Vote Medford 2007

Full Text: (Q1) Arts & Culture for Medford Revitalization

Cities across New England (Boston, Providence, Waltham, Lowell, Chelsea, etc.) consider the development of artist studios key components of their overall economic- and cultural-revitalization strategies. Medford still does not have an arts center and, relative to other Massachusetts cities, it devotes little money to cultural undertakings. What role do you think local art and culture plays in Medford's revitalization efforts and what specifically will you do in this area?

McGlynn: (Q1) Arts & Culture for Medford Revitalization

I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN COMMITTED TO CULTURAL EVENTS AND THE ARTS FOR THEY SERVE TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL. SPRINGSTEP WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN REALIZED IF I HAD NOT DEVELOPED AN INNOVATIVE MEASURE TO ACCOMMODATE PARKING FOR THEIR ORGANIZATION. I HAVE LED THE EFFORT TO SECURE $700,000 TO CREATE A CULTURAL CENTER AT THE SITE OF THE MONSIGNOR CONDON SHELL. I HAVE RAISED THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO CELEBRATE THE DIVERSITY AND MULTI-CULTURALISM OF MEDFORD. IT WAS MY LEADERSHIP THAT TRIED TO DEVELOP AN ART CENTER AT THE SWAN AND KENNEDY SCHOOLS. I HAVE WORKED TO CREATE AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPPORTUNITES AT THE KENNEDY-LINCOLN COMPLEX. I LOOK FORWARD TO DO MORE AND WELCOME ALL WHO ARE COMMITTED TO THE GOAL OF CREATING AN ARTIST COMMUNITY. IT IS ESSENTIAL PART OF THE FOUNDATION OF OUR CITY. I ALSO WELCOME ANY IDEAS AND RESOURCES THAT ANYONE CAN BRING TO THE TABLE.

Full Text: (Q2) Budget Transparency

This year's budgeting process included the city council's passing a 500-page school budget without reading it, announcements about unanticipated deficits and a one-time calling in of debt to balance the books for 2007. What are your ideas on how the city's budget process could be improved and made more publicly transparent?

McGlynn: (Q2) Budget Transparency

THE COUNCIL IS VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE REGARDING THE SCHOOL BUDGET PROCESS. UNANTICIPATED SHORTFALLS, HAVE RECENTLY OCCURRED, SUCH AS THE RISE IN COST OF UTILITIES AND OIL. FOR EXAMPLE, TWO YEARS AGO, OIL WAS $27 A BARREL AND TODAY IT IS $80. WHEN THE BUDGET WAS PASSED, OIL WAS NOT THAT HIGH. I’M NOT SURE WHAT THE THE ONE TIME CALLING OF DEBT TO BALANCE THE BOOKS FOR, OR RELATES TO? WE DID HAVE A LAW PASSED ALLOWING US TO BORROW OUR OWN MONEY WHICH TO DATE HAS NOT HAPPENED. THE BUDGET IS ON THE WEBSITE. IT IS DISCUSSED AND PASSED IN A PUBLIC MEETING FORMAT THAT ALL ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND.

Full Text: (Q3) GIC for Municipal Employees' Health Insurance?

A new state law allows municipalities to join the state employee Group Insurance Commission (GIC) as a potential means to drive down the cost of health insurance for municipal workers. Do you support or oppose having the city join the GIC and why? Are you currently on the city's health insurance plan?

McGlynn: (Q3) GIC for Municipal Employees' Health Insurance?

WE ARE SELF INSURED AND ARE PRESENTLY REVIEWING OUR OPTIONS REGARDING THIS ISSUE. THIS IS CERTAINLY NOT ALL THAT IT HAS BEEN CRACKED UP TO BE. HOWEVER, THERE STILL MAY BE SOME SAVINGS, WHICH WE WILL NOT KNOW UNTIL WE FINISH AN ANALYSIS IN COOPERATION WITH THE MASSACHUSETTS MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT WHILE MANY COMMUNITIES ESPRESSED DOUBLE DIGIT INCREASES, IN THE LAST TWO YEARS, OUR INCREASES WERE 0% FOR FY 07, AND 2% FOR FY08.

Full Text: (Q4) Analysis and Action Plan for Medford Parks

Medford's parks are being vandalized. What can the city do to rid the parks of crime and its consequences, which include graffiti, broken playground equipment and trash? What do you believe the root cause of the problem is? What is your solution and how would you implement it?

