The Town of Wellesley depends on the active participation of its citizens in governance of the Town. Wellesley has 11 Boards and Committees on the ballot at the Annual Town election each year in March. The 2019 election will be held on Tuesday, March 5, 2019.

We invited all eleven candidates in contested races to answer questions about what they bring to the table for the following positions: Board of Selectmen; Natural Resources Commission; Board of Health; Planning Board (5-year term); and Planning Board (1-year term).

Here are links to each interview. If you want a broader look at the election, go to our Wellesley Election 2019 page. You can also view the recording of the Meet the Candidates night event at the bottom of this post.

Board of Selectmen

Jenn Fallon: “I hope to improve transparency and communication between the BOS and the entire Wellesley community. There is so much going on in town and during this race I have learned that many people do not know what the BOS does, never mind the important decisions that are being made on their behalf.” READ THE INTERVIEW

Lise Olney: “I’m committed to preserving our town’s quality of life, while also creating a welcoming environment that’s attainable for people of different ages, incomes, and backgrounds.” READ THE INTERVIEW

Natural Resources Commission

Raina McManus: “One of the NRC’s most important functions will be educating the public on the economic and environmental value the North 40 is currently providing to Wellesley, including drinking water protection and flood control.” READ THE INTERVIEW

Jim Miller: “My top priority is to make NRC a more collaborative partner and build coalitions with other boards in town and the broader community. I view environmentalists, civic and business leaders, schools, and the sports communities as allies and would be a bridge to bring them together.” READ THE INTERVIEW

Board of Health

Linda Oliver Grape: “The prevalence of Substance Use Disorder in the State has reached epidemic proportions; the Board of Health needs to ensure that the Town is adept at caring for and supporting residents with this problem.” READ THE INTERVIEW

James Rodrigue: “Wellesley claims that health and well-being is one of its core values. Talk is cheap. Show me the budget and I’ll see what the town values. It certainly isn’t health, as funding for the Wellesley Health Department – as measured by dollars per resident – is substantially lower than that of most other Massachusetts towns of our size.” READ THE INTERVIEW

Planning Board, 5-year term

Thomas Ahern: “I can talk all day long about the need for early, forward-thinking planning to protect against the town having to react to whatever is proposed by developers. As an example, consider all the 40B projects currently working their way through our Zoning Board of Appeals process.” READ THE INTERVIEW

Patricia Mallett: “I look forward to implementing the Unified Plan and the Housing Production Plan in order to achieve safe harbor with respect to 40B Comprehensive Permit applications. I am also very interested in pursuing the proposed 40R Overlay Zoning for the Wellesley Office Park.” READ THE INTERVIEW

Planning Board, 1-year term

Deed Mccollum: “I hope to lay the foundation for affordable housing; a foundation that leverages the priorities set forth in the Unified Plan: to expand housing options, increase town diversity and make Wellesley a more inclusive, dynamic and resilient community.” READ THE INTERVIEW

Frank Pinto: “Wellesley residents paid $35 million for the North 40 and we need to hear all voices (not just the loudest and most shrill voices) regarding its future. Wellesley was clearly remiss in not developing a housing production plan until now to rationally meet our affordable housing mandate under state law.” READ THE INTERVIEW

Check out Wellesley Public Media for a live 1-hour early election results show Tuesday, March 5  starting at 7:30pm.

The Town of Wellesley depends on the active participation of its citizens in governance of the Town. Wellesley has 11 Boards and Committees on the ballot at the Annual Town election each year in March. The 2019 election will be held on Tuesday, March 5, 2019.

Contested race for 1-year term: Planning Board

The role of the Planning Board is to make short and long term decisions related to land use in the Town of Wellesley. The Planning Board seeks to realize the vision of Wellesley residents for their community through the judicious use of municipal planning and project review. As a result, the Planning Board is responsible for the maintenance and update of the Town’s Zoning Bylaws and Zoning Map, divisions of land, and the review of large-scale projects with Town-wide impacts.

In the 2019 election, there are two Planning Board races — one race is for a one-year term on the Board; one race is for a 5-term on the Board. Frank Pinto is running for the 1-year Board position against Albert Berry and Deed Mccollom for a single available seat.

We invited the three candidates to answer a few questions about their qualifications and their priorities for the Town of Wellesley. Today’s post features Pinto. Deed Mccollum‘s responses ran in an earlier post. We have not received a response from Berry.

Frank Pinto, candidate for one-year term on Planning Board

The Swellesley Report: What is your background and what qualifies you for this position?

Pinto: I have been a Member, Vice Chair and Chair of the Wellesley Advisory Committee which is an expanded version of the typical town finance committee in Massachusetts. The Wellesley Advisory Committee evaluates and makes recommendations not only on all budget and financial issues that are brought to the Town Meeting, but also all other town issues including those that come within the purview of the Planning Board such as amendments of the Zoning By-law.  I am currently a Town Meeting Member and a board member of the Wellesley Council on Aging.

I did specialized course work at Middlebury College in urban planning in addition to economics and environmental studies.  After college, I took a position as an environmental scientist at a prominent environmental consulting firm where I directed environmental impact statements for housing developments, commercial development and industrial projects.  Switching course, I completed an MBA at The Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College and had a successful career in venture capital and private equity where I helped to finance and grow high tech enterprises as a general partner and managing general partner for private investment funds.  I have been a board member and at times an executive of many small growing companies. I have hired many key people over the years and feel confident that I can play an important role in helping to vet and hire an excellent planning director.

