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Candidates speak with voters at annual CCW forum

Date: 5/11/2009

By Courtney Llewellyn

Reminder Assistant Editor



WILBRAHAM - For the fourth year, the Concerned Citizens of Wilbraham (CCW) brought together the candidates in the upcoming election for an evening of introductions and answers. Those running unopposed and those in races were both present to speak to voters.

The only contested race this election season is between incumbent Selectman Patrick Brady and 19-year-old Springfield Technical Community College student Will Caruana.

Others present included Don Boucier, for the Cemetery Commission; Dean Stroshine, for the Planning Board; Beverly Litchfield, for Town Clerk; and Anthony Scibelli, for Town Moderator.

Robert Page, chair of the Board of Directors for the CCW, served as the moderator for the candidates forum.

"In my view, the most important thing the Board of Selectmen do is recruit volunteers," Brady said in his opening statement. "They do the nitty-gritty work that makes Wilbraham a wonderful place to live."

He added that the Board of Selectmen keep the town "on an even keel," and noted that "the best days of Wilbraham are ahead of it."

Caruana said he thought there was more that the selectmen could do. "We need to set priorities for the Finance Committee and the town," he said. "There needs to be more focus on the fire department, the police department ... and the library."

He called for more oversight and a more open government in town.

Page asked the two candidates how they plan on dealing with revenue shortfalls in the next fiscal year.

"I'll sit down with the Finance Committee and ask for their recommendations and ask each committee how they could help bring revenue to the town," Caruana replied. "For example, the Agricultural Commission has some great ideas [about using open fields to produce hay to sell]. We've got to look at every department from the bottom up."

Brady agreed with his opponent's last statement, adding, "Each budget line needs to be scrutinized over and over again. We need to start with realistic revenue numbers, and then look at costs. We can control costs, not revenue."

One resident probed Brady about the rumor that he's "not so pro-public safety," asking the selectman to comment on that.

"I question spending in every department," Brady stated. "If doing so makes me 'anti-public safety' then it also makes me 'anti-library' and 'anti-clerk.' The [public safety] staffing study [completed last year] found a favorable ratio of police to residents, but money needs to be found for the understaffed fire department."

Another resident noted that the Finance Committee is often torn between the budget numbers and what the town needs, and asked Caruana where the town would find money for additional firefighters.

"I wish I had a silver bullet and that I could find a department with all the money," Caruana replied. "I'd have to look at every line item."

The other candidates gave updates on their various committees and positions. Boucier noted that the program for digitization of cemetery records should be installed within the next few weeks. Scibelli said his focus as Town Moderator for the next three years would be to continue hosting organized public meetings and reaching into the schools to teach students how town government works.

Litchfield is completing her 15th year as Town Clerk and said serving in the position is her way of giving back to the town.

Stroshine, who started his career on the Planning Board as an alternate, said he felt he could continue to make an impact on the town as a member of the board that makes decisions on the use of land in the community.

The town of Wilbraham's elections will be taking place on May 16. Precincts A and C will vote at Wilbraham Middle School, 466 Stony Hill Rd.; Precincts B and D will vote at Soule Road School, 300 Soule Rd. There will be no polling locations at Memorial School, Stony Hill Road School or Mile Tree School.