My Approach to the FY13 Budget Proposal

During our recent budget discussions with the Finance Committee, Town Administrator Shaun Suhoski introduced his proposed FY 2013 budget. In his budget message, Mr. Suhoski states that “where the FY12 budget was built upon “level services” and “fiscal austerity,” the $26.65 million FY13 budget proposed outlines a plan for renewal throughout the community”.

The Town Administrator's budget message goes on to say that “the proposal will: (1) renew investment in deteriorating infrastructure by supplementing the road maintenance and construction budgets, (2) renew our commitment to public safety through the addition of a patrol officer/school resource officer, (3) renew protection of our natural environment through additional conservation staff, (4) renew our better management practices at the landfill and wastewater plants while cutting costs, and (5) renew and re-double efforts to find savings and economies of scale to reduce costs including improved efficiencies in assessing and GIS mapping”.

Sturbridge BOS votes unanimously to support CPA

The following article (portion thereof) is courtesy of the Telegram & Gazette.

STURBRIDGE —  The Board of Selectmen last night expressed opposition to a citizens petition asking voters to revoke the Community Preservation Act and unanimously recommended the town maintain the CPA.

Selectman Mary Dowling said maintaining the CPA in town is in “the best interest of the community and its residents, both in terms of economic considerations and quality of life.”

School Committee Budget Meetings

This week, two significant discussions will take place specific to the school budget. The significance of these discussions is that 60% (this includes health benefits) of our total town budget is vested in our school system. Considering such, it is critical that residents scrutinize the school budget as meticulously as I encourage them to scrutinize the general government side of the budget.

Not surprisingly, the Sturbridge School Committee (SSC) - chaired by Kate Alexander, has reached out to the community seeking more involvement from residents in the public process attendant to the local school budget. To that end, beyond the standard public meeting posting, Ms. Alexander authorized the following correspondence sent on behalf of the SSC yesterday to over 700 residents that routinely receive Public Service Announcements from me. That correspondence read as follows:

Tantasqua Regional School Committee Candidate Debates

Two of the three candidates for the Tantasqua Regional School Committee have agreed to debates for the regional school committee seats. The two consenting candidates - Michelle Fitzgerald and Dr. Susan Waters, have both agreed to a live-televised debate on March 14, 2012 at 7:00PM, consisting of questions submitted to the Town Moderator, as well as live questions from the audience and phone-in questions from television viewers. The third candidate yet to respond but only a few days have passed since the request and one certainly anticipates a favorable response - schedule permitting.

A second debate is tentatively scheduled for April 4, 2012. Due to limited scheduling availability at Town Hall in light of public meetings, public presentations, etc., the debates will proceed as long as at least 1 - 2 candidates are available.

These live-televised debates will allow for meaningful dialog on all issues of concern and importance to residents - specific to our regional school system, while providing an opportunity to better evaluate those individuals seeking your consideration. Please join the candidates on March 14, 6:30 PM at Town Hall.

Further information will be provided as appropriate. 

Sturbridge-based National Grid Seminar - March 13

As previously indicated in a correspondence sent out on 7 February 2012, I have been working with executive level staff at National Grid to conduct a live-broadcast public information meeting here in Sturbridge. In that Feb. 7 correspondence, I summarized a meeting we had held with National Grid – outlining some key points of focus by all, while referencing a public information meeting we were planning.

To that end, please note that on Tuesday, March 13, 2012 at 6:30 PM, executive level staff from National Grid will conduct a televised information seminar joined by Town Administrator Shaun Suhoski, Chief Thomas Ford, Selectman Priscilla Gimas (liaison to the Police Department) and myself. Pending schedule confirmations, other Board members may be in attendance. After the presentation, questions will be taken from attendees both on-site at Town Hall and by way of phone (508-347-2500). I invite you to forward any advance questions so that we can ensure the seminar will have as much specificity as possible during the development phase prior to going live.

