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E-mail Address:
Precinct: 8
Current Positions Held / Political Experience
- Town Government
- Town meeting PCT 8
- Zoning Board of Appeals (alternate)
Current Occupation / Work Experience
- Small Business Owner
- VCR Technologies Wakefield, Ma.
- Taxpayer, Home owner, Parent
Degrees Held / Education
- Graduated Lynn Vocational Technical School
- Several courses in Electronics and Small Business
Currently A Member Of...
- Town Involvement
- Board of Directors Chamber of Commerce
- President Elect Saugus Rotary Club
What are your feelings concerning the closing of schools?
The closing of the schools has caused our current problems with overcrowded classrooms. I believe that neighborhood schools give our children a better education and the parents get a one on one relationship with there teachers. Example: A high percentage of high school class valedictorians have come from the Ballard School. The School Committee and town government need to work together within their budgets to reopen the closed schools. It may only be possible to reopen one school at the present time. One source of revenue is to lease the Marla Graves School and one of the two closed schools.
How do we get out of the current budget crisis?
- Overhaul the town budget to inure efficient spending and accountability.
- Look all areas of revenue that do not include raising taxes of fees.
The leasing closed schools and the D A V property on Walnut St. to an ambulance service to increase our protection and bring in much needed revenue.- Our State Representatives and Senators should push for the state to release more funds.
- We should also look into all grants we can receive.
Do you have any ideas about how to preserve open space and fight traffic, congestion, and overcrowded schools?
Open Space
With our current budget we can only pursue donations, grants and use the hotel tax
Traffic
Have a master plan for housing and business development. This has been presented in the past but never acted on. Spot zoning is partly to blame for our traffic. Rt. 1 would require the state and federal government to revise the highway. Revisiting our streets to see if our system of lights and stops signs are helping or hindering traffic.
Overcrowded Schools
Meet with the Town Manager, School Committee and Finance Committee to look into leasing the closed schools and there budgetsConsidering the fact that townsfolk have voted against new taxes for new schools and new firefighters, what can now be done to make improvements in these areas?
The voters voted against additional funds for fire fighters and new schools and will likely continue to do so.
The voters feel the town has no accountability on spending. When the town needs more money because of they're spending problem they raise taxes, rates and fees or talk about new ones. The Board of Selectman need to have honesty and integrity in dealing with the public in order to tell the voters why there is an increased cost of the services they have been accustomed to, also they must first look at all alternative sources of revenue.What else do you think is important?
- Condition of the schools,lack of books and leaning material
- Quality of live in our neighborhoods, open space, 40B, pollution, Resco's third burner (Do Not Support)
- Condition of our Roads, sidewalks, water and sewer system
- Not raising taxes rates or fee unless justified
- Not supporting new taxes, rates or fees.
- After hours parties on Route One strain the Police Dept, bring the wrong type of people into town and give us a black eye.
- The amount of lawsuits brought against the town because of our incompetence
- Third Fire Station (use the DPW garage to house an engine)
- Political fovors,conflicts of interest
Submitted: 2003/10/10
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Political Web Page: http://www.DennisRobitaille.com/
E-mail Address:
Precinct: 8
Current Positions Held / Political Experience
- Town Meeting Member since 1990.
- Saugus Building Committee Member 1995-1998.
- Saugus Sign By-Law Committe 2001-2002.
Current Occupation / Work Experience
Home inspector - 20 years.
Degrees Held / Education
B.S. Education.
Currently A Member Of...
- SAVE Member. (Saugus Action Volunteers for Environment.)
- Masspirg Member. (Massachusetts Public Interest Research Group.)
- Bike to the Sea Member. (Group working on bike path through several communities including Saugus.)
What are your feelings concerning the closing of schools?
We all like the concept of neighborhood schools, but the entire town student body has to be considered in the disbursement of educational services. Transportation wise it makes it more difficult for students and families, but the school department has a set amount of money to operate the school system with. The Superintendent and School Committee have to figure out the best way to provide educational services to the students with limited funds. If closing a couple of schools is the only way to stretch available funds, then we have to accept and make the best of it.
How do we get out of the current budget crisis?
Part of our budget imbalance occurred due to state revenue dependency. There are two ways to restore the imbalance or as some would say to get us out of the budget crisis. One is to increase town government revenue, the other to reduce town government spending. In most cases its a combination of both. As for increasing revenue, the first step is to make the town water and sewage services self sustaining, this means raising water and sewage rates. As for reducing spending I am currently not in a position to fully understand the overall town management scheme.
Do you have any ideas about how to preserve open space and fight traffic, congestion, and overcrowded schools?
I supported the local hotel room tax, this revenue buys open space. The Community Preservation Act should be considered again. I supported the 20,000 s.f. building lot size.
People should carpool, walk, or bike when feasible. I've been involved in getting a bike path through town. If we create attractive and healthy alternative ways of getting around town, maybe some people will keep their vehicles at home for a day or two or take fewer short trips.
Mitigation relief from housing developers should be obtained to help offset the impact families from these new homes have on the school system.Considering the fact that townsfolk have voted against new taxes for new schools and new firefighters, what can now be done to make improvements in these areas?
Saugus taxpayers will likely continue to vote against overrides or any new taxes, unless they are convinced that the town is making the best use of the money it already collects, and unless it is demonstrated that additional money is absolutely needed for the well being of the town and its citizens. The Board of Selectmen must play the role of salespeople and show the taxpayers what they are getting for their money and prove that additional money is needed to maintain the services residents have been taking for granted.
What else do you think is important?
Quality of life issues, such as Resco (trash incineration),recycling, abuse of Chapter 40B housing development and the Route One all night dance clubs. Conflicts of interest within town government.
Submitted: 2003/09/25
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