COUNCILOR-AT-LARGE

We must bring common sense back to our dysfunctional City Council to deal with the pressing issues facing our City.  The City Council needs to work with the elected Mayor to do what is best for Newburyport.  I have three adult children who graduated from Newburyport Public schools.  We must provide the best public schools possible, but I am opposed to a Prop 2 ½ Override.  Ourtaxpayers are finding it harder and harder to live in the City.  An Override for Operating Expenses should be a last resort and we are not there yet! We must continue to keep the Central Waterfront open!  We can expand the park, but we should keep a majority of the land for parking and properly landscape it.  One of the attractions of our beautiful City is the accessibility to the waterfront from the adjacent parking.I am against charging parking fees for City lots.  We must control expenses and we must not cut any more City services.  We should keep larger chain stores out of the downtown to maintain the unique character of our City.  I will continue to work for a Senior Center.

I ask for one of your five votes on Nov. 6 for Councilor-at-Large so I can serve you on the Newburyport City Council. Together, we can make a difference!

BACKGROUND AND EXPERIENCE :  Former Mayor of Newburyport ,  Former 3 term City Councilor, Community Action Board for 9 years, Friends of the Library Exec. Board, Youth League Soccer coach, 8 yrs, Senior Celebration Chair, 1996, Former Cub Scout Cubmaster, Univ of Rhode Island, B.S. Engineering, Boston University, M.B.A.

COUNCILOR AT LARGE

STEVEN R. HUTCHESON

Re-election as City Councilor-at-large

978-465-5149 or councilorhutch@yahoo.com

As I mentioned at event, I ask for your votes since we share the same values and needs as parents of kids in Newburyport.  I care deeply about their safety and education and will do what I can to ensure that for them.  I have worked on public safety issues for the past 2 years as part of the public safety committee on the City Council.  I am currently the Chairman of the public safety committee, so going forward if reelected I will be in a good position to work for the safety and well being of kids and families across Newburyport.  I feel that is extremely important and something that I look forward to working on in the coming years.  Thanks.

WILLIAM (BILL) DEANS

Councilor-at-large   

978-462-0505 or 978-462-7054

 Imcarn@verizon.net   Communicatethetruth.com 

Newburyport needs involved leaders, with perspective and common sense, who will:

- Concentrate on the critical issues such as our school system and the problem it has created for our city financially and our students educationally. 

- Recognize the only way to resolve our revenue problem is by increasing our taxable property base and ensuring the tax burden is borne equitably by all classifications of property.

BUT, in the meantime, we need leaders who will have the intestinal fortitude to take the necessary short-term measures to stabilize our situation. 

GARY L. ROBERTS JR.

City Councilor at Large 

36 Plummer Ave.

atlarge1nbpt@yahoo.com

978-465-1781

     In the past two years I have kept the promises that I made to the voters of this community during my last campaign.  I have worked to preserve our natural and architectural resources through my support of the purchase of the common pasture and the Fruit St. Historic district.  I have supported the parents and children of this community by participating in a process to select an after-school provider. I pushed for cuts to the city budget that allowed the restoration of one teaching and one guidance position in our school system.  I have supported efforts to establish a senior center.  Finally, I have worked to ensure that we get a maximum value for every tax dollar that we spend.

    Moving forward I recognize that while I have been able to be part of many good things done on behalf of the residents that many challenges remain.  We have a school district in desperate need,  and I believe that we do not have the option of eliminating anything from consideration in addressing that need.  I pledge that I will work with parents and the other elected officials of this city to try and meet the needs of our children in the coming 2 years.

     In regard to connecting to young families, that isn't much of a challenge for me because I am a member of a young family.  My wife Leanne, a member of the mothers club,  and I have three children ages 6,4,and 17 months.  I know all to well the challenges that the membership faces because I face them myself everyday.  The indulgence of my bride makes it possible for me to seek office in the hope of making Newburyport the place it could and should be.

I ask for your support on Nov.6th.

THOMAS JONES

Councilor at Large

www.jones4nbpt.com

978-465-4002

My current view of the City is very optimistic. The issues are clear, we need to grow smartly, looking carefully at how new homes and businesses effect our resources, and how we can make best use of the growth we envision. We are faced with a financial deficit in City Government, and we need to focus on smarter government, not more of it. We can plan better, we can maintain better, and we can teach better.

