After viewing the planning board debate on BATV, Billerica, I must say that Mr. Bob Casey’s performance was truly impressive. He has great depth and knowledge about the town, it’s strengths and weaknesses. He is a natural leader with an informal and relaxed style and his ability to articulate his views and opinions is second to none of his competitors or peers.
Mr. Kinsella is very impressive as a candidate. He communicates his ideas and visions well. He, like Mr. Casey, is in favor of holding the Town’s Master Plan as the standard that must be adhered to, especially, with regard to smart growth and a mixed use overlay zone. Mr. Kinsella has an open mind regarding mixed use and its feasibility in the town center (or elsewhere). His background and credentials as an architect is impressive and make him a uniquely skilled and knowledgeable candidate.
I can truly appreciate Mr. Kinsella’s viewpoint that if we don’t prepare to manage change, change will manage us. Change always comes whether you want that or not. Those who are prepared for it and who embrace it as opportunity generally do well. Those who put their heads in the sand and hope it will go away are generally the ones who are either swept aside or who lose the most.
On the other hand, I had thought about voting for Mr. Capobianco as the lesser of two evils; however, after watching the debate and hearing him speak and attempt to apply logic to his arguments, I’m not sure that he should be allowed out of the home without a guardian. He will NOT get my vote.
I will, however, vote and support to whatever extent I can, the candidacy and ultimate election of both Bob Casey and David Kinsella. The Planning Board is one of the few boards in town that runs well, efficiently and with the ultimate in transparency – mostly due to Mr. Casey and Mr. Marasco and their commitment to the town of Billerica.
Jeffrey R. Parenti, P.E. said:
Rick, you and I saw the PB debate almost the same way. I wanted to point out that two of the candidates were missing and there are three seats open (Justin McCarthy is not running for reelection, which is too bad.) I realize some people don’t like Mr. Casey’s politics — that is, they will never forgive him for “killing Home Depot” — but you described his demeanor perfectly. I don’t know why in a town of 40,000, we can’t find a dozen or so more like him who can serve on our most important boards and commissions (BOS, PB, ZBA, school, etc.). I know they are out there. Mr. Kinsella is probably one of them. Again I agree that his qualifications match what is needed on the PB. But it would have been nice if he looked like he wanted to be there last night — he looked glum. And Rome — as far as him leaving the house, I’m glad you said it and not me. In his opening statement, he said he would like to see something like Fanueil Hall Marketplace at 480 Boston Road, and I thought, “Wha? A new idea? Hooray!” But less than a minute later he told us he opposes mixed use (and how!) because of traffic. Someone tell him Fanueil Hall Marketplace generates thousands of trips a day. With 3 seats open, Rome might sneak onto the PB with name recognition alone. Can you see Mr. Casey (who will likely take over as the chair) getting anywhere with Rome sitting next to him? For ordinary citizens like me, it’s hard enough to advocate for improvements when you have the PB’s support. If Rome wins, does progress have a chance?
While I’m here, I’ll plug my review of the BOS debate if I may: http://cantgettherefromhere.wordpress.com/2010/03/25/selectmen-debate-a-little-bit/
Rick, what’s your over/under on voter turnout this year? I’m going with unlucky 13%.
Jeff Parenti
--Rick said:
I’ve already commented on the other two. One (O’Neill) is a running a non-existent campaign and refuses to receive telephone calls or other attempts to communicate with him. It is my belief that he is in the race only to draw votes from front runners to give someone else a leg up. It was my intention to vote for Rome as a third choice before the debate. However, he came across as someone in need of medication or a track for his train of thought. He seems like a very nice guy, but one who did not show up and report for duty with a fully packed seabag. So, eliminating O’Neill and Capobianco for the reasons cited, and supporting both Bob Casey and Mr. Kinsella on the strength of their forward looking positions and quiet but firm dispositions and positions, that only leaves David Savigno, a union business agent, to choose for the third seat. So, I will do so with great reluctance. As the son of a business agent, I can tell you that no matter what, when a petitioner appears before the planning board and holds union jobs in his hand, he will most likely get the vote of Mr. Savigno – no matter how repugnant the job may be. On the other hand, Rome will be no more effective than a door stop blocking the way forward for Billerica, and that is something we can’t afford. So, I’ll take my chance with Mr. Savigno until a reasonably equipt challanger comes along.
My over and under for voter turn out is based upon the anger people are feeling about government in general, and since the election is so close to the passage of the obomanation called health care reform, I suspect that anger will be strong enough to boost turnout. All politics are local and anyone who has left an impression of supporting recent government takeovers and bailouts will most likely feel the wrath of voters before it can be unleashed on national figures. I predict a low of 18% and a high of 25%. Since I was born on Friday the 13th, I’m betting that what is unlucky for you will turn out to be good for me.
--Rick said:
By the way, my blog is your blog…feel free to plug away anytime, on any topic and with any position. I love opposing opinions as well as those who agree. In fact, the opposition forces me to think, so at the end of the day; it is they who serve me the best.
