Posted by Ed on April 3, 2007, 12:17 am Here are the next two candidates, post comments or submit questions. Flemming: I am here for people, small businesses BILLERICA -- Pat Flemming has sat behind the table at Zoning Board of Appeals meetings for more than a decade. Now she is ready to take that experience to a bigger table, as she battles for a seat on the Board of Selectmen. to work to reform the Chapter 40B affordable-housing law. Gagliardi: Need to boost tax base to help residents BILLERICA -- As a member of the Finance Committee for the past eight years, Dave Gagliardi is confident that he has a "more intimate knowledge of the budget" than most of his fellow candidates.
24.34.144.49
I will be posting the views from two candidates running for selectmen at a time from the Sun article. If you do have any questions you wish to submit but do not wish to post them you can send them to my individual mail on this site. Many of the issues we have been discussing and others will be vital to the future of Billerica and need to be asked before the election. Choosing the right elected officials to represent all of us at this time is more crucial at this point of Billerica’s History than in recent years. I will post the candidates in alphabetical order.
The Lowell Sun
Article Last Updated: 03/29/2007
A small-business owner for 30 years, Flemming hit the pavement to create the Billerica Chamber of Commerce in 1992.
"Small businesses were really getting whaled back then," she said, adding that the old chamber had merged with the Lowell branch. "I went door-to-door and got 25 businesses to be charter members. We banded together and moved forward."
Flemming said that today she remains committed to alleviating the issues facing small businesses, as well as the tax burden put on homeowners.
"I am a single person and own my own home," she said. "I know what is like to be faced with paying escalating taxes every year," she said. "I know a lot that is going on in this town and I really want to look into the budget process."
Serving on the ZBA for 13 years, Flemming said she would like
"There is nothing wrong with affordable housing, but the law needs to be adjusted," she said.
Flemming added that although developers involved in these projects are often painted as greedy, they are only taking advantage of what the law allows them to do regarding density.
She said she wants voters to know that she has no agenda and is looking forward to meeting them and hearing their ideas.
"Nobody owns me," she said. "I am here for the people and small businesses."
The Lowell Sun
Lowell Sun
Article Last Updated:03/28/2007
"I love this town and want to apply my experience to the Board of Selectmen," he said.
As businesses continue a mass exodus out of state, Gagliardi said it is imperative that town officials concentrate their efforts on making Billerica as attractive as possible.
"We absolutely need to be talking to anybody entertaining the idea of bringing their business to Billerica," he said.
With a large number of candidates jumping into the race, Gagliardi has used his day off to his advantage.
Every Wednesday he can be found walking, going door-to-door to meet people and hear their concerns. "You'd be surprised how far you can walk in four hours," he said. "It is a lot of fun, I enjoy meeting people."
Many of those people, Gagliardi said, are concerned about escalating property-tax bills. "That is why we need to boost the commercial and industrial tax base," he said.
Gagliardi is also concerned about building an adequate number affordable housing units in town. That starts with the recertification of the Housing Productivity Plan, he said.
"Once that is re-certified, we can take a proactive approach," he said. "We should also be meeting with developers to get their ideas and partner-up with an organization like Habitat for Humanity.
"I see a great future for this town and I want to be a part of it," he added.
Message Thread:
« Back to thread