Romano, Doherty save barbs for school administration
UPDATED, March 24: An estimated 200 people at Town Hall on Tuesday, March 22, heard candidates for the April 2 town election, for the most part, express guarded degrees of disagreement. No Trump vs. Clinton here.
For selectmen, Maria Romano, in her fifth try for the board, proclaimed integrity and took aim at town and school budgeting. Kevin Greeley, running on his 27-year record, defended town finances.
For School Committee, challenger James Doherty said he hopes school meetings could be less “fuzzy” and run more like a board of directors.
Incumbent Kirsi Allison-Ampe, seeking her third term, emphasized her analytical side, pointing to specific initiatives, including a challenge to the state to improve basic funding.
Len Kardon, a defender of the school budget on the Finance Committee, focused on his activism since the 2010 school-budget meltdown.
To hear what all candidates said, watch ACMi rebroadcasts. The schedule is below.
Here is a summary of the main points expressed during the historically rapid evening; the forum, scheduled to end at 9:30 p.m., wrapped up at 9:13:
Board of Selectmen (two vie for one three-year seat)
Romano, a 39-year town resident and owner of a construction business for 28 years, crossed swords with Greeley, saying “the five-year plan is not a success.” At the end of each period, she said, the town “runs at a loss,” and then another override is needed.
The last override was in 2011, and the town established a three-year plan to manage spending. Those controls have extended the plan into its fifth year.
Romano
Greeley
“We need to talk seriously about separating town and school budgets,” she said, claiming poor handling of budgets on the school side.
Further, she said, “Thompson was built too small. We were told to build bigger, and we didn’t.”
Greeley countered: “Arlington has a triple A [bond] rating.” He praised the town’s fiscal discipline. “That five-year plan has worked and continues [to do so].”
Minuteman rebuild
As to their views about the $144 million rebuilding of Minuteman High School, Romano was critical but veered off into the issue of annual shares that member towns pay.
“This has been an ongoing issue for years,” she said. “The selectmen could not draw the line in sand on inequity of payments.
Perhaps unexpectedly, she added: “The only clear option is a debt exclusion … We need to know that every penny should be used wisely.”
Greeley focused on the high school and essentially said the selectmen have no choice but to consider a debt exclusion.
Issue about disabled
A question about issues involving the disabled led Greeley to refer to efforts raised on Mass. Ave. by proponents of a warrant article to increase spaces for handicapped parking.
“I’m glad you brought up Mass. Ave.,” Romano said, referring to her signature issue in past elections. She long opposed the project.
The corridor project in East Arlington “is not ADA compliant.” She cited raised planters near Cambridge Savings Bank, which make access difficult for those in wheelchairs, and the removal of handicapped spots. “The product [corridor] is finished, but serious issues remain.”
Medical marijuana
Asked about the medical-marijuana dispensary proposed for 5 Water St., Greeley quipped, “There’s an easy one.”
He said the town should allow the facility in the light of the evidence of how marijuana can aid pain management. Noting the appearance before selectmen March 21 by a pediatrician who works in that building, he said, “We need to make sure that children are protected.”
Romano was blunt. She said she opposes “additional dispensaries,” citing “firsthand experience,” though she did not provide details. She said Chief Fred Ryan was “eloquent” about how the dispensary would tax his resources.
Teardowns
As to whether the town should control teardowns — homes that are demolished to make way for much larger structures — Greeley said he is not an expert. “We’re talking private property,” he said. “There are too many variables to say, ‘No, we can’t allow them.’
Indicating the scope of the issue, he noted 47 new homes permits in last three years.
Romano said that, for her, it’s a “priority to keep a neighborhood a neighborhood …” and not a place for some big structure.
Mugar project
Asked whether the proposed Mugar project in East Arlington is a potential revenue enhancer or a problem, candidates basically agreed. “It is a problem,” Greeley said. “We need to do all we can to protect that wetland.”
Romano said she was in “total agreement,” but added a condition: “As we protect the wetland, we need to do more with the neighborhoods, with flooding. It’s an issue with Cambridge.”
As to community choice aggregation — the subject of a warrant article aimed at increasing alternate-energy sources — Romano at first said she was not familiar with the issue and then commented that she thought solar panel for municipal buildings are fine but had doubts about those for private homes.
“This article needs more study,” Greeley said, “but anything we can do for energy conservation, we should do.”
In closing, Greeley said “there are never not going to be challenges in Arlington” and that he was ready to for them.
Doherty
“I’m ready to fill that seat,” Romano said.
School Committee (three vie for two three-year seats)
Candidates fielded seven questions, including from the schools’ top issue — how the schools are addressing the enrollment challenges.
Enrollment issues
Kardon, who is general counsel for job-search site Monster.com, addressed each level — at the high school the state School Building Authority is expected to move the Arlington High rebuild process forward in May, outlining school size.
Kardon
“Ottoson is the more difficult challenge,” he said, noting the options for expansion and for the former Gibbs facing the School Enrollment Task Force.
At the elementary level, he supports the Thompson addition.
Allison-Ampe, trained as a pediatrician and researcher, agreed about AHS and supports the work of the task force on Ottoson.
