2004 State of the Town
Diane Mahon, Chairman Arlington Board of Selectmen
Good evening. My name is Diane Mahon and I am honored to appear before you as the Chairman of the Board of Selectmen and --with my colleagues -- I welcome you to the 2004 State of the Town address. It is a distinct privilege for me to deliver this address to this distinguished body.
I would like to thank Jane Howard for her efforts and the members of Vision 2020 for continuing to sponsor and organize tonight's presentation, as well as to acknowledge and congratulate all of those elected as leaders of our community in the coming year. And I extend a special welcome to the members of Arlington's Town Meeting; arguably the most important deliberative body of elected officials in our Town.
I would be very much remiss if I did not acknowledge the "sixth" Selectman, Marie Krepelka, and her exemplary staff….Jean Devereaux, Sandy Chamberlain and MaryAnn Sullivan….in my humble opinion, they are the secret behind any success to which the Board can lay claim.
It has been my experience and my belief that Town Meeting is the most important, the most democratic of institutions in our Town. I am very proud to be not only a Selectman, but as important, if not more importantly, a member of Town Meeting representing Precinct 14 since 1994.
The Town Meeting form of government directly encourages the high-level of participation by citizens in the workings of our Town. Democracy is alive and well in Arlington, thanks to you, my fellow Town Meeting members.
Our individual rights are closely intertwined with collective responsibilities. Town Meeting has inherited and embodies the notion of individual decision and action, but incorporates those decisions and actions within the pursuit of the common good.
So, as we look at the State of the Town in the year 2004, Town Meeting provides a direction and a beacon-of-hope to all the residents of our community who are concerned about their future, concerned about their children and their families, and very much want to maintain the quality-of-life that Arlington has enjoyed for generations.
You, the members of Arlington's Town Meeting, hold the future of Arlington in your hands as we begin the deliberations of this current session. With scarce financial resources, the coming fiscal year will be a challenging one. However, I am confident that by working together, we will approach and resolve any and all problems in a constructive, collaborative, effective and compassionate manner.
We -- you and I -- are at a major crossroad in the history of our town. Financial resources are limited. The management of the town is being challenged to provide the basic core services of our community -- public education, public safety and public works -- within significant fiscal constraints.
This is the time for all of us to join together, throughout the town, and to "roll up our sleeves" as we continue to work to make Arlington a better place to live. We must continually remember that our goal is to fulfill the common good.
Over the next year, there are several priorities which I believe need to be addressed.
Keep the Promise
We must keep the promise we made several years ago to the children and families of our community to rebuild all of our neighborhood schools. Four of our seven schools have been rebuilt or renovated, with the Dallin, Stratton and Thompson Schools remaining.
At the Special Town Meeting this spring, you will be asked for a positive vote to continue with this promise, and support the sorely-needed reconstruction of the Dallin School. We must commit to each other and the town that we will not rest until ALL of our schools are rebuilt.
Maintain and enhance the Town's core vital services
We also need to ensure that the Town's core, vital services -- public education, public safety, public works -- continue to be provided to all the residents of the town in a cost-effective manner, while recognizing, respecting and supporting our employees who provide these services. Let's keep this town a great place to live.
Development of Symmes
The redevelopment of Symmes Hospital is another priority for Arlington over the next year. This project represents a three-year process through which the community, as a whole, engaged in a project which will bring additional income to the Town of Arlington. The Symmes Advisory Committee, which oversaw this process, has performed an exemplary job in bringing together all interested "stakeholders", voices and opinions, so that a true consensus for redevelopment could be established, which is in the best interest of the entire town.
I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the leadership of Charlie Foskett -- as well as many others -- in coordinating, leading and managing this process with an outcome which benefits all of Arlington. Because of prudent, fiscal management, and the commitment of the Board of Selectmen, the Symmes Advisory Committee, the Arlington Redevelopment Board and many others, this project is moving forward with no increase in our tax rate. In fact, to date, the Symmes project has not "hit the tax rolls".
Balancing the Budget
This year, the Selectmen, under the guidance of our new Town Manager and working with various Town officials has presented for Town Meeting's approval, a balanced budget. This budget is not without some pain, and includes significant cost-cutting measures. In addition, we have "dipped into" free cash, stabilization and other funds more than in previous years.
I wish to compliment the Town's Department Heads for having gone through their budgets with the proverbial "fine-toothed comb." This exercise has resulted in a tighter, more cost-effective budget. The Town Manager has indicated to me in the last several days that we "are not looking at any lay-offs" with the proposed budget to Town Meeting.
Increase Revenue Streams
The Town has done its share. It's now up to the State and Federal governments to fulfill their obligations to local communities. Federal aid to state and local governments has been slashed even more. Political leaders in Washington and on Beacon Hill need to remember the wisdom of our founding fathers. State and Federal leaders must take action in defense of the collective public good by dramatically increasing financial aid to communities like Arlington.Innovative Partnerships
State financial aid to Arlington can be increased outside of the usual categories of local aid. Over the years, Arlington legislators have found creative ways to enact legislation bringing more state aid to our Town.
Several years ago, I had the privilege of working with State Senator Bob Havern to increase state aid to Arlington schools. Working with Arlington's Town-wide PTO, of which I was the Co-President, we organized a Statewide grassroots movement of parents, educators and school activists, which successfully lobbied the Legislature for an increase in "Minimum Aid" to all of our Arlington Public Schools.
