1. What motivated you to run for select board?
My wife and I chose to live in Truro after many years of visiting and spending time here, starting for me in the 70s. We decided to retire here in 2020 because of the community it appeared to be - rural, beautiful, kind, and caring, and with opportunities to participate in community life on a manageable scale - like committees, cultural groups and the like. The rural quality was important to us and still is.
I am fully retired and have discretionary time now. So, I have been active in Town life for all the time we have lived here. I have long been active in any community I live in; it is my nature and interest. I believe, especially in Truro where the voters are the legislature, that the ultimate responsibility and “authority” is in our hands and that Town government must reflect the will of the voters and the larger resident community.
I began to watch and/or attend Truro Select Board meetings, all Town Meetings, and many committee meetings in earnest for many years and keep that up consistently. It became pretty clear to me in 2022-23 that the Select Board and the Town Manager were not listening to the community but rather that a small group on the Select Board and with the Town Manager have their own agenda.
That agenda is not what most of the citizens of Truro want - and residents have tried to make that clear repeatedly - through petitions, through survey responses especially on the Town Manager and on Walsh, through forums, and through the largest voter turnout ever. They have been very vocal on not voting outside Truro, as well, though the Select Board Chair keeps pushing for that rather than making the small technical upgrades needed to make every meeting space synchronized in real time so we can all attend in Truro.
There is a great divide in Town. As neighbors and colleagues experience and describe this divide to me, it is between Town Government and the citizens, not between any groups of citizens in Town. Citizens are clear about what they want, and it runs throughout the community. The Select Board is simply not listening or responding.
I chose to run because the will of the people is really being ignored. Getting 700 voters for Special Town Meeting on November 28th when normal turnout is 200 is an indicator of their frustration and the refusal of residents to be run over by the bulldozing of a few.
But I also chose to run because of the refusal of the Select Board to address ANY of the data that I and others have provided based on public records that show Truro has a shadow government - a group of key advisors whom the Select Board chair and others rely upon and communicate with, outside of public view. This must stop.
I know Truro residents want to live in this beautiful community as it is now, and to live in harmony with each other. The citizens are ready. The current Select Board and their proxies are not. If I am elected, I will be ready and willing to work with a new majority on the SB to open Truro back up, and remember what Truro is and can be in a way that work for all of us.
2. Tell me about your involvement in town affairs leading up to now?
Having spent my career in music and performing, I first gravitated towards that in Truro. I have been on the Truro Concert Committee since we moved here a few years ago. I am now vice chair. As I mentioned above, I also began attending /watching lots of town meetings because I have always been civically involved wherever I have lived, including running for elected office.
I began attending committee meetings and watching previous, taped meetings as much as possible so I could understand what was happening in Truro and what was leading to the disconnect with Town government that I saw for myself and heard about from my neighbors. I noticed there was a small number of people attending these meetings. I then began to encourage my neighbors to attend as well.
Based upon their observations and concerns I began to speak up and out on behalf of my neighbors at public comment at Select Board meetings. The positive responses I received from Truro residents were widespread, incredible, and encouraging. The negative responses I received from Town government - based on the facts raised to the Select Board were very discouraging not only to me but to many others in Town. It only confirms the divide between the Select Board and Truro citizens.
I also volunteer quite a bit in Town and find it intrinsically rewarding. I hope it is helpful as well.
3. Are you associated with Take Back Truro or any other citizens’ groups in town?
I’m an independent thinker. I'm not sure what you mean by “citizen’s groups” - but I believe this question is ill-advised to ask. We all have the right to free speech and assembly under the First Amendment. Calling out religious affiliation, club memberships, party affiliation, organizational membership and the like are simply another way of disregarding or separating people. We saw how badly that was abused in the recent challenges to new voters. You and I were both in attendance for many of those BOR hearings. We have seen enough of demonizing folks who exercise (or help others to exercise) their First Amendment rights, who ask the Town government to clean up its act or who ask questions about contentious issues in Town. I firmly believe the Provincetown Independent should not contribute to that by asking for affiliations.
4. What would be your priorities if elected to the board?
Taking care of Truro and its citizens first. Affordable taxes, attainable housing in a scale Truro needs and can afford; annual budget reduction and stabilization; control of all major budget and financial expenditures in voters’ hands; transparency, transparency, transparency - not propaganda. Responsible growth that keeps Truro’s character and environment. And listening to the people, most of all.
5. What is your stance on housing development at the Walsh property? Specifically, the article that appears on the special town meeting warrant?
My stance is irrelevant. The citizens of Truro have made it clear in as many ways as they can: Walsh should be developed with a maximum cap of about 80 units, done on a lower density and construction basis than its most demanding advocates want. Many residents of Truro want 50 or fewer, units and a few want 160. Most agree on 80 - but as a real cap, not open-ended like the present warrant article has it. It seems Truro would need 65 units on Walsh to meet the MGL, 10% guideline. In other words, 65-80 is it. In addition, Cloverleaf should be developed first and see how it goes. All costs that taxpayers will bear for construction, infrastructure and more on Walsh should be presented openly before any plans or expenditures are approved at Town Meeting. This must include future impact on schools, social services etc. Truro taxpayers have a right to know before this burden hits them and before the Town piles on one expensive and character-altering project after the other.
Citizens have also already expressed concern that Walsh sure seems like it can impact our existing and future pristine public water supply for parts of Truro and all of Provincetown. I’m amazed that the Town Manager has not studied this scientifically before proceeding to bring a project recommendation to the voters. The risk to a town’s water supply is not something that can be ignored, as it has been up to now, and the more the development the more the risk. The more infrastructure, the higher the costs, the environmental damage and the change in Truro’s character as well.
Residents have also indicated that Walsh could have an enormous impact on Route 6 - and have already made clear that they want to know exactly what will happen to Route 6 near Walsh to accommodate development plans. You may recall the traffic impact study was completed in the off season. I believe February. The Cloverleaf skipped this step completely. We cannot miss it here - Route 6 is the economic artery of Truro – whether for local tradespeople, deliveries, or the seasonal traffic that brings with it the bulk of Truro’s income. Walsh, DPW and Cloverleaf development along Rt 6 could cripple this artery for many years. The Town needs to seriously listen and respond to citizen’s legitimate concerns about this.
Answers to these questions and concerns are what the citizens want.
6. What is your stance on the DPW facility upgrade?
Likewise, my view doesn’t matter. What matters is that Truro voters and taxpayers recognize that someone is both listening and reflecting on what they want regarding all issues, especially these hot topic and expensive items, like the DPW. Truro residents have made it pretty clear on the DPW - the $64 million price tag all in is simply a non-starter. The plans to develop along Rt 6 are unsafe, will likely be held up by legitimate concerns of residents for years, and will disrupt economic life along our main artery for years to come. The current site on Town Hall Hill makes much more sense - and I believe the Select Board knows this. The competing concepts are just that – concepts. Taxpayers deserve to have both fleshed out more so voters can make a good choice. I hope the new Ad Hoc Building Committee will keep an open mind - but it already seems like it might be stacked with Route 6 advocates. That bias will not serve Truro and will only continue to divide the town.
Comments