Lyndeborough selectman, 3-year seat

Thursday, March 4, 2010

Name: Donnie Sawin Age: 42 Address: Old Temple Road Years of residency: 12 Political history: None. Affiliations: Police representative member of the Lyndeborough Emergency Planning Committee.

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Name: Lorraine A. Strube Age: 54 Address: 145 Forest Road Residency: 27 years Political history: Board of Selectmen 2002-present (chair 6 yrs), Supervisor of Checklist 9 yrs (chair 9 yrs), Trustee of Trust funds 1 yr (chair 1 yr), Budget Comm, Heritage committee, Monument committee, Ambulance Association representative. Associations: Member Lafayette Artillery Company, 1992-present, clerk 5 yrs; Memorial Day program coordinator; founder and former artistic director Lyndeborough Performing Arts

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Name: Donnie Sawin Age: 42 Address: Old Temple Road Years of residency: 12 Political history: None. Affiliations: Police representative member of the Lyndeborough Emergency Planning Committee.

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2010 Lyndeborough Town Meeting
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CANDIDATES

Name: Donnie Sawin

Age: 42

Address: Old Temple Road

Years of residency: 12

Political history: None.

Affiliations: Police representative member of the Lyndeborough Emergency Planning Committee.

Name: Lorraine A. Strube

Age: 54

Address: 145 Forest Road

Residency: 27 years

Political history: Board of Selectmen 2002-present (chair 6 yrs), Supervisor of Checklist 9 yrs (chair 9 yrs), Trustee of Trust funds 1 yr (chair 1 yr), Budget Comm, Heritage committee, Monument committee, Ambulance Association representative.

Associations: Member Lafayette Artillery Company, 1992-present, clerk 5 yrs; Memorial Day program coordinator; founder and former artistic director Lyndeborough Performing Arts.

Three people are running for one three-year seat on the Lyndeborough Board of Selectmen. The Cabinet asked them to answer the question “Given the money constraints on local government, give an example of a town service that could or should be cut to save money and an example of a service that should not be cut under any circumstances, and explain why you feel this way. Please be as specific as possible.”

Lorraine Strube

In Lyndeborough, the question is not what service can be cut over another, rather how do we meet the needs of the services we are obligated to provide at a cost the taxpayer can support?

This is accomplished by establishing solid purchasing policies, utilizing the Capital Improvement Plan, (which anticipates and saves for larger projects) and working closely with the Budget Committee, which represents the voice of the taxpayer.

Seeking out other revenue sources, such as grants, can be beneficial especially in areas of construction, renovation or equipment purchases, but not all are suitable. Research to determine future commitment by acceptance is necessary.

Keeping informed of decisions at the State level aide in forecasting revenues outside the realm of property taxes. If revenues drop, the town needs to be ready with a back-up plan.

Donnie Sawin

Lyndeborough residents are lucky to have a very savvy and frugal budget committee that is excellent at “trimming out the fat” in our annual budget. In my opinion I don’t feel that any of the services the town provides should be cut. I do however, strongly believe that instead of picking at the bones, the same savings can be realized by simply getting back to basics by utilizing careful spending practices on money allocated for a town service and/or project.

The fact is no one wants to hear that their taxes are going up, but reality dictates that this is an inevitability, due to inflation. Our task as Selectmen is to delay and minimize any increase to the taxpayer for as long as possible. One way this can be accomplished is by diligently monitoring all aspects of the towns’ expenses from basic needs all the way to reviewing the individual effectiveness of every town employee for his or her position. Another way is to encourage voters to come and take part in town meetings and vote for, or against, things that will increase their taxes.

Paul Martin did not respond.