While I think I could spend a bunch of print on young family issues, let me demonstrate: For many years, since my brothers and I were growing up, there have been few structured programs for kids, outside of sports leagues. I was among a few folks who sat down and planned for and created the Boys & Girls Club in Salisbury. That club was planned for here in Newburyport, but we only found a willing home in Salisbury. I was elected by my friends to serve as the first club President, and spent countless hours planning and drafting the documents that created that club. Today, it serves over 600 kids and runs year-round programming for after school and summer schedules. I can talk about ideas, but that is a real success for families. That is what I bring to City Government. And donations to the club are happily accepted, Lower Merrimac Valley Boys & Girls Club,  14 Maple St. Salisbury. Please check it out, it is a great place for kids.

COUNCILOR AT LARGE

KATHLEEN O'CONNOR IVES

 Candidate for City Councilor-at-Large

Contact info: You can learn more about my campaign at: www.kathleenives.com

If you have questions or would like to help out in this last week of the campaign or on Election Day, you can reach me at: voteives@gmail.com or 978-462-0678.

There are key issues is this campaign which motivated me to enter the race for city councilor-at-large; I believe many of my concerns are shared by you as parents who want Newburyport to be the best city it can be as a place to live, work and raise a family.

Education:  I am completely dedicated to the continual improvement of the Newburyport School System.  The quality of students' education is already being compromised with program cuts and fewer teachers. The city council has a role to play by working with the school committee to improve communication and budget transparency so that everyone can understand how money is being spent and what the needs of the school system are.  We need improve the level of trust, confidence and communication.  Since a quality education is an indicator of a successful community, everyone has a stake in the quality of the school system, whether they have children in the schools or not. 

Environment:  Newburyport is presently facing significant environmental challenges. My background is in land use and environmental studies and I'm keenly interested in the Crow Land landfill debacle.  We must consider how decisions impact environmentally sensitive areas and need to develop a long term vision for city.

Public Safety:  I'm dedicated to making sure public safety is always a consideration in the decision making process.  Newburyport is in need of greater traffic control in certain sections of the city.  A good example is the Route 1, Merrimac/Market Street intersection.  Pedestrians and parents with strollers traveling from Cashman Park always have to struggle to cross the street safely.  We need to be proactive to prevent accidents and make the city a safer place to walk and drive.

Community Building:   Whether you're a Newburyport resident who was born and raised here, or are new to the city, we are all in the same boat; we all want Newburyport to be a prosperous city where we can stay and thrive.  Young and old, new and native care deeply about the city and often have more in common than differences.  I want to focus on our shared goals and continue to improve upon the city's unique feeling of community.

City Revenue:  I believe Newburyport's future economic success is critically linked to the city's historical and environmental richness.  I will work to ensure that city laws are drafted to protect these resources.  The Fruit Street Historic District is a good first step for Newburyport to protect its history.  It's not about micro-managing the color of a person's house.  It's about creating the most basic standards so that the city's architectural treasures are not destroyed one by one.

Newburyport's infrastructure is deteriorating.  I'm sure you see it everyday going about your daily business.  It's the sidewalks or often the lack thereof, the roads, the water treatment plant etc... I want to work to reduce waste and make Newburyport a more fiscally efficient city so more funding can be directed to improve city services. 

I know I could make a difference on the city council as a new voice, bringing a fresh perspective to problems on which we need to take action.

I want to listen, learn, and reach consensus so we can move forward on the city's many challenges.

I'd like to humbly ask for one of your 5 votes for City Councilor-at-Large on Tuesday, November 6th.

Thank you!

 MARY CARRIER

Councilor-at-Large

e-mail: Mary.Carrier@yahoo.com

Right now, I see Newburyport in a state of inertia.  Nothing is happening to bring Newburyport forward.  The same issues on the forefront have been there at least eight years and not one has been resolved.

If I should be elected, I would work with the City Council and the Mayor's office to bring to fruition projects such as the Senior Center and the Waterfront Park.  We would need to set priorities in dealing with the issues on the table and a timeframe in which to complete them.

