Letter To The Editor: Selectmen Need Epstein’s Creativity and Collaboration

Photo: Roy Epstein at the Belmont League of Women Voters debate.

To the editor:

Successfully completing major capital projects in Belmont requires high levels of cooperation among many boards and committees. Roy Epstein knows how the system works. He helped to save the Town at least $40 million.

Finally fixing the police station and DPW facility began with conversations at the Warrant Committee and the Capital Budget Committee. The approach gathered steam when the Major Capital Projects Working Group formed an unusual solution to address both buildings, in place. The DPW/BPD Building Committee refined the creative thinking of prior groups to present a plan which Town Meeting enthusiastically supported.

Not only is the work happening after years of inaction, but it’s also being done at a price that does not require a debt exclusion. This solution required great creativity and collaboration. Consultants repeatedly told us that new DPW and Police facilities would cost at least $50 million. The dedicated work of the many volunteers on multiple committees produced an excellent plan that should cost the Town only about $10 million.

Roy was a key contributor, working with all these groups in that evolving process. His analysis, out-of-box thinking, and financial expertise propelled the various groups to the present moment – both facilities are now out to bid.

Roy is a cooperative and creative team member. Please help elect him to the Board of Selectmen on Tuesday, April 2.

Anne Marie Mahoney

Precinct 1

Nomination Papers Available For ’19 Belmont Town Election

Photo: Nomination papers are available now.

Nomination papers for the annual town election on Tuesday, April 2 are now available at the Town Clerk’s office, according to Belmont Town Clerk Ellen Cushman.

  • Nomination for town-wide office will require the certified signatures of at least 50 registered voters of the Town of Belmont.
  • Nomination for Town Meeting Member will require the certified signatures of at least 25 registered voters of the precinct in which the candidate resides.

If you want to check your term of office, please see your Board’s webpage: https://www.belmont-ma.gov/town-clerk/pages/town-meeting-members

The Town Clerk’s web pages are packed with information for the potential candidates. One such example is the “Running for Elected Office and Campaigning” http://www.belmont-ma.gov/town-clerk/pages/elections-running-for-elected-office-campaigning

The deadline to submit nomination papers is Feb. 12, 2019. 

The following offices will appear on the Ballot for the Annual Town Election:

Town-wide Offices Number of Seats Term of Office
Moderator Vote for One 1 year
Board of Selectmen Vote for One 3 years
Town Clerk Vote for One 3 years
Board of Assessors Vote for One 3 years
Board of Cemetery Commissioners Vote for One 3 years
Board of Health Vote for One 3 years
Members of the Housing Authority Vote for One 5 years
Trustees of the Public Library Vote for Two 3 years
Members of the School Committee Vote for One 1 year
Members of the School Committee Vote for Two 3 years
Town Meeting Members

Each of the Eight Precincts

 

Vote for Twelve

 

3 years

Partial-Term Town Meeting Members
Precinct 1 Vote for One 1 year
Precinct 1 Vote for One 2 years
Precinct 5 Vote for One 2 years
Precinct 7 Vote for One 1 year

The Town Clerk’s Office is open:

  • Mondays from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.,
  • Tuesdays through Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and
  • Fridays from 8 a.m. to noon.

Town Offices will be closed on Monday, Dec. 24, and Christmas, Tuesday, Dec. 25, in observance of the Christmas Holiday and Town Offices will close at 4 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 31, in observance of New Year’s Eve.

As always, contact the Town Clerk’s office should you have any questions or concerns.