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Date: 5/5/2021
WILBRAHAM – Over 80 people attended a virtual candidates forum hosted by the Wilbraham Public Library and moderated by Library Director Karen Demers. The two-hour forum consisted of candidates answering pre-submitted questions from the public. Below are the questions and answers for select board and moderator candidates.
Board of Selectmen
After a short period in which candidates for uncontested seats gave short introductions to potential voters, the two Board of Selectmen candidates, John Broderick and Theresa Goodrich were given a chance to do the same before the questions began. Broderick spoke about his long history of involvement with the town, including positions on four committees, and his “great relationships” with town officials.
Goodrich said that her family is the reason she is running. She noted her 25 years as an EMT, paramedic and firefighter and said that she is calm, a good communicator and is willing to listen to ideas aside from her own. Goodrich highlighted that all three current selectmen have endorsed her.
The first question was about the candidates’ positions on the new senior center, which will be on the warrant at the fall Special Town Meeting. Broderick said “It’s long overdue,” and that he fully supports the project. He acknowledged, however, that delays could inflate the total cost and create challenges in paying for it.
Goodrich also supported the project. “Seniors are the foundation of our town,” she said, adding that money spent renting from the Scantic Valley YMCA could be better spent on a facility owned by the town. She noted that a use should also be found for Memorial School, a building that a small but vocal portion of the public had championed as the new home for the center. The Senior Center Feasibility Committee ruled out that option when researching sites.
The second question asked how to involve citizens in more municipal decision-making. Broderick again went first and encouraged public access to issues and documents through the town’s website, as well as encouraging Town Meeting attendance. He also said that getting information out to voters, perhaps through more community forums, would allow residents to make up their minds on issues.
Goodrich said that the pandemic has made it apparent that “technology can be our friend.” She said that the use of teleconference platforms for municipal meetings has increased participation. Goodrich suggested improving the town website’s user-friendliness.
Another option Goodrich floated was to cut the term on boards and committees to one year, instead of three. “You get your feet wet in public service,” without an intimidating commitment.
Broderick pushed back on this idea, saying, “it takes time to learn what goes on at committees,” and yearly appointments would be cumbersome for the Board of Selectmen.
The third question Demers read asked which issues the candidates found most important.
Goodrich called out the town’s assessment for the Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District, which was $26.3 million for fiscal year 2022 (FY22). “I really feel we need to work together to make this something that is sustainable in the future,” Goodrich said. She mentioned working with state legislators.
The second topic she highlighted was the reopening of the town and school. She said that extracurricular activities are important to a sense of normalcy and most can’t be done virtually.
For his part, Broderick said one major concern is finding sources of new growth, be it from real estate or other revenue producers. He said that bringing new businesses to town is an important way to keep property taxes manageable.
Like Goodrich, Broderick also cited the sharp increase in the FY22 school district assessment. The town and district must work together to address this, he said.
The last question for the Select Board candidates asked for their views on the Western Recycling facility proposed on Old Boston Road and whether approval of the project should be decided at town meeting. Goodrich said that projects that have a substantial impact on the town should be before voters. “As taxpayers, it’s our town,” she said.
Broderick disagreed. He said there is a process for such projects and this one has been lengthy and involved numerous committees and people. While approval of businesses is not under the purview of Town Meeting, he said there would be public hearings for residents to learn more and voice concerns.
Town Moderator
The incumbent Town Moderator Jim Jurgens reintroduced himself to voters by saying he has lived in town for 34 years and served on various boards. He explained the purpose of the moderator is to facilitate a “smooth town meeting with vigorous debate.” He noted that the moderator must check egos and ideologies at the door, have respect for voters and know bylaws and state statutes.
His opponent, Xiomara DeLobato, spoke about her desire to increase participation in town government. She said that she has worked with attorneys and politicians and in higher education. Her goal is to ensure residents feel engaged and understand the issues on which they will vote.
The candidates were asked if Town Meeting is an effective form of representation. DeLobato answered first and said that the town has thousands of residents and only a couple hundred people participating in the government process. Therefore, it is not reflective of the town as a whole. She urged voters to remember that Town Meeting is the “time for residents to voice their opinions.”
Jurgens told voters that in his native Long Island, there are six or seven layers of government separating residents from decision-making. Town Meeting is “uniquely New England,” he said. He acknowledged, “It’d be nice to get more people to come out,” and joked that the “passion” at town meeting provides more entertainment than Netflix.
Next, the two were asked if there was a way to improve the information available to voters before the meeting.
Jurgens stated that the “exhibits” explaining the details of certain warrant articles are available on the town’s website. He championed the use of social media and newspapers to get information out to voters.
DeLobato agreed that social media is a key tool and an opportunity. She suggested creating videos to explain the articles in advance under the oversight of the town’s attorney. For her, however, educating residents about “the power of their vote,” was the most important factor. “We are the legislators of our own town.”
Jurgens and DeLobato were asked about a common occurrence at Town Meeting – voters leaving after their “pet” articles have been voted upon.
DeLobato again returned to voter education as critical to “ensuring that our residents know their impact.” She also suggested reordering the warrant with hot button topics at the end. DeLobato then turned to voters, asking them to let her know “What would keep you there?”
Jurgens noted that the town has tried babysitting services and changing the time and day in the past and it hasn’t worked. Instead, he promoted the use of teleconference platforms, such as Zoom or GotoMeeting. While he admitted there was a valid fear of fraud, he said younger voters would be likely to “tune in.”
The last question for the moderator candidates was more general – how to deal with racism and diversity within the community and school system.
Jurgens said that his goal as moderator is to get as many residents as possible to show up regardless of race. What is important is the “character of a person’s passions or ideas. He went on to say that he hasn’t seen any “exclusionary policies” and that town meeting is “colorblind.”
DeLobato felt that the question was “loaded.” She said, “Our role is to be very impartial. It is a space for our voters to debate.” That said, she added that racism happens everywhere and that residents learning from one another will allow people to feel empowered to share their thoughts.
The Wilbraham town election is May 15.