Office hopefuls talk override, school cuts and more
MELROSE — A vast majority of those running in contested races in next week’s City Election feel raising property taxes is vital to keeping the city’s head above water.
During an October 15 candidates’ forum hosted by the Melrose League of Women Voters, only three of the 16 candidates running with opponents for School Committee or the City Council in the Nov. 4 municipal election did not firmly express their support of passing an override of Proposition 2 1/2.
There are three levels of override questions on the ballot next week. Question 1A asks whether voters want to be assessed an additional $13.5 million a year in property taxes to fund positions which are listed on the ballot. Question 1B asks whether voters want an additional $11.9 million a year in taxes assessed. Question 1C asks whether voters want an additional $9.3 million assessed. All are yes or no questions.
There are competitive races for Councilor at Large, School Committee, Ward 3 City Councilor, Ward 4 City Councilor and Ward 7 City Councilor.
At the League of Women Voters’ event, held in the City Council Chamber in City Hall, there were three panels of candidates answering questions submitted by the public and reviewed by the League. The candidates did not see the questions beforehand.
The forum can be seen on the Melrose League of Women Voters’ YouTube page.
WARD CANDIDATES
The first panel included those hopefuls running for city councilor in the individual wards.
Ward 3 incumbent Robb Stewart is being challenged by Christopher Park. Park said the city needs more money to operate and the tax increase created by an override of Proposition 2 1/2 is one of the few ways to do it. Additionally, Park said a councilor should tell his constituents why the override question comes in three tiers and do his best to explain why more money is needed.
Stewart said the City Council overwhelmingly endorsed the override (back in June). “The override is not necessary,” Stewart said, “it’s critical. We’re in crisis mode.” If the city were to endure another round of service cuts like those over the past two years, there will be a significant impact to the city and to life. Stewart continued that he has been out in the ward explaining the need for an override, saying, “This if for more than the schools.” All city services are affected.
In Ward 7, Alex Rodriguez is challenging incumbent Devin Romanul. “I support the override at all three levels,” Rodriguez said. “The math is the math…The consequences of (the override’s) failure will be for worse than the consequences of its passage.” However, Rodriguez made it clear that he supports “an override with oversight. We can’t keep moving from override to override for the next 20 years. It’s just not sustainable.”
Romanul said he wants to make Melrose the best city in America to raise a family.” He said it costs money to operate a municipality like Melrose, which he called “well-run and vibrant.” Romanul also referenced a survey he put out asking people in Ward 7 what they wanted to see in the city’s operating budget. He said the responses included better roads, filled potholes, more teachers and more public safety personnel. All this, Romanul explained, costs money. The override’s failure will mean these services will be reduced, he said.
Ward Hamilton, currently a Councilor at Large, is one of three men running for Ward 4 Councilor next week. He said he was the first member of the council to endorse the override when it appeared in June. He said an override is really a referendum on how city government is doing. “If the people think we’re doing a good job, they’ll give us more money. If they don’t, they won’t,” Hamilton said. Under the Proposition 2 1/2 system, he explained, the city can only increase the tax levy 2 1/2 percent each year. “Escalation,” Hamilton explained, “is between 4 and 6 percent a year.” As a result, costs will continue to outpace revenue and the only other option to cover the gap is increased development.
“We need to consider what that development would look like, juxtaposed to quality of life,” Hamilton said. He added that the November 4 ballot questions relating to the override are presented fairly, giving all voters a clear choice like a traditional New England-style Town Meeting would.
Philip Gindi is also running for Ward 4 Councilor. He said he is against overriding Proposition 2 1/2 in part because of issues involving a missing $2.2 million in school money that went missing not long after the last override was passed in Melrose in 2019. “I find that concerning,” he said, echoing the sentiment of others who have come out against the ballot questions.
One solution that has not been considered, Gindi explained, is a debt exclusion, which he said would not raise people’s taxes (it does, but for a certain time). Also, he said the city is looking at a “housing crash” if an override is passed and people can’t afford to stay in Melrose. Gindi also suggested some city assets need to be liquidated as a way to free up more cash.
Ward 4 Councilor candidate Brad Freeman also supports raising taxes to fund municipal operations, saying it is import to collectively invest in the city. If the override passes, Freeman said officials need to focus the spending on priorities for all citizens. He continued that the biggest challenge facing city government is a “lack of trust” and “this is a great opportunity to restore that trust.”
The candidates were also asked what steps they would take to inspire trust in the allocation of city funds.
Ward 3’s Robb Stewart said he would continue to support Mayor Jen Grigoraitis, saying she has a strong agenda and her administration is transparent about everything.
Ward 7’s Rodriguez said it was import to listen to residents. He then mentioned Romanul’s universal budget survey, saying it is great in theory but no one has actually seen the survey’s results. “If we’re going to have transparency,” Rodriguez continued, issues cannot be decided behind closed doors.
