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 5-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. Thomas Ahern is running agains Patricia Mallett for a 5-year term.

We invited the two candidates to answer a few questions about their qualifications and their priorities for the Town of Wellesley. Mallett’s answers will run in a post tomorrow..

Thomas Ahern, candidate for Planning Board

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

Ahern: For the past 25 years I have been directly engaged in planning, development and public policy matters that are specific to the daily work of municipal planning agencies. My early, public sector career included time working in the Massachusetts House of Representatives, where I played in lead role in the creation and passage of the Brownfields redevelopment law and the state’s renewable energy trust fund. Later, as a deputy director of the Boston Redevelopment Authority, I led planning and economic development initiatives in industrial areas of the city, and in neighborhoods typically underserved by private investment. I learned first-hand how pro-active planning and consensus building among citizens and development interests can lead to positive community development.

After nine years working as a development consultant, I started my own firm that specializes in building grassroots support for a diverse portfolio of clients, including renewable energy, senior care, medical cannabis, transit-oriented development and multi-family housing. This work has led me to work before planning boards, zoning boards, and town/city councils in forty states, the District of Columbia and Canada. I’ve seen, and experienced, what makes for an effective planning board- and what doesn’t. Over the course of hundreds of development projects, I’ve accumulated experience in nearly every type of development, and honed skills in community engagement that I believe would be a unique specialty to the Wellesley Planning Board.

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

Ahern: The most critical goal I have for my possible tenure is to more actively engage the community with the Planning Board process. I was first encouraged to run because of the many people I have heard from who felt the planning board process was inaccessible to them. As a strong believer in citizen engagement, I believe I can positively impact how the Planning Board interacts with citizens and abutters to proposed projects.

My second goal is to help quicken the pace for planning on a number of issues, including affordable housing, youth playing fields, the North 40 site, the Tailby and Railroad parking lot redevelopments, and encouraging more sustainable planning and development. Finally, I would like to be a champion of planning for new opportunities for Wellesley to expand its non-residential tax base. In early January, many Wellesley homeowners received an increase in their home and property valuations (and higher property tax bills). These higher tax bills, combined with a number of likely spending needs over the next few years, are going to make living in Wellesley more difficult for many of our neighbors. Planning for, and encouraging, a more diverse tax base is key to addressing these concerns.

Sw: What is your hot-button issue?

Ahern: As my family and friends would tell you, 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. For a number of years, we have known that the town was well under the required number units of affordable housing. Yet, it was not until the past year that our town put together a real planning process to address these legitimate needs, both for working families as well as seniors. As a result, we have been in a defensive position as we try to address concerns with specifics of the assorted plans. Our recently state-approved housing production plan is finally moving us forward in this issue, but it should serve to encourage us to embrace early and creative planning of what we want Wellesley to be in ten or twenty years. I should also add that I’m actively involved with our youth sports organizations and would like to see us plan for how we can enhance opportunities to improve the existing playing fields. This includes a priority for providing equity with girls and boys sports facilities.

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?

Ahern: Our current sign bylaw, twenty-four pages long and quite specific in terms of what can and can’t be hung or posted around town, seems plenty detailed already to address concerns. The banner that was hung by a resident, while displaying a political messages that some may agree or disagree with, seems more of a free speech issue than anything else. From a strictly bylaw perspective, I don’t think we need to waste valuable time addressing what is likely an outlier occurrence.

Sw: Is there anything else you would like to say that the above questions did not cover?

Ahern: My wife, Nichole Bernier, and I have lived in Wellesley with our five kids for twelve years. We truly love our town and all the wonderful things that make Wellesley a great place to live and raise a family. I’ve been actively engaged in the community, from coaching over 50 youth baseball and basketball teams, serving as president of Wellesley Youth Baseball & Softball- Wellesley Little League, serving on the Wellesley Middle School Council, the HHU Committee, and organizing public school parents to support the WHS debt exclusion vote in 2008.

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

Ahern: I can be reached on my cell phone for calls or texts at 781-385-9223, or by email at thomas@tpahern.com. You are also welcome to come by our house- we have chickens for the kids to play with and the backyard rink is in great shape this year. Bring your skates!

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: Board of Health

The mission of the Wellesley Health Department is to assess and address the needs of the Wellesley community, in order to protect and improve the health and quality of life of its residents and work force.

This charge is carried out in part by the Board of Health. There are three members of the Board. Secretary Lloyd Tarlin, MD will vacate his seat when it expires in 2019. There are two candidates vying for that spot: Linda Oliver Grape and Dr. Jim Rodrigue. Grape’s responses were part of an earlier post. We invited them to answer a few questions about their qualifications and their priorities for the Town of Wellesley.

