On The Issues: North Andover Select Board Candidates

NORTH ANDOVER, MA — North Andover's annual town election is fast approaching. Voters will go to the polls Tuesday to elect two Select Board members and two School Committee members.

For the Select Board, incumbent Richard Vaillancourt faces two challengers, Janice Phillips and Joe Finn.

All three candidates for the Select Board responded to Patch's questionnaire about their platforms and experience. We've collected some of their responses below so you can compare their answers in one place.

Previously on Patch: North Andover Election Guide: Candidate Profiles

Full profiles:

• Richard Vaillancourt
• Janice Phillips
• Joseph Finn

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Richard Vaillancourt:

Covid Recovery

Four priorities coming out of Covid:

• Get the vaccine out to people to slow the spread of the virus.
• Assist with scheduling appointments, transporting to vaccination sites and administering vaccines.
• Help people economically, with things like the town's rental and mortgage assistance program through town organizations like The Affordable Housing Trust.
• Help local businesses with grants to get them back up and running.

Joe Finn:

I think the most pressing issue for our board is the impact on the adequacy and delivery of the Town's municipal services and environment due to rapid growth of high-density housing in our town. In response, I plan to file a warrant article to be included in the upcoming Annual Town Meeting proposing (1) a temporary 2-year moratorium on multi-family dwellings; and (2) the Town to conduct a comprehensive study to determine the impact of recent increase in the construction of multi-family dwellings on the adequacy of the Town's municipal services and environment. [Note: The Town's ability to seek compliance with Massachusetts General Law 40B, Affordable Housing, is not impacted by the moratorium]

Janice Phillips:

There are plenty of pressing issues on the horizon for North Andover, school funding, building needs, smart growth, inappropriate development and many more. We need to put aside personal agendas and get to work representing the interests of all residents.

At this very moment, without a doubt, the most immediate issue facing our town is getting COVID vaccinations into the arms of all who wish to be vaccinated. Working to facilitate this is one of the most important ways we will protect our most vulnerable residents and get to work helping our small businesses recover. The North Andover team, in collaboration with the Greater Lawrence Family Health Center has already run a successful clinic.

As vaccine becomes available to our community, I will work in any capacity necessary to assure a smooth and quick rollout. If it means making phone calls to get people on the schedule, I'll do it. If that means finding or providing transportation, I'll work to make it happen. If that means staffing a clinic with volunteers, let's get to work!

How do you think local officials performed in responding to the coronavirus? What if anything would you have done differently?

Richard Vaillancourt:

I feel the Town officials and staff and Emergency Response have done an outstanding job dealing with the pandemic. Early on, we spent weeks providing meals (lunch) to anyone who needed one. Town staff handed them out in drive through locations and the meals were provided by School culinary staff. We have provided rental and mortgage assistance to individuals in need. We have also provided grants and PPE to local businesses.

Joe Finn:

Very good. In particular, town communications have been excellent, and officials have done a very good job of communicating to senior citizens those opportunities available to them to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

Janice Phillips:

Since March 13, 2020 our lives have changed beyond what we could imagine. With guidance being updated daily, our local officials have worked hard to effectively communicate important information to all residents. There are certainly times when we have all been frustrated at the slow roll out of information or programs and there have been hiccups along the way, but some of our local officials have worked tirelessly to be transparent and to communicate effectively as they pivot and change course, sometimes multiple times each day.

We should always strive for better and I'd welcome working collaboratively with the school side over the emotional interests of our children's education. I have seen first-hand that many of our officials have worked to bridge the gaps in our community that have resulted from the impact of COVID, including adapting the North Andover food pantry to serve more of our community. I will continue that work well into the future, as we get to work healing from the scars COVID has left on our community.

Why are you seeking elective office?

Richard Vaillancourt:

I have been on the Select Board for nine years. In that time we have had some amazing accomplishments in North Andover including

• Completion of the first Facilities Master Plan, which included: Total renovation of Town Hall, New Fire Station, New School administration building, Kittredge School Gym, Addition to the DPW building, construction of the Anne Bradstreet Early Childhood Center
• Eight years of consensus budgets brought to the floor of town meeting
• Sustained AAA bond rating

Currently, we are on the verge of some major initiatives in North Andover. The Amazon project is going to be transformative for North Andover. I was part of the negotiating team that worked on the TIF and Community Agreement.

Also, the Royal Crest is going to bring major changes to the southwest part of town. Along with the Pandemic crisis and potential financial backlash, I feel my experience, leadership skills and commitment to North Andover makes me the ideal person to see these projects and issues through to the end.

Joe Finn:

I am concerned about the rapid growth of our town and the material impact on the adequacy and delivery of the Town's municipal services and environment including: public schools; emergency public safety resources including police and the fire departments; water, sewer, and roadway infrastructure; agricultural viability of the Town's remaining farmland; and motor vehicle traffic. I am also interested in exploring ways of providing our senior citizens with affordable housing options.

Janice Phillips:

Because the work conducted by the Select Board is important for all. Between the severe impact of the Columbia Gas explosions on residents and businesses and the COVID public health crisis, I have witnessed North Andover rise to the challenges we face. My extensive work in our community gives me a unique perspective into the pulse of our town.

My work with the Atkinson School PTO, The North Andover Farmers Market- including volunteer coordinator and coordinator of external programs roles, serving on the board of the North Andover Merchants Association, coordinating The North Andover Front Steps Project, managing the Neighbors in Need diaper and formula program have prepared me to get to work for all residents of North Andover.

Serving on the Select Board will allow me to continue to strengthen those community ties to assure that all voices are heard. As a member of the Select Board it is my job to represent the interests of all residents, not to push forward a personal agenda.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

Richard Vaillancourt:

Amazon Development. I was part of the team that negotiated the TIF with Amazon that provides for approximately 6.6 million in payments to North Andover for items such as: $3,000,000 for STEM Education over 10 years, $700,000 for the planting of trees and maintenance, $100,000 for furniture for the new senior center, 2.3 Million for the Osgood St. Sewer extension and equipment for the North Andover Fire Department to be able to service the Amazon site.

Joe Finn:

Bring more business to North Andover

Meet 10% state requirement for affordable housing without causing congestion and school overcrowdin

Protect/Expand Open Space, Natural Resources, and Recreational Facilitie

Janice Phillips:

Getting to work on behalf of all residents of North Andover is my number one priority. We have to foster community engagement across many issues. I will continue the work I am already doing to deepen our community roots, improve communication and engagement, and facilitate thoughtful collaboration. Our schools remain a priority, and the next few years will require incredible collaboration among all residents to move our schools forward. The work to plan the revitalization of our downtown is in process, and as a member of the Board of the North Andover Merchants Association I look forward to the opportunity to get to work on behalf of our small businesses.

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.