Town Council election survey (Printed Oct. 26, 2007)
Municipal spending:
Richard Cervizzi: Spending should meet needs of community supporting a blend of residential and commercial growth.
Leroy Crockett: The money we spend belongs to our residents and we need to be fiscally responsible for how it is spent. We need to educate our residents on what projects we are looking to develop; so that they know where their tax dollars are going. We need to keep our mill rates low by attracting a good mix of businesses to the area to keep the ratio at approximately 25 percent business and 75 percent residential.
Robert Pendleton: Needs review. Most people that I talk with feel that it’s out of control.
Judith Roy: Conservative – keep rate of increase as close to 3 percent.
Michael Wood: Maintain an open and transparent approach to all spending. Continually look for new efficiencies for long term cost savings. Seek alternative methods other than property tax for funding. Keep overhead at absolute minimum required.
Tax-reform priorities:
Crockett: We need to utilize what we have for facilities and control our spending to set up funds for a rainy day. The money we collect in taxes does not need to be completely spent without savings for a later date. If we had more stringent guidelines on spending that we may not have to ask for bonds for new projects and raise our resident taxes to pay for things that we are doing as part of the comprehensive plan.
Pendleton: A full management review needs to be done before any new projects are advertised.
Roy: This is a state issue – I encourage State Representatives and Senators to come up with a less regressive form of taxation and to find other revenue sources that don’t shift the burden to the towns and cities.
Wood: Keep property tax rate at or below annual cost of living index. Explore opportunities where by residents who have resided in their home over a period of many years (20-25) can realize a “property tax freeze” and thus continue to live in town and retain their property.
Growth and development:
Crockett: Scarborough is a rapidly growing town. While we continue to grow it is important to maintain the quality of life and place that we have. We have all come to Scarborough or stayed in Scarborough because there was something or many things about the town that we liked. It is important to me to protect those things. It is also important being on the Scarborough Community Chamber of Commerce to encourage new business within the town while supporting our existing businesses that we have. As we develop more in the future we will also need to address some of the concerns that may be raised for traffic issues. In addition we may want to look at the public transportation issues especially with the prices of gasoline rising to create a way for new workers to get to work or at least offer some options. It is important to keep the spaces designed for our citizens to use accessible and safe as we grow. As part of our development we could develop a community center for people of all ages to use similar to the ones in Cape Elizabeth or Falmouth Ice arena. If we can develop a center we should adopt the model in Falmouth and try to get it funded by donations or grants to alleviate the burden on the tax-payers. We also need to create affordable housing within the community, which was addressed as a need in Scarborough in the Comprehensive Plan as well.
Pendleton: 50 percent residential, 50 percent businesses.
Roy: Controlled by Comprehensive Plan, zoning and topography.
Wood: Ensure the Comprehensive Plan is implemented thus ensuring growth is of the type that is expected, planned, and executed. Maintain a 75 percent residential 25 perccent non-residential tax base.
Cervizzi: The community will continue to grow with residential and commercial development which should continue at a balanced pace so as to maintain the quality of life.
Education funding:
Pendleton: Develop long-term plan and find out about available state aid.
Roy: Reasonable without fluff.
Wood: Fund that which is necessary to ensure a healthy and beneficial educational experience.
Cervizzi: A good school system is the strength of community and be funded appropriately. The town has built a strong educational system and should continue to maintain quality education and facilities.
Crockett: It is important for Scarborough to maintain the quality education that our children are able to get. We need to create a safe place for our children to learn. In addition I want all children to benefit from the education they receive in Scarborough to prepare them for the future without over crowding of the classroom. We need to utilize the facilities that we have now to maximize our usage for the greater benefit of the children especially since the school expansion referendums were voted down. I would love our children to stay in Maine and explore viable career opportunities within our state. We need to do a better job as a state to encourage creation of well paying jobs for our children so that they can stay here and not move away.
Economic development:
Roy: Continue to pursue commercial development along Haigis Parkway.
Wood: Work towards attracting high quality businesses that pay good wages. Continue to adequately fund SEDCO. Implement the Comprehensive Plan and ensure development is consistent with the plan.
