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Date: 5/4/2023
WILBRAHAM — On May 20, voters will decide who will fill the Board of Selectmen seat being vacated by outgoing Chair Carolyn Brennan — Carmela Blair or Michael Squindo. Two people are seeking a five-year term on the Planning Board. Bruce Allen Williams, currently appointed as an associate member of the board, is vying for a five-year term and a full member against John H. Luttrell, Jr. There is also a contest for a seat on the Board of Cemetery Commissioners between incumbent Donald Bourcier and Mandell Harris Greene.
Reminder Publishing asked the candidates a series of three questions. Below are their answers in their own words, with candidates listed in alphabetical order. Bourcier did not respond to inquiries by press time.
Board of Selectmen
Reminder Publishing: What qualities or experiences make you qualified to serve on the Board of Selectmen?
Blair: With my extensive educational and professional background, I am capable of fulfilling the duties of a member of the Board of Selectmen. I have the responsibility of supervising 16 employees (and counting), assigning workloads regularly, and assisting with staff projects. In order to maintain optimal levels, I maintain our alert system for upcoming deadlines on incoming requests, projects, and events. I establish and maintain employee personnel files, update information, process payroll, research and apply the latest laws for employment, as well as administer the employer/employee health insurance plan and deductions. I track and maintain the accounting balance sheet for monies held, determine disbursements, process settlement checks and maintain settlement records. In order to maintain the company’s culture and employee morale, it is my responsibility to provide detailed and overall support. In order to fill all open positions, I am responsible for conducting interviews with potential candidates. I also establish and maintain office and case policies and procedures. I consider the applicable law in a broad range of situations.
Squindo: I have extensive experience in leadership and community development. I have spent approximately a decade in municipal government; five years of which have been as a director of a local senior center. During this time, I have served on several different boards. Currently, I am also finishing my term as president of a local Rotary Club.
As a member of the Board of Selectmen, I would bring a vision for Wilbraham built upon my interactions with diverse perspectives and experiences. I would seek creative and inclusive solutions to issues before the board. Finally, I would promote regular improvement of myself, my colleagues, and the entire system. Leveraging my experience and skills I want to work with you to strengthen Wilbraham’s present and future opportunity.
Reminder Publishing: Is it more important to work toward a vision for Wilbraham or focus on decisions that help the town operate now?
Blair: Until you have a focus and make decisions that will assist the town in operating now, you cannot move toward a vision. It is a team effort. The creation of an exciting, unified vision of the town’s future is one of the most visible and essential aspects of leadership. In spite of the fact that implementing a vision may be a challenging process, working as a team will assist in overcoming these challenges. Transforming a vision into a structured plan is essential to ensuring that it remains focused over the long term. The best course of action is to be proactive rather than reactive.
Squindo: Today’s operational decisions should be moving us toward tomorrow’s vision.
The board’s decisions should prioritize high quality of service while managing increasing costs. One solution that exemplifies this concept is the pursuit of municipal broadband. This project will improve service and reduce out-of-pocket expenses over time. I have supported this project for several reasons. As listed in the Broadband Master Plan this project will help to achieve a variety of shared community goals, including enhanced public safety capacities, business development, and reduced costs of service.
Reminder Publishing: What are the two most important issues that the Board of Selectmen must tackle in the next 12 months?
Blair: Even though inflation is a burden on citizens, it does not exempt the town and its budget from its effects. It is important to remember that taxpayers cannot be burdened with higher local taxes while they struggle with inflation at home. It’s essential for town officials to remember this and to be very mindful of every decision that could add to the tax obligations of residents. It is also essential to find a solution to the infrastructure problems of the town without escalating taxes, and the cost of materials is a major concern.
Additionally, there will be a significant number of retirements coming down the pipeline. This requires adequate funding and the development of a solid succession plan to avoid upsetting the balance. It is necessary to find a way to engage people who have never participated in this process before, yet are able to see things differently, with fresh eyes and ideas.
Squindo: The Board of Selectmen need to work with town departments, other public bodies, and the residents to create a certified housing production plan. This is a crucial first step in maintaining local control of our zoning by-laws relative to housing and preventing state intervention. According to the most recent town report, the average value of a home is $385,200. We are pricing out seniors, young families, and the opportunity to support a workforce for our local businesses, all of whom are more likely to earn less than $100,000 annually. We can choose to invest in our community, protect our small-town feel, and support our neighbors all at the same time.
Additionally, I support three specific policy changes to the public meeting process. First, the town should declare its website as the official and legal posting location for all public agendas. This would give more people access to town business in a direct and real-time manner. Second, the Board of Selectmen should stop, regularly, amending the agendas within 48 hours of meetings. Residents need time to review and prepare for the items being discussed. Finally, the board should create a policy that all meeting minutes in town be posted to the town website within one week of their approval. This policy would expand beyond the requirements of Open Meeting Law and offer more opportunity to residents to access relevant information. Each of these changes would promote transparency and increase access to the information pertinent to our community.
I would like to thank the residents of Wilbraham for your consideration; and I look forward to working with you all going forward. Make your voice heard on May 20.
Planning Board
Reminder Publishing: What qualities or experiences make you qualified to serve on the Planning Board? Why do you want to serve on the Planning Board?
John H. Luttrell, Jr.: I’ve lived in Wilbraham for almost 38 years and retired from the Friendly Ice Cream Corporation. I have been active locally in the Wilbraham Community Association as a three-time president, a 30-year member, and a past chairman of the Wilbraham Peach Festival. Now that I have retired and no longer travel for business, I look forward to doing more volunteer work in our community.
