Letter To The Editor Roundup: More Endorse Shari Ellis

BURLINGTON, MA — The following letters were submitted to Burlington Patch by residents.

To submit a letter to the editor email chris.huffaker@patch.com.

Letter to the editor from resident Ernest Zabolotny:

The Select Board Mission Statement identifies several goals including provision of public services that promote health and safety of residents and a high quality of life and supporting a strong economic base through effective land use planning. Shari Ellis has clearly demonstrated her agreement and support of those goals by her work with the Land Use committee and other efforts in the course of performing her Town Meeting member responsibilities.

A good example of her work to achieve those goals is the issue of sidewalks which has languished as a back burner item on the Town’s to do list. The prospective cost of improving the quality and extent of the sidewalk system was often cited as the reason to forgo any major improvements despite general agreement that such improvements would enhance public health and safety. Shari Ellis undertook a lobbying effort to raise awareness of this issue including, resurrecting a long forgotten Town Sidewalk policy statement, presentations to the Planning Board and Land Use committee and other public discussions with such pleasant persistence that she earned the title of “Sidewalk Lady”. Her efforts culminated in the identification of a sidewalk plan as a most desirable element in the State required Town Master Development Plan. Soon after, Town Meeting voted to support a more aggressive sidewalk program which in the words of one TM member would pay for itself over time.

This and similar efforts by Mrs. Ellis speak volumes about her character and commitment to a continuously improving Burlington with respect to quality of life for citizens and visitors. We would all benefit from her presence on the Select Board. Vote for Ellis.

E. Zabolotny

Burlington

The above letter was produced by Burlington resident Ernest Zabolotny. The views expressed are the author's own.

Letter to the editor from Burlington teacher and District Equity Committee Member Judith Crossman:

Shari Ellis has been principled, compassionate, and practical in her advocacy within town government, and I support her candidacy for Burlington’s Select Board.

Drawing on her 25 years of experience as a Town Meeting Member and on conversations she has had with both town leaders and constituents, Shari has identified four key areas of importance to our community: Economic Health, Environment and Open Space, Communication, and Community Character. Underlying each of these essential issues is the guiding principle that equity and accessibility is central to building both a strong community and an effective local government. As a member of the Select Board, Shari will make communication transparent and accessible to all, invite active participation, and encourage all residents to have a voice in the issues they care about.

Shari’s leadership ability was on display this fall as she advocated for the creation and funding of the new BPS Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. She listened to constituents, asked questions, built consensus and helped find a path forward. Ultimately, Shari’s advocacy was essential in securing a new district position that will guide BPS in the necessary work of dismantling systemic racism and its impact on student learning.

Shari has proven her ability to make change as a Town Meeting Member, and as a member of the Select Board, she will be able to maximize her positive impact. Please join me in voting for Shari. I know that if she is elected to the Select Board, she will work to ensure that our local government is transparent, accessible and inclusive of all members of our diverse Burlington community.

If you’d like to learn more about Shari’s campaign, visit her website: www.EllisForBurlington.com.

Sincerely,

Judith Crossman

BPS Teacher, District Equity Committee Member

The above letter was produced by Burlington teacher and District Equity Committee Member Judith Crossman. The views expressed are the author's own.

Letter to the editor from Burlington Town Meeting Member Monte Pearson:

Letter to the Editor

Have you ever had a neighbor who, more than most folks, is a person who looks out for everybody along the street? A neighbor who, when it is time to have a block party or a discussion about a problem, has the yard where everyone gathers? I have, my neighbor Shari Ellis.

Then, when the neighborhood got together with the rest of Precinct 3 and voted her onto Town Meeting, she brought that “we want to take care of everyone” attitude to community issues. I saw this close up when Shari and I served on the Land Use Committee of Town Meeting. From that platform, I watched her tackle one issue after another with a fierce determination to get to all of the facts and then make sure the Town did the right thing.

For example, before anyone thought it was possible, Shari decided that we really needed more sidewalks in Burlington. She went out to talk to residents, then she went and talked to the Dept. of Public Works, and then to members of the Planning Board. When obstacles arose, she wouldn’t take no for an answer and, after much pushing and pulling, Burlington began putting in more sidewalks and more money is targeted for sidewalks in the future.

The key to this and other issues was her willingness to talk to everyone involved, decide on what was best for the residents of Burlington, and then persist until the right thing happened. These are the kind of qualities that, I believe, will make her a terrific member of the Select Board. Please remember Shari when you cast your vote on Saturday, April 10.

Monte Pearson
5 Willow Way
Town Meeting member

The above letter was produced by Burlington Town Meeting Member Monte Pearson. The views expressed are the author's own.