant Miller, for the Longmeadow Planning Board.

With a write in vote, please remember to fill in the circle next to my name as well. 

Bryant Miller

Why I am Running for Re-Election to Longmeadow School Committee

This letter was submitted to LongmeadowBuzz by Nicole Choiniere- a candidate for re-election to the Longmeadow School Committee.

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Ten years ago, I moved to Longmeadow with my husband and our three children because we loved the town’s sense of community, excellent schools, public library programs, and open spaces for walking and biking. When my children were younger, I volunteered with the PTO in the Center School library and became the parent volunteer coordinator. I later spent two years serving on the board of directors for LEEF, volunteering with the committee to raise funds and review grant applications for teacher-directed educational opportunities for our students. In 2020, I was elected to the school committee, where I’ve been serving for three years.

As a history teacher who works in West Springfield, I emphasize the importance of the democratic process and civic engagement – but these values are not merely academic to me. I know from my experience, in previous volunteer positions and my current term on the school committee, that a successful and supportive education system depends upon the knowledge and cooperation of many people. It’s the administrators, teachers, school staff, and families who work to keep academic and emotional growth at the heart of our children’s learning. I am seeking reelection to continue supporting that work, especially at a time when we are in the middle of exciting and important projects, including the middle school building project, curriculum work, initiatives related to our DEIB goals, and other ongoing community projects.

School committee work is intense and multi-faceted, and it is important to rely on the experience and expertise of others. I’ve been so impressed by the people with whom I work every week, and I’m grateful to have been nurtured in my role by so many professional and attentive individuals. I’m so proud of what we’ve accomplished together in my time as a school committee member. My collaboration with such a smart, talented, and dedicated group of people has helped me to acquire meaningful experience and expertise myself. I’ve learned a lot about how the educational system in Longmeadow works, from state and local funding to classroom curriculum, from building initiatives to contract negotiations. It would be my distinct pleasure to continue serving our town and applying what I’ve learned for the sustained improvement of our children’s future.

Nicole Choiniere

Why am I running for Longmeadow School Committee

This letter was submitted to LongmeadowBuzz by Michaela Fitzgerald- a candidate for the Longmeadow School Committee.

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My name is Michaela Fitzgerald, and I am a candidate for the Longmeadow School Committee. For the past 14 years I have worked as an educator in Massachusetts. For the most recent 7 years I have been a resident of Longmeadow with my husband Brendan and our two children, Declan and Maeve. Longmeadow is a special place to us. Over these past years we have watched our kids grow, make their first friends and reach exciting milestones. Each new class, sports team and activity has allowed me to befriend and learn from so many Longmeadow parents and caretakers. These families, and the concerns and challenges we face raising and educating our children together are the reasons I am running for the school committee.

I have been an active member of school communities both as a teacher and a parent. In my career as a public school teacher (3 years in Salem, MA and 10 years in Springfield, MA) I have had a successful track record of improving educational outcomes through my involvement in a variety of school-based teams. I have served on school improvement teams, instructional leadership teams, literacy teams, and have held elected roles on School Centered Decision-Making teams. In 2017—in perhaps my proudest achievement as an educator—my school was awarded a National Blue Ribbon for Closing the Achievement Gap. This was the result of outstanding school leadership, innovation, and the tireless teamwork of educators taking an active role in school improvement planning.

Since graduating from college, I have never left the classroom professionally and I have had the opportunity to hold a variety of roles within the classroom setting. I firmly believe my background in Special Education, teaching English as a Second Language, and a decade in Springfield Public Schools meeting the needs of a diverse group of learners will be an asset to the committee and to the district. Public Education is for everyone, and every single student deserves access to an outstanding education. This drives me as an educator, and I will work hard to make sure this happens in our district.

Currently, I am a preschool teacher at St. Mary’s Academy in Longmeadow, a parent member of the Blueberry Hill School Council, a youth soccer coach, and a PTO volunteer. 

I have concerns about the direction of school committees nationwide and the increasingly divisive tenor of conversation surrounding them. There is a growing lack of focus on what is conducive to building the best outcome for students and making schools places where teachers and children want to be and excel. I—and many other Longmeadow parents—moved to Longmeadow in large part due to the stellar reputation of its schools. And now with one child completing his first year and another beginning in September, I am happy to say that I have found that reputation well-deserved. I want it to remain so, but like many others I have come to realize that we can’t take the continued stability and excellence of our most important institutions for granted.

During my years as a teacher, I have seen staff changes, curriculum changes and societal changes. I know firsthand the massive impact decisions made by administrators and school leaders have on student achievement. Well-intentioned and carefully considered decisions can flop when they finally reach the classroom. The classroom is the heart of education: it should be a safe home and a hub of learning for our children. I want a seat at the table so that I can utilize my classroom experience to make sure the needs of all students are considered, to keep our district a place where the best teachers want to come and establish careers, and to keep the education provided by the district a point of pride for all Longmeadow residents.