Crockett: We are fortunate to have SEDCO, which helps enormously with our economic development. We need to work closely with SEDCO to promote our business community in Scarborough and attract the quality businesses that we are looking to create.
Cervizzi: Town has grown at steady pace and should continue a good balance of residential and commercial development.
Infrastructure priorities:
Cervizzi: Good safe road systems, community facilities and recreational area need to be maintained.
Wood: Dunstan intersection; Oak Hill intersection; Sidewalks/Bicycle opportunities and Wentworth School
Pendleton: Roads, sewer, water, schools.
Roy: Community Center, Public Safety Building, K3-6 Building.
Crockett: We need to work with town officials to maintain what we have, address areas that need improvement and create addition needs as they arise to benefit the business community as well as the residents.
Spending priorities:
Wood: Dunstan/Oak Hill intersections; bicycle/ walk lanes; Police Department building
Roy: Safety of citizens, education of children, land conservation.
Crockett: Traffic is going to be an area of concern that will have to be addressed. Spending for economic development and improvements to the infrastructure will be another area of concern. Finally, education will be something that will need to be addressed to make sure our facilities are safe and capable of being utilized to maximum potential for quality education.
Pendleton: No comment as I have not had an opportunity to review town plans.
Spending to be cut or eliminated:
Roy: Municipal spending has always been conservative. I cannot think of an area to eliminate and cutting is an inappropriate term to use. When presented with the budget the council reduces requests but rarely reduces the budget to less than the year prior.
Crockett: Areas of spending that may not directly benefit all of our residents or community will need to be addressed to control costs. It is also a priority to make it affordable for our residents that have been here for their entire lives to stay here.
Wood: Once in a position to become intimately familiar with all line items of spending, I would then look to carefully and prudently cut and/or eliminate unnecessary spending.
Goals to accomplish:
Wood: Choosing a Town Manager that will effectively guide Scarborough for the foreseeable future. Realize a year (or more) where property tax rate remains flat or decreases. See Oak Hill begin to develop into a Town Center/ Main Street.
Roy: Make the 350th a great celebration for all, Keep the budget low, Increase commercial development.
Pendleton: Better communication.
Crockett: I will work to control spending. In addition I will work to make sure that our residents know what is going on within the town and how it could affect them. I would also like to be responsible for addressing the areas of traffic concerns and providing safe solutions to any problems that may arise for our residents.
Issues voters bring up most often
Crockett: Spending is a major issue that has our residents concerned. I will work to control our spending and hopefully be able to set money aside for a rainy day. Just because the money is there we don’t need to spend it all. Our residents want to be heard and so do the businesses within the community. It will be my goal to give them that voice to be heard. People feel that it is unsafe at many intersections or roads within Scarborough. I feel we need to address these areas of concern and if possible create reasonable solutions to the issues so that everyone can feel safe going for a walk with their children or just out for a jog. Our seniors played a major part in developing this town to make it what it is. We need to make sure that we are able to give back to them by providing things to meet their needs as well.
Cervizzi: Voters are concerned that Scarborough continue its of quality of life as a residential community balanced with commercial development.
Wood: Traffic; Property Tax; Racino.
Roy: Lower taxes, lower taxes. Lower taxes is No. 1. Our rate is low but our values are high. With the shift in the real estate market it would be nice to see the tax assessor adjust the market values to reflect the reality, which in turn would lower taxes.
Ways voters can differentiate you from your opponents:
Crockett: I have lived in Scarborough for approximately 37 years – just about all of my life. I care deeply about the community that we live in. I will truly listen to what our residents want and work to satisfy their needs. Another thing that I desire is to keep the quality of place and quality of life that we have in Scarborough. I have children in the school system so maintaining a quality education for them is very important to me. I feel I bring a new fresh prospective to the council and will work diligently to keep Scarborough the place that we all have grown to love.
Pendleton: Willing to listen and decide on facts presented.
Roy: Experienced in town government. Lived in the town for 55 years and seen the changes. Lots of good old fashion common sense.
Wood: Last 10 years of being active in town affairs through Planning Board and various committees. Proven record of making careful, considerate, and informed decisions. Experience in successful collaboration with town and school officials.
