Posted by ed on April 12, 2007, 12:42 am 1.What do you envision for the Town of Billerica and how would you attempt to go about achieving your vision? My vision is for a Billerica that honors its past and has hope for its future. A Town that, while rich in diversity and opinion, speaks for all with fairness and respect. A Town that seeks to provide efficient and superior municipal services within the limits of Proposition 2 ˝. A Town that continually strives to improve the quality of life for all its residents. I have always sought to do what I can to make a difference and to remain focused on my vision for Billerica. For example, while serving on the Board of Selectmen, I recall a resident asking me why there wasn’t a kidney dialysis center in Billerica. Three times a week, rain or shine, many residents traveled quite a few miles for this life sustaining procedure. Through my efforts, a kidney dialysis center is now located in Billerica providing a significant positive impact on the quality of life for countless Billerica residents. Working together, we can make a difference. 2.Times have changed and most residents today are no longer in the financial condition which they were ten years ago, how would you realistically attempt to manage the towns finances in a much more tight economy when some still want to have the luxuries of the 90”s? If you disagree with the scenario please explain. Recent demographic data points to a different economic level for the average Billerica resident. Reports indicate an average household income in the mid sixty thousand dollar range. Yet despite this reported data, many live on tight budgets. Those on a fixed income are particularly vulnerable. Through my efforts, in 1999, a Senior Citizen Tax Relief Program, providing up to Five Hundred Dollars in property tax relief, was implemented. In 2005, the maximum was raised to Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars. It is my understanding that, on the basis of participation in this program, Billerica ranks second state-wide! Additionally, I successfully fought to increase property tax abatements, by sixty percent, for the elderly, widows, the blind and disabled veterans. Working with our Town Assessor, I was successful in raising asset limits and decreasing age requirements – thereby qualifying more for property tax abatements. Thus, while property taxes rose I sought to do all that could be done to assist those most vulnerable by escalating property taxes. In October 2005, I fought against the adoption of a Water Enterprise Fund (The MWRA is a Water Enterprise Fund) as all the facts were not known to make an informed decision. The impact on water rates was not clear. Town Meeting agreed and formed a study committee to report the facts back to Town Meeting. My record of fiscal independence and results is clear. 3.If compelling evidence was presented to you about a project which could possibly lead to “America’s Yankee Doodle Town” becoming a place where you and your fellow citizens would no longer wish to live, how much of your resources and the town’s resources would you be willing to utilize to prevent such a thing from happening? A few years ago, I recall a number of Riverhurst residents, concerned about a developer’s plans to build in their neighborhood, contacted me for assistance. The neighborhood was divided with some supporting a rezoning of the property to allow for the construction of an office building. Fearing the alternative was a potential 40B development, the residents sought help from their elected officials. I agreed and worked for the rezoning of this parcel. The rezoning failed twice at Town Meeting, but not for the lack of effort! Today, as a result of a 40B development, nearly Three Hundred apartments occupy the site. Nonetheless, along with a number of others, I worked on behalf of this neighborhood. Having said that, it is imperative to note that we must be flexible and open to healthy dialogue on any issue/project. We must work within the system for the benefit of all residents. I have said many times that it’s just as wrong to accept a bad project as it is to reject a good project. To insure this doesn’t happen, we need to engage all sides in healthy dialogue. We need to be open and accept opposing points of view. We may not like every decision, but we can do our best, through this dialogue, to be certain the decision is an informed decision. Thank You Mr. Correnti
24.34.144.49
Ansewers to our three questions from
Bob Correnti for Town Selectman
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