Hi everyone: Update: The program will be taped by Gregory Hayes of Comcast and the Friday TAB will print the times it will be aired. I believe this will be on Channel 9. RCN hopes to share the tape and would air on Channel 3. Both cable channels are airing notices of the event; so did the MetroWest News yesterday in its Community notices (along with other comments).
All candidates have notified me that they are attending and we look forward to a positive exchange of information on critical issues (see below). I am the overall moderator and will introduce each of the segment moderators. They are as follows: Selectman: Ned Price, chair of Real Property Committee, Moderator, Greg Doyle, president of SOT; Planning Board, Steve Whitkin, president of Sucker Pond Association; and school committee, Jeaanette Berger, SOT and FIMBY. Originally, Maureen Dunne was to be the segment moderator for the school committee, but she said she would be in Washington, DC that evening. I talked to the League of Women Voters re recommendations but they didn't furnish any. Normally, FIMBY does not get involved in school issues since they cross all lines of the membership. With the budget crunch and the charter school uproar, we included this segment in our program. The moderators and I are finalizing the framework of questions. No candidate has been provided specifics which obviates any reason to call in the SEC for insider trading. The entire emphasis will be on giving the candidates the maximum amount of time possible to sum up their views before the election. We will be focusing on issues voted on by the FIMBY board, and are reflected, for most part, in the campaign literature and media quotes by the candidates. We will be providing the issues; the candidates will define them as they see fit. Moderators are not presenting their opinions or freelancing with "gotchas". Please remember, we all have to work together constructively after the election. Here are some of the issues: Selectman: management skills and experience required; how the BOS will effectively interface with TM and implement TM instructions - ie budget planning, for example. While the BOS has delegated executive powers, TM still has the power of the purse thus providing it with implied powers. Moderator: how will the new moderator conduct TM; the qualifications and experience deemed essential for appointment to the fincom; importance of committees appointed by the moderator and how a resident can be selected. Planning Board: Discussion of meaningful public participation, what constitutes conflicts of interest, need for enforceable legal agreements and how the Town can avoid costly law suits., protection of town zoning as well as town assets from special interests, etc. School Committee: charter school issue, how school committee will interface effectively with TM in budget planning as well as implement its instructions, should funds raised to keep schools open (purpose of override) now be used for salaries and benefits, why we can't the committee promote management from within instead of costly and embarrassing search processes etc. If there's time, moderators will take questions from the audience provided they are submitted in writing before the fact. There will be no tit for tat from town and school officials. The Portuguese Club is located at the corners of South and Arlington Streets. If You choose to go past the Memorial l Building on Concord Street, proceed to Route 135. Take a left on 135 and proceed to the first block on the right (South Street). Take a right on South and go two blocks to Arlington Street (on right hand side. The Club is on this corner. Take a right on Arlington and you can either park on the street or use the fenced in parking lot. If you are a member of TM or any other board or commission, please mingle with the audience so that they gain an appreciation of their representatives. This entire program is a public service, not a political service. Look forward to seeing as many of you as possible. We'll kick off at 7:30pm since Thursday is a working day. Any questions, please call. Larry Schmeidler Vice Chair, Pct 4 Co-chair of FIMBY
