Jeff Griffin, Select Board candidate
Select Board candidate
My name is Jeff Griffin. My family and I have been proud to call North Reading our home for the past 20 years. I own and operate a small business here in town and have had the opportunity to connect with the people of North Reading for many years. After hearing and learning about the issues that affect our citizens every day, I was inspired to get involved. Becoming a member of the Community Planning Commission has allowed me to serve our community and gain a deeper understanding of how town government functions.
Some of my involvement as resident, business owner, and CPC member includes:
• Reviewing many planning and zoning projects
• Gathering on-site information for multiple town developments
• Attending countless Select Board meetings
Supporting:
• Police and Fire Departments for Random Acts of Kindness Day
• The addition of Christmas Lights to the Damon Tavern
• Little League Baseball teams
• Town events like Apple Fest, the Tree Lighting, and Town Day
• Bringing transparency to the MBTA 3A Law
• Working to amend the Accessory Dwelling Unit state law
• Voting for the approval of donating town land to Habitat for Humanity
• Consistently advocating for traffic safety
• Continuously working with developers and understanding the effects of their projects to the town
• Volunteering at the Voter Polls
• Serving as Liaison to the Economic Development Committee
• Serving as Liaison to the North Reading Historical Society
I feel that my service to the community will be multifaceted, fair, and innovative. My ability to manage finance, people, projects, and deadlines, while maintaining transparency in government is very important. We need solid leadership. I will always be available and open to discuss any issue. I am a reachable person and strive to listen with patience and receptivity.
As the people of this town, we know that we have many financial issues approaching. We are facing overrides and budget downfalls. We must come together and find the best solutions available for our community. Our willingness and abilities will determine our future.
Our families are depending on us to make good choices. We need to create a North Reading that will bring prosperity to our local business, protect the most vulnerable, assist the elderly, and best support our Police and Fire departments.
My vision for North Reading is robust. Many ideas and perspectives have been discussed over the years. We must come to the conversation with an open-minded and clear-headed approach to build a better North Reading. I hope you will consider voting for me on May 6th. I earnestly care about this town that has given my family a wonderful 20 years! I look forward to the opportunity to keep making a difference for 01864! North Reading first! Reach out anytime at JGriffin.NR@Gmail.com
Catherine Morrin, Select Board candidate
Select Board candidate
My husband and I moved our family to North Reading in 2015, drawn by its small town charm and a school district with a tradition of excellence. Our kids attend the public schools and our family is actively involved in the community through volunteering.
I’m a professional interior designer, working in Boston with diverse private and public sector clients. One key aspect of my work is building consensus among project stakeholders. I’d like to put my 25 years of professional experience to work, listening and working with diverse viewpoints for the benefit of all North Reading residents.
We’re facing the combined challenges of the budget deficit and our ability to spur and sustain long term economic growth. Our service needs outpace our current revenues. This fiscal uncertainty is causing a division in the community. To work through these challenges, we must focus on our core values of fairness, inclusion, community development, and delivering services to all generations.
As a lifelong problem-solver, my goal is to bring a pragmatic, common sense approach to the challenges facing our community. I see collaboration and focus on our common goals as a roadmap for sustainable solutions that will strengthen our community.
If elected to serve on the Select Board, I will work tirelessly to keep our town a desirable place to live for all residents, with a focus on balancing our budget, increasing financial transparency, and growing our revenues.
Michael Scarlata, Select Board candidate
Select Board candidate
My name is Michael Scarlata, and I am a candidate for the North Reading Select Board. I moved to North Reading four years ago from West Peabody. At that time, I was tired of city life and wanted to find a quaint bedroom type community, so I chose North Reading. Looking back, it was absolutely the right move for me. I have met so many wonderful people, many of whom I call friends.
Inspired by my late parents, who valued community service and volunteerism, I wholeheartedly believe in giving back. This belief drives my involvement in several town committees and philanthropic organizations.
My record of volunteerism:
• Active volunteer with the North Reading Council on Aging
• Active member with Friends of North Reading Council on Aging
• Active member of the North Reading Historical and Antiquarian Society
• Donor and supporter of the North Reading Real Senior Prom, Dollars for Scholars, North Reading Food Pantry, Hope for Merrick and many more.