In my professional business roles, I have visited over 500 new restaurant locations all over the U.S. During these visits to different cities and towns, I was able to see both good and bad planning execution, with many of the poor planning results leading to serious traffic congestion or safety concerns.
Both at work and in the Wilbraham community, I have been both a leader and member of many task forces and committees. I believe in doing proper due diligence and research, site reviews, and having the necessary debate and discussion to help ensure the best decisions for the citizens of Wilbraham.
Bruce Allen Williams: I am Bruce Allen Williams, an associate planning board member for the last year and now continue to contribute to the betterment of Wilbraham.
Being a commuter for many years, I have seen many changes in town and across the state. Being retired, I now have time to give back to our community. The Planning Board reviews proposals, site plans and zoning criteria. Public hearings are scheduled, published and posted. These meetings assist the Planning Board in gathering public input and what conditions should be written into a permit, if any, before the groundbreaking starts.
My participation in this process is valuable. I have attended a number of workshops at the “Citizens Planner Training Collaborative” in Worcester. I have had much experience dealing with government regulations, both foreign and domestic, while working in the [information technology] field for a variety of companies.
Reminder Publishing: How should Wilbraham balance the need for more revenue while maintaining the character of the town?
Luttrell, Jr.: I believe that the current zoning does a good job of keeping much of the business development on the Boston Road corridor and that helps to maintain the character of the town while building the tax base.
In the future, Wilbraham residents will continue to want improved goods and services as needs change. Whenever possible we would like to have popular businesses and brands conveniently located in town versus having to drive to Springfield or beyond.
I would like to see additional tradespeople look to move into Wilbraham as many homeowners are looking to make improvements and changes to their properties.
Williams: The Boston Road corridor has potential for continued vibrant growth and contribution to a substantial tax base. There are zoning criteria that protect the growth of residential, agricultural, home businesses and commercial business. There are state regulations protecting growth that must be adhered to. Those applying for building permits are required to follow a multiple step process.
Reminder Publishing: What are the two most important projects facing the Planning Board in the next 12 months?
Luttrell, Jr.: The most important ongoing priority of the Planning Board is to ensure public safety in all matters that come before the board on a day-to-day basis. Matters of safety should be handled with urgency.
I believe that the Planning Board needs to carefully review “high traffic” additions like the new Starbucks location on Boston Road because I have seen firsthand many accidents and close calls at other popular destinations like Dunkin Donuts and Rice’s Fruit Farm.
Lastly, the Planning Board will need to proceed carefully with new enterprises in the area of solar energy storage. We may need to look to surrounding cities and towns to help us navigate newer areas like this, and perhaps take field trips from time to time.
I would be honored to serve the citizens of Wilbraham as the next member of the Planning Board.
Williams: The two most important projects facing the Planning Board in the next 12 months are updating the town bylaws and reviewing the five-year Master Plan.
Your strong consideration of me as your next elected Wilbraham Planning Board member is greatly appreciated. Please attend the Wilbraham Town Meeting on May 15 and vote for Bruce Allen Williams at our town election on May 20.
Board of Cemetery Commissioners
Reminder Publishing: What qualities or experiences make you qualified to serve on the Board of Cemetery Commissioners?
Greene: My name is Mandy Greene. I have been in New England for seven years. My life has been one of service, first in the Air Force — I retired as a lieutenant colonel after 21 years of service. While in the Air Force, I earned a master of arts degree in public administration from the University of Northern Colorado. After leaving the Air Force, I attended Hebrew Union College in LA, earning a second master of arts in Jewish communal service. Thereafter, I had a follow-on career as a synagogue manager until my retirement in 2016. For context, I was the Jewish counterpart of a church business administrator for 22 years, usually called executive director or temple administrator.
In this capacity, I oversaw the upkeep of the building and grounds, including the cemetery. My functions included planning and operational execution of our annual budget, as well as program and personnel supervision. It is quite common for synagogues to have their own cemetery, so I was responsible for overseeing the cemetery in all aspects. I have sold easement rights on behalf of congregations and worked with bereaved families, mortuaries and clergy to schedule burial ceremonies.
Most of my service since retirement has been in the Jewish community. For the past two years, I have taught rabbis in the seminary to draft or strengthen their resumes, as they prepare for a pulpit or other professional position. At my synagogue, Temple Sinai in Springfield, I am a member of the Executive Committee and serve on number of committees, including the Cemetery Committee. But my service extends beyond my religion. I am also a volunteer in the community. I am part of myriad volunteers at the Bushnell Theater in Hartford. So, my life has been one of service. I have all of the experience necessary to represent the town of Wilbraham professionally as it pertains to cemetery management.
Reminder Publishing: As the town ages, how will the Cemetery Commission handle the needs of its residents outpacing the size of the cemeteries?
Greene: This requires effective planning. The process begins with a calculation of the number of burial plots available, then performing an analysis of the years of cemetery usage remaining, based on the number of burial plots used each year over the past several years. The process should incorporate estimates for those unknown or unforeseen complicating factors. At some point, the town will need to plan for additional cemetery space. This could be accomplished by expansion of one of the existing cemeteries, or by acquiring an additional plot for use as cemetery space. It is up to the Cemetery Commission to advise the Planning Board and other town entities to begin discussions of such a need.
Reminder Publishing: Is it more important to preserve the history of the town’s cemeteries or provide for the needs of current and future generations?
Greene: Both are important — and neither is more vital than the other. As is often the case in nonprofit management, priorities can fluctuate depending on changing circumstances. When the time is right, after study and thorough discussion, the commission will elevate discussion of our future cemetery needs to the town for planning to expand current cemetery space or purchase new space for another cemetery.