Candidates Forum

What do you see as the major issue(s) facing Mansfield?

The Escalating Budget 

 Budget Oversight - the lack of checks and balances

 Lack of budget information - no line items

 Conflicts of Interest 

The Police Chiefs

 Town Meeting Information - difficulty in accessing information – Why go when everything is decided in advance?  Lack of a line item budget to review at Town Meeting.

Traffic 

 Transparency

 Lack of Trust - appointments to Boards and Committees 

 Zoning - How it affects affordable home ownership

In what town community activities/organizations have you been involved?

I have been involved in over 19 different boards, committees, departments and organizations within the Town and on the State Level.  When my children were young, I volunteered in the schools, youth sports and scouts.

Some of the highlights are:  Town Meeting Reform, IDC, Mansfield Housing Corp., MBC, Town Meeting, MASS Recycles, Green Purchasing Program, MSBA Pilot Program for Furniture Fixtures & Equipment, (FF & E) Inspector General MCPPO facilitator, Budget Committee.

What differentiates you from the other candidates and/or board members?

 My experience in local and State Government makes me different. I have practical experience in being a leader that has produced results that were implemented through cooperative teamwork.   IE:  Mansfield Business & Permitting Guide, Town Meeting Guide, Guide for Members of Public Boards and Committees. 

As part of the Municipal Building Committee for 30+ years, I’ve been involved in the major construction of Mansfield’s building infrastructure since the 1990s.  My service with the MBC provided me with a wealth of knowledge on the operations and physical needs of departments.  The BOS has oversight responsibility to ensure that the proper policies and facilities are in place for Public Safety, Public Works, and Municipal Electric Company where they serve as commissioners.

I collaborated with the MSBA to launch their pilot program for the cooperative purchase of FF & E.   This venture teamed Stoughton’s large school system with 8 smaller schools, resulting in Stoughton saving over $400,000 and the 8 small schools saving nearly $1,000,000 in combined school related costs. 

What do you see as the primary work of the board?

 The Select Board shall be the chief policy-making body for the municipal government including the Mansfield Electric Light Department and is responsible for the appointment of the Town Manager, Town Accountant, and all members of the Town’s permanent committees.  They provide oversight for the actions of the Town Manager and Town Accountant.  The Board also sets policy for public safety of the Town and serves as Commissioners of the Public Works and Municipal Electric Departments.

The Board has over-all responsibility to provide the checks and balances to protect the Town’s public funds!

It is the primary responsibility of the Board to coordinate the Town’s long-range objectives within a comprehensive planning program, and to formulate policies to fulfill those objectives!

There is a lot of talk nationally and locally about ‘transparency’ in government. With that in mind, are there any potential conflict of interest issues you may
have as an elected official on the Select Board? If so, talk about what they areand how you will resolve them.  

Transparency in government is defined as honesty, accountability and openness in its actions because secrecy leads to an abuse of power and reduces accountability. 

In all my years of civic engagement, I’ve never been involved in any actions or behaviors that resulted in a Conflict of Interest. In fact, I created and instituted a policy in Stoughton that all employees and vendors sign a code of conduct regarding procurement.  I take the Ethics Training every year as required. If some unexpected conflict arose, I would contact the State Ethics Commission for their advice and, if necessary, announce the proper disclosures, and recuse myself from participating in the matter. 

I have been instrumental in creating opportunities to train municipal employees on issues of ethics and conflict of interest through collaboration with the Ethics Commission, Inspector General’s and Attorney General’s Offices.

What infrastructure capital expenditures would you prioritize for Mansfield?
The Capital Improvement Plan Committee has already voted its projects for FY24.  Having been the MBC representative on CIP, it’s imperative to distinguish wants from wishes from needs. Therefore, I would prioritize items based upon the Master Plan’s guidelines, which, if not addressed, these items would lead to future, major infrastructure problems. There are 6 “Pillars of Vision” defined by the Master Plan to act as building blocks for a successful Community. 

• Vision #6 reads as follows:

6A.Proactively address the deteriorating physical conditions of Mansfield’s school facilities and other public buildings.