I am 59 years old; I work for Bright Horizons in their Finance organization. I am a graduate of Peabody High School, Class of 1983 and a graduate of Bentley University with a degree in Economics and Finance, Class of 1987.
Why I want to serve North Reading:
North Reading is a community rich in history, volunteerism, and pride. We have exceptional schools, a dedicated and heroic police and fire department, and committed volunteers serving on our town committees and boards. These qualities inspire me to give back by serving as a member of the Select Board. I bring the experience, commitment, and time required to be an effective and accessible representative of our town. Two of my skills that set me apart from the other candidates are my budget and financial management experience and community involvement and outreach.
North Reading issues:
• Increasing our commercial tax base
• Extending sewer line from Andover or explore package treatment plant(s) only for the Business District:
We have been told countless times in the last several years that our town has a serious revenue problem. Currently the municipal budget has a budget shortfall of 500K, and the school budget has a budget shortfall of 900K. As a Select Board member I will work to understand the root cause as to why we have deficit spending with our municipal and school budgets. Deficit spending will continue if we don’t act now. We need to increase our commercial tax base from 6 percent for the sole purpose of generating more tax revenue. The answer to North Reading’s revenue issue isn’t always a Prop 2 ½ override. I support exploring and possibly extending the sewer line from Andover along Main Street specifically for our business district. How much capacity would Andover let North Reading have with respect to extending the sewer line is a factor that needs to be asked. We also must understand the cost to implement an extension.
Establishing package treatment plant(s) somewhere along Rte. 28 might be another option to explore, which could be a good solution to bring new businesses to North Reading. The first step is to set up an Exploratory Committee to see if this option is viable.
Package treatment plants are pre-manufactured treatment facilities used to treat wastewater in small communities.
The lack of sewer specifically in our business district on Main Street appears to be a major reason as to why businesses have closed. Restaurants like Joe Fish and Papa Gino’s no longer wanted to deal with the expense to maintain and change over their septic tanks. Both properties have been vacant for a few years now. North Reading’s commercial tax base, which stands at 6 percent, is extremely low. To give you an idea of the commercial tax base in surrounding towns: Lynnfield’s commercial tax base is 15% and Andover’s commercial tax base is 11%.
Supporting and partnering with North Reading schools, teachers and parents:
As a Select Board member, I will always support and partner with North Reading schools, students, and parents. The data provided by Superintendent Dr. Patrick Daly clearly shows that North Reading students are meeting or exceeding expectations in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science/Technology. Our town is truly fortunate to have highly skilled and dedicated teachers, paraprofessionals, guidance counselors, and support staff who are committed to student success. I will be a strong advocate for our schools, ensuring they have the resources and support needed to continue delivering excellence in education.
My commitment to North Reading schools:
• Championing teachers as they inspire intellectual growth and critical thinking.
• Advocating for a high-quality education that serves all students.
• Ensuring a safe and healthy learning environment.
• Encouraging students to strive for excellence.
• Prioritizing students’ needs and protecting parental rights in education.
If elected to the North Reading Select Board, I will be a dedicated partner to Superintendent Dr. Patrick Daly, the North Reading School Committee, our North Reading school staff, students, and parents. Together, we can strengthen our schools and build a brighter future for North Reading.
A strong advocate for North Reading seniors:
The senior population is growing at a rapid rate in our town which means the programs and services that the Senior Center offers also needs to grow so that they can meet the needs and demands of our Seniors. The North Reading seniors represent 30 percent of the North Reading population.
The Select Board liaison along with Senior Center Director Kim Manzelli need to thoroughly explain to the Town Administrator and the Select Board that a 1/2 of 1 percent of the Town Budget is simply not going to meet the needs of our seniors. The Senior Center relies heavily on grants and donations. Grants are not always guaranteed, and donations are not consistent. We need to keep our seniors from leaving North Reading. When a senior sells their home, it will probably be to a family. The average family has two children. Children, who I love, will add to the school budget which is already strained. The expense of educating a child will probably outweigh the property tax revenue that is paid each year by the homeowner. As a Select Board member, I will advocate for the needs of our seniors and ensure our seniors remain in North Reading.