Citizen Emergency Response Team Training

BECOME A TRAINED AND CREDENTIALED VOLUNTEER FOR YOUR COMMUNITY

Tri-EPIC REPC will be hosting CERT (Citizen Emergency Response Team) Training for any resident of Charlton, Dudley, Southbridge, or Sturbridge who would like to help their Community.

This Training is FREE!

Classes will be held at the Southbridge Community Center (Former Armory), at 153 Chestnut Street, Southbridge - Thursday evenings from 6 to 9 P.M. for approximately 12 weeks beginning on March 15th, 2012.

You must be at least 18 years of age and a Criminal Records Check is required.

Please contact your local CERT coordinator for further Information and application by March 5th:

Charlton: Lt. Carl Ekman, Charlton Police, 508-248-2056
Dudley: Captain Paul Konieczny, Dudley Fire, 508-949-8040
Southbridge: F.F. Paul Nault, Southbridge Fire, 508-764-5430 (Packet available At Fire Station)
Sturbridge:    Sergeant Kevin Mercier, Sturbridge PD, 508-347-2525 X117

Revoking the Community Preservation Act

Recently, a series of letters to the editor, news reports, and efforts in terms of a town-wide ballot petition have addressed a desire to revoke the Community Preservation Act (CPA). This initiative is designed to "reduce" the financial burden on residents and "prevent any further spending" or debt burdening by way of the CPA. 

There is little doubt that many, if not most residents face financial challenges due to a devastating national economy combined with increased prices on nearly everything and reduced incomes for all too many. Discretionary income is non-existent for most and despite some news reports of an improved economy, the vast majority of Americans and Sturbridge residents are still financially challenged and find themselves unable to bear any more financial burdens. In the face of such, revocation of the CPA appears to be not only prudent, but necessary.

Courtesy of the Telegram & Gazette

Sturbridge

No race this year for Board of Selectmen

STURBRIDGE —An incumbent selectman has decided against running for another term, making two selectmen’s seats uncontested.

Angeline Ellison did not return papers by the deadline yesterday for the April 9 annual town election. Last year, Ms. Ellison defeated Alphonso Esposito, 776-556, for the one-year selectman’s seat, which had been vacated by Edward P. Goodwin.

Because Ms. Ellison has decided not to run, two candidates are running for the two three-year selectmen’s seats on the ballot: incumbent Thomas R. Creamer and Mary Redetzke, who is on the Finance Committee.

DEBATES for TANTASQUA REGIONAL SCHOOL COMMITTEE

As it appears there are three candidates for the two seats on the Tantasqua Regional School Committee, I am hopeful that we can schedule 1 - 2 candidate debates so that residents have the opportunity to be as informed as possible in the decision-making process. In the interest of full disclosure, please note that I support the two incumbents, one previously elected, the other recently appointed by the Board of Selectmen.

That said, just as the debates for the Board of Selectmen are critical in providing residents a substantive opportunity to determine who most closely represents their concerns, hopes and dreams, so too these debates (if agreed to by the candidates) provide voters a critical means to determine who best emulates their concerns, hopes and dreams as it relates to our educational system.

An Exceptional Choice for Regional School Committee

The following is taken directly from the website of Dr. Susan Waters - candidate for election to a 3-year seat on the Tantasqua Regional School Committee. Dr. Waters currently holds a seat - having been appointed this past summer to fill a vacancy and is now seeking election by the voters to this seat. Please review her website susanwaters.org and her credentials, I am confident you will find her extremely qualified. Here is some text from her homepage. 

As parents and the primary stakeholders in your children's education, I recognize the great trust you place in our school system and our school committee in terms of providing the highest and best educational experience possible.  As a parent, I have shared your concerns, hopes, and dreams as my children and I navigated the incredible journey through our exceptional school system. As a grandparent that experience now serves as a road-map to guide my adult children as we embark upon a similar and shared journey.