Romanul said he has deployed over $55 million worth of investment across the country as part of his regular job, a sign that he knows the importance of budgeting. He continued that the budget needs to reflect Melrose’s values and to do this there needs to be robust longterm planning, there needs to be innovative ways of finding other sources of funding and the city must engage in “radical transparency.
Ward Hamilton said that over the last two years as an at-large city councilor, he has asked the tough questions of the Grigoraitis administration. “I’ve met with the administration. I’ve done the work behind the scenes so we can have open and meaningful (public) meetings,” he said. “I’ve irritated and upset some people. That happens. That’s what I signed up for.”
Gindi came back to the missing $2.2 million in school funds, saying that needs to be investigated. “Where did it go,” he asked.
He continued that the city needs a rotating team of three new auditors, from outside the city.
Gindi also said the city needs to be transparent in everything it does, and that he will be available to discuss all issues with constituents if elected.
Brad Freeman said he will listen, then learn, then lead as a city councilor from Ward 4. While it is often difficult to communicate certain decisions made at the local level, Freeman said he would bring any conversation to residents and also supports the investigation of innovative methods of connecting people with the information they need when seeking it.
Ward 3 hopeful Christopher Park explained that any level of mistrust in local government comes from a lack of information, or a lack of the right information. He said the city needs a website that is continuously up-to-date and contains information sought by residents.
The candidates were asked about the key election issue in their respective ward.
Rodgriquez said in Ward 7 it is the schools, and the 29 second graders at the Hoover School. Overcrowded classrooms do not reflect the values of Ward 7, he said, continuing that “We need a councilor who is willing to fight for our kids, who is going to oppose the mayor’s budget when it doesn’t” reflect the ward’s values.
Romanul said education and infrastructure are the two important issues. He said that while the city was forced to cut $4 million from the most recent schools’ budget, he was proud to support a prioritization of one-time expenses that allowed for some school items to be funded that otherwise would not have been.
Romanul also said he walked 20 miles around the city in one day and saw potholes everywhere, which were filled. He added that the longtime flooding issue at Lebanon and Sylvan streets has been addressed on his watch.
Hamilton said speeding and dangerous driving are the key problems in Ward 4, after concerns about budgeting. He said he wants to create a committee to look at various ways to calm traffic in the ward’s neighborhoods.
Gindi answered speeding, the substandard condition of sidewalks and the general condition of roads.
Freeman said that since he entered the race for Ward 4 Councilor, he made a promise to knock on every door. The result, he said, is that housing is the main concern of residents. One developer, he said, worked with the neighbors on a project, while another one did not. If elected, Freeman said he would have everyone together at the very beginning of a proposed development to see what could be done to get everyone on the same page.
Park said Ward 3’s main issues are potholes and speeding. One problem is that part of the ward borders Stoneham and neither community seems to want to take responsibility for the area.
One thing Ward 3 residents are not happy with, he said, is how an approved Proposition 2 1/2 debt exclusion for public safety building upgrades eventually ended up including the development of the old Beebe School when voters approved a police station for the Ripley School.
Stewart said he communicated why that change was made (the Ripley site was determined not to be feasible for construction) and while neighbors weren’t happy, “as a councilor you need to balance what’s best for the ward with what is best for the city.”
Given the fact that Melrose’s tax base is just about all residential, the candidates were asked how they would increase the commercial tax base to lessen the tax burden on homeowners.
Romanul said he wants to look at the city’s zoning codes to see if mixed use development can’t be increased. He also mentioned leasing the city’s recreational facilities and turning Memorial Hall into a maker space.
Ward Hamilton said that while the city is pretty densely developed, any new development in the city needed to include commercial space at least on the bottom floor.
Gindi suggested increasing the taxes on those who own condo or rental buildings in the city.
Brad Freeman said the city needs to grow business while still supporting the small businesses that already exist in Melrose. He would encourage more events at Memorial Hall.
Christopher Park said that an annual operation budget that is supported by a 9 percent commercial base is simply not sustainable. He suggested hiring an economic development professional and examining how developers come up with their building proposals.
Robb Stewart wants to put more of the tax levy on owners of commercial properties, but also explained his desire to find ways to better develop commercial space.
Alex Rodriquez said it is vital for city policymakers to put pressure on the state to ease the restrictive Proposition 2 1/2. “We can’t survive if we don’t have a better revenue stream,” he added.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Four people are vying for three seats on the School Committee: incumbent Jennifer Razi-Thomas, Sheryl Leigh Frost Leo, Melissa Holleran and Camarie Clark.
The hopefuls were asked for ideas on hiring and retaining a qualified superintendent of schools. Melrose has had four chief educational officers in the last four years.
