http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20150214/NEWS02/702149975/0/SEARCH
A candidates’ forum in the race for Springfield Select Board included, fromt left, Selectman David Yesman, Walter Martone, moderator Patrick Ankuda, Selectman Peter MacGillivray and Carol Cole.
Photo: Photo by Len EmeryPublished February 14, 2015 in the Rutland Herald
Springfield candidates tackle armory, run-down buildings
By SUSAN SMALLHEER
Staff Writer
SPRINGFIELD — A candidates’ forum featured differences of opinion on what to do about dilapidated buildings in town and what to do with the former National Guard Armory.
The four candidates vying for the two open seats on the Springfield Select Board discussed the few but notable differences Thursday night.
Incumbent Selectmen Peter MacGillivray and David Yesman are being challenged for two, three-year seats on the board by newcomers Carol Cole and Walter Martone.
It was Yesman, who was often the sole “no” vote on issues during the past year, who again differed from the majority.
Yesman wasn’t in favor of the $100,000 article on the town meeting warning that would set up a special dedicated fund for demolition of dilapidated buildings in town. The town isn’t following the procedures contained in town ordinances, he said.
“One hundred thousand dollars is a lot on the tax rolls,” he said.
But the others — MacGillivray, Martone and Cole — said they supported the $100,000 article, calling it a necessary step to break the logjam over dilapidated properties.
The town could use the money to tear down the buildings and place a lien on the land, and eventually get paid back by the owner, MacGillivray said.
Cole, a local real estate agent, said people who come to town always ask her about it. She said people ask her, “Isn’t there some way people can be held accountable?’”
Cole said the money would help the town hold the people accountable.
Martone said the money was a good first step. “We need to get a kick-start,” he said, adding he hopes the fund will be replenished.
There was also disagreement on the issue of the “maker’s space” proposed for the former National Guard Armory in North Springfield.
Yesman said he wasn’t in favor of the project, and the town should instead focus its attention on the future of Park Street School.
Cole, Martone and MacGillivray said they thought the idea for the armory was a great one and an indication of the new creative thinking taking hold in Springfield.
“It’s a fantastic idea,” said Cole, adding that she knew of people who were “doing things out of their homes” and had run out of space. The armory space could be a natural.
MacGillivray said he voted for pursuing the project, which was defeated on a 3-2 vote earlier this week.
“It’s a fascinating idea,” said MacGillivray.
Martone, a member of the town’s budget committee, said time and energy is too often spent on the “nitty gritty” of town government. He said he was in favor of a focus on services instead.
The four candidates said they felt the town had made progress in the fight against crime, drugs and gang activity, with renewed efforts by the Springfield Police Department.
A downtown shooting in June 2014, the second in three years, had refocused attention on the drug and gang issues.
“The ramped-up patrols have definitely had an effect,” Martone said.
The candidates answered questions posed by the audience in the Selectman’s Hall on the top floor of the Town Hall. The forum, sponsored by the Springfield Regional Chamber of Commerce, was moderated by Patrick Ankuda, who is also the town moderator.
susan.smallheer@ rutlandherald.com
Why in the world does the town of Springfield want to take possession of another worn out building?? Next thing we will hear is we need $100,000.00 for repairs. If people in town need a place to put up food privatize it. Don't saddle the town. Good God!!
ReplyDeleteSeems like the question the Selectboard was basically presented with was whether to see if they could come up with a plan before acquiring it, or simply to see what would be involved environmentally before acquiring it without a plan for using it. They voted to not come up with a plan for using it, but to just consider the environmental issues, get the State to clean it up and acquire it without any plan and without a public meeting to discuss the usage. At least that is how I understood the vote.
ReplyDeleteRE: “It’s a fantastic idea,” said Cole, adding that she knew of people who were “doing things out of their homes” and had run out of space.
ReplyDeleteCare to be more specific Ms. Cole? My guess is that you don't know of too many, if any at all!
This is the kind of distracting nonsense that frustrates citizens. The select board can't focus on the basic requirements of the town without being distracted by such pie-in-the-sky nonsense of turning an abandoned state building into nirvana.
Fix the roads. Fix the bridges. Provide quality water and sewer services. Reduce the crime rate. See to it that the existing laws and ordnances are readily and reliably enforced. Focus the fiscal resources of the town's infrastructure and the private sector will begin to fill in the rest, but don't get distracted by petty little causes and projects that will ultimately only diffuse the town's focus on matters of higher priority but also weigh it down with future liabilities and expenses.
Limited government is the answer!
RE: Martone said the money was a good first step. “We need to get a kick-start,” he said, adding he hopes the fund will be replenished.
ReplyDeleteSo here's a guy who campaigns right out of the starting blocks on reducing property taxes, but the minute a nice little $100k proposed article for the ballot is brought up, he's all for it!
This sounds like the old "In order to cut property taxes, we first have to increase property taxes" ploy!
You get these folks in a group and they lose the courage of their convictions, becoming just more flatulent politicians falling all over themselves to agree on whatever half-baked proposal is floated. None of them will ever throw the "B.S. flag" and say "No!" because they're desperate to be liked.
It appears that Martone and Cole are both disingenuous, but so are most of the incumbents. What a mess!
Amen!
DeleteAs a long term member of Springfield's Chamber of Commerce, my personal impression of Cole's tenure is, useless. Not once was I ever visited or called for an introduction to learn about the obstacles unique to Springfield in growing my business.
Furthering the impression is the abysmal business climate that has decimated our Main Street and driven excellent jobs out of town. Think not? Just compare our industrial park and Clinton Street to Walpole or CEDA. Those success stories didn't happen by accident. Trust me, I've meet her counterparts there, and she is not in that league.
The impression I get from the likes of Cole and Martone are inane do-gooders, unfit to sit on any board in private industry, but needing self-verification foist themselves upon low information voters.
Our alternatives are little better, but I subscribe to the quote, "'Better the devil you know than the devil you don't."