Amherst Board of Selectmen, two 3-year terms

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Five residents are running for two seats on the Amherst Board of Selectmen.

Give an example of a program that could be cut to save money and an example of a program that should not be cut under any circumstances, and explain why you feel this way.

Marilyn Peterman:

The services the town provides are what the citizens have come to expect. So, it is not a matter of cutting programs to save money rather a better way of managing them and exploring new revenue sources.

I am proposing that the town do a complete review of the Department of Public Works. DPW has a large budget. We ask them to do a lot and we need to make sure that they are providing the services in the most efficient and cost effective way.

I am proposing a study of the “Pay As You Throw” trash system This system has proven to increase recycling, cut trash hauling costs and provide off-setting revenues.

I am proposing there is a more active role in promoting clean energy, increasing energy efficiency and saving money

George Infanti (incumbent):

Aside from our emergency services such as fire, ambulance and police any program could be cut to save taxpayers dollars but I feel that would be penny wise and pound foolish. After spending the last five months putting an operating budget together for the next fiscal year I have heard all the arguments to keep the budget level, to cut and to even add if necessary. One consideration was to cut the library. The facts show that this year total circulation increased by 13%, over 2300 people attended adult programs and nearly 200,000 patron visits were recorded. Citizens are using this resource more in this economic climate. Another suggestion was the Recreation programs. Upon review we found participation was up, with their website getting 351 inquiries per day or 10997 per month and had over 2500 participants registered in programs,through all age groups. The department sent out a town wide survey for future planning and received over 1000 responses, about five times more that we received to update our town master plan. The rec survey showed that 76% chose to live here because of our quality of life. Highway is another department we looked at but this department is understaffed and overworked already in my opinion. We could close town hall one day per week and cut out our social programs such as the 4th of July parade and fireworks but I feel if we manage our tax dollars properly this will not be necessary.

Dwight Brew:

It is now clear that past budgeting for Amherst roads has been insufficient; it will cost the Amherst tax payers much more now than if road maintenance had been properly planned and budgeted for in the past. As a Selectman, I will work to prioritize items necessary to maintain safety and the overall infrastructure of the town of Amherst. We must make sure that we do not take funding away from critical needs in order to fund other desirable, but less important items. I feel that the items contained in this year’s budget are prudent, given these tough economic times.

While I believe that the Amherst Capital Improvement Plan is a very good starting point, the same multi-year thought process must be used when putting together the Town of Amherst budget.

Amherst is a great town. Our citizens will support items that go beyond safety and maintaining our infrastructure when these items are well thought through and responsibly presented. I see the role of a Selectman as one reflecting the will of the voters; it is the voters who should decide if, or when, town services should be expanded.

For the past seven years, I have been the Amherst School Board liaison to the Ways and Means Committee and for the three years prior to that I was on the Amherst Town Ways and Means Committee. Using this experience as a Selectman, I will work with the board to provide clear guidance to our staff and present a fiscally responsible budget.

John Rubery:

I feel that the school budget could be cut based on the fact that no other employees in the town are receiving cost of living increases. The majority of citizens in Amherst that live on fixed incomes did not receive a cost of living increase this year also. To increase the budget for the schools will put an addition burden on all of the citizens of Amherst.

I feel that the highway department budget cannot be cut in any way. They are in dire need of new equipment and the roads need to be taken care of. By delaying further the repair of the roads the costs will continue to rise. If you do not maintain the roads you will end up replacing them in a few more years. We need to work to maintain what we have as to keep future costs down by lessening the need to replace roads.

Caroline DeVore

Grohse-Holz:

I would like to see a review of key programs that have separate charters but similar long-term goals. I believe that towns like ours are challenged to maintain or reduce their budgets; dollars invested in one program may need to provide benefit to other programs. In effect, we need to align programs, where possible, so that our tax dollars scale. I would like to evaluate whether this type of scaling could be applied to programs like Open Space Land Purchasing and Recreational Land Acquisition efforts.

Renewable Energy and Recycling programs require continued investment and have untapped potential to bring real cost savings to our community. I would like to champion a more comprehensive review of these programs, identifying ways that our Town can raise the bar on Green initiatives that have economic and environmental payback.

I would be remiss if I didn’t also call for greater investment in our Town’s economic growth. In the spirit of “scaling dollars”, I’d like to investigate ways to attract new business to the Town that will both broaden our tax base and complement our Village character.

Cafes and shops that stimulate the local economy can be fine allies with libraries, recreation centers and parks – all creating a convivial environment that benefits and enhances our town.