The following is the second of four questions asked of all candidates running for a position on the City Council.

All were provided the same questions.

Before September's primary, At-Large candidates answered questions pertaining to City issues. Some of the questions in this final round of Q&A were the same, but councilors were given the opportunity to modify their answers if desired. Some At-Large candidates did not send new answers or indicated their stance on the issue remains the same. In these cases, we have re-printed original answers and noted this below.

Answers have not been modified except where minor typographical errors were made. There have been no alterations that affect meaning.

Candidate answers are presented in alphabetical order by last name.

The presence of an asterisk (*) indicates a candidate is an incumbent.

Decorum and civility in city council chambers — What are your thoughts on the tone and civility in council meetings over the last two years? What do you envision for the future?

WARD 1

Robert McCarthy* (unopposed) — When I was first elected I was told we should agree that we would be disagreeable and not take it beyond the Council Chambers. I have always heeded that advice and have never taken any disagreement that may result during the debate of an issue beyond the Council Chamber. Any time you have eleven individuals in a room that are passionate about something, on occasion you may get something that seems uncivil to an outside observer. I have the utmost respect for the other ten councilors who sit in those seats. We may disagree on some issues, but the bottom line is we are working to make Salem a better place. The roads we take to get there might take different paths, but in the end they have to converge at that common goal to make Salem better.

I will continue to work towards making Salem better. Always remembering that we all can agree to be disagreeable, and never take those disagreements that arise beyond the Council Chamber. I will continue to be civil towards my colleagues and try to work collaboratively on the issues that arise. 

WARD 2

Mike Sosnowski* (unopposed) — Did Not Answer

WARD 3

Jean Pelletier* — I've been guilty of lashing out on occasions, but I believe that if you have a passion for the city you grew up in for over 50 years, you take issues to heart. As for not letting the mayor or constituents speak by asking for suspension of the rules, and being denied by one vote is wrong. There are so many issues on a daily basis that it makes it difficult to be on top of them. It is necessary for the administration to be able to keep us updated on a regular basis. I hope the next two years the council will be more civil to each other, starting with this one.

Todd Siegel* — In every job there is going to be a differing of opinions.  This is a good thing especially in the City Council. The City Council continuously creates policy that shapes our City.  It’s a good thing to have independent thinkers on our Council.  The last thing we want is a lame duck Councilor who is just a yes person.  

Unfortunately, some of these debated issues have become heated and emotions have taken over.  Some may view this as a bad thing, but I disagree.  I view this as passion! As a resident of Salem, I want my Councilor to have passion for his job. I want him to fight for what he believes in and I also want him to fight for the citizens of Salem.  

With that stated, I also believe that the Councilors must be professional. They must treat each other and the general public with respect as they would like to be treated.  Regardless of one’s stance on an issue, once the issue has been passed or defeated, the Councilors must work together regardless of their prior stance on that issue.  

There is a fine line between passion and disorder.  Let’s try not to blur the two!

WARD 4

Jerry Ryan* (unopposed) — Our government is set up to provide a checks and balance between the Executive Branch (Mayor) and the Legislature Branch (City Council). Sometimes the two sides do not agree on an issue and the debate becomes lively. We have to remember that we are all working towards the same goal, to make Salem a better place to live and work.

WARD 5

John H. Ronan* — The City Council, the legislative body of Salem, follows Cushing’s Rules of Procedure established to allow for spirited debate on the issues while at the same time preserving order and decorum. Recognizing the function of legislative body, the rules limit interference and/ or disruptions during the deliberating process. While the Council is in session, the Councilors may speak on any issue before them no more than twice and are protected in Council Chambers from outside grandstanding, coercion or influences by a rule that prohibits all but the Councilors from arguing an issue. From time to time, the City Council may suspend its rules to allow others to speak in the event that we collectively feel that a person may provide some useful information on an issue. We frequently do this to allow the Mayor to speak. The Mayor, however, may not speak as a matter of right as she is not on the City Council. The sole incident that precipitated the discussion of civility in council chambers related to the Mayor’s insistence on arguing an issue before the City Council a third time after the Council had refused to suspend its rules. In other words, after the Council had insisted upon, rather than disregarded, decorum.

Josh Turiel — This boils down to two things. First, the City Charter states very clearly that the Mayor has the right to address Council "upon any subject." The Council can't pass rules that override that right. I think that's critically important. Secondly, we need to work with the administration as ideas, proposals, and budgets are being developed. The Mayor has shown a desire to work with us, and we need to return that and make it happen. The budget process needs to begin early in the year, and we need to be involved. By the time an issue reaches the Council chambers, we should have addressed our questions and be in a position to listen to public input and vote. The people serving on the City Council are by and large good people who are trying to act in the interests of the City. Sometimes the people (and the Council) lose sight of that. I'm basically an engineer by trade. My focus is on fixing things and solving problems, not on personalities. I think that approach is helpful in keeping the tone of the Council both civil and productive.

WARD 6

Paul C. Prevey * — Over the last two years, the tone on the City Council has been heated at times, however this should not always be viewed in the negative. When you have 11 people making up the Council, you are bound to have a diversity of thoughts, opinions and perspectives on the many issues and challenges which face us as a community. With all of this as a backdrop, it's expected that from time to time, passions will run deep and temperaments strong. You will never get 11 people to agree on everything, especially when you're talking about what transpires as a result of the workings of the democratic, legislative process. However, its important to note that decorum and civility are preserved when each member of the Council observes and abides by the rules of the Council and parliamentary procedure. These very rules which have been in existence since the establishment of the Council are what bring order, civility and decorum to the legislative body of city government. As long as members abide by the rules and procedure, we are able to move the City's agenda forward and do the work the tax payers of Salem elected us to do.
 