On June 13th, please vote for Michaela Fitzgerald—an experienced and driven educator.  Here is a link to my Michaela Fitzgerald for the Longmeadow School Committee Facebook page.

Michaela Fitzgerald  

Why I am running as a Candidate for School Committee

This letter was submitted to LongmeadowBuzz by Kency Gilet- a candidate for the Longmeadow School Committee in the upcoming Annual Town Elections.

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My name is Kency Gilet and a candidate for the Longmeadow School Committee. I moved to Longmeadow with my three children, Alicia, Adam, and Abigail specifically because of the exceptional Longmeadow Public Schools. In a year of many changes for us, a community that welcomes diverse families was a comfort. Two of my kids attend Wolf Swamp Road Elementary and one attends Glenbrook Middle School.

As a full time, single father to three LPS students, my stake in the continued success of Longmeadow Schools is clear. I believe our students can overcome the most difficult circumstances life will throw at them. They are not the victim of their traumas, but the champion of their strengths and skills. The dire situation in our schools regarding the rates of depression and suicidal ideation is a concerning trend that requires a proactive response. I’m running to support our students in leveraging their strengths and community resources to create their own legacy of success and happiness.

Professionally, I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and National Certified Counselor with over a decade of experience treating kids, teens and families suffering from emotional, behavioral, and mental disturbances. My private clinical practice is in East Longmeadow, and I serve as Vice President of a nonprofit mental health organization treating children and families with mental illness in Easthampton. Additionally, I have been an adjunct professor of psychology at Pace University for over a decade. Maybe my favorite professional experience was serving as PTO President of Pottenger Elementary School in Springfield from 2015-2017.

I am deeply committed to promoting mental wellness, life readiness, and parental engagement in our schools.

If honored to join an already well-functioning committee, I will prioritize the following areas:

Mental Wellness: I believe that mental wellness is essential to student success. I’m motivated to work with the full committee to ensure that our schools provide the necessary resources and supports for students to maintain good mental health. This includes promoting self-care practices, implementing social-emotional learning programs, and providing access to mental health professionals when needed.

Life Readiness: Our schools prepare students for success beyond the classroom. I will support efforts to ensure that LPS provides a well-rounded education that includes essential life skills such as financial literacy, career readiness, and civic engagement. I will also advocate for experiential learning opportunities that allow students to apply their knowledge in real-world situations. There are many paths to success that should be presented to our students.

Parental Engagement: Caregivers play a critical role in education, and I believe that strong parental engagement is essential to student success. I will leverage my experience strengthening partnerships between schools and families to provide opportunities for parents to get involved and have a voice in their child's education. This includes creating a welcoming and inclusive school environment, promoting regular communication between parents and educators, and providing resources for parents to support learning at home.

I am ready to work collaboratively with school administrators, teachers, parents, and community members to ensure that our schools provide the highest caliber of education for our students. If elected, I will be a dedicated advocate for mental wellness, life readiness, and parental engagement in our schools.

I humbly ask that you vote Kency Gilet for Longmeadow School Committee on Tuesday June 13.

Respectfully,

Kency Gilet, LMHC, NCC

Why I am running for School Committee as a Write-in Candidate

This letter was submitted to LongmeadowBuzz by Adam Rosenblum- a write-in candidate for the Longmeadow School Committee. 

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My name is Adam Rosenblum, D.O. I am a write-in candidate this June 13th for the Longmeadow School Committee. I am excited to run for the post on behalf of my two children, who will soon enter the Longmeadow School District, with the goal of fostering an even stronger educational community in Longmeadow. I hope my voice on the committee will ensure our exceptional schools will continue to flourish as they support Longmeadow families. 

My community service with the Longmeadow COVID Vaccine Clinic and Little League has allowed me to meet so many neighbors, leaving me inspired. We have the overwhelming potential to furnish our children with the tools not only to thrive but to shape our society. While I am a physician by training, I began my career as a public school science teacher and afterward continued to teach at the college and graduate levels. 

My comprehensive experience in education will be an asset to solving issues facing Longmeadow Public Schools. I grew up in Western Michigan and was fortunate to gain my secondary education in schools of similar quality to Longmeadow. I have seen the dedication required by individuals to maintain and improve such outstanding schools. Support for the teachers and staff that make these incredible opportunities possible must be steadfast and frequently reinvigorated. I will stand by our teachers and staff, working tirelessly to realize the promise that education can fulfill in Longmeadow. 