Richard Cervizzi: Spending should meet needs of community supporting a blend of residential and commercial growth.
Leroy Crockett: The money we spend belongs to our residents and we need to be fiscally responsible for how it is spent. We need to educate our residents on what projects we are looking to develop; so that they know where their tax dollars are going. We need to keep our mill rates low by attracting a good mix of businesses to the area to keep the ratio at approximately 25 percent business and 75 percent residential.
Robert Pendleton: Needs review. Most people that I talk with feel that it’s out of control.
Judith Roy: Conservative – keep rate of increase as close to 3 percent.
Michael Wood: Maintain an open and transparent approach to all spending. Continually look for new efficiencies for long term cost savings. Seek alternative methods other than property tax for funding. Keep overhead at absolute minimum required.
Tax-reform priorities:
Crockett: We need to utilize what we have for facilities and control our spending to set up funds for a rainy day. The money we collect in taxes does not need to be completely spent without savings for a later date. If we had more stringent guidelines on spending that we may not have to ask for bonds for new projects and raise our resident taxes to pay for things that we are doing as part of the comprehensive plan.
Pendleton: A full management review needs to be done before any new projects are advertised.
Roy: This is a state issue – I encourage State Representatives and Senators to come up with a less regressive form of taxation and to find other revenue sources that don’t shift the burden to the towns and cities.
Wood: Keep property tax rate at or below annual cost of living index. Explore opportunities where by residents who have resided in their home over a period of many years (20-25) can realize a “property tax freeze” and thus continue to live in town and retain their property.
Growth and development:
Crockett: Scarborough is a rapidly growing town. While we continue to grow it is important to maintain the quality of life and place that we have. We have all come to Scarborough or stayed in Scarborough because there was something or many things about the town that we liked. It is important to me to protect those things. It is also important being on the Scarborough Community Chamber of Commerce to encourage new business within the town while supporting our existing businesses that we have. As we develop more in the future we will also need to address some of the concerns that may be raised for traffic issues. In addition we may want to look at the public transportation issues especially with the prices of gasoline rising to create a way for new workers to get to work or at least offer some options. It is important to keep the spaces designed for our citizens to use accessible and safe as we grow. As part of our development we could develop a community center for people of all ages to use similar to the ones in Cape Elizabeth or Falmouth Ice arena. If we can develop a center we should adopt the model in Falmouth and try to get it funded by donations or grants to alleviate the burden on the tax-payers. We also need to create affordable housing within the community, which was addressed as a need in Scarborough in the Comprehensive Plan as well.
Pendleton: 50 percent residential, 50 percent businesses.
Roy: Controlled by Comprehensive Plan, zoning and topography.
Wood: Ensure the Comprehensive Plan is implemented thus ensuring growth is of the type that is expected, planned, and executed. Maintain a 75 percent residential 25 perccent non-residential tax base.
Cervizzi: The community will continue to grow with residential and commercial development which should continue at a balanced pace so as to maintain the quality of life.
Education funding:
Pendleton: Develop long-term plan and find out about available state aid.
Roy: Reasonable without fluff.
Wood: Fund that which is necessary to ensure a healthy and beneficial educational experience.
Cervizzi: A good school system is the strength of community and be funded appropriately. The town has built a strong educational system and should continue to maintain quality education and facilities.
Crockett: It is important for Scarborough to maintain the quality education that our children are able to get. We need to create a safe place for our children to learn. In addition I want all children to benefit from the education they receive in Scarborough to prepare them for the future without over crowding of the classroom. We need to utilize the facilities that we have now to maximize our usage for the greater benefit of the children especially since the school expansion referendums were voted down. I would love our children to stay in Maine and explore viable career opportunities within our state. We need to do a better job as a state to encourage creation of well paying jobs for our children so that they can stay here and not move away.
Economic development:
Roy: Continue to pursue commercial development along Haigis Parkway.
Wood: Work towards attracting high quality businesses that pay good wages. Continue to adequately fund SEDCO. Implement the Comprehensive Plan and ensure development is consistent with the plan.
