Vote Medford 2007

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

McGlynn: (Q6) Water Department Issues

THE SECOND METERING SYSTEM HAS ALWAYS BEEN SCHEDULED AFTER THE FIRST SYSTEM CHANGE OUT IS COMPLETED. THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 108 METERS LEFT TO CHANGE. THE SAME PERSONNEL OVERSEE BOTH PROGRAMS. AT MY REQUEST, THE $3 MILLION SHORTFALL IS BEING LOOKED AT BY AN INDEPENDENT AUDITOR. WE HAVE ALWAYS BELIEVED THAT THE 3 MONEY REASONS ARE: LATE BILLING AFTER THE END OF FISCAL YEAR, IN NON PAYMENT BY RESIDENTS AND A VERY GENEROUS CUT IN THE WATER RATES A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. AFTER SENDING OUT DEMAND NOTICES, THE TREASURER INFORMS ME THAT THE SHORTFALL HAS BEEN REDUCED BY $1.2 MILLION.

McGlynn: (Q7) Medford & Tufts

THE RELATIONSHIP IS VERY GOOD. TUFTS IS THE CITY’S LARGEST EMPLOYER, AND THEY WORK WITH US ON OUR COMMUNITY EVENTS. THEY HAVE BEEN VERY INVOLVED IN EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR STUDENTS. PRESIDENT LARRY BACOW UNDERSTANDS THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING A PART OF THE COMMUNITY AND HAS SIGNED A HISTORICAL PILOT AGREEMENT FOR A TEN-YEAR PERIOD. THEY HAVE ALSO PURCHASED, IMPROVED AND PAID TAXES ON TWO OF OUR OLD SCHOOLS, THE HILLSIDE AND THE DAME.

McGlynn: (Q8) Improving and Protecting Open Space in Medford

I AM VERY PROUD OF MY RECORD WHEN IT COMES TO PROTECTING; PROMOTING AND IMPROVING OPEN SPACE THROUGHOUT MEDFORD. REAL PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE IN PROVIDING ACCESS TO THE MYSTIC RIVER AT RIVERBEND PARK WHERE TRAILS, DOCKING FACILITIES AND VIEWING AREAS HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED. WORKING WITH PRIVATE DEVELOPERS, I HAVE INSISTED THAT IMPROVEMENTS TO THE WATERFRONT BE A PRIORITY COMPONENT OF ANY COMMERCIAL OR RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT. I RECOGNIZE THAT THE FUTURE REVITALIZATION OF MEDFORD SQUARE IS DEPENDENT ON BETTER UTILIZATION OF, AND ACCESS TO, THE MYSTIC RIVER. THE PRUDENT USE OF OUR NATURAL RESOURCES AND LANDSCAPES ARE OF PRIME IMPORTANCE IN PROMOTING A HEALTHY QUALITY OF LIFE IN MEDFORD.

AS WITH MOST ISSUES FACING MUNICIPALITIES, APPROPRIATE SERVICES REQUIRE SUFFICIENT FUNDING. THIS IS THE PRIMARY CHALLENGE FACING US AS WE STRUGGLE TO MAINTAIN THESE AREAS. DISCRETIONARY FUNDING WITHIN THE CITY BUDGET IS SEVERELY LIMITED. THE STATE HAS NOT BEEN FORTHCOMING WITH INCREASED FUNDING FOR SUCH PURPOSES-ESPECIALLY IN THOSE AREAS IN WHICH THEY HAVE CARE AND CUSTODY (MIDDLESEX FELLS AND THE MYSTIC LAKES). I HAVE ALWAYS MAINTAINED THAT CITIZENS, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH GOVERNMENT CAN ’MOVE MOUNTAINS’. I REMAIN OPEN AND ENTHUSIASTIC TO WORKING WITH INTERESTED GROUPS TO FURTHER OUR MUTUAL AGENDA TO ENCOURAGE APPROPRIATE AND INCREASED USE OF OPEN SPACE IN MEDFORD.

McGlynn: (Q9) Chevalier Theater: Increasing Utilization

THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT THE CHEVALIER THEATRE IS A VITAL PIECE OF THE ENTIRE MEDFORD SQUARE REVITALIZATION EFFORT. RIVER ACCESS, A MORE DIVERSE RETAIL MIX, MORE QUALITY RESTAURANTS, PARKING OPPORTUNITIES AND A PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY ATMOSPHERE ARE ALSO NECESSARY INGREDIENTS TO COMPLIMENT CHEVALIER. THE IMPROVEMENTS MADE TO CHEVALIER ARE SIGNIFICANT AND THE COMFORT OF PATRONS IS NOW IMPROVED DRAMATICALLY. IT IS MY BELIEF THAT INCREASED UTILIZATION WILL BECOME REALITY BECAUSE THE BEAUTY, ACCESSIBILITY AND NOW THE COMFORT OF THE ROOM WILL PROMOTE IT DESIREABILITY AS A DESTINATION FOR QUALITY ENTERTAINMENT.

McGlynn: (Q10) Mayor's Boards & Commissions: Priorities and Plans

ALL ARE PRIORITIES. AT ANY GIVEN TIME, THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 150 SPOTS TO FILL ON ALL BOARDS. AFTER A REVIEW, I FIND 3 VACANCIES. IF PEOPLE WANT TO APPLY TO SERVE IN A POSITION, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO DROP OFF A RESUME TO LINDA COLETTI IN THE MAYOR’S OFFICE, INDICATING THE BOARD ONE MAY BE INTERESTED IN SERVING UPON. WE APPRECIATE VERY MUCH THE WORK OF ALL OF OUR VOLUNTEERS, BUT WE DO NOT FILL A POSITION, JUST TO SAY THE POSITION IS FULL, OR FOR SOMEONE TO PUT IT ON HIS/HER RESUME. WE ARE LOOKING FOR THOSE INTERESTED AND WILLING TO GIVE OF THEIR TIME AND WORK.