Right now, the schools are a major issue to be dealt with swiftly.  Our children should not have to bear the burden of our mistakes as a city government.  Programs should never be cut and necessary teachers removed.  First thing would be to sit down with the School Committee and the Superintendent and look at the entire organization. Some teachers may be wearing many hats as well as administrators.  Where exactly is the money being spent?

We all pay taxes and we should expect the best education possible for our kids.  As a former educator, I think we owe an explanation to the community and I would assure an open forum.

We are sitting on our greatest resource here in Newburyport, our waterfront.  This should be utilized as a year round destination.  When planning the design, recreational uses must be considered.  Something such as an ice skating rink is an example of something that would bring families together and yet give older kids something to do nights and weekends.  It would generate some income and in the summer can serve as an outdoor restaurant with umbrella tables.  This is only one idea of preserving the open space and bringing in money for the upkeep and maintenance of the park.  There can be boating classes as well as an open air Art Center for drama and music.

The Newburyport Mothers' Club is certainly a voice for young families and from what I observed can be a tremendous source of input to the City Council and the Youth Commission of what they would like to see happening for young people in Newburyport.

My focus has always been on the youth of our city as far back as being a member of the group then trying to establish a Teen Center, as Mayor establishing the first Youth Commission in Newburyport, negotiating the site at the Middle School for the Skateboard Park, acquiring 10 acres for a future elementary school and, in the meantime, offering its use to the Youth Soccer Group.

I apologize for taking so much space but I am passionate about the direction our city is taking, or not taking, to make progress.  Please vote on Tuesday, November 6th and I would appreciate one of your five votes for Councilor-at-Large. 

BRUCE MENIN

SCHOOL COMMITTEE

blog: newburtyportschools.blogspot.com  phone; 978 499 3883 (h); 978 270 4595 (c)  

The challenge facing the City today, and the schools are symptomatic of this, is the need to maintain and improve services as the funding available decreases. While initiatives like Prop. 2 1/2 adopted 20 years ago in  an era when houses didn't appreciate 300% in ten years and gas didn't jump ten cents a gallon overnight have capped the ability of towns and cities to raise money, there has been a dramatic shifting of cost burdens from the feds to the state, and the state to local governments.

Given the structural deficit built into the school budget by a 20% unexpected reduction in state aid four years ago, the schools must find additional funds, quickly, to arrest academic decline.  For the short term there are few solutions- the city joining the state insurance pool is the most immediate.  An override, or debt exclusion are other more immediate solutions.  The difficulty with both of these, beyond the burden the override/debt places on the community, is that it views the problem as a school problem, not a city, state or federal problem.  I believe we need a new framework for dealing with our financial issues; I believe that Dr. Lyons, his administrative staff and the teachers, given the resources, know exactly what needs to be done in terms of curriculum and time on learning.

1)  We need municipal reform; a Charter Review Commission.  We need to take a look at how we develop budgets (the Schools develop a community-based, transparent budget, other CIty Departments negotiate in private with the Mayor, the Mayor presents that budget to the City Council, and the Council is only empowered to cut);, how civic priorities are set (cell phones for one Department vs. textbooks for another); and the City side of the budget needs far more transparency.  

2) The City needs to centralize the process of identifying and triaging potential federal and private grants that will allow us to expand programs while strengthening the underlying foundation.

3) The School Committee will be adopting a tool, developed by two members of the Committee that will allow us to make ballpark forecast of expenses over the next 3-5 years. These will provide the basis for projecting needed revenues.  This will put the CIty Council, the Committee, the Mayor and the community on the same page, and further promote transparency and budgetary credibility.  Should this information indicate the need to use the Override or Debt Exclusion process to fund schools, the City needs to ensure that those citizens identified at risk (home-owners living on fixed incomes) can abate the tax increase until their property is sold or their estate is settled. 

4)  The School Committee has adopted, for the first time, a primary focus for budget preparation: Student Achievement. 

As for my contribution to these efforts, I offer the following;

Experience--I have served six years, worked with three different superintendents, nine different School Committee members, three different Mayors, and upwards of sixteen different City Councilors. I have been part of the negotiating team for one teacher's contract, I have been through six budget cycles, have both added and cut programs, and the same principles that I ran on 6 years ago remain intact: transparency, accountability, the primacy of student achievement, equity, and creatively thinking outside the box to achieve both efficiencies and opportunities for student learning.

