The following is the fourth and final question asked of all candidates running for a position on the City Council.

 All were provided the same questions.

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.

What is the biggest issue or issues the city faces and what is your stance/thoughts on that issue?
 
WARD 1

Robert McCarthy* (unopposed candidate) — The biggest issue facing the City in the next few years is the closure of the power plant and the redevelopment of the waterfront. The power plant is the City’s largest taxpayer and its closure will have a direct impact on our tax base. Our State delegation has put legislation in place that will hold us harmless and make up the difference in loss of revenue for the next five years, but we must work with the owners to encourage them not just to padlock the site and walk away. I have sat on the power plant reuse committee for the past six months and some of the examples of other power generating facilities that were looked at had redevelopment that took years and years. We cannot allow that to happen to this site. We need to work collaboratively with the current owners or any new owners to rebuild this site. The committee looked at a variety of reuse options based on the property’s zoning and Deep Port Area designation. We need to work towards a redevelopment that compliments both the neighborhood and the Harbor Master Plan to revitalize this area as well as the Blaney Street pier. As we move forward, we need to attract investment in this area to revitalize the waterfront and offset the tax revenue that will be lost when the plant closes.

WARD 2

Mike Sosnowski* (unopposed candidate) — Did Not Answer

WARD 3

Jean Pelletier* — In terms of biggest issues, property taxes are always the first on the list. The surrounding cities (Beverly, Danvers,Peabody), have a significant commercial tax base, therfore, they are able to lower homeowners' taxes. We need to be more business friendly. The real big issue over the next two decades that people do not understand because they cannot see it, is our infrastructure. Water — we have spent nearly one million in the last two years relining pipes, replacing valves, searching for leaks and repairs. Our infrastructure is is over 100 years old, we also have to maintain the Folly Hill reservoir ans storage tank in Danvers. Any water breaks (small and large) cost the city money.
 

Todd Siegel — Salem is no different than any other city and town in this state or country. The biggest issue facing Salem is capturing enough tax revenue to cover the ever increasing debt the City incurs each year. Increases in city salaries, health costs, retirement benefits (pensions), public school funding, city projects and debt from past projects take up a considerable amount of Salem’s tax revenue. It is essential for Salem to continue to grow its tax base, while also working on lowering expenses. This is much easier said than done. Salem is not alone as this is occurring all over the country. The City needs to keep in mind it’s the people that live in the local community that make Salem a great place. Building a four hundred ton trash facility or a three hundred foot wind turbine in their backyard is not the answer. Salem must expand their tourism dollars along with carefully balancing the needs of the City. We need to continue to search for answers such as industries that want to make Salem their home. Salem should work in conjunction with Dominion on redesigning and redeveloping the power plant property for future use and benefit to the City. There is a definitive need for long term controlled growth, but not at the expense of its citizens and/or its neighborhoods. Finally, the City needs to continuously address the current parking dilemma. The influx of new and future residential and commercial tenants will exacerbate the current available spaces. As we move forward, we must be proactive in dealing with parking and traffic issues and concerns.

WARD 4

Jerry Ryan* (unopposed candidate) — Being able to provide services to the Citizens of Salem in the face of dwindling resources. With the rising costs of health insurance and other expenses in the City, it is getting harder to provide the services we expect and deserve. We need to find ways to bring our expenses down while increasing our revenue. We need to get dilapidated property developed and back on the tax rolls, encourage businesses to come to Salem and continue to streamline City departments.

WARD 5

John H. Ronan* — The escalating real estate taxes in Salem — residents are saddled with an unfair tax burden. Our average tax bill is higher than 2/3rds of the 351 cities and towns in Massachusetts while our average property values are in the bottom third. These numbers are skewed and our residents are getting hit with disproportionate tax bills. Our tax rate is the highest around and it goes up by the maximum amount every year due, in part, to a flawed process where the maximum tax levy amount is assumed in establishing a budget for the up-coming fiscal year. I have proposed an ordinance that would change the process by requiring the City Council to take a vote, separate and in advance of the budget process, to set the taxes for the up-coming fiscal year. This way, the City Council’s vote would tell the administration the amount, if any, by which taxes could be increased. The Mayor would then know precisely how much money she’d receive and could adjust her budget expenditures accordingly. To spend first and tax later as is done assures that taxes will go up by the maximum amount forever.

Josh Turiel — The biggest issue the city faces in the next few years is the planned closing of Salem Harbor Station. It provides a large portion of our tax revenue, and though the Mayor did a very good job of working with the State Legislature to help our finances in the interim, this is revenue we must replace. We also have an opportunity to improve the city and greatly cut pollution in the process. My hope would be to induce Dominion to sell the facility to an operator who would invest in natural gas generation - as it is the cleanest available fossil fuel and in ready supply for years to come. This would reduce the footprint of a power plant and also potentially allow alternate uses to exist on portions of the site.

WARD 6

Paul C. Prevey * — The biggest issue facing the City is the need to attract new commercial business that will continue to grow Salem economically. Dominion's announcement that it plans to close the power plant only underscores this urgent need. Salem possesses such a diverse commercial base, although it tends to compliment smaller and medium size businesses which do not generate a lot of traffic nor pose other negative impacts. The difficulty lies in balancing the need to make Salem more attractive to new businesses while ensuring that the quality of life for Salem residents is neither compromised nor sacrificed. Only when this is done is Salem able to remain affordable for its residents and business owners alike.