“I want to see the right-size addition at Thompson,” she said.
Doherty, a lifelong Arlington resident who is trained in real estate and taxation, was critical: “Thompson was not built large enough,” and as for decisions about Ottoson and the former Gibbs, “We’ll own it all.”
He referred to the “mishandling of the middle-school process” and said it would “never happen in the private sector.” He did not provide details.
Minuteman rebuild
As to the $144 million rebuild of Minuteman High School, Doherty said the issue is “not much of a choice,” and “we to get a fair return.” He praised vocational education and said Selectman Dan Dunn “has helped out the community tremendously” in his effort to negotiate a new agreement for the 16 members town (to become 10 July 1).
Kardon and Allison agree the timing of this project and that of AHS is unfortunate, but, as he said, “We have to step up.”
When questions ventured into policy area, differences emerged.
Common Core
Asked about the common core standards, Doherty admitted, “I won’t profess to be an expert. There is a lot of stuff in there that people are concerned about.
“I’m not gonna sit here and expound on this …. I don’t profess to be an educator. The key is that we hire the proper people.”
Kardon called the common core a set of standards rather than a curriculum, and he does not oppose it. He said he thought the issue went beyond the role of the School Committee.
Allison-Ampe agreed and said she “appreciates” what she has heard about the issue.
Cultural competency
A question about whether cultural competency is a priority led Kardon to respond that there is a “role for social and emotional learning,” and he is open to exploring it.
“I’m not sure I’m hearing the question in the same way,” Allison-Ampe said. “I want teachers to understand a student’s background.” She noted students in Arlington Public Schools are from 40 countries.
Of the import of cultural competency, Doherty said, “The short answer is yes.” He followed with comments about having grown up on Brantwood Road in Jason heights. “I’m not big on social engineering. I strongly endorse a diverse community.”
Limits on homework?
Asked about limiting homework at elementary level, Allison-Ampe said: “Yes. I find homework is helpful. It should be limited, but I would not get rid of it.”
Doherty emphatically supported homework, not limiting it. “I absolutely believe it should be done,” he said, adding two of his children would have been at candidates’ night were it not for homework.
“This is an issue where a community conversation is good,” Kardon said. “I would like to find out why they need to do more.”
That may mean a conversation with parents, which would lead to guidelines based on best practices, he said.
One nurse
Is it unsafe for one nurse to be charge of so many children, as has been the case at Ottoson?
Both Kardon and Allison-Ampe noted that an added nurse is in the budget for next year, a position added because of growth.
“I would not use term ‘unsafe,'” Allison-Ampe said.”
Doherty responded: “I don’t know about this situation. We can’t just mortgage ourselves … there are costs associated.
“It’s a matter of having leadership. Not having soft, fuzzy School Committee meetings. You need to run them like board of directors.”
Better communications?
Given the expanding routes for communication that high tech provides us, candidates were asked: How do we improve communication between residents and schools?
“Communication is the way to go,” Doherty said. He cited what he said was a failure to communicate “in a meeting about a month ago” in which there was a lack of clarity about costs. [He is apparently referring to the Feb. 23 meeting of the School Enrollment Task Force.]
Kardon called improving communication an issue he would like to work on. He cited a recent survey about the school calendar that went out to parents. “That’s a good way to go,” he said.
Allison-Ampe noted continuing improvements, such as the superintendent’s monthly newsletters, an idea the School Committee suggested, and a better school website, recently unveiled. Coming is an online dashboard, which would provide statistics parents want to see, including graduation rates.
Town Moderator
Leone
Leading off the evening was John Leone, unopposed in seeking to retain his three-year seat as Town Meeting moderator. He has held it since 2007 and has been on Town Meeting since 1994.
He touted his ability to run “a fair, efficient and inclusive Town Meeting” — one that has shrunk from eight to 10 sessions to five to six in recent years.
“This year might be longer because of zoning articles,” he said.
Two unopposed incumbents were not present — Robert Greeley, seeking reelection to a three-year seat on the Board of Assessors, and Nick Mitropoulos, seeking a five-year Housing Authority seat. Kevin Greeley said his brother was in Florida playing golf.
Patty Muldoon of the League of Women Voters of Arlington introduced the moderator, Margaret Coppe, of the Lexington League.
The evening was sponsored by the league and Vision 2020.
Information about candidates in April 2 election
ACMi replays Candidates’ Night
The League of Women Voters and Vision 2020 were the hosts for Candidates’ Night on Tuesday, March 22, as an estimated 200 people attended in Town Hall Auditorium.
ACMi rebroadcasts Candidates’ Night on local government channels (Comcast 22, RCN 15 or Verizon 26) Friday, March 25; Saturday, March 26; Sunday, March 27; and Wednesday, March 30, at 9 a.m. and 9 p.m.
ACMi debates: Romano, Greeley | Doherty, Allison-Ampe, Kardon
Candidate profiles: Romano | Greeley | Allison-Ampe
League of Women Voters’ guide: How do candidates respond to queries?
This report was published Wednesday, March 23, 2016, and updated March 24, to repair typos.
