Marlborough City Council Candidates: Ward 2

A: I still have a desire to do public service. I enjoyed being able to accomplish things for the neighborhoods were I grew up, and to give back to community. Marlborough has been very good to my family for five generations, and I want to do what I can to make it an even better place to live and raise a family for future generations as it has been for my family.

Q: What is your experience, if any, in public office?

A: I served as the city councilor for Ward 2 for eight years, from 2004 to 2012.

Q: What qualifies you, personally or professionally, to serve on the council?

A: Besides my prior experience serving as a city councilor, including serving on virtually every council committee during that time, and thus having a broad range of knowledge of the workings of city government, I also have an educational background in government, having earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

Q: What is the most significant issue facing the city of Marlborough? Please choose one issue, not several, and elaborate in your answer. Please also explain what you think should be done to address the issue.

A: While it is not exciting, nor garners the headlines, the city's $111 million Other Post Employment Benefits (OPEB) Liability is a financial hurdle the city must begin addressing. I was involved in the consideration of this issue from the very first meeting at which the council began to address this liability, and I think more of a spotlight needs to be placed on this issue in the immediate future.

The city should start by allocating $1 million each fiscal year as part of the annual budget to OPEB, and then add the first $1 million of any free cash after the budget is reconciled in the fall to OPEB. Since the more we put toward OPEB now will cause the overall amount paid over time to be less, the city should put serious thought to using some of the $7 million in Stabilization “rainy day" Funds toward paying  down our OPEB obligation.

Q: What do you think should be done to revitalize downtown Marlborough?

A: I believe the future success of downtown lies in encouraging increased housing downtown, and encouraging the service industry and restaurants to make downtown a place residents consider a destination. You do not encourage the starting of high-risk restaurants by raising the Meals Tax, as has been proposed. I would oppose an increase in the meals tax for that reason.

Q: How long have you lived in Marlborough? What is your occupation and age?

A: I am a life-long, fifth generation resident of Marlborough, attending Marlborough Public Schools from kindergarten through high school. I am 37, and after working for my father's construction business following college, I started my own consulting and direct marketing firm, which I have run for the last nine years. 

A: I am a former city councilor, serving from 2001 to 2003.

Q: What qualifies you, personally or professionally, to serve on the council? 

A: Twenty years in the U.S. Army retiring in 1980; fully involved in the city. I coordinate the Memorial Day and Veterans Day parades and am a member of the Marlborough Veterans Council. I have been a member of the Marlborough Lions Club since 1978, serving the community. I ran my own contracting business from 1980 to 2006, when I retired and went to work for the Marlborough Building Department as a contract building inspector.

Q: What is the most significant issue facing the city of Marlborough? Please choose one issue, not several, and elaborate in your answer. Please also explain what you think should be done to address the issue. 

A: The Senior Center seems to be the most significant issue at the present time. I think a new larger senior center is a great idea. The question is the choice of location. There is a question of whether this [Ward Park] location is legal. I don’t think we have heard from the state on this matter and I feel we should wait until we have clear approval to move ahead with this plan. Seniors will only be able to drive to the new center as crossing Granger Boulevard on foot is way too dangerous. Having it at another location would not make it any tougher to get there.

Q: What do you think should be done to revitalize downtown Marlborough? 

A: It is time close off the main street from Newton Street to Bolton Street and make it a walking destination area. I feel this would bring more restaurants and small stores and make this a nice area to walk around and shop or eat.

Q: How long have you lived in Marlborough? What is your occupation and age?

A: I have lived in Marlborough since 1976 when I was stationed here as the Army recruiter. I retired from the Army and stayed here. I am now 72 years old and I am retired. This means I can devote my full time to the needs of the city.