Sheryl Leo said she has had a decade of experience hiring educators and that it is important to build a consensus that includes the voices of all stakeholders. She also said the School Committee must find someone who will create a stable culture for a long time.
Mellisa Holleran said the city’s schools need a leadership team that “understands the realities of what we’re facing.” That person needs to listen to teachers as well as parents. The search for the next superintendent of schools is an opportunity to build a stable administration.
Camarie Clark said the search for a new superintendent is “priority number one.” With four different superintendents in four years, there has been no true direction of the system. Clark said it is also important to see how candidates for the job would focus on the teaching of students.
Razi-Thomas has been on the School Committee for eight years. She said the superintendent needs to be an excellent communicator, a top role model and a professional who holds everyone in the system to high standards.
The candidates were asked for their views on the Proposition 2 1/2 override questions.
Holleran supports the override, calling this time a critical point for the entire city. If the override passes, she said it will be essential to delve into the department’s finances and see what has been eliminated that can be restored.
Clark called the override a “tough decision” and one entirely up to the individual voter to decide what is right for their particular belief system. She said the lack of trust in school officials certainly doesn’t help matters. The School Committee, she said, needs to be open about where the money is going.
Razi-Thomas said the “override ask is long overdue.” The schools have been doing a lot with “very little” for some time. She continued that no one wants their taxes raised “but no one wants bad schools either.” Excellent schools, she said, are worth fighting for.
The incumbent School Committee member also said that all school finances are accounted for down to the last penny.
Leo said she was in favor of the override, calling it long overdue. Students, teachers and schools are wall worthy of investment, she said.
The hopefuls were asked what changes they would make in the annual budgeting process.
Clark said parents need to be involved more in the process. There are meetings but not everyone can attend because of work commitments or other duties. She said the process needs to be as open and honest as it can be.
Razi-Thomas said she would propose that the override pass so officials can more fully restore educational programs, bring class sizes down and hire curriculum directors again.
Leo agreed, saying the schools must be funded with the successful override of Proposition 2 1/2. She said that School Committee budget meetings have been all about cutting spending and programs in recent years. “We can do better,” she said.
Holleran said there will be tough decisions on the budget regardless of how the override vote goes because people will want money to be allocated for certain programs.
The candidates were asked what steps they would take to inspire trust in the School Committee.
Razi-Thomas said she would continue to have conversations withy people and that it is “incredibly important” to hire the right people to handle the schools’ finances. She said right now the schools have quality people providing oversight.
She assed that she would continue to be herself and not “promote a brand.”
Leo said trust must be built among all those who hold a stake in the School Department. She added that communication is important, as is an invitation to participate. Also, she said the School Committee should celebrate the district’s successes when they exist and do so wholeheartedly.
Holleran said trust starts with communication, adding that a lot of information is available at School Committee meetings.
Clark said trust is inspired by showing people how funds are being spent. Also, the school board needs to be out more in the school community, reaching out to parents and students. It is important, she said, to be very clear and honest.
Finally, School Committee hopefuls were asked what is different in the school system this year.
Leo said class sizes. She has a ninth grader who said there are 39 kids in one class at the high school. Also, everyone is paying higher feels, paraprofessionals have been moved around and there is a unified secondary school principal.
Holleran said class sizes as well, but also added the elimination of the middle school team teaching model. She said officials need to determine what is working under the current system and what is not.
Clark said class size, explaining that her daughter’s Winthrop School class has 28 kids in it. She also said the cellphone policy change at the high school.
Razi-Thomas said the overarching problem is the uncertainty over what is coming next year, before saying the difference in class size and the elimination of AP computer classes at Melrose High.
“It’s hard to see these things happening,” she said.
COUNCILOR AT LARGE
There are five people running for four Councilor At Large seats. Ryan Williams and Maya Jamaleddine are incumbents.
The candidates were asked about their view on the override question.
Jamaleddine said she understands the concerns about raising property taxes but added that without the override succeeding Melrose risks losing vital city services. She said she believes in fiscal reponsibility combined with compassion and transparency. She explained that it is vital that voters preserve what makes Melrose strong.
Jason Chen said it will be more expensive for all residents if the override does not pass.
Dionysios Kaskarelis said this is a critical moment for the city and he supports overriding Proposition 2 1/2. “Cutting more will not solve the problem,” he said, adding, “We need to understand the negative impact of the” override’s failure.
Elizabeth Kowal expressed reluctance in backing the override because she said she isn’t sure how money has been spent in the past. She said there doesn’t seem to be any accountability in City Hall, saying leaders need to be held much more accountable than they are now.
Williams unequivocably said he would vote yes, yes, yes on the three questions.
“We’re at the leading edge of a tsunami,” he said, explaining the real pain comes when the tsunami comes ashore. There will be millions of dollars in cuts in years to come.
“We can’t afford to wait on this,” Williams said.