(one three-year seat)
Years living in town: 16 years
Previous or current elected office held: Selectman (previously Planning Board chairman)
Other qualifications: small business owner, professional civil engineer, professional land surveyor, MBA
What are two issues you think are important and how would you address them?
A new police station is the primary issue and need facing the Town of New Ipswich. A straw poll of the various opposing splinter groups indicate insufficient support for a bond to fund the new station. The reasons include a belief that police are an unnecessary evil, a legitimate concern regarding higher taxes, and a lack of faith in the integrity of the Board of Selectmen to fairly administer a large project. However, I believe that there is some (possibly a majority) support for a Capital Reserve Fund to slowly set aside the necessary funds to build the new police station without an undue tax burden while offering adequate planning and construction controls.
The second challenge involves the hiring and retention of qualified personnel while maintaining the “institutional knowledge” needed to operate a small town. The answer is two-fold. First, New Ipswich is lagging behind other towns in terms of both pay and technology. Second, the stagnant and often toxic environment surrounding the town offices and various town departments has stifled both communication and growth. While these issues have been partially addressed in the past year, more effort is required in terms of both transparency and communication. Furthermore, appreciation of the dedicated employees who serve the Town of New Ipswich is long overdue. Although pay increases are always welcome, sometimes a simple “Atta Boy” provides equal encouragement.
Years in town: about 9 Years
Previous or current elected office held: This is my first run for elected office
Other qualifications: I have worked with the New Ipswich Rec. Dept. in many capacities over the last 7 years. Have served as the select board’s liaison to the Souhegan Valley Ambulance Service over the last three years. Have coordinated numerous community projects and events.
What are two issues you think are important and how would you address these issues?
1) Discord between town departments and the select board.
I will work with and visit each department at various times throughout the year to chat with the town employees and department heads to get a good understanding of how best to serve them.
2)Lack of support and disagreement on how to approach and get the much-needed police department built.
I will work tirelessly with the townspeople to find out what it will take to get their support to give our police department a safe work environment and find them a permanent home.