A week from today, voters will choose our Town Clerk and two members of the Board of Selectmen. Between now and then, you’ll be hearing from candidates trying to capture your vote.
I wondered, what issues would you like to see them address?
This Thursday night, the Southborough Library is hosting its annual Candidates Night. You’ll have a chance to ask them yourselves then. But in case you don’t make it, maybe you’ll inspire someone else to pick up the mantle and ask your question for you. (Or for candidates to address it in letters they have been invited to share on the blog.)
Just one request – don’t make this personal. Focus on the issues you care about related to the Town and the responsibilities of their positions. (This isn’t an invitation for mudslinging.)
As for Thursday, don’t forget that the event takes place from 6:00 – 9:00 pm. For details, click here.
I applaud Mr. Guyers persistence in pushing for a split tax rate. His write up here says it all:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5bwgQxnXEokRkd0bk84MU1KM3c/view?usp=sharing
There are very few other issues that would effect our individual bottom lines greater than this one and we are needlessly losing out.
The next biggest issue effecting our bottom lines is probably the public safety building. I personally believe that the new planned building is much greater than the needs of our community. The one moderately valid argument that I hear for the size refers to the size of all the commercial properties in town which can be easy to forget about when thinking about the scope of our needs. Moving to a split tax rate would be a great way to help alleviate the pain we’re going to have paying for this very large building.
I’d also like to hear the candidates thoughts on plans for other municipal buildings / thoughts on school building consolidation (if selectman having any say?) (specifically will we ever be able to get rid of Neary and what should we do with the building)
Safety issues regarding Park Central & Flagg Road, and specifically their position on closing the road at the Rt 9 end.
I’d like to hear more about protecting the community from Park Central.
I would like to know specifically where each candidate stands on Park Central. No waffling, no equivocation, evasion, or Ouija board divination. . . . a clear, concise position.
I’d like to hear specifically if they would give a thumbs up or down to a quick solution to the aging and dangerous Main Street situation.
To me, it’s the most practical use of funds that simply needs to happen, and it effects every single person in town one way or another.
Is there talk of closing Flagg Road at Route 9?
From traffic entering Flagg FROM Rt 9? or trying to leave Flagg to get ON Rt 9? or both?
Where would all that traffic go instead?
I’d also like to know if the candidates have any thoughts about the planned Public Safety building’s overall cost and any thoughts they have on either reducing the cost or making very sure that costs don’t escalate.
If blocked going from Flagg *to* Rt. 9, it would flood down Clifford/Deerfoot,not solving the issue at all. Park Central needs to just not happen.
The primary goal is to stop the additional 3000 trips/day from Park Central traveling down Flagg road towards Rt 30. Blocking Flagg at the culvert would result in all Park Central traffic being forced to use only Rt 9 for entrance/exit.
Regular cut-through traffic between 30 and 9 would re-route using 85, Parkerville, and Deerfoot. Not desirable and something to prevent – but the 3000 trips from Park Central going down a school road is public safety enemy #1.
Given the town’s new funding for Main St (i.e. new sidewalks, wider lanes, etc.) it makes sense to take steps to eliminate all cut-through traffic in the neighborhoods between Rt 30 and Rt 9, and to keep that traffic on the Routes 30, 85, and 9. I would like to hear candidates talk about that.
How can the town facilitate business development in the town center?
So far, comments seem geared towards selectmen. Just a reminder there is also a race for Town Clerk. If you have any questions for them you can also post those here.
I would love to attend but I have a prior commitment. Does anyone know if it will be filmed and rebroadcast on cable?
Absolutely.
SAM can’t broadcast live from the library. And that may mean that it takes them a little longer than usual to get the video up. But they are recording for delayed broadcast and posting.