When the voters cast their ballots on June 13th, they should have a choice of candidates. This is an opportunity to bring in a new voice with a positive attitude, the essential experience, and the community dedication to meet the responsibilities of this noble committee. I’m thrilled to see what we can accomplish working together for Longmeadow!

Check out my Adam Rosenblum for Longmeadow School Committee FB page for more information.

Adam Rosenblum, D.O.

Being An Effective Longmeadow Select Board Member

I asked Mark Gold- current and the longest tenured member of the Select Board (since 2009) for an outline of the “homework” that is required for him in order to adequately prepare for meetings. Below is his response: 

Contrary to what many people believe, being an effective Select Board member is more than committing time for the meetings- two nights a month.

Mark Gold
Select Board member since 2009

Mark attends an average of 8 meetings outside of the Select Board each month.

(As a minimum Select Board members should attend those meetings for which they are the SB liaison.)
Mark attends on a regular basis the following standing committees:

• Scantic Valley Regional Health Trust
  Meets 9:30 - 11 AM/ once/month
• Pioneer Valley Transit Authority
  Meets 12 – 2 PM/ once/month
• Pioneer Valley Planning Commission- PVTA
  Meets 10 AM – 12 PM/ once/month
• Longmeadow Permanent Building Committee
  Meets 3-5 PM once per month

In addition, Mark is also a member of the PVTA/ Paratransit subcommittee (Dial-a-Ride) because it is an important service in the Longmeadow community. He also attends the meetings for the Director review and compensation committee. These two sub-committees meet about 4-6 times per year in addition to the board meetings (for about an hour at a time).

Mark also tries to attend a couple of Longmeadow Finance Committee meetings during the year, at least one Community Preservation Committee and one Longmeadow Capital Planning Committee meeting as well. These meeting are "seasonal" -generally during budget time. He also attends all of the town sponsored forums on the budget and related topics which typically occur 1-2 times/ year.

Mark has no idea how much time (if any) other Select Board members spend outside the regular meetings.  He does know that the SB chair (currently Josh Levine) has to spend an hour before every meeting reviewing the agenda with the Town Manager Lyn Simmons.

Mark believes that the other three current SB members do not attend many outside meetings. A Select Board member with a full time job and family commitments would be hard pressed to participate in many of these types of board meetings that are regularly held during "normal business hours”. For the most part, it's important that there is a representative from Longmeadow.

Mark participates in as many Massachusetts Municipal Association (MMA) training webinars as possible. This past year he participated in 3 or 4 of them and usually skips the annual training on Open Meeting Law and Municipal Finances since he has completed them several times and they really don't change. There are two required training programs that all town employees (including Select Board members) must complete on Open Meeting Law and Conflict of Interest. These training programs are conducted on-line and take about 2 hours each to complete. Select Board members must complete a "test" at the end of the course and pass to be certified. Mark also attends the MMA annual meeting in Boston for two days every January. Only Mark and Tom Lachiusa as Select Board members attended the most recent event in January - which is a real shame because there's some GREAT information being shared there.

Prior to each Select Board meeting members receive a packet of information to review. The packet generally comes out on the Friday before our Monday meeting. It can take anywhere from 1 to 4 hours to review the information (depending if you read the many department monthly reports that are included). When there's a SB hearing (usually a utility or liquor license), Mark will review the information more closely and if there are questions he tries to send them to the petitioner in advance of the meeting so they have the answers. Mark has decided some time ago that "got-ya" questioning doesn't work well in town government. He also believes it's a waste of time when they say "we'll have to get back to you on that" which just wastes everyone's time. “I can't tell you how many times I have found an error in the packet, but I suspect I'm the only one who reads it anyway.”

Around budget time the time he spends on reviewing the budget can be as much as 6-8 hours in advance of the budget review meeting which this year will take place next Monday, March 6. As good as our Town Manager is in the preparation, he believes that oversight is worthwhile and wants to understand the budget as well as the Town Manager and our acting CFO Paul Pasterczyk. This same preparation goes for development of water and sewer rates. Second to Paul, he probably understands what makes up those rates better than anyone in town, and takes the time each year to closely review the proposal. This secondary review will be even more important when Paul finally retires.

Mark has not added up all the meetings and times, but his best estimate is that he spends 6-8 hours per week on town business, not including phone calls he gets at home and being present at meetings that he has with the Town Manager (his last meeting with Lyn lasted two hours).

Being an effective Select Board member is more than committing two nights a month for meetings.   

Mark has been a Select Board member since 2009.  While this is a salaried elected position at $2000/ year,  Mark does it primarily as a give back to Longmeadow where he has lived with his wife Ellen for over 45 years.  His two sons Daniel and Eric attended Longmeadow Public Schools.

