Q+A with Art Prest, Candidate for Selectman
Groton Herald:
Some members of the community have expressed unhappiness with aspects of how the Charter is being interpreted and implemented by a majority of the Board of Selectmen. Do you agree that there are parts of the Charter that need some change? If so, what are the most important elements that might need changes? Please be specific but not exhaustive.
Art Prest:
The "Composition" and "Powers and Duties" for the Finance Committee are currently not specifically listed in the Charter. I think that a section should be added to the Charter to better define the role of the Finance Committee. As part of that addition, I agree with the consensus of the Finance Committee that there is a need for changes in the Charter to "strengthen the fiscal checks and balances and to refine the role of the Finance Committee in the process of fiscally managing the town's budget." In addition, I believe that we need to add to Section 1-8: Ethical Standards of the Charter, information regarding Open Meeting Laws.
Groton Herald:
Do you think a Selectmen should be allowed to hold more than one elective office in town? Please explain your reasoning.
Art Prest:
No. If there are potential conflicts of significance that could arise between the two elective offices, then one person should not serve in both positions. A case in point is the elected position of Selectman and the elected position as member of the Planning Board. While it's hard to predict in advance, there could easily be situations where one's role as a Selectman and one's role on the Planning Board would represent a conflict. I also do not think that a person should hold both the elected position as a Selectman and an appointed position on the Finance Committee and I have already stated that if elected Selectman I will resign as a member of the Finance Committee.
Groton Herald:
If a majority of Town Meeting voters ask Selectmen to not renew the Town Manager's contract, would you follow the voters' wishes?
Art Prest:
I will listen to the arguments put forth at the April 27th Town Meeting by citizens and, if elected as Selectman, would make a decision at a later date based on all the information available at that time.
Groton Herald:
There has been divisiveness and lack of cohesion between and among certain members of the Board of Selectmen. What is the cause of this dissension? Is such dissension necessarily a bad thing? What would you bring to the board to improve the Boards ability to work together for the benefit of the town?
Art Prest:
The main problem is the lack of trust among the members of the Board of Selectmen. This has manifested itself in cross charges Selectmen itself. This behavior created further distrust that then resulted in Public Information Requests. Debate between the Selectmen is one thing; dissension is not nearly so positive. Webster defines dissension as "partisan and contentious quarreling". The existing level of dissension has to stop. People can agree to disagree but they shouldn't be disagreeable when doing so. I think that if I am elected Selectman that
I can help return civility to the Board of Selectmen. I have good working relationships with the Selectmen as well with virtually everyone at Town Hall, and I have achieved great results during my career in bringing groups with widely diverse opinions and interests together in a common cause. That cause has to be what is good for the citizens of Groton and the cause cannot for political or personal gain.
Groton Herald:
Do you believe that a Selectmen responsibility is first to fellow board members or to the voters who elected them? Please explain.
Art Prest:
The Selectmen's first responsibility is to all the citizens of Groton and not just to a select few. However, for a Selectman to be successful, he or she has to win the trust of the other Selectmen and work collaboratively with the entire board and the other members of town government. A good Selectman will also continue to listen to the concerns of the citizens - not just during campaign season - but as an ongoing approach to finding the best solutions to problems and concerns as they arise. I would work tirelessly to hear the voice of the citizens and address their concerns to the best of my ability. Connecting with members of our community, advocating for their needs and finding solutions for the greater good is, in my mind, what being a Selectman is all about.
Groton Herald:
The recently completed Financial Benchmarking analysis has identified long-term spending patterns in town government that appear unsustainable. If elected how would you respond to these spending patterns? Please be specific but not exhaustive.
Art Prest:
The Financial Benchmarking by Kevin Lindemer presents some interesting analysis relative to the future financial dilemma that Groton could face over the next ten years. Unfortunately the Financial Benchmarking document provides no proposed solutions to the issues that are identified. In order for Groton to be able to afford to properly support all of its citizens now and in the future, we cannot look only at the expenditure side. Yes, we need to look at ways to control the rate of growth in salaries, wages and benefits, but we also need to look at how we can grow the revenue side as well.
The business (commercial plus industrial) tax revenue in Groton is tiny compared to many surrounding towns, and as Selectman I would focus on how we can change that. The Master Plan for Groton talks at length about the need for additional businesses in Groton but little has been achieved in making it happen. I have been talking a lot about the need for economic development in Groton to offset the tax rate increases for residents that have been occurring for the last eight years.
More specifically I have been talking about what some people refer to edge development in which economic business development focuses on the edges of town so that the town centers are not impacted. I have also been talking about the possibility of getting grants to hire an Economic Development specialist to coordinate this effort for Groton as several towns around us have done successfully.
