“Strong citizenry makes a strong Democracy,” said League of Women Voters President Sharon McCarthy during her opening remarks at Tuesday morning’s Candidates’ Forum at Town Hall.
About 25 people showed up to hear what the candidates had to say at the forum, which gave residents a final opportunity to hear from both the School Committee and Board of Selectmen candidates before next week’s election. The event, which was recorded by the Cable Committee, will be telecast on Channel 12 Monday.
Four candidates—Keith Cheveralls, Virginia Justicz, B.J. Pessia, and Brian Stevens—are running for two three-year positions on the school board. A fifth candidate, Pat Wenger, is running uncontested for the single open one-year position. Four of the five candidates were in attendance, as Stevens was unable to participate due to his commitments as a teacher in Andover.
Three candidates—Leo Blair, Marie Sobalvarro, and Ron Ricci—are vying for two open three-year positions on the Board of Selectmen. Two candidates—Bob Eubank and Peter Warren—are contending for one open one-year seat. Eubank was unable to attend the forum due to business commitments.
School Committee candidates opened the forum and were followed by the candidates for Board of Selectmen. Candidates were asked to state why they were running for office, and what they thought the two biggest priorities were for the town. They were each asked two prepared questions, and they also took questions from the audience.
Candidates answer tough questions
Not surprisingly, School Committee candidates cited school funding as one of the top two priorities. All spoke of a need to move beyond the climate that developed around last year’s censure of the School Committee at Special Town Meeting, which one member of the audience called “a sad episode in our town’s history.”
Cheveralls said, “There are some fundamental issues that we as a community need to move forward on, the two most important being funding and credibility [of the School Committee].”
Justicz said that an important priority for the committee will be to seek “non-taxpayer” sources of funding, including increased Ch. 70 aid and special education reimbursements. She added that she hopes to work with the committee on laying a “collaborative groundwork” for this fall’s teacher contract negotiations.
Pessia spoke of a need for improved communication between the School Committee and residents.
Wenger said that, in addition to the priority of the school budget, school space needs should be looked at more intensively.
Questions for the candidates pulled no punches.
Cheveralls was challenged on the need to recuse himself from some of the work of the School Committee, including contract negotiations, because his wife is employed as a teacher at the elementary school.
“How can you contribute to the School Committee if you’re not part of the negotiations?” asked one of the prepared questions.
“How does it benefit the town to have a member who has to abstain from so much of the School Committee’s work?” asked another.
Cheveralls responded by saying he could contribute to the committee’s workload by involving himself in the administrative duties and policy reviews that “don’t go away” during contract negotiations.
Pessia was asked how she could be objective in dealing with the superintendent of schools, since she has been a vocal critic of his actions.
She said, “I don’t have preconceived notions [about the superintendent]. There are facts out there. I’m not interested in firing him, but I’d help in managing him.”
Audience member Deborah Skauen-Hinchliffe, of Still River, alleging that the superintendent had “done a number of things that have exposed the town to possible litigation,” asked Justicz, “What would you do to rein in this man?”
Justicz spoke of a need for committee members to work to restore the community’s trust in the school board.
“I don’t think everything that’s put out there can be demonstrated to be true,” she said, adding, “I don’t think we’re interested in micro-managing the superintendent.”
She advocated creating measurable goals for the superintendent, and doing periodic reviews of his progress against those goals.
Bolton Road resident Wade Holtzman, speaking of the $25,000 approved at last year’s Annual Town Meeting for an audit of special education spending, asked the candidates what they would do to move the audit forward or drop it altogether.
Justicz said, “There’s been an enormous degree of analysis and reporting on our Special Education Department already this year,” and noted that the school district had passed the Dept. of Education’s audit of the department “with flying colors.”
“People should ask themselves what the special education audit would accomplish that hasn’t already been addressed,” she said. “Should that money be spent?”
Several residents spoke about what they saw as discord created in town by the censure of the School Committee.”
Holly Rothkopf, of Old Boston Turnpike, said she thought that financial pressures in the town had caused the School Committee to be “unfairly targeted.”
“How can we stop doing this to the School Committee and to each other in town?” she asked the candidates. “How can we keep this kind of thing from happening again?”
Candidates emphasized the need for improved communication, examining all the facts, and proactively seeking funding at the state level to help alleviate the financial pressures that many feel led to discontent with the School Committee.
Board of Selectmen candidates offer opinions
Selectman candidates identified what they saw as the big issues facing the town, and cited a need for leadership and action.
Warren said that the number-one priority is addressing the financial condition of the town, noting the increasing cost of living and the need for yearly overrides to meet expenses.
“I don’t agree with the idea of lump-sum overrides,” he said, adding, “Selectmen should be leaders and be proactive in solving these issues.”
Blair named external threats as the biggest issues facing the town, pointing to 40B developments, the structural deficit, and Devens disposition as problems needing solutions.
“Time is running out for Harvard,” he said. “We need to act now.”
Sobalvarro said the budget shortfall was the most pressing issue facing the town.
“Our revenues are outstripped by expenses,” she noted.
Ricci cited inaction as something that needs to be overcome.
“There are lingering issues in Harvard that were being discussed when I moved here 23 years ago,” he said.
Questions for the candidates ran the gamut from town expenses, to the impact of 40Bs on Harvard, to Devens disposition.
Blair was asked about his interest in the property being proposed for a town-sponsored rental development on Ayer Road, which is being considered as a way to protect the town from traditional 40B developments. He answered that he no longer has a financial interest in the project, having turned over his interest in the parcel to the Municipal Affordable Housing Trust.
Ricci, asked if he would have a potential conflict of interest as a selectman, since his wife serves on the Finance Committee, said his wife would be leaving her position when her term expires this year.
On the question of Devens, Blair said that Harvard should see how it could benefit from the wellhead and sewer capacity there, but that Devens should be its own town.
Sobalvarro emphasized that the people of Harvard need to identify what they want relative to Devens. Ricci agreed with Blair on Harvard’s need for water and sewer capacity, especially to benefit the proposed housing project on Ayer Road, but said that in the end, Devens should be its own town.
Stow Road resident Laura Martineau challenged Blair on changing his tone on Devens from what she heard expressed at last week’s debate held on Devens.
“I heard you say, ‘I’m ashamed of my fellow residents for turning down [scenario] 2B; it was due to greed.’”
Blair countered that what he had actually said was, “If my fellow residents view the Devens question as just about what they can get, I would be ashamed of them, and it would be greedy.”
Ricci commented, “We’ve treated Devens residents very shabbily. The community of Devens and the community of Harvard should look to working together going forward.”
Candidates wrapped up by reemphasizing a need for leadership, action, and communication.
“We need to actively engage citizens in the conversation,” said Sobalvarro. “What kind of town do they want Harvard to be?”