Understanding of the issues from the top down and the bottom up:  I am a licensed teacher, K-8 and Special Needs in MA and NY; I have additional training working with 6-12 year old kids in Montessori technique; and 7 years teaching in private and public settings.  I understand curriculum, assessment; I stay current with educational research, and best practices, and seek every opportunity for innovation in both the classroom and the Administration of the schools.  I am a parent, have had and still have children in the schools; and I am a ferocious advocate for kids, process, and community engagement.

I take the issues very seriously, myself less so.

As for engaging parents with young children in the schools, this is a part of finding new ways to reach constituencies who are not engaged in the schools currently, such as parents of graduates, non-parents, and seniors.

I would encourage a rolling series of "open houses", in which parents and current students can offer guided tours through the building, and show prospective parents and students the kind of work they do.  These should be during the daytime.  School administrators, accompanied by teachers and current parents of students, should meet in the community with parents of prospective students to address any concerns or questions about the educational model and the prospective funding issues we will address. 

As the Community Cable television station ramps up, there should be a regular program hosted by the Superintendent that focuses on what is happening in the schools in general.  Parents of prospective students should join the e-mail listserv and phone bank, so that they are receiving all information being sent out into the community from the administration and the School Committee.  My hope is that in the next four years, the School Committee will adopt a Task Force model that will look at a wide range of issues and make recommendations to the community, with membership limited to one or two SC members and the rest made up by members from the community; and these would be more opportunities to engage all interested parties in the dialogue of education.

I recognize I'm out of space and time.  But I'm not out of ideas.  Please visit newburyportschools.blogspot.com and challenge, add to the dialogue, question the ideas, or pose more questions. 

Thanks again for you interest.

SCHOOL COMMITTEE

NICHOLAS DEKANTER

SCHOOL COMMITTEE

 www.dekanter4schools.org e-mail: dekanter4schools@verizon.net  phone: 978-462-1252

Newburyport Schools are at a cross roads.

The exemplary education that has characterized our community has eroded due to insufficient funding over the past five years. Today, our schools are in danger of no longer being able to prepare our students for success in the twenty-first century.

I am convinced that with strong leadership we CAN do better. This is why I decided to run for Newburyport’s School Committee, and why I respectfully ask for your vote. We must do better. With focus on student achievement, funding and communications, we CAN do better.

·         Student Achievement: I will look at everything we do through the prism of student achievement. Our long range plan must start and end with student achievement. Our decisions and budgeting must start and end with student achievement.

·         Funding: We have a moral and economic duty to adequately fund education. We must exhaust all funding options: increased state funding, grants, efficiencies (not program cuts) complimented by the responsible use of an override if need be.

·         Communication: Only if we are able to engage the entire community in education, will we be able to deliver on funding and student achievement.

With a strong School Committee focusing on these three concepts, we can have the best school district on the North Shore; we can have a school district that is recognized for its innovation and fiscal management; a school district all Newburyporters can be proud to support.

“All Newburyport residentsneed to support our schools. I love this city, and I’m excited about the opportunity to contribute my time and energy to make a positive difference.”

STEPHANIE WEAVER

School Committee

Website – http://weaverforschools.com

E-Mail – steph@weaverforschools.com

Phone – (978) 499-9004

My name is Stephanie Weaver, and I am one of the six candidates running for School Committee.  

At last Wednesday night’s forum, I spoke about what I had in common with the members of the NMC.    My husband Scott and I moved here 6 ½ years ago.  Our children (boy/girl twins) were 16 months at the time.  I truly remember those early years, when getting through the day (with two toddlers) was a challenge in itself.  I didn’t really know what was going on with the school budget cuts until our children were entering the system.  Then, I went to my first School Committee meeting.  I left that meeting feeling extremely concerned & knew I needed to get involved.  I wished that I had known about things BEFORE my kids were entering the system. 

Our kids are 8 years-old now, and they are in 2^nd grade at the Bresnahan School.  I have invested 200 hours of my time going to the School Committee meetings to learn about the budget, the policies and the plans to improve student achievement.  There needs to be constant outreach from the School Committee to the various stakeholders in our community.  That includes everyone…because the health of our school system affects the entire city. 