As a professional educator and program developer, I understand that successful education involves a variety of factors, which incorporate a strong and talented organization, effective time management, appropriate prioritization, results-oriented focus and a high degree of motivation with direct partnership between parents, Educators, Administrators, and School Committee members. Since being appointed to the Tantasqua Regional School Committee in July of 2011, I have carefully and steadfastly reviewed the role our regional school committee fulfills in terms of policy development and the manner by which it engages its responsibility on your behalf in support of your children's education.

I recognize the enormous obligation we have to fulfill the trust you've placed in us as advocates for you and your children's future by ensuring sound policy development, an appropriate annual budget that maximizes performance and success in the most cost-effective manner possible, while simultaneously developing and delivering a meaningful strategic plan by way of system-wide goals and objectives. Equally, I understand the importance of ensuring full accountability within the system by way of solid and measurable performance standards. I am committed to serving you in a manner that is fully transparent and completely accountable, while maintaining absolute accessibility to you at all times.

Town-wide Communications System

Greetings All,

Back in June during a public meeting of the Board of Selectmen specific to tornado recovery efforts, I spoke to the need of developing/purchasing a more robust town-owned/operated/leased communications system that could provide timely and relevant information over a variety of electronic networks. As most of you perhaps know, we do not have unlimited access or control to the Reverse 911 system as that is owned by the Worcester Sheriffs Department as they (rightfully so) have strict protocols for use and permission access. During that meeting I specifically asked Chief Ford and the Town Administrator to conduct a comprehensive review of available systems and to provide a report to the Board for review. In support of that effort, Finance Director Barbara Barry (also in attendance) mentioned a system used in Palmer, MA that is similar to the ConnectEd software used by the District, which - as parents of Tantasqua/Burgess school children can attest - provides information directly to parents via mobile or land-line specific to school closings, delayed openings and other relevant matters. Over the past months, I have had frequent conversations with the Town Administrator and at times Chief Ford specific to this issue.

National Grid - Town of Sturbridge Meeting

Greetings All,

Back on December 20, 2011, I sent a correspondence concerning an official letter submitted to the Department of Public Utilities by Selectman Priscilla Gimas and myself. In that letter I closed with a commitment to facilitate discussions with National Grid as follows: "In addition to the path available to us via the Public Hearings, a meeting is forthcoming after the holidays with members of National Grid's executive management staff and some representatives from our community to better identify the challenges faced, develop cooperative efforts to address same, and to foster a coordinated approach to any future events".

Today, a meeting initiated and coordinated at my behest took place between executive level management staff from National Grid and representatives from the Town of Sturbridge. Those involved from Sturbridge included Town Administrator Shaun Suhoski, DPW Director Greg Morse, Sturbridge Police Lt. Mark Saloio and myself. The meeting was extremely detailed and highly productive, resulting in a number of issues/challenges being addressed in a highly cooperative, proactive, and positive manner. All of those in attendance provided a great deal of insight, experience, and detail that covered every aspect of the challenges facing our community, as well as those faced by National Grid. Both entities were well represented and the residents of Sturbridge can be assured that Mr. Suhoski, Mr. Morse, and Lt. Saloio and myself advocated strongly on behalf of our residents. In lieu of providing an exhaustive accounting of the meeting, I will summarize the discussions as follows:

• It was mutually agreed that Sturbridge will develop and establish a priority list of critical infrastructure/priority needs that will serve as the basis for mutual disaster response efforts within the Town and that this "Priority List" will dictate our collective efforts, thus ensuring the highest level of response coordination.
• Measures specifically designed to improve communication and coordination will be developed and forwarded to National Grid for review/consideration within the next two weeks in an effort to facilitate a mutually-shared, outcome-based approach to local disaster management. 
• Collectively, we will work towards greater inclusion of National Grid staff (e.g. Liaison's, emergency management personnel) in local preparedness planning/efforts providing an opportunity for a more proactive and robust incident management approach in terms of local remediation efforts.
• National Grid liaisons assigned to Sturbridge, as well as other communities, will be receiving Incident Management Training and will be provided with the information, authority, and discretion necessary to operate as a fully functioning component of our local emergency response efforts. This will help to ensure a stronger level of coordination and cooperation between both entities and will strengthen the collaboration of our local efforts.
• We have agreed to future and ongoing meetings designed to enhance our working relationships, while providing greater opportunity for a partnership in developing response capabilities that enhance our mutual efforts - simultaneously strengthening our collective efforts in terms of community preparation and restoration.
• At my request National Grid has agreed to a joint live-broadcast educational presentation involving National Grid and local public officials designed to highlight the individual and collective steps both entities are taking to ensure a more robust and proactive approach to disaster/incident management. This live-broadcast presentation will take place within the next 6 weeks and will be used as a blueprint for future collaborative efforts between us. It will also highlight some of the lessons learned as a direct result of interaction between National Grid staff and local residents/responders. 
• Additional information is forthcoming as the actual date is better identified. In the interim, we invite questions/comments to be forwarded to myself or the Town Administrator that we can direct them to National Grid in an effort to ensure the most productive, detailed, and positive presentation possible that serves to our community's best interests. 