6B. Continue to be proactive rather than reactive in municipal services, infrastructure, schools, and capital planning.

6C. Promote energy-efficient buildings and adopt more sustainable practices town-wide.

•         I would look to make a % commitment of free cash to supplement Chapter 90 money each year.  Many of the roads have been neglected for years.

• ·         New intergenerational building/COA at 50 West Street

Diversity, inclusion, and belonging are topics that come up frequently. What does that mean to you? How do you see incorporating those principles as a Select Board member?
On June 22nd, 2022, the BOS appointed members to the newly created ‘Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee’.  One of their primary duties was to report quarterly to the BOS.  AS of April 2, 2023, no meetings or minutes have been posted.   Therefore, with no information I am unable to comment on the present status of this Committee.

What I will say is I have had experience ensuring that areas under my authority were inclusive to all.  I organized events to encourage leaders of small and minority businesses to learn how to do business with local governments and the Commonwealth.  In my role as Procurement Officer, I sent out bid announcements to Mr. John Fitzpatrick, Executive Director of the Supplier Diversity Program.  He then set a policy that if municipalities didn’t contact his office about upcoming bids or reach their diversity goals on State-funded construction projects, he would not grant waivers on their bids.

Diversity isn’t just about race! I made changes in Stoughton to ensure that persons with physical limitations could do business with the Town.  As a result of my diligence, we had changing tables installed in men’s rooms, areas dedicated to nursing mothers, and waste receptacles in all bathroom stalls.

As a community activist in Boston, I had the opportunity to work with Mel King to help the City heal after busing.  I will close with his quote from 1993 in the Boston Globe.  “People want more than anything else is a sense of a vision that’s inclusive and respectful and appreciative of who they are.”

Mansfield has experienced a prolonged situation with the police chief Sellon being on paid leave. As a new member of the Select Board, what would be your goals in this area and do you feel the taxpayers deserve resolution?
Because the Board has over-all responsibility for public funds, they have a fiduciary responsibility to the residents!   The Board also has oversight for the Town Manager and his actions! This situation has gone on far too long and has cost the taxpayers over $200,000 in legal and consultant fees, $125,000 for out of grade pay for the interim Chief, and nearly $800,000 for additional retirement benefits for the interim Chief.  This does not include the loss of productivity to all staff involved and the fact that we are paying for the empty deputy’s seat.  The people I have been talking to in my “listening sessions” feel that this seems too personal and the Administration is unwilling to budge.  

Chief Sellon is a Civil Service Chief.  There are specific requirements of due process that are mandatory, It appears that the Town has not met these.. My goal as a Select Board member would be to look at a solution that would reduce the risk of additional costs of a law suit. I feel that the Board and the Town Manager need to understand their fiduciary obligations!

Economic Development: One of the hottest topics in MA communities, what do you see as some items Mansfield can do to attract business?      I have to say that I am proud of my accomplishments when I was on the IDC and wrote the grant to SRPEDD in which we obtained professional services to create the Mansfield Business and Permitting Guide in 2018.

Economic development is very important to Mansfield because it provides stable recurring revenues through property and personal taxes.

Mansfield has one of the largest industrial parks in the region.  According to the Town’s website www.Choosemansfield.com the park currently has a low vacancy rate, 4 sites with approximately 60,000 square feet of open and office space available.  We also have 2 buildable lots containing over 80,00 square feet.  There is a handful of retail locations throughout the Town.  

The land around the train station that is part of the Transit Oriented District (TOD) and MBTA communities create new growth in both retail/business and housing.  This area will double the size of our downtown and could easily increase our populations by 10%.  The Planning Board currently preparing zoning for that area now for presentation at the June Town Meeting.

We need to review our current commercial and industrial areas throughout the Town, to determine if our zoning allows for the highest and best uses in the area.   In crafting and revising zoning it is important to keep in the character of the Town while creating opportunities that are friendly and flexible to a variety of uses. 

Finally, our economic director should be monitoring the industry and possibly contact the companies that have recently located in the surrounding areas to understand why they didn’t choose Mansfield.

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