This increase in school funding was only possible through the unique partnership between Senator Havern, my Co-chair on the Townwide PTO, Martha Scott, and many others in the school community.
Summer Street Reconstruction/Reed's Brook
For many years, neighbors living in the neighborhoods adjacent to Reed's Brook were faced with significant flooding of their homes during storms. Thanks to an innovative partnership between State and Town officials, Reed's Brook will now house a sports facility, with an adjacent conservation use. Summer Street, currently a State highway, will also receive much-needed drainage and other infrastructure improvements as part of its major reconstruction.
Youth & Neighborhood Priorities
The commitment to Arlington's children cannot stop at the doors of their classrooms. The education that occurs on the town's playing fields, as well as in our arts and cultural programs, is extremely integral to the complete education of our children. No child in this town should be denied the right to fully participate in youth sports or other extracurricular activities due to financial constraints. I am committed to continuing to work with the leaders of the sports and arts community to build upon partnerships for the betterment of all of our youth.
The complete elimination of raw sewerage in Alewife Brook is another major priority. I will continue to work with East Arlington neighborhoods and State officials to address overland flooding and public health concerns. Thanks to you, Town Meeting endorsed a Warrant Article calling for Alewife Brook to be afforded a Class B water quality standard in conformity with the Federal Clean Water Act. I look forward to working with all of you to accomplish the spirit and intent of this Article.
Town Employees
Only moments ago, I chaired a Selectmen's meeting where one of the most important initiatives in local government in recent years was proposed. Faced with the fiscal constraints of the Town, and fully aware of the high cost of health care, Arlington's Public employee Unions and Retirees have formed an unprecedented coalition of Unions. Earlier this evening, the Coalition proposed the creation of a joint management/employee committee, which hopes to collectively address Arlington's health care costs in a collaborative, cooperative and problem-solving manner. For the first time in memory, Arlington's Unions and Retirees have not only joined together as a Coalition, but they are proposing to replace the traditional, adversarial method of negotiating health benefits with a
collaborative process more in keeping with the needs of the 21st century.
As Robert B. McKersie, an Arlington resident and Sloane Fellow Professor of Management Emeritus at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology has stated, "Labor/management partnerships clearly have great potential for improving productivity, employment security and other outcomes of importance to the parties." I applaud this innovative proposal by the Town's Unions and Retirees, as well as our new Town Manager, Brian Sullivan's, willingness to engage in conversations on this important issue.
As we all know, there is possibly an impending job action by our educators/teachers. Every step to avert a work stoppage needs to be explored. Our schools and our children rely heavily upon our teachers and others to go above and beyond the traditional "call-of-duty". Because of the reductions of staffing in our schools, we have had no alternative but than to rely upon parent volunteers to provide services previously performed by paid staff. This year, our parent volunteers have worked in our schools to teach art, to maintain basic library services and a whole host of other activities…and for that, I am truly grateful and extend my heartfelt thanks.
We need to recognize, respect and fairly compensate all of our employees, the men and women who have dedicated their professional and personal lives to our children. As town officials and as a community, we must do everything in our power to not only listen to their concerns, but to take appropriate action to address them.
New Directions/New Leadership
I would like to take this opportunity to join with Town Meeting to officially welcome our new Town Manager, Brian Sullivan.
Mr. Sullivan was chosen as our new Town Manager by unanimous vote of the Board of Selectmen. His credentials are extensive. Not only does Mr. Sullivan possess an impeccable record with a resume of accomplishments, but he brings to the town a perspective of fresh, new ideas and a willingness to approach the many challenges of our community with innovation, creativity and a strong desire to develop new strategies to resolve what are often seen as intractable problems.
Mr. Sullivan also possesses a strong background in municipal finance, and is uniquely positioned among Town Managers statewide to address all the concerns of Arlington in our fiscal crisis. One of his strong-points in Winchester, Brookline and the other communities in which he served was his expertise in finances, and Arlington is most fortunate to have him as our Town Manager.
Arlington is a great town. We are very fortunate to have a diverse population. Our strength comes from that diversity.
We may never agree on all issues; there will always be challenges that will require difficult compromise. We must commit, however, to continue to engage in debate, to face fiscal uncertainty, and to promote a civil dialogue that is based upon a respect for all the residents of our town, even those with whom we do not agree.
Arlington is a great place to live, to raise a family and to grow old. We need to continue to commit all of our efforts to keep it that way. More importantly, as a community, it is our responsibility to do so. In our struggles to mold and develop budgets, we must focus on those who need our help most. We must make sure that their basic needs are met.
In these challenging times we cannot forget, it was here…….. in Arlington, that the 'Old men and women of Menotomy lost their lives in the first days of our country's battle for freedom. We cannot forget that our colonial ancestors fully understood that the well-being of the individual could only be fulfilled through the collective well-being of the community.
Since the founding of our town, Arlington has always been a community of citizens willing to work, to give, and to sacrifice all for the greater good. That is what has always made Arlington different. That is what always has made Arlington a great place to live.
As we enter another challenging year, the strength of our residents and our community will sustain us. May all our deliberations be civil and respectful; may Arlington continue its tradition of passionate debate; and may we all learn -- as a wise man once said -- “We have been blessed with 2 ears and 1 mouth, we should use them proportionately.”…..Maybe that will be our greatest challenge.
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