I can say without hesitation that the management staff on hand today, demonstrated a genuine and deep commitment to addressing the local issues attendant to our community and are anxious to work with us towards developing a partnership that enhances our local capabilities, while proactively reducing challenges that may have previously hindered a more coordinated and collaborative approach on both sides. I, and those in attendance from Sturbridge are grateful to Aleta Fazzone - Director, Community & Customer Management, Trina Dombroski - Manager, Community & Customer Management, and Paul Sibley -  Manager, Overhead Lines, Operations New England East for their efforts today and we look forward to the development of a greater partnership that is grounded in mutually-shared priorities for our community.

A Look at "The First Three Years" of my service to You.

COMMITMENT

Three years ago I knocked on 2,327 doors in the Town of Sturbridge seeking your support in my campaign to have the honor of serving as a member of your Board of Selectmen. I chronicled that journey in several posts on this website, highlighting the incredible learning experience it provided as well as the enormous opportunity it provided in meeting so many in this community.

ACCOUNTABILITY

At each door and during every conversation I provided a brochure, which outlined my "7 Point Plan for the First 12 Months" of service, recognizing my obligation to outline the issues facing our community, while providing a definitive timeline for addressing same. This approach assured the highest level of accountability to all residents, while simultaneously establishing a sense of urgency that would dictate not only my first year of service, but each subsequent year of my 3-year term. I am proud to say that without exception, each of those items was addressed within the dedicated timeline and the appropriate mechanisms successfully implemented/initiated to advance those issues towards the desired outcome.

INTEGRITY, TRANSPARENCY, ACCESSIBILITY

Additionally and equally, I committed to service that was based upon principle and grounded in the highest level of integrity. I pledged that my representation of ALL Sturbridge residents would remain completely blind to personal relationships or influences, void of self-serving or selective representation, while ensuring full accessibility to all residents with complete transparency. I am proud to say that without exception I have never wavered from that commitment, nor will I. Residents throughout this community can attest to my extensive availability to them 7 days a week, 365 days a year by way of phone, email, and very often via face-to-face meetings - regardless of the day or the issue as well as their unhindered access to public appearances before the BOS.

I have followed the Sturbridge Town Charter to the letter, ensuring that all actions undertaken by our Town’s leadership is consistent with the Constitution this community is built upon, and I have fulfilled the obligations of office in a manner  consistent always with the oath of office.

STRONG LEADERSHIP

During some of the most physically and emotionally demanding periods in this community - the unprecedented snowfall (52" in 3 weeks) last winter, the devastation of the June tornado, Hurricane Irene, the October nor'easter - I was on the ground daily providing personal assistance to hundreds/thousands of residents while coordinating thousands of volunteers for countless hours.

This included the establishment and commissioning of the Volunteer Resource Center (VRC) within 24 hours of the Tornado, an approach never previously implemented within our community. Recognizing the challenges faced by the tornado and the vulnerability of residents during this period, I quickly commissioned the VRC and established guidelines for credentialing and coordinating all volunteer efforts within the community. This ensured that all volunteers were properly vetted prior to working within the community, while also providing a high level of accountability for residents and volunteers, assuring that no one was left without the help or support they needed.