Mark has made many significant contributions to the financial health and well being of our town by being adequately prepared for the regular biweekly Select Board meeting and getting involved with the business of our town.  During his reelection campaign last year he outlined his Top 10 Accomplishments.

Thank you Mark for your commitment to our town. 

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There is a Special Election next Tuesday, March 7 to fill the empty Select Board seat.  There are two candidates in this election: Walter Gunn and Vineeth Hemavathi

Their election candidate profiles can be found on the LongmeadowBuzz blog. 
Here are the links: Walter Gunn and Vineeth Hemavathi

Do your homework by reading these profiles to become an informed voter and then go to the Community House to vote for the best candidate. 
Polls are open from 7 am - 8 pm.

Why I'm Running for Longmeadow Select Board - Walter Gunn

This information was submitted to the LongmeadowBuzz blog by Walter Gunn who is running as a candidate in the Preliminary Election on February 7 for the open Select Board seat. 

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Walter Gunn- Candidate for SB

To the residents of Longmeadow:

Our town government needs the proper representation our people deserve. A special town election is required when a seat on the Select Board is vacated, as it was in July of 2022, and must be filled in a timely manner. 

I am excited, not only as a resident of Longmeadow for sixty-one continuous years, but as someone who has worked for the community for twenty-two years, to be elected to the Select Board. Longmeadow thrives with excellent schools, public safety, public works, and resources for our seniors. Above all, we are a friendly and a great community dedicated to making this town the best in the Pioneer Valley.

I want to thank the Town of Longmeadow and its residents for putting their faith in me to serve the town. I also want to recognize and appreciate the support of the community members and town employees who get the hard work done day in and day out.

In my many years of service, I have chaired and clerked for the Planning Board. I was also appointed commissioner to the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission and today I am its chair, serving Longmeadow and the 43 communities within our region. I also serve as a voting member of the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), important in the process of distribution of federal transportation dollars to our region. In each of these positions I have advocated for Longmeadow and brought much needed support to the projects that keep our infrastructure and institutions working, and thus our town.

To detail some of my accomplishments: 

• Helped create the responsibilities of the Town Manager 
• Planning for parks, recreation, and conservation for Longmeadow 
• Hazard Mitigation to make Longmeadow proactive and resilient to climate change. 
• Complete streets making our roads safer for cars, bicyclists, and pedestrians 
• No Chandler Avenue development preventing unnecessary invasion of our historic past. 
• Action on commercial development in the interest of the for today and tomorrow. 
• Zoning By Law updates to continue protecting our Town’s Amenities. 
• Expedited the rebuild of Converse Street ahead of schedule, assured a new sidewalk and crossing at Bliss Road to Blueberry Hill School will be completed this year, that Converse Street and Longmeadow Street intersection will be upgraded and Longmeadow Street will be rebuilt.
  

As a Select Board member, I will: 

• Support the Charter and Town Meeting Form of Government. 
• Stop the Eversource pipeline from Longmeadow to Springfield forever and follow the state’s lead on clean energy implementation, including new solar energy power, to keep the promises we have made as a green community. 
• Preserve open space now and for generations to come. 
• Assure safety to pedestrians and bicyclists 
• Keep roads efficient, safe, and neighborhood friendly 
• Support our first responders assuring that Longmeadow continues to be safe for our residents. 
• Stop the East Longmeadow “warehouse,” a proposed project that will flood our town with trucks destroying roads and congesting traffic 
• Provide resources to the Middle School Building Committee to ensure the town gets a Middle School now, not later.
  (I’m Williams Middle School ’73) and make sure we have the resources to keep our 3 elementary schools modern and safe (I’m Converse Street School and Center School). I supported and helped the Town get a new high school (I’m Class of ’79). 
• Evaluate the proposed move of two town hall facilities to Greenwood Center. 
• Work to create more housing for our deserving seniors. 
• Repurpose former town property in new and innovative ways. 
• Ensure our fair share of state money for schools and roads.

As a Select Board member, my primary responsibilities will include supervising fiscally responsible annual budgets (as a former small business owner budgets are the difference between success and failure), performance-based appointments to committees and commissions, and timely revue of the town manager. 

 

Speaking of budgets: We have come and are perilously close to the “$25 per $1000” limit on taxation. With good fortune and good budget management we have kept under the threshold. This year’s budget, FY 2023 is no exception. Longmeadow is boxed in by this persistent problem. Regrettably, we have very little space to build out and generate new revenue within the town. Perhaps, we are not the only town of 351 in the Commonwealth to feel this pain. We will need to show leadership and engage our legislative representatives to help resolve this problem for the benefit of this community, when required. 

 

Finally, please vote for democracy in our Town’s primary, February 7th and the Special Election March 7th and preserve our form unique form of New England Town Government. 

 

Thank you for your support and belief in me to keep our community vibrant.