My campaign platform is listed below, and if you have any questions or concerns, I’d be more than happy to meet with you.  There are six candidates running in this election, with three spots available.  If you could consider me for one of your votes on November 6th, I would truly appreciate it. 

Key Goals:

Expect ENGAGEMENT
Parents and children are the consumers of the Newburyport Public Schools, but the health of our system effects the entire community. The School Committee needs to engage with, listen and respond to the community as a whole. Sharing information, communicating goals and inviting early participation are key goals of mine.

* Create an ongoing process to gather community input on budget, policy and strategic planning.

* Improve communication among all elected officials, including our state legislators, to ensure that School initiatives and concerns are understood and acted on.

*Expand the use of communication channels which speak directly to voters, including electronic media and outreach programs that reach the entire community.

Expect ACTION

The role of the School Committee is to oversee the budget, make sound policy decisions, set goals for the district, increase student achievement and evaluate the Superintendent. These important duties demand efficiency, strategic thinking and, most of all, action. I offer experience in creating unity and igniting groups through positive management.

*Consistently focus on improving student achievement, not settling for "adequate" but striving for "excellent" for all of our children.

*Make the School Committee vocal and visible advocates throughout our city and beyond, for improving our schools.

Expect ACCOUNTABILITY

Our kids, teachers and administration are all held accountable for meeting the objectives set for them. It should be no different for the School Committee. If elected, expect me to insist that the committee complete all its work on time and that it be held accountable for sound fiscal direction and management.

1. Implement School Committee policies which have clear connections to improving student achievement and set measurable goals to demonstrate that the policies are working.
2. Develop budgets which allocate scarce resources on the basis of improving student achievement and which make realistic and understandable arguments for increased resources as they are needed.
3. Evaluate the Superintendent in a timely fashion, holding him accountable for the performance of the school system and for student achievement.

TRACEY HURST

SCHOOL COMMITTEE

Contact: 978-462-4967, the4minnows@yahoo.com

My primary goals for school committee are to 1) Focus on Communication: We need to communicate effective and regularly with the school community, city council and community at large.  The needs, conditions and accomplishments of our schools should never be a surprise to anyone in the community. 2) Focus on Educational Goals: We need to establish educational goals for the courses that will be offered and the most appropriate materials to deliver the curriculum.  For example, our K-6 literacy program is not 12 years old but 12 years out of date.  We need a means to deliver our academic programs appropriately to children of all learning levels.  3) 5 Year Plan: We need to develop two 5 year plans, one for the academic programs that Newburyport will offer to provide a current well rounded education and one for the budget.  We should the reconcile the difference to determine where we can bridge the financial gaps and where we would have to cut back.  4) Evaluation: We need to incorporate a second academic measurement in tandem with MCAS to ensure that we are providing the proper education to produce a well rounded student.

The skills that I bring to school committee are 1) Strong Financial Background 2) Affinity for Data Analysis 3) Innovative Thinking 4) Good Communication and Organization Skills and 5) the Ability to Work as a Team to Deliver Results.

CITY COUNCIL WARD 1

GREGORY EARLS

CITY COUNCIL WARD 2

25 Milk Street

978 465-9324

gearls25@comcast.net

    I have lived in the South End for over ten years. I am married to Nancy Earls who is the Project Coordinator for the Newburyport Learning Enrichment Center at Kelleher Park. Nancy is active on many local boards and commissions including Community Action, Beacon Coalition and the Youth Commission. We have two boys who have gone through the Brown School, through Nock and are now attend Newburyport High School.

   There are three immediate and universal issues facing the South End and the City as a whole; Education, Historic Preservation and our dowtown Waterfront.

   I have a proven record of being a consistent advocate for the schools and voted to put the Spring Override question on the ballot for the voters of Ward 2. For 6 years I have sat on the Joint Education Committee of the City Council and have facilitated more productive communications between the School Committee and City Council.

Having had two sons who have been through the Brown and the Nock, I have seen, first hand, the programs and curriculum we have lost in our schools. I believe that most of the voters in Newburyport are concerned about our schools. I also believe that the School Committee needs to develop an inclusive, multi-year budget plan in order to re-gain the trust of the voters.