As part of this approach, I divided the community into 5 "Sectors" and identified/appointed "Sector Coordinators" within each of the impact zones to serve as points of contact for all disaster recovery work within each of the Sectors. This ensured a highly manageable and coordinated approach to returning/reclaiming each Sector in the shortest possible time frame.

I also reached out to Social Service professionals and brought them in within the first 48 hours to help assess and provide support to those impacted by the tornado. Equally, recognizing the need for quick and definitive action that could not wait 7 days for a public discussion, I "field appointed" Dr. Susan Waters as the Volunteer Resource Center Coordinator, due to her experience with Incident Management Systems, who served as our point of contact for all disaster response efforts. Both the VRC and Dr. Waters were subsequently and enthusiastically endorsed/ratified by the Board of Selectmen.

Just two months later when Hurrican Irene descended upon us leaving many with power and water yet again, I again divided the community into Sectors and identified points of contact in each of the impacted areas to coordinate the delivery and staging of much needed water supplies, support, and information. The VRC is now a fully functional component of our Emergency/Disaster Recovery Operations and provides a valued-added element that few communities have been able to replicate.

Other Leadership actions taken over the past three years include:

• Transitioning from the Planning Board to the Board of Selectmen after my election, I continued my advocacy on behalf of Chapter 43D Expedited Permitting - ultimately approved at Annual Town Meeting, which has significantly reduced the permitting time for business expansion/relocation in Sturbridge. 
• Expedited permitting serves as a strong incentive to businesses often looking and needing to shorten the time from proposal to actual permitting. One of the most significant challenges for many expansions/relocation is the overly-extended administrative process. Expedited permitting ensures a shortened and streamlined 180 day process.
• 2009: Established the Merchants of Sturbridge organization as a means of fostering greater communication, collaboration, and coordination between the business community and local government.   
• In 2009 during threatened Elderbus cuts to our seniors I personally contacted and worked with senior advocates throughout the region, as well as Legislators and Elderbus officials to reinstate/retain full service.
• In 2009 I led efforts in support of passage of a single tax rate in an effort to demonstrate a true willingness to engage and encourage business development/expansion in Sturbridge.
• After years of sewer moratoriums, which resulted in nearly every request for sewer infrastructure access/increase being denied over the previous 3-year period, I led efforts my first year on the Board to reverse course and provide access consistent with reserve capacities that clearly existed. During my 3-year tenure on the Board, every sewer access/increase request has ultimately been approved, providing greater opportunities for business expansion/relocation in Sturbridge. 
• Initiated and led efforts to increase participation in the Senior Municipal Service Program. This program, which provides property tax reductions to qualifying lower income seniors based upon volunteer service provided to Town departments has $10,000 set aside annually  for distribution. Prior to my tenure on the Board this program had been enormously under-utilized as most years witnessed only $500-$1,000 being dispersed to qualifying seniors. I initiated a more aggressive education program in addition to a comprehensive outreach program to seniors, which has resulted in maximum utilization of the program over the last two years. During the past two years individually, we have witnessed more participation in the program than the previous 10 years combined. This program is now providing greater opportunity for more seniors to benefit from reduced residential taxes in exchange for volunteerism, which in turn provides valuable service to town departments. 
• 2010: Led efforts to maintain the single tax rate as an enticement to business expansion.
• 2010: Initiated & coordinated volunteer efforts that resulted in the removal of 26 truckloads of hazardous waste from the Riverlands site so that this property could move closer towards active use by residents and visitors.
• 2010: In response to violations of the Town's Sexual Harassment Policy involving an elected official, which served to highlight shortcomings in the Town's Board & Committee Handbook, I undertook an extensive review of committee, employee, & workplace policies throughout the region and rewrote the entire handbook. This revised and rewritten Board & Committee Handbook was reviewed/approved by Town Counsel and ultimately by the Board of Selectmen in 2011 with only very minor adjustments to the rewrite I submitted. 
• 2010: In an effort to ensure greater access to town government, I initiated & coordinated live broadcast and phone-in questioning for the annual pre-town meeting presentation. This was continued in 2011.
• 2011: Initiated and coordinated the live broadcast & phone-in questioning of the Board of Health public meetings on the PayT program to ensure greater access and participation in the process. 
• 2011: Initiated and coordinated the live broadcast & phone-in questioning of the Board of Health's presentation of the Central Massachusetts Mosquito Control Project (CMMCP) in response to concerns about the project. This live broadcast - supported by the Sturbridge Board of Health in partnership with CMMCP helped to provide residents with a greater understanding of the benefits associated with mosquito control, while providing valuable information on alternatives for those choosing such.  
• When concerns arose in 2011 specific to potential long-term contamination issues associated with the Riverlands, & the inability of previous entities to address them, I personally conducted extensive review of Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) records, initiated contact with senior DEP officials and worked directly with them to determine & initiate a process for mitigating those hazards. That mitigation work is currently under way.
• In 2011 after learning that front door access was unavailable to Town Hall & the Center Office Building due to failures to address variance requirements by the Architect, I personally worked with and coordinated efforts between the Town and the Architectural Access Board to gain the necessary variances; despite public claims by the Architect that “it couldn’t be done”.
• 2011: Led efforts to extend the Single Tax Rate as an enticement to business expansion
• NOTE: Business expansion into our community the past two years (i.e. Tractor Supply, Ocean State Job Lot, Winebuyers Outlet, a proposed Movie Theater at Hobbs Brook, a proposed Medical Research & Development expansion into the former Hebert Candy Mansion, the proposed Dental Office & Restaurant in the Basketville Building, a proposed restaurant at 420 Main Street, Family Fitness Center now locating in the former Hallmark store, etc.) are certainly not accidental in nature, but rather a response to policies developed over the last 3 years as a direct result of a strong business-positive tone I have led with and have worked to establish as a matter of public policy. 
• In 2011 following the unsatisfactory response by National Grid’s Management Team to a series of local disasters, I personally appeared before DPU Investigators and was the only elected official to provide sworn testimony on behalf of our community.
• In addition, I authored an official letter that was submitted to DPU investigators as part of the Public Testimonies Record that outlined National Grid coordination and management failures - as identified by Sturbridge Town Department Heads, residents, and at least two selectmen that was supported, signed, and submitted by Selectman Priscilla Gimas & myself.
• In addition, meetings are currently being held (initiated and coordinated by me) between National Grid management officials and Town representatives in an effort to more proactively and cooperatively address disaster challenges, so as to prevent future coordination/collaboration issues.