Ed said:
I Agree and Disagree,
I do like Casey, Kinsella, and Capobianco for several reasons, because there is more to Billerica than just the Town Center Overlay. I also like Rome’s opening statement relating to the Mall and Faneuil Hall, but the Mall owners do have the ability to do that without any changes to the by-laws. I also recall a time when the Mall was vibrant with businesses and looked as busy as Faneuil Hall, but I also wonder if there is any connection to anybody in Town With R&D Management who owns and operates the mall which has allowed the area to deteriorate like it has. I also liked Rome Closing statement of protecting and preserving the Town for Future Generations and from what I know of Rome, he means it!
I feel with Bob Casey’s proven experience, and with the years of Dave Kinsella’s knowledge of architecture, construction, zoning and general knowledge of how to get from start to finish, along with Rome’s Pitch Fork attitude and years of knowledge of Our Town, the three of them would complement each other and be valuable to add to the current Planning Board. As Far as, “If Rome wins, does progress have a chance?” I say yes it does, because with the addition of Dave Kinsella to the Planning Board with his previous participation in the development of Billerica’s Historic Districts and his input on the Center Overlay Proposal with you two as pushing for, the proposal could be designed in a way that Rome and the others that are currently skeptical about the proposal may just come out in favor of the Overlay Proposal if the design which was presented was complete and addressed all of the concerns [like Traffic and Parking ect] and represented Billerica and not Cambridge or Somerville.
If you would rather risk placing O’Neill who is not willing to speak to anyone or provide any of us with information, and it does appear that many are concerned about the Special Interests of Mr. Saviano who is a Union Business Agent that’s your choice, but I do not think it is a wise one for the Town.
Don’t underestimate Capobianco’s ability to make the right decisions in the best interest of the Town and although he may not appear to be movable or come up with answers/responses a quickly as younger candidates, keep in mind he will have ample time to review the projects and documents prior to the Planning Board Meetings and prepare his questions and concerns.
Take Care,
Ed
--Rick said:
Again, as Jeff pointed out, Rome did make an interesting comment about Fanueil Hall, but immediately followed it up with his being against mixed use and following the town’s smart growth plan. If he think traffic at Fanueil Hall Marketplace is not heavy, then all I can say is that his last visit must have occurred prior to cars replacing horses.
Rome is beyond the appearance of unmovable; he catagorically states that he is unmovable. Adding him to the Board will do no more than neutralize any positive benefits brought about by adding the architect, Dave Kinsella. Further, he will hamstring Bob Casey and it is this latter part that disturbs me most.
Rome may have been a leader at one point, but in my view he is at a point where he should consider focusing on his tomatoes and enjoying his free time in the sun. His performance at the debate, in my view, was abyssmal and I have no hope that he can change. He was barely able to finish a thought; let alone a sentence. And the only sentence he could finish was repeated against mixed use – no matter what.
Rome has no clue as to what mixed use is all about, nor does he have any clue regarding the process of submitting a project and getting it approved. As Mr. Casey stated, the town has every right to require that it fit in with the current architecture. We have an architect as a candidate who can advise on how well that proposal does or does not meet the requiremnt. For the first time, the town would be in control of development and have the power to shape its own future, as opposed to having it shaped by developers and politicians without a clue – like Rome.
I don’t mean to be hard on him, but I do know that a person should know their limitations. Sitting him on the planning board will put him in a position where his limitations will exceed his abilies for establishing and following a clear vision of what the town could be and how it should be when we pass it on to our kids. Hopefully, the state of the town will be far ahead of the state of economy we are leaving them. The best I can hope for with Rome is that he’ll pinch pennies and let the bills blow out of his hand to make more room for more pennies.;
So, no matter what, he will not get my vote or endorsement.
Trust me, the last person I want to vote for is a union business agent; but I’d rather take my chances that beyond union issues he’s somewhat open minded. I’d be happy with Rome if he just found his.
Ed said:
One topic endorsements and the lack of accountability on any board or committee will not serve the best interest of the public as a whole. As I read through other comments on the other referenced site regarding the BOS I noticed the same bias evaluation based on “Sour Grapes” which I find very disappointing, but not unexpected. Like I have said many times before disagreement is a Good Thing, which is why I like the Combination of Casey, Capobianco, and Kinsella for Planning Board. I have spent more time than most because of several different issues facing our town and not just the power plant where the misinformed local media constantly states the BWG was formed to oppose the power plant, not true.
Another strange comment I read was about last year’s Planning Board debate and Moore being the only candidate to show, just to refresh some memories, yes Moore showed up but, refused to take a stand or provide any substantial insight on the important issues facing the town. That reason was the reason the incumbents Ed Mc and Vincent Mc Donald were re elected. At least Ed and Vinny notified Cosmo that they would not be able to attend because of working commitments, but most people who had been paying attention knew about the fine job they both were doing on the Planning Board, unlike this year’s two missing candidates. BTW: If it was not for Jan on the BWG site would you even have known Mr. Saviano was a Union Business Agent? BTW: I have sat and listened to Mr. Saviano stand up and speak at the power plant forums and state over and over how he has been working on the construction of power plants for years and how they were completely safe. What has followed since his statements have been several different explosions like at the Salem Harbor Plant and recently in Conn. Good luck with taking your chances.