McGlynn: (Q4) Analysis and Action Plan for Medford Parks

NONE OF THE PROBLEMS WE FACE IN OUR PARKS IS UNIQUE TO MEDFORD. WE ARE BLESSED WITH MORE PARK AND PLAYGROUND ACREAGE THAN MOST SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES. IT IS OUR GOAL TO SYSTEMATICALLY INCREASE THE COMPLEMENT OF WORKERS ONCE STATE AID APPROACHES LEVELS LAST SEEN IN THE 1990’S. MORE DILIGENCE IN PATROLING THE PARKS IS NEEDED AND AN INVOLVED CITIZENRY IS NECESSARY TO HELP THE POLICE TO IDENTIFY PROBLEM AREAS AND THE TIMES ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES OCCUR. A LACK OF RESPECT FOR OTHERS IS THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM.

Full Text: (Q5) Improving Environmental & Recycling Practice

How could Medford improve environmental and recycling practices within the public schools and other city buildings, including senior housing, and more aggressively promote recycling by the private sectors? For instance, do you believe Medford could attract businesses that use only recycled materials or that converts recycled materials into useful products? How?

McGlynn: (Q5) Improving Environmental & Recycling Practice

WE ARE THE PROUD RECEPIENT OF A NUMBER OF AWARDS RECOGNIZING MEDFORD’S EFFORTS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN ENVIRONMENTAL AND RECYCLING MATTERS. MUNICIPAL AND ALL SCHOOL BUILDINGS PARTICIPATE IN CURBSIDE RECYCLING INCLUDING CITY HALL AND THE SENIOR CENTER. CITIZENS ARE INFORMED AND EDUCATED ON RECYCLING THROUGH MEDIA OUTLETS, MAILINGS AND OUR MUNICIPAL WEBSITE WWW.MEDFORD.ORG. WE ARE HOPEFUL THAT OUR 2008 RECYCLING GRANT APPLICATION WILL BE APPROVED SO WE MAY PURCHASE NEW EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES SUCH AS RECYCLING CONTAINERS BIODEGRADABLE CAFETERIA SUPPLIES AND OTHER SUCH ITEMS. THE GRANT WILL ALSO PROVIDE AN EDUCATIONAL COMPONENT FOR STUDENTS TO LEARN ABOUT WASTE REDUCTION AND COMPOSTING.

MEDFORD HAS BEEN A LEADER IN PROMOTING ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES INCLUDING ENERGY EFFICIENCY, CLEAN AND ALTERNATIVE ENERGY INITIATIVES, WETLANDS PROTECTIONS AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMING. WE ARE ONE OF THE ONLY COMMUNITIES TO FUND AN ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT DEPARTMENT. MEDFORD HAS WON A NUMBER OF COMPETITIVE AWARDS FOR OUR EFFORTS INCLUDING:

• THE 2004 UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA) CLEAN AIR EXCELLENCE AWARD.
• THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS MUNICIPAL PURCHASING AND SUSTAINABILITY AWARD
• THE LARZ ANDERSON MUSEUM CHOICE AWARD FOR ENCOURAGING THE USE OF ALTERNATIVE FUELED VEHICLES
• THE ONLY CITY HALL IN MASSACHUSETTS TO RECEIVE THE ‘ENERGY STAR’ DESIGNATION FOR EFFORTS TO CONSERVE ENERGY

IN ADDITION, MEDFORD IS THE FIRST COMMUNITY IN MASSACHUSETTS TO HAVE A ‘CLIMATE ACTION PLAN’. WE HAVE INSTALLED SOLAR ENERGY PANELS ON CITY HALL AND AT HORMEL STADIUM. WE HAVE ALSO BEEN RECOGNIZED AS A PARTICIPANT IN THE ‘CLEAN SCHOOL BUS ENERGY PROJECT’

A RECENT INITIATIVE, THE PROPOSED INSTALLATION OF A WIND GENERATED TURBINE NEAR THE MC GLYNN AND ANDREWS COMPLEX WILL LESSEN DEPENDENCE ON FOSSILL FUELS AND PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR STUDENTS.

ALSO NOTEWORTHY, MEDFORD HAS BEEN DESIGNATED A ‘TREE CITY’ COMMUNITY FOR 9 CONSECUTIVE YEARS BY THE NATIONAL ARBOR DAY FOUNDATION