The office of selectman requires one to "lead from the front" while being on the ground providing support and leadership to residents during all challenges.

As Thomas Jefferson believed, "when a man assumes a public trust, he becomes a public property". For me, those are not hollow words, but rather the obligation of representation.

There is little doubt that my decisions on some issues have not been met with complete support from all residents; clearly that is to be expected and I respect without reservation the need for different viewpoints. I do hope however that in the face of those differences, my approach to deliberations - based always upon a thorough review of information - have demonstrated a complete commitment to principle, integrity, and exhaustive review.

AUTHENTICITY

I invite all residents to carefully and thoroughly review my record - by way of all meeting minutes from the last 3 years and news reports, which have accompanied nearly every significant issue facing our community. I will enthusiastically and immediately provide any such material/confirmation requested, as I maintain a database of all meeting minutes and local news reports. Alternately, meeting minutes can be obtained online via the Town website by clicking HERE or through the Town Clerk, while news reports can be obtained directly from the websites of those newspapers covering our community should residents feel more comfortable obtaining materials to authenticate my service from independent sources. I also strongly encourage residents to challenge me on any items of concern or importance to you, as well as challenging my record and/or my approach to representing each of you so that you can be assured of having the most complete picture of my service.

I am available always by email at trcreamer@gmail.com or by phone at 774-696-0903.