Crockett: We are fortunate to have SEDCO, which helps enormously with our economic development. We need to work closely with SEDCO to promote our business community in Scarborough and attract the quality businesses that we are looking to create.
Cervizzi: Town has grown at steady pace and should continue a good balance of residential and commercial development.
Infrastructure priorities:
Cervizzi: Good safe road systems, community facilities and recreational area need to be maintained.
Wood: Dunstan intersection; Oak Hill intersection; Sidewalks/Bicycle opportunities and Wentworth School
Pendleton: Roads, sewer, water, schools.
Roy: Community Center, Public Safety Building, K3-6 Building.
Crockett: We need to work with town officials to maintain what we have, address areas that need improvement and create addition needs as they arise to benefit the business community as well as the residents.
Spending priorities:
Wood: Dunstan/Oak Hill intersections; bicycle/ walk lanes; Police Department building
Roy: Safety of citizens, education of children, land conservation.
Crockett: Traffic is going to be an area of concern that will have to be addressed. Spending for economic development and improvements to the infrastructure will be another area of concern. Finally, education will be something that will need to be addressed to make sure our facilities are safe and capable of being utilized to maximum potential for quality education.
Pendleton: No comment as I have not had an opportunity to review town plans.
Spending to be cut or eliminated:
Roy: Municipal spending has always been conservative. I cannot think of an area to eliminate and cutting is an inappropriate term to use. When presented with the budget the council reduces requests but rarely reduces the budget to less than the year prior.
Crockett: Areas of spending that may not directly benefit all of our residents or community will need to be addressed to control costs. It is also a priority to make it affordable for our residents that have been here for their entire lives to stay here.
Wood: Once in a position to become intimately familiar with all line items of spending, I would then look to carefully and prudently cut and/or eliminate unnecessary spending.
Goals to accomplish:
Wood: Choosing a Town Manager that will effectively guide Scarborough for the foreseeable future. Realize a year (or more) where property tax rate remains flat or decreases. See Oak Hill begin to develop into a Town Center/ Main Street.
Roy: Make the 350th a great celebration for all, Keep the budget low, Increase commercial development.
Pendleton: Better communication.
Crockett: I will work to control spending. In addition I will work to make sure that our residents know what is going on within the town and how it could affect them. I would also like to be responsible for addressing the areas of traffic concerns and providing safe solutions to any problems that may arise for our residents.
Issues voters bring up most often
Crockett: Spending is a major issue that has our residents concerned. I will work to control our spending and hopefully be able to set money aside for a rainy day. Just because the money is there we don’t need to spend it all. Our residents want to be heard and so do the businesses within the community. It will be my goal to give them that voice to be heard. People feel that it is unsafe at many intersections or roads within Scarborough. I feel we need to address these areas of concern and if possible create reasonable solutions to the issues so that everyone can feel safe going for a walk with their children or just out for a jog. Our seniors played a major part in developing this town to make it what it is. We need to make sure that we are able to give back to them by providing things to meet their needs as well.
Cervizzi: Voters are concerned that Scarborough continue its of quality of life as a residential community balanced with commercial development.
Wood: Traffic; Property Tax; Racino.
Roy: Lower taxes, lower taxes. Lower taxes is No. 1. Our rate is low but our values are high. With the shift in the real estate market it would be nice to see the tax assessor adjust the market values to reflect the reality, which in turn would lower taxes.
Ways voters can differentiate you from your opponents:
Crockett: I have lived in Scarborough for approximately 37 years – just about all of my life. I care deeply about the community that we live in. I will truly listen to what our residents want and work to satisfy their needs. Another thing that I desire is to keep the quality of place and quality of life that we have in Scarborough. I have children in the school system so maintaining a quality education for them is very important to me. I feel I bring a new fresh prospective to the council and will work diligently to keep Scarborough the place that we all have grown to love.
Pendleton: Willing to listen and decide on facts presented.
Roy: Experienced in town government. Lived in the town for 55 years and seen the changes. Lots of good old fashion common sense.
Wood: Last 10 years of being active in town affairs through Planning Board and various committees. Proven record of making careful, considerate, and informed decisions. Experience in successful collaboration with town and school officials.
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