Unfortunately, the Edith O’Leary Senior Center is not an adequate facility to hold all the programs and services for our seniors. Senior Center Director Kim Manzelli is forced to schedule programs at Aldersgate Church, Town Hall and the Masonic Lodge. This can be very confusing and challenging for our seniors. The town has talked about building an Intergenerational Center, or a new Senior Center. I look forward to participating in those discussions. We as a town need to decide which of these two ideas make sense for our seniors. We as a town need to ensure that whatever project we move forward with provides the programs and services for our seniors under one roof.
As a town, there is far more that unites us than divides us. We are one community, coming together to make North Reading a great place to live. Our strength lies in our ability to work together. It’s time to put aside partisan politics and focus on what’s best for the people of North Reading. Our town is home to a diverse population—young families, aging seniors, empty nesters, and professionals of all ages and backgrounds. Regardless of economic status or walk of life, every resident deserves a voice in shaping our future. North Reading must come together in a collaborative and meaningful way to achieve the best results for all. I am ready to lead that effort. Will you join me?
I respectfully ask for your vote on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, at St. Theresa’s Church, 63 Winter St., 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thank you North Reading.
Rich Wallner, Select Board candidate
Select Board candidate
I am running for my third term as a Select Board member and am seeking your support in a contested contest. I do not seek your support out of just popularity or promises. Rather I seek it based on my extensive volunteer and professional experience, combined with a significant list of accomplishments, plus my vision of what to do next if I am reelected.
As a Select Board member, I have approached my role as a fiduciary. Simply put, I am obligated to act in the best interest of the town. It is not about me; it is about you. I fulfill this obligation by studying the issues, listening to the voices of my colleagues and citizens, deliberating with an open mind, and by making recommendations and votes that are pragmatic, based on my vast experience in leadership roles. Let me share some lessons I have learned about our town that have influenced my thinking.
The best way we can support the schools is to support our seniors. Our seniors are nothing less than benefactors to our schools. For example, to send just one child to our school requires property taxes from three average homes. Typically, these two empty nester homes are seniors where two-thirds of their property taxes go to the schools. As a result, it is very important that we keep our seniors in their homes so we can maintain our current balanced ecosystem. Not only is this a fiscal necessity for our schools but it is also the right thing to do since our seniors helped build our great town.
What else have I done to address the two primary concerns of seniors? First, I helped create a new Circuit Breaker 50% Match program that will benefit ~ 500 senior households in town who are struggling to pay their property taxes. Second, I created the new Transportation Committee so that our driving-challenged seniors can still get around town safely. We have never had more options and users than we do now. But there is so much more we can do. I am excited to continue.
I am also focused on building community. For example, we have defined four director positions in town; finance, public works and public safety but we never filled the Public Services Director position. When I discovered this, I brought it to the attention of the board, and we immediately made a hire. Our new Public Services Director has brought together our various social services entities into a singular purpose of creating a thriving community for all ages through synergy and good management. The results have been significant, yet there is still more to do. I am well positioned to help.
Continuing, a lot of new people come to our town for our high performing schools. But after their children graduate, they ask themselves two questions. “Is there life after kids?” and “Do I stay or do I go?” We have studied this question with the UMass Gerontology Department and discovered that 40% of parents plan to leave our town when their kids leave our schools, compared to the state average of 25%. Forty percent is very high and not how you build community! Why so high? We have not given them a reason to stay. No downtown. No intergenerational community center, and high property taxes. This needs to change. I look forward to working on these issues as I have done in the past.
Regarding our budget crisis, which will only get worse over time, it appears short-term answers are not going to win the day. We must think long term. While the previous proposal to create wastewater lines throughout Main Street failed in committee, we still have two opportunities to explore: extending the Andover line into our North Main Street area without changing infrastructure and exploring the viability of a more affordable package treatment plant. I look forward to working with the Community Planning Commission, the Select Board, and DPW to explore those options so we can increase our current very small commercial tax base.
In summary, I have been honored to serve our town, am proud of the many positive things that I have done to accomplish this goal and remain committed to do even more to improve our lives and community. I hope you will join me by voting on Tuesday, May 6th.
Learn more at https://www.voteyourvaluesnr.org/about-rich and Facebook at Select Board Member Rich Wallner.