   I also have a proven record of being dedicated to Historic Preservation. I sat on the Fruit Street Local Historic District Committee for over a year and half to determine what rules and regulations such a District would include. This Committee analyzed the effects of every word in the Ordinance to ensure that the requirements were neither onerous or unfair. Everyone who voiced a concern was responded to and the majority consensus of the neighborhood is a testament to the time and energy spent on this Ordinance. Also, I was an advocate for the Federal Street Overlay District which resulted in the saving of the church structure and the two brick homes on Federal Street. This Overlay District allowed the developer to build a more community sensitive development than what would be allowed under a 40B project. An alternative may have been a multi-story apartment building on the site.

   Surveys concerning the Central Waterfront have conclusively supported the fact that most residents prefer a Waterfront that is used primarily for passive recreation and open space. To that end, I would support a compromise that keeps the Waterfront open and accessible while retaining parking for no more than 100 to 150 cars. However, before we discuss ways in which the City needs to fund additional parking, it is a priority that we engage downtown landowners and stake-holders to coordinate a cooperative solution.

    I believe the best way to connect with the City's young families is to promote healthy choices for our children. This includes maintaining our parks and playgrounds so that they are safe and have age appropriate equipment. We need to encourage the growth or our local youth athletic programs, as well as the promotion of alternative programs such as the arts, the skatepark and Destination Imagination. Being a parent, I have been a vocal supporter of our Youth Services Department. I am very pleased that we now have a full time Director of Youth Services.

Thank you again for this opportunity.

CITY COUNCIL WARD 2

JAMES SHANLEY

CITY COUNCIL WARD 3

978-463-6806

shanleyjames@comcast.net

My goal for my third term will be to continue to work cooperatively with the Mayor, the Planning Office, the Planning Board and the Chamber of Commerce to solve the five inter-related issues that face Newburyport: the waterfront, paid parking, commercial property expansion, taxes, and historic preservation. The quality of life we have in Newburyport and the price we have to pay for it can be directly traced to each of the five areas mentioned.

The best way I can think of to connect to the young families in Newburyport is to work hard to make sure that our parks and playgrounds are well cared for, our schools and police properly funded, and to work to increase the amount and value of the commercial sector to pay for these municipal services.

I would be happy to attend a Mothers Club meeting to talk in greater depth about the above topics.

 ED CAMERON

CITY COUNCIL WARD 4

edcameronNBPT@gmail.com (email), 978-518-0786 (cell), www.edcameronNBPT.com (website)

As working parents with a 4 year old who will enter Newburyport Public Schools next year and with our own parents now in their seventies, my wife and I are dealing with many of the day-to-day concerns you face.  With over twenty years of progressively responsible experience in the nonprofit and government sectors, I want to focus on three areas: 1)Education, 2)Municipal Reform 3)Development.  Please visit my website and blog at www.edcameronNBPT.com  

With your input and guidance, I want to focus on areas where local government can make a positive difference:

• Development within the neighborhoods of the Ward, on the waterfront, and downtown – I want to preserve what is good about Newburyport while we work together to reinvigorate local businesses and improve quality of life.  We need leadership that will ensure that private interests are valued but are not allowed to run rampant over public values.
• Education – I want a community that can prepare our children for the future.  The City Council, the School Committee, and the Mayor need to demand excellence in our schools and to push for reforms and cost-efficiencies at all times - not just during budget crises.
• Municipal Reform including Property Tax Relief –I want a local government that is effective and efficient; our current form of government with a two-year mayoral term is behind the times.  Therefore, I will work to create a charter review commission either to implement a professional city manager or four-year mayoral term form of governance. 
   
• Seniors - I want to help seniors and people of modest means stay in the community they have called home their entire lives.  After years of inaction, seniors deserve a Senior Center.  I will lead efforts to increase the senior tax exemption and I will work to educate seniors to take advantage of this benefit.

The people have spoken on these issues and more. Through elections, public meetings, surveys and letters to the editor, Newburyport citizens have repeatedly and emphatically told public officials what they'd like to see happen.  I believe citizens are in charge and have the right to expect their elected representatives to translate that input into results.