Ken Sawicki (Same Answer Published on Aug. 31) — "I think for the most part the city council members have conducted themselves with dignity and respect. I think they work hard to respond to the needs of the people and want to make this city the best it can be. I would bring an open-mindedness, a collective work together approach to solving problems. Together we can find the best solution."

 

WARD 7

Joseph O'Keefe * (unopposed) — Did not Answer

AT-LARGE CANDIDATES

Darek Barcikowski — As a legislative body, the city council needs to work better not only together but with the administration. Salem residents are disappointed with councilors who can’t put personal differences aside to work together for this city. The mayor should be allowed to address the council for the simple reason that she is immersed in the issues on a full time basis and can add factual information to the debate/discussion. We want to make sure decisions are based on all the facts. With so many pressing local issues we need a council whose members can provide strong leadership, find smart and sustainable solutions and work together as a team to move this city forward not backwards. The future of our council needs to look less like this and more like this.

Kevin Carr Jr. (Same Answer Published on Aug. 31) — Since being elected to the School Committee in 2006, I have collaborated with the Mayor and my fellow School Committee members in focusing on issues, many of them difficult, and making decisions that are in the best interest of the Salem School District.  This process, along with the tremendous support from our teachers, local businesses, and community members has helped mitigate the impact of the severe fiscal challenges we have been faced with as a District on a yearly basis since I joined the Committee. When elected to the Council, I will continue to take on challenging issues, and to use an issues focused strategy.  As simple as it sounds, this common sense approach will be an asset to Council, the City of Salem, and to Salem residents.

Matthew Fraser — I’m not worried about decorum or civility in the City Council. Exciting to me are the opportunities we have to channel our energies into good work, in particular through annual reports that we in the Council produce as a group. That is, a five to ten page document that summarizes our finances and provides information on progress on the various projects going on in the city. These reports can serve as a tool for us to work together, inform and engage the public of our collective interests. These annual reports could be sent to members of the various groups and interests in Salem, as well as be posted on the city website. I can think of no better way for us to put concerns of decorum aside than by producing these reports as a unified body.

Thomas H. Furey* (Same Answer Published on Aug. 31) — We need to culitvate an open discussion and respectful behavior on the city council. Civility is at an all time low in the city council. It is appalling, pathetic and embarrassing when individual councilors bar the mayor or department administrators from speaking. I feel they are being treated worse than the Spanish Inquisition. It is costly in not listening to all sides and sets a morally bad climate. Clearly civility and professionalism is taking a back seat and back burner on the state, national and local level. It is petty pathetic, and parochial to put basic civility aside. There must be a clear message in this election that it will not be tolerated or accepted. There must be a zero tolerance to this bad behavior. I urge the voters not to vote for councilors who demean and diminish their elective positions as role models. If a councilor is not opposed who is part of the problem, then leave your vote blank and the message will be very clear to interpretation of a zero tolerance for bad behavior. The Mayor or anyone part of the administration should not be a punching bag for bad behavior and should not be poster boys for bad behavior. We should use the Golden Rule of treating others as we would want to be treated.

Teasie Riley Goggin (Same Answer Published on Aug. 31) — Decorum and civility in City Council chambers leaves much to be desired at times. Councilor's personal opinion should not be on display at any time on certain issues. The Councilors' over-all job is to represent the voters who put them in office. The seat they occupy belongs to the citizens; they are there on a two year lease.  It is evident that some Councilors work more diligently than others. Councilors should debate an issue if necessary, but when they start to bicker and make personal remarks or prolong an issue — respect for the entire council is drawn into question. Right now we have a fractured council, which weakens their legislative power. It is time for a change — time for some new "rookies."
 

Joan B. Lovely* (Same Answer Published on Aug. 31)— The City Council is elected to work in tandem with the Mayor and his/her administration to do the city’s and the people’s business, and that should be the focus during all debates and discussions in council chambers. Like any job, tensions can run high at times. There is a lot of detailed information to digest and deadlines to meet to make informed and educated decisions. Understanding and respecting each other’s positions is vital to developing and fostering good and productive relationships between the two offices. Productive communication is crucial, and decorum and respect for the offices we hold, and for each other, is always paramount.

Steven A. Pinto* (Same Answer Published on Aug. 31) — If protocol and roles...are followed, the level of decorum and civility will not become an issue. We may disagree with one another, but no one should be above the rules.

Matthew Richard — I think that the decorum and civility could be improved. I think that the last few years have been laden with private agendas that hurt the City’s advancement and growth. I feel that everyone needs to work together, with the mayor, be respectful and decide how we can make this City a great place to visit and live on the North Shore, and in New England.

Arthur C. Sargent III* (Same Answer Published on Aug. 31) — I have been a member of The City Council for 12 years. During that time I have served with many councilors and all of them have had their own unique way of serving the people of Salem and conducting themselves at Council meetings. There are a lot of issues that are discussed, debated and voted upon at our meetings. Some people see them as large and small issues but all of them affect somebody in some way. That is why I feel that any issue before us, no matter how small it may seem to others, is a big issue to the people, family, business, or organization that it affects. That is also why the debate on The Council Floor can be strong at times. I had a friend from another City who attended one of our meetings. After it was over he said, at least your Councillors debate the issues, and your votes aren't all unanimous. Public Speaking is not always easy and every elected official has their own way of handling it. Every Council President I have served under has also had his or her own way of chairing a meeting and Councilor Ryan is doing a good job this year. I would rather see an issue debated at length and have opposing opinions voiced strongly than see matters passed unanimously with little debate.