People have asked, “Why should we support Question 3 to invest $15 million over the next three years?” Rather than just making emergency repairs, we need to invest in our 28 municipal buildings to make the buildings energy efficient, costing the taxpayer less for heating, cooling and lighting. Logan Casey, the former town sustainability coordinator, spent several months compiling data on the energy consumption of Marblehead’s municipal buildings and produced an Energy Reduction Plan, which the Select Board adopted, but needs additional funding to accomplish.
Once Marblehead gets Green Communities Designation (MHD was prevented from applying while we were not 3A compliant), it will unlock $145,000 the first year and $250,000 each subsequent year, in grants for energy efficiency improvements in municipal buildings. That’s over $1 million dollars in just five years which does not require additional tax funding. Applying for those grants and administering them is required before receiving additional grants, and we need the grant writer/administrator as proposed in Question 3.
Becky Curran Cutting, who retired as town planner after 30 years, envisioned a team of people including a sustainability coordinator, a community development director, a procurement officer, a grant writer, in addition to a town planner. Seeing how complex town planning had become, Becky often had to pay consultants to outsource her grant writing and grant management obligations, so the Community Development and Planning Department was created to expand town revenue — income from sources other than our property taxes.
We need teachers, administrators, planners, custodians, police, fire and public works employees. But we also need to fund a capital plan, as provided in Question 3, to replace equipment, noting for example that several DPW trucks typically used for plowing were unavailable during the recent snowstorms. We need the funding provided by Question 3 to have a functioning town that looks ahead, is prepared for emergencies, and invests in the quality of our streets, schools, buildings, and staff. Please join me in voting ‘yes’ on Question 3 (and Questions 1 & 2 as well) to preserve the town we love.
Eileen Haley Mathieu
Longview Drive