Dr. Jim Rodrigue, candidate for Board of Health

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

Dr. Jim Rodrigue: I’ve been in healthcare for 30 years – as a clinician, a researcher, a teacher, and an administrator. I’m a Professor of Surgery and Psychiatry in the Harvard Medical School, and I’m the Vice Chair of the Department of Surgery at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. I have been funded for over 20 years by the National Institutes of Health to conduct research on how best to reduce social, economic, and racial disparities in healthcare. I have chaired many committees at the university level as well as nationally and internationally in my area of specialty. As a clinical psychologist, academic leader, and health outcomes researcher, I have considerable experience in program development and evaluation, strategic planning, policy development, fiscal management, and building collaborative relationships. Also, I am an elected Town Meeting Member and a member of the Recreation Commission. I believe that my healthcare background, leadership experience, and town engagement/governance will be invaluable assets to the Board of Health.

Sw: If elected, what do you hope to accomplish during your 3-year tenure on the Board?

Rodrigue: Despite its affluence, Wellesley is not immune to mental health problems, addiction, food insecurity, domestic violence, limited access to affordable healthcare, and the adverse impact of climate change on public health. I will work with other Board members to ensure that the Director of the Health Department (Leonard Izzo) has the sufficient resources to carry out the many activities that are consistent with the Department’s mission:

 Implement disease prevention and health promotion programs
 Provide community health, nursing, and mental health services
 Conduct public outreach and education
 Conduct compliance inspections for 160+ food permit holders to minimize community
health risk
 Respond to emerging health threats within the community (e.g., tobacco and nicotine
delivery products, opioid crisis)
 Minimize the risks of climate change on public health
 Conduct housing and environmental inspections

In addition, I have five core initiatives that I will prioritize in the first six months of my term:
i. Increase funding for Health Department
ii. Expand mental health resources available to residents, particularly for middle and high
school-age youths
iii. Tighten regulations for tobacco and nicotine delivery products to limit availability
iv. Pursue later school start times for middle and high school students in Wellesley Public
Schools (data show substantial health benefits)
v. Implement “Environmental Sustainability for Public Health” initiative

Sw: What is your hot-button issue?

Rodrigue:  I would characterize all five items above as “hot-button” items. However, the Health Department needs more funding to pursue these initiatives and to administer their usual day-to-day activities. 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. This inadequate funding level has real consequences, including an inability to respond to emerging health threats (e.g., opioid crisis, nicotine delivery products, etc.), delays in implementing new policies and regulations that place public health and safety at risk, grossly insufficient attention to mental health problems in our children and adolescents (see the Metro West Adolescent Health Survey findings), and the risk of losing outstanding Health Department employees. What Mr. Izzo and his staff have been able to accomplish for town residents, despite insufficient funding, is nothing short of heroic – but this must change.

Sw: What is the greatest health-related need in Wellesley?

Rodrigue: There are several important health-related needs in Wellesley. If I must choose only one it would be the mental health needs of the youth in town. I encourage everyone to read the MetroWest Adolescent Health Survey findings (available from WPS) and the Public Health and Wellness Chapter of the Wellesley Unified Plan. Critical unmet mental health needs identified in these reports. Add to this the emerging addiction to nicotine delivery products among adolescents and we are rapidly
moving toward a crisis in our town.

Sw: Is there anything you would like to say that the above questions did not cover?

Rodrigue: Along with my wife and three daughters, I’ve lived in Wellesley for nearly 13 years and I am grateful for the many benefits we have accrued from being part of this wonderful community. As a member of the Board of Health, I will commit my time and expertise to ensure the well-being of our neighbors, young and old, and to raise the overall health of the community. I would be honored to have your support and vote on March 5th.

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

Rodrigue: I’m very accessible and appreciate hearing about any issues or concerns that may impact the health of our neighbors and community. Please email me at: JimRodrigueForHealth@hotmail.com.

MORE: Wellesley election 2019

Unable to get to the polls on Election Day, Tuesday, March 5th? Absentee ballots are now available from the Town Clerk’s Office for the upcoming local election.

Registered voters who are unable to vote in Wellesley on Election Day may vote absentee in person by coming to Town Hall and filling out the ballot in the Town Clerk’s Office. Voters may also request a mailed absentee ballot by using the Absentee Ballot Application.  For mailed ballots, please allow enough time for mail delivery both ways – generally up to ten days.

The last day to request an absentee ballot is Monday, March 4th at 12 noon. All absentee ballots must be received in the Town Clerk’s Office on or before the polls close at 8 PM on Election Day.

The Town Clerk’s Office is open Monday – Friday (except on President’s Day, February 18th) from 8 AM to 5 PM. Questions? Contact Town Clerk KC Kato.

A complete list of 2019 town candidates and sample ballots are available on the Local Election Information webpage.