I have been a Wellesley resident since 1986.

Sw: If elected, what do you hope to accomplish during your tenure on the Planning Board?

Pinto: With the meteoric rise of internet purchasing, retail is leaving our magnificent downtown and we have to be creative to maintain a vibrant downtown. Wellesley needs more attractive and reasonably priced senior housing. Wellesley residents paid $35 million for the North 40 and we need to hear all voices (not just the loudest and most shrill voices) regarding its future. Wellesley was clearly remiss in not developing a housing production plan until now to rationally meet our affordable housing mandate under state law. The Selectmen and the Planning Board need to find common ground to anticipate and lead intelligently in the future.

Sw: What is your hot-button issue?

Pinto: My experience as a member of town boards is that board members may not heed the advice and long term expertise of the town department directors and the staff as much as they should.  In a town of smart, well educated, vocal residents, there is a tendency of board members to overvalue their position when in fact, they should be listening very carefully to the town department heads and employees who have considerably more expertise that the board members.  I plan to listen carefully.

Sw: With the national attention given to the “Impeach Trump” banner at a Wellesley Hills home, can you comment how the bylaws related to that issue should be addressed?

Pinto: Our Bylaw does not regulate content, but it does establish reasonable regulation on all types of speech, commercial or non-commercial.  In a residential zone, the Bylaw is less restrictive on non-commercial speech than commercial messages.  Any homeowner may put up one “Standard Informational Sign” at all times of the year, limited to 6 sq. ft. in area and 3′ or 6′ in height, depending on the style; the content of this sign is no matter to the Town.  The Planning Department feels the Bylaw is Constitutional. If the Wellesley Hills resident had installed a 6 sq. ft. sign that said the same thing, there would have been no violation issued. My opinion, the bylaw is fine and homeowners should follow the 6 sq. ft. rule.

Sw: How should voters reach you if they want more information?

[email protected]

The Town of Wellesley depends on the active participation of its citizens in governance of the Town. Wellesley has 11 Boards and Committees on the ballot at the Annual Town election each year in March. The 2019 election will be held on Tuesday, March 5, 2019.

Contested race for 1-year term: Planning Board

The role of the Planning Board is to make short and long term decisions related to land use in the Town of Wellesley. The Planning Board seeks to realize the vision of Wellesley residents for their community through the judicious use of municipal planning and project review. As a result, the Planning Board is responsible for the maintenance and update of the Town’s Zoning Bylaws and Zoning Map, divisions of land, and the review of large-scale projects with Town-wide impacts.

In the 2019 election, there are two Planning Board races — one race is for a one-year term on the Board; one race is for a 5-term on the Board. Deed Mccollum is running for the 1-year Board position against Albert Berry and Frank Pinto for a single available seat.

We invited the three candidates to answer a few questions about their qualifications and their priorities for the Town of Wellesley. Today’s post features Mccollum. Frank Pinto‘s responses will run in a later post. We have not received a response from Berry.

Deed Mccollum, candidate for one-year term on Planning Board

The Swellesley Report: What is your background and what qualifies you for this position?

Deed Mccollum: I have been a town resident for 29 years. I am an active citizen participant in town government attending meetings, reviewing minutes and conducting outreach to elected officials and town employees. I have been a Healthcare Administrator for over 20 years,, most recently at Boston Medical Center. I was responsible for a $10.25 million budget and the work of 135+ employees. I have extensive experience navigating change from opening health centers, implementing new systems, to promulgating regulatory changes. I have a strong appreciation and understanding of organizational change and the importance of comprehensive planning and the need to build resilience for the unexpected. I have been an active Board member for two not-for-profit organizations, the World of Wellesley and a small start-up. I am also the elected President of a landowner’s association that has addressed controversial issues such as third-party rentals and forestry management for wildlife diversity and homeowner recreational use.

Sw: If elected, what do you hope to accomplish during your tenure on the Planning Board?

Mccollum: Over the foreseeable future, Wellesley will experience changes resulting from 40B/R projects and the Housing Production Plan. The Planning Dept. will be reviewing the zoning by-laws, design standards and guidelines to align with the Unified Plan. I hope to lay the foundation for affordable housing; a foundation that leverages the priorities set forth in the Unified Plan: to expand housing options, increase town diversity and make Wellesley a more inclusive, dynamic and resilient community.

Sw: What is your hot button issue?

Mccollum: I do not have a “hot button” issue. I wish to give back to the community. If elected, I will bring a balanced perspective and abide to “do no harm” by thinking strategically about the impact today’s decisions will have on future generations. I would like to see Wellesley viewed, by those outside of the community, as a welcome and inclusive town.

Sw: With the national attention given to the “Impeach Trump” banner at a Wellesley Hills home, can you comment how the bylaws related to that issue should be addressed?

The Zoning By-Laws for signage, Section XXIIA, are lengthy (23 pages). A stated purpose of the By-Laws, “to protect the rights of individuals and businesses to convey their messages through signs” is presently limited by size restrictions. This “incident” provides an opportunity to review what limits, if any, should exist for residential signs that do not: pose a safety risk to others, significantly obstruct architectural features of a house, or contain offensive language. I was happy to hear the incident ended amicably and believe, with clarification, the potential for future incidents will be avoided. I also believe that in a tolerant society, personal expression is healthy and necessary.

Sw: Is there anything else you’d like to say?

Mccollum: Democracy is a team sport and requires participation. Please vote on March 5.

Sw: How should voters reach you?

Mccollum: I welcome questions. Feel free to contact me at: [email protected]