Why do you want to serve on the City Council?
I want to bring my unique work experience to help shape the future of Watertown, maintain our financial flexibility, and continue improving our buildings and infrastructure.
Tell voters about your background and qualifications for being a City Councilor
My experience as Watertown’s Auditor for 29 years, which included 7 years as Asst. City Manager for Finance as well as Acting City Manager for 8 months, has allowed me to know how all the City Departments operate. I know how all the monies come in, and I know how all the monies are spent! My experience as the primary person responsible for developing 30 annual Capital Improvement Plans for Watertown has allowed me to know how to finance and prioritize all the City’s buildings and infrastructure improvements.
It is my belief that in the event that Watertown experiences economic uncertainty my experience in developing 29 annual budgets during good and bad economic times will be extremely beneficial when the City Council adopts future budgets.
What would you like to see built on the municipal parking lots in Watertown Square that are proposed to redeveloped as part of the Watertown Square Redevelopment?
As part of the overall redevelopment of Watertown Square, I would like to see a significant increase in parking along with mixed use building(s) for local small businesses and affordable housing. Additionally, I would like us to connect the Community Path from Arsenal Street to Saltonstall Park.
The City has aggressive goals in the Climate and Energy Plan. How can the City help make their homes more energy efficient and the City as a whole more sustainable?
The City has done extremely well in energy efficiency of our public buildings. Just look at what we have done with our Elementary Schools as well as soon to be open, brand-new, net-zero LEED Platinum High School. As a member of the School Building Committee, I am very proud of this achievement. We can and should do more. As we continue to improve our public buildings inventory, we should entertain all possible energy efficiencies that we can. As far as residential homes are concerned, I am aware that we have an employee within the Planning Department who has job duties that involve helping residents with energy-related issues and becoming more energy efficient. I look forward to the Administration exploring ideas and bringing those ideas to the City Council.
Watertown has an opportunity to completely renovate or rebuild Watertown Middle School and use the temporary school currently at Moxley Field. Would you like to see this happen and if so how would you like to see it financed?
Yes, I would like us to build a new Middle School while we have the opportunity to use the modular temporary High School. The additional $26 million needed to build a new Middle School should be borrowed over 30 years, costing approximately $2.2 million in debt service in the first full year.
How can the City cut down the number of cars on the road, and make other modes of transportation more viable and attractive?
Watertown’s Transportation Management Association (TMA) needs to be expanded and become better utilized. The redevelopment of Watertown Square should assist in increasing membership of the TMA. Developers and employers should become members and participate in the TMA in order to reduce traffic congestion and increase sustainable transportation options which is part of the core mission of the TMA. Watertown’s State House Delegation, working with community leaders, should request the MBTA expand bus service to our community.
In developing Watertown Square we need to make the Square more pedestrian friendly and safer to traverse. This will help to attract and support local small businesses.
During your campaign, what was the biggest issue or concern for voters when you spoke to them about the City?
Improvement in our Streets and Sidewalks has been the biggest issue that I have heard from residents. Over several years, Watertown has been dedicating funds to continue addressing this need. If elected, I will continue to dedicate funds for the improvements of our Streets and Sidewalks.
Related to this, I have also heard a number of requests about better communication from the City and Companies conducting road improvements within our community. If elected, I will require the Administration to improve notification to our residents.