Ken Sawicki — The biggest issue or issues facing the city of Salem. Surviving a poor economic climate filled with uncertainty. While a looming possibility of lost tax revenue. If the power plant were to close. Rising healthcare cost are eating away at the budget. Under performing retirement plans threaten the future security of workers. We have yet to build a senior center. Or establish city owned office space rather than rent space. We need to maximize resources and minimize costs. While we develop and grow as a community.

WARD 7

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

AT-LARGE CANDIDATES

Darek Barcikowski — The biggest issue facing Salem is the future of the power plant site. Decades of pollution and building materials used to construct warrant a cleanup of unprecedented proportions. Today, it is the city’s single biggest tax payer. Its future may hold unparalleled opportunities for Salem. Yet despite such significance, our scope of influence is limited. It is a privately owned piece of real estate and will most likely remain so. One of the objectives of the reuse study was to determine Dominion’s intent. I was dissatisfied with the lack of discussion of what Dominion wants to do. Furthermore, learning that Dominion is investing 10+ million dollars to cut emissions at this site and is now exempt from legislature which prompted it close prompted me to ask questions. My search for answers led me straight to the source and I spoke with Dominion’s attorney. The investment to reduce emissions is part of regular maintenance / compliance. Dominion has been approached by two suitors both of whom are natural gas companies. Dominion wants the new owners of site to assume liability for cleanup and ultimately the deal maker or breaker will be the price. This is a strictly business transaction for Dominion and we as the public have very little access to information about what happens at board meetings and behind closed doors. We do not know at what stage the discussions are with potential buyers and will probably not know until it is a done deal. We will just have to wait. In the meantime, however, there are two things we can do. One, present potential suitors/Dominion with a copy of the study (if we learn who they are) as a consensus of how we, the residents of Salem, would like to see the parcel developed. And two, start exploring ideas and revenue sources to fill the tax gap. No matter how the site gets developed and who the new owners are, the transaction will leave a gap in the tax revenue currently paid by Dominion to the city. That difference cannot be passed on to residents whose tax bills are already amongst the highest in the state. We need to start looking for alternatives and start looking now.

Kevin Carr Jr. — The future of the power plant is both the biggest challenge and biggest opportunity the City of Salem faces in the foreseeable future. The Salem Harbor Power Station Site Assessment study completed this summer was a good start in analyzing long term re-use options. Clearly, with Dominion’s announcement in May of a planned 2014 plant closure, time is of the essence.  Thanks to the hard work of Senator Berry and Representative Keenan, Salem’s tax revenue will be protected until 2016 as a result of the “hold harmless” agreement, in which Salem will receive the difference between the $4.75 million that Dominion currently pays in taxes and fees and any future payments, which are expected to drop. When elected to the Council I will work tirelessly with Rep Keenan, the Administration, the City Council, and members of the Community to identify and implement a long term solution for reuse of the site, while mitigating the short term impact on the city and its taxpayers. The power plant closure is a tremendous opportunity for the structures to be demolished, and the hazardous site remediated. In my opinion, the ideal primary utilization of the remediated site is a natural gas facility taking advantage of the pipeline close to the shore.  Given the smaller footprint of a natural gas facility versus the footprint of the current power plant, I believe an opportunity also exists for additional commercial use to maximize tax revenue for Salem.

Matthew Fraser — Our biggest challenge is to replace the revenue that will be lost with the scheduled closure of the Dominion Power Plant in 2015. We need new sources of revenue to pay for all the projects, jobs and goals in education we have for the city. To that end we need to work together in the Council to find ways to attract new businesses that will boost our tax base.

Thomas H. Furey* — With the unfortunate demise of the Lowe's development on Highland Avenue, we need to regroup and retool our efforts in attracting commercial development. We need to be a part of the solution and not the problem. We need to be proactive and positive to development throughout Salem to take the burden off the residential rate. Costly litigation and lawsuits stifle development like undeveloped land like Salem Suede, Salem Oil and Grease, Flynntan, Remont Street lots, St. Joseph's lots, etc. No one wins when you see these eyesores remain unused and potential fire hazards. We need to have developers and neighborhood groups work long and hard to avoid confrontation and lawsuits. With the stagnant economy, we need to rethink the possibilities that will attract jobs, business and much needed taxes. There has to be a better way than going to court and stalling development. Clearly, we need collaboration and cooperation in making Salem more friendly and positive for our economic wellbeing. To have these sites go unused and off the tax rolls is not common sense. We need to seek common ground with the administration, developers, City Council and neighborhood groups to make these sites part of economic rebirth and revitalization that we need. We have seen the results in our downtown area with vibrant [restaurants] and residential upsurge. I hope to be a part of a vibrant and exciting Salem that welcomes commercial and residential development throughout Salem. Indeed, Salem is a city of possibility and we need to rethink possibl[ities] to make it the respect of the whole North Shore in making it a great place to live and work with commercial and residential development.