I believe I have the qualifications, energy and creativity to make a contribution.  If given the chance to serve as your Ward 4 Councillor, I'd work diligently to help Newburyport be the best place it can be – not for a special few but for everyone who lives here.

If you have suggestions on how to make Ward 4 and Newburyport a better place to live, please email me at edcameronNBPT@gmail.com, write to me at 17 Oakland St., or call me on my cell phone anytime at 978-518-0786.

I look forward to the conversation and I hope to earn your vote in November.

I welcome your input and ideas and ask for your consideration on Tuesday, November 6.

CITY COUNCIL WARD 4

BRIAN DERRIVAN

Ward 5 Councilor

e-mail: derrivan@comcast.net

Running for City Council has been something I’ve wanted to do for quite some time.  I truly want to help move Newburyport forward in a positive direction.  As you can see of late, we are and will be facing many tough decisions.  I want to bring the community and city government together by being open to the concerns and ideas of my constituents and incorporating those concerns and ideas into the decision-making process.  I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I truly want to dissolve the disconnect between citizens and city government.  

Securing the quality of our schools is a priority and the adoption of our new task force is exactly what we have been asking for, a team of dedicated people focusing on alternative sources of funding for our schools.  How sensible!  In addition we need to move forward and take a closer look at our budgets and the process, and regain the trust of the community through effective communication.  My efforts will not be spent going after more of your tax dollars, instead I will work diligently to cut spending and control costs. 

The ability to prosper and thrive as citizens of Newburyport will remain my main objective. These are the issues I will be focusing on as City Councilor:

*     Ensuring the proper closure of the Crow Lane landfill

*    Bringing a trusted voice to the Ward 5 Council seat

*     Working with the School Committee to safeguard the quality of education for our children

*    Working hard to cut spending where necessary and give Newburyport an effective budget that works

*     Building up our business community and taking the tax burden off the residents

*    Maintaining a balance between development and the preservation of open space

*    Continue my work to give Newburyport a quality Senior Center

*    Support and promote new ideas for increasing revenue needed for capital improvements, infrastructure needs and other projects

 I look forward to seeing you at the polls.  I ask for your trust and your vote on November 6, 2007. 

BRUCE L.VOGEL

CITY COUNCIL WARD 5

28 Myrtle Ave, 978-462-5463, bruce@wardfivenbpt.com, www.wardfivenbpt.com

The Position Statements tab on the website outlines my positions in detail.  Included are two sub pages, one On Being a City Councilor and the other On Governing and Government.

Newburyport is in a financial quandary.  I voted against the police contract because it included pay raises without any givebacks and will vote against the current city employee contract for the same reason.  I will speak out against any raises in the fire contract when it comes before council.  The city needs to be run in a business-like manner.

The cost of governing must be reduced and we need to be creative in the way we run the city.

The tax burden needs to shift from residential to business and commerce.  We must attract high end, progressive businesses by distinguishing Newburyport as “the place” to do business.  We can distinguish Newburyport by embracing “green”.

This last year I brought forward an ordinance to promote the use of compostables service ware for take-out food.  This type of initiative will get the attention of forward-thinking enterprises and attract them to Newburyport.

In the short term, we must 1) tighten our spending, 2) reallocate our resources, 3) educate the community about an override or debt exclusion, 4) pursue grants, and 5) do whatever we can to stabilize our financial situation.  We must focus first on our schools and then on the city budget.

Good schools are the backbone of our community.  Aside from the obvious benefit of properly educating our children, good schools protect out property values.

Young families bring new ideas, new ways of doing things, and new needs.  For the “old families”, this type of change causes fear and the fear creates a divide. 

Bridging this divide is a challenge.  It is encouraging to see the new families engage in the government process and the more we engage, the sooner we will be able to solidify our community.

Admittedly, these are lofty ideas.

in the meantime, I will continue to be a strong voice and advocate for proper school funding and fiscally responsible government.  Also I will remain an outspoken, creative and critical thinking representative.

If my positions and ideas resonate with you, then please vote for me.  In addition, please talk with five others and ask them to consider voting for me and ask them to speak to five others.

Thank you very much.

CITY COUNCIL WARD 6