SUPPORT SWELLESLEY: Here’s how to Advertise and/or Donate to support our independent journalism venture

A friend says that she loves sample ballots. For other ballot lovers, here’s a sample of the one you’ll get if you vote in Wellesley on March 5 at Wellesley Free Library (note ballots are different in different precincts to reflect Town Meeting members running in your area).

More on the March 5 election.

Closed on Monday, February 18 for Presidents Day:

*Town offices
*Wellesley RDF
*Public schools through Sunday, February 24 for vacation week
*Libraries
*Post offices
*Banks

MORE:

Wellesley election 2019, candidates — Wellesley votes on Tuesday, March 5, 2019

League of Women Voters “Meet the Candidates Night” information

Meet Wellesley candidate for Board of Selectmen, Jennifer Fallon

Meet Wellesley candidate for Board of Selectmen, Lise Olney

Babson College to honor President Healey

 

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: Natural Resources Commission (NRC)

It is the mission of the Natural Resources Commission to provide stewardship of, education about, and advocacy for the Town of Wellesley’s parks, conservation, recreation and open space areas so the full value of the Town’s natural assets can be passed onto future generations.

There are five members on the NRC Board. Vice Chair Raina McManus’ term expires in 2019. She is running as an incumbent, and Jim Miller is running against her for the three-year term.

We invited the two to answer a few questions about their qualifications and their priorities for the Town of Wellesley. Today’s post features Jim Miller. Raina McManus was featured in yesterday’s post.

Jim Miller, Candidate for the NRC Board

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

Jim Miller: I serve on the Board of Climate Science, Awareness and Solutions, where I work with Dr. Jim Hansen, the world’s most respected climate scientist, and Bill McKibben, environmental activist and founder of 350.org, in the fight against global warming. I am the author of the “Clean Energy and Shared Prosperity Act”, which Dr. Hansen presented to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in 2014 during his testimony about the dangers of global climate change. I also serve on the Board of Our Children’s Trust which is litigating the climate change crisis as a human rights issue and will be featured on 60 Minutes on Sunday, March 2nd.

Sw: If elected, what do you hope to accomplish during your three-year tenure on the NRC?

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. As part of our commitment to make our open spaces safe, beautiful, and accessible to all generations, I would partner with key stakeholders to increase the town’s tree canopy, fix gas leaks, and promote clean energy and energy efficiency in our schools, municipal buildings, businesses and private homes. Wellesley has the highest participation rate of any sports program in Massachusetts.

NRC needs to ensure that there are enough playing fields for the hundreds of teams and thousands of children playing sports. As part of this effort, I would prioritize ensuring that the girls’ playing fields are of equal quality as the boys’ playing fields. Wellesley should aspire to be powered 100% by clean, healthy, renewable energy and NRC should lead by example by installing energy efficient, environmentally friendly LED lights at NRC owned playing fields including WHS Stadium. This strategy would reduce the towns energy consumption and create much needed field time for the 28 WHS sports teams that would like to practice and host games in the Stadium. Lighting the Stadium also creates a safe place for Wellesley residents to walk and run at night, particularly during the fall, winter, and early spring. I would provide Wellesley residents age 60 and over free admission to all town sporting events, making WHS Stadium an intergenerational gathering space for students, parents, and grandparents.

Sw: What is your hot-button issue?

Miller: I think climate change possess the greatest threat to Wellesley’s natural resources but I do not think of it as a hot-button issue. The strategies I would pursue to fight climate change are also things that will make the town more beautiful, our properties more valuable, our families healthier, our air and water cleaner, our open spaces more accessible, and will build a stronger community where we can live healthy and happy lives doing the things we love.

Sw: How much of a role do you think the NRC should play in shaping  environmental policy outside of Wellesley?

Miller: My work with Jim Hansen, Bill McKibben, and Our Children’s Trust is focused on shaping environmental policies at the state, national, and international levels. I am interested in serving on Wellesley Natural Resources Commission because I think
Wellesley has the potential to lead by example that other communities can emulate.

Sw: How do you think the North 40 should be utilized?

Miller: The purchase of the North 40 is an exciting, once in a generation opportunity for the town. I support the current strategy of coming together as a community to decide how the North 40 can be best utilized to enhance our lives.

Sw: Is there anything else you would like to say that the above questions did not cover?

Miller: I have been an active resident of Wellesley for 20 years. My wife, Krisann, works as a nurse for the Wellesley Health Department and Wellesley Public School and our three children have attended Wellesley Public Schools. I served on advisory committees for Wellesley Public Schools strategic plan and key hires. I have coached youth soccer in Wellesley for the last 15 years. I am the CEO of RxMapper, a precision drug information platform developed in collaboration with Mayo Clinic. I plan to bring the same collaborative leadership to NRC.

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

Miller: JimMillerforNRC@gmail.com
Facebook @ JimMillerforNRC

MORE: Wellesley election 2019