Teasie Riley Goggin — Public safety is the largest challenge facing the Council, given it is directly determined by the city’s priorities within its budget, a budget which has been negatively impacted during the economic crisis, and which is not under the full control of the Council. Understaffing of our police and fire departments are the two most obvious symptoms of underfunding and the two most impactful for the public’s safety. A trickle-down effect of police understaffing is the ongoing problem of road safety in our residential neighborhoods from cut-through traffic and speeding. Underfunding of road maintenance, including the painting and repainting of crosswalks, lane dividers, and intersections, makes our streets unsafe for pedestrians, impacting both our children and our tourism industry. Street lighting needs to be improved to reduce crime and increase pedestrian visibility to motorists. (The city’s choice of LED replacements, while cost-efficient – saving the city 65k or so per year – is less bright and less effective.) Providing safe school environments for our children is also impacted by the city budget. There has been unofficial discussion about reducing funding for both maintaining police officers on site, and running our D.A.R.E. program – two initiatives which have proved successful in maintaining safe schools. As residents in Salem, a city with one of the highest tax rates in the immediate area, we should be asking, “Why can’t we afford to adequately staff our police and fire departments? Why can’t we afford to adequately maintain, paint, and light our streets? Why do we have to fight with the City to have our public safety concerns funded and addressed?  On what is the City spending our money?” As Councilors, we should be listening to our residents, to identify public safety concerns and solicit ideas for solutions, while using our influence to see these issues addressed and to ensure the City’s budget adequately prioritizes and protects its largest asset – its citizens.

Joan B. Lovely* — The biggest issue the city faces and continues to face is attempting to stabilize residential and commercial real estate taxes.  Over the past decade, our commercial tax base has shrunk from 30% of our total tax base to just 18% today, and our residential tax base has grown from 70% of our total tax base to over 82%. That means that most of the tax revenue raised to fund the city budget and city services is now on the residential tax payer. Taxation has more than doubled over the past 20 years.  In 1990, the average single family tax bill was $1516. Today it is $4467. And, in 1990, Salem was ranked in the top 55% of communities who enjoyed lower residential taxes. Today, 65% of all other communities in Massachusetts pay less residential taxes than we do.   Although our city enjoyed new growth numbers above $1 million dollars for years 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011, our new growth for FY2013 is $600,000 which most likely mirrors our faltering national economy. Half of our city budget goes to funding our schools however our actual net school spending is 16% above the state mandated foundation budget yet, that excess educational spending is not being reflected in student performance. These factors equate to significant fiscal challenges and policy decisions to work our way out of escalating real estate taxes with what seems to be no end in sight. We need thoughtful commercial development to help shoulder the tax burden. We need green energy initiatives such as solar power on our schools and municipal buildings, wind power in locations that will blend with the landscape and power nearby buildings such as the high school, and geo thermal technology where possible. We need to continue to find ways to regionalize city service with sister communities where it makes sense to do so.  And for the foreseeable future we need to say no to our wants and yes only to our needs until we stabilize real estate taxes. 

Steven A. Pinto* — While I believe all issues are important, healthcare costs and giving the mayor the flexibility to better negotiate with the unions is paramount. The city could save up to $600,000 a year in health insurance costs alone. There is also the possibliby of Salem going into the GIC plan with the state. But we may not be able to provide the state with the information that the city could save 5 percent to become eligible for the GIC plan.

Matthew Richard —  I feel that the biggest issues that Salem faces in the near future are 1) bringing a more cohesive neighborhood infrastructure to the area known as “The Point” and 2) redevelopment of contaminated land for profitable repurposing. By taking care of these issues, the city will make itself move desirable to young professionals and younger families to settle here to support the City for the future. Without a cyclical infusion and retention of new residents, we residents, and the older generations lose support, schools falter, and City's future turns bleak. We need the people to relocate and stay here, to support local businesses, to make us a self sustaining city, not solely relying on tourism. To those who pass through here all year-round, we need to be more than a "stop on the commuter rail."

Arthur C. Sargent III* — I believe the biggest issue the City faces is how to maintain our city services and quality of life during this difficult economy.

To increase the revenue the city has, we and other cities and towns should continue to pressure the state to pay for unfunded mandates like special education, school choice and charter schools. These programs are mandated by state law and they should be funded totally by the state. This would take the burden of paying for them away from the property owners of Salem and other cities and towns. We should also ask the state to share a percentage of lottery sales, meals tax and sales tax revenue generated in Salem with us because we have created the circumstances that make this income possible. We should have a direct share of the revenue created. I also believe it's time we took another look at a tourist ticket tax to help generate revenue and help offset the cost of tourist related expenses and move that burden away from the property owner. I continue to support scheduled preventive maintenence programs for our buildings and vehicles because it's less expensive than breakdown maintenence and helps prevent large repairs and expensive replacement costs. Continued upgrade in technology will also help us do city business more efficiently. We should also continue to expand our payment in lieu of taxes (pilot program) to help generate more income from nonprofit organizations. Programs like this will help us to diversify the way we generate revenue. This combined with revenue from new development would take some of the tax burden off of the homeowners.