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At Board of Selectmen Candidates, we asked the recall candidates to provide information about their positions. This is Greg Stevens response.

See also Marsha Brunelle's response, Wayne Perkins response and Michael O'Shaughnessy's response .

Greg Stevens response

Thank you for the opportunity to answer these questions.

First, what experience do you have that you believe qualifies you for this position?

I have five years of business consulting where I dealt with a variety of business issues such as budgeting, capital planning, and financial forecasting. I have been in the industrial sales field for the last six years where my experience has been in negotiating and dealing with many different people.

The DOR report requested by the current Selectmen suggests that the Board should formally give up some of its present powers to the Town Manager. Do you agree or disagree with this? Feel free to explain why, of course.

I agree with the DOR suggestion to empower the Town Manager's position with more authority over the day to day operation and planning phases. I think one of the major questions is why after two years of an executive search we are still looking for a Town Manager. I believe this should be a priority for the Board of Selectman.

Regardless of whether or not you believe the proposed Wampanoag Casino has positive or negative impacts on Middleboro, we need to get through at least three to five years before any of that will happen. What's your plan for doing that?

I feel this is of the utmost importance to tackle our town problems now. At a best case scenario, the casino resort complex is at least 5 years away. First, we need to review all town departments and look for similar services and waste. I would recommend monthly department head meetings to have managers help develop priorities and common areas of concern. I would ask for an independent salary and benefit review to make sure we as a community can attract quality staff at a reasonable and fair wage. We then need to develop comprehensive plans for the future of our community. We need to develop plans for how this town will be impacted by the casino/resort. For example, we will be expanding police services, yet our police station is in very bad shape. As I look around to other communities, I see new modern police facilities. This has not been a priority for Middleboro.

If you are opposed to this Casino Resort, but it does become reality, do you believe that you can work effectively with the Tribal-Town Advisory Committee?

Yes, I am opposed to the Casino Resort but I do respect the will of the town's voters. As a Selectman, it would be my duty to work with the Tribal-Town Advisory committee. I think I would bring a different perspective to the current Board. I would make sure all of our issues are mitigated fairly and we receive the monetary compensation negotiated in the Agreement.

If you are opposed, do you plan to use the powers of this office to work toward negating the actuality of this project if possible?

I am opposed to a casino in Middleboro and am currently serving on the Board of Directors for CasinoFacts.org PAC. I would not use my office as Selectman to try to negate the voter approved agreement or the casino project. I believe a good Selectman must honor the will of the voter. I would work to increase citizen involvement in the on-going process of dealing with the project. I will fight to have open dialogue, appropriate review periods, and will seek expert opinions as the project moves forward.

Overall, do you feel Middleboro needs to concentrate more on reducing costs or increasing revenue? Of course "both" is also a valid answer.

Both are my answer. Our costs have skyrocketed out of control with 30% salary increases salaries, benefit co-pays of $5, sick leave buybacks, and inflated retirement pensions. These are not real world benefits. These issues stress the town's budget as personnel cost account for most of the expenditures. Increased revenue should always be sought but responsibly. Our town's TIFF status allows us to give tax breaks to attract business. Because of the highway structure, we are a very attractive location. As a salesman, I recognize the importance of going out to the business community and "selling Middleboro". We must be proactive and make ourselves attractive for new growth and development.

If the Casino does NOT come to Middleboro (or if it comes and is, in fact, a cash drain rather than a benefit), what is your plan for fiscal stability long term?

Long term financial planning is the answer to this question. The Board of Selectmen must hire a Town Manager with strong fiscal and leadership skills. Middleboro must live within the budget the people develop. I would ask department heads to develop a 5 year forecast for their budgets. We must prioritize the present level of service and look for ways to reduce costs. I would have one centralized purchasing system to get better pricing for the whole town. For example, every department buys or leases copy machines on their own. Doesn't it make sense, to bid all at the same time? Presently, we have a budgetary system that pits department against department for revenue dollars. We need to teach a cooperative approach to budgetary matters.

If you feel we do need to increase revenue, do you think we need to increase homeowner taxes to meet our needs, and if so, what is your estimate of how much they might need to increase?

I do not feel we need to increase taxes more than the Proposition 2.5 limit. I would oppose overrides because the voters have overwhelmingly rejected these tax increases two years in a row. Property taxes continue to rise. The law allows an increase at 2.5%. The home owner also feels the pinch when their property is reassessed. With solid financial planning and improvement to our leadership structure, we will be able to balance our budget. In fact, the last few annual town meetings did have balanced budgets which were unbalanced at the annual fall Special Town Meetings. Special Town Meetings should only be called to handle unforeseen problems.

Do you feel that the Board needs to be more responsive to the town's voters?

Yes, the major reason I am running was the lack of response to voters during the process over the summer. Voters were continually ignored and gaveled silent during meetings. No public debates were held on the most important decision in Middleboro history. The 32 page legal agreement was released just four days prior to the Special Town Meeting with no review sessions. No matter which way you voted on the casino agreement, you have to understand the process was flawed from the start. Town government needs to be open and transparent.

Do you feel that the Board has a responsibility to present clear and complete information to Town Meeting voters and if so, do you think they presently accomplish that goal? If not, what changes would you try to effect?

I absolutely feel the Board of Selectmen should provide complete information about upcoming votes. I feel the Special Town Meeting in July where the public only had the casino agreement four days preceding in electronic form and in printed form the day of the meeting was the most egregious process I have witnessed. We should have open forums to allow citizens to ask their questions and get information prior to taking votes. We should give the citizens all the facts and figures well before a vote is every taken. I believe an informed voter is the most important piece of a democracy.

Do you think Oak Point homeowners should be paying more taxes (yes, this was effectively decided at a previous town meeting, but there are still voters who believe this needs addressing).

I do not feel Oak Point homeowners should be paying more taxes. They are paying exactly what the law dictates.

- Greg Stevens

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