Meet budget committee candidates

Friday, February 26, 2010

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CHRISTOPHER ADAMS

Office sought: Co-Op Budget Committee representing Brookline.

Age: 39.

Address: Sargent Road, Brookline.

Years of residency: Three years.

Education: BS Liberal Studies, Southern Connecticut State University.

Employment: Associate director of pilot operations for Shire Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge, Mass. I manage the development, scale up and technical transfer of life-saving enzyme replacement therapies for persons born with genetic illnesses.

Political history: None.

Affiliations: Army 1988-91 Operations Just Cause, Desert Shield and Desert Storm. CTARNG 91-95. Member, Congregational Church of Hollis, UCC ISPE.

Family: Married with two sons, 8 and 10.

James ‘Jim’ Solinas

Office sought: Co-op Budget Committee representing Brookline.

Age: 56.

Address: 2 Flint Meadow Drive, Brookline.

Years of residency: 12 years in Brookline, 21 years in N.H.

Education: BS in business administration University of Lowell, 1979.

Employment: More than 20 years of investment property management and construction experience, 15 years of information technology products and services sales, sales management and support experience to the education, state, local government and business marketplace along with manufacturing/retail management experience.

Political history: None.

Affiliations: Member, St. John’s in Townsend, Mass.; Merrimack Valley Baptist Church in Merrimack.

Family: Wife Kathry and three daughters Julia (11), Paige (9) and Audrey (9).

Two people are running for one three-year seat representing Brookline on the Hollis/Brookline Cooperative School District budget committee. They were asked this question:

In light of the financial problems for local governments, give an example of a service that could 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.

Jim Solinas:

With all due respect, the term “financial problems” is the beginning of a conversation that begs the question “What are we talking about?” More specifically, fiscal responsibility is broad-based, and there are many dynamics at play when it comes to service. It could be evergreen contracts, health care issues, unforeseen building repairs, fluctuating energy consumption or ice storms creating excess snow days that cause burdens. On the revenue side, you could be talking about program grants where proposals are submitted and uncertainty lies around its approval timeframe. Once the specifics are established, the variables identified and they are more clearly understood, a balancing of the budget begins.

I firmly believe to always make the best use of what you have. You must also work to get the best value for where you are spending your hard-earned money. More, bigger, new or better does not always deliver the best return on investment. Obsolete and frivolous should be eliminated. Convenience can often be costly and contain hidden constraints. Question why things are done the way they are and work from there going forward. Higher taxes are not the goal.

Christopher Adams:

The premise that any particular service or program’s budget is above scrutiny is the wrong place to start when faced with such trying economic circumstances. As in household or private industry budgeting processes, all line items within public budgets should be looked at for potential savings.

Synergies and efficiencies should be sought to reduce operating costs and leverage economies of scale across all departments within the co-op and perhaps even including the primary schools and public buildings. Energy and fuel costs are a significant portion of our operating expenses. As an example, purchasing one large oil contract may garner significant savings for the co-op and towns alike. Cuts in budgets do not necessarily equate to cuts in services.