Letter to the Editor: Daniel Grattan - Why I'm Running

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the residents who spent their time telling me their concerns when I knocked on their doors and for listening to my views.  I have learned much in the last two months that will be critical to serving as selectman.  Not surprisingly, taxes, senior services, over-development, open space and traffic have been the most commonly expressed concerns.  Snow plowing, storm drainage, and many other topics came up over the course of the campaign too.  

I came to this campaign with no ties to any particular group or agenda.  Neither I, nor any member of my family, is employed by the town so I will be free to participate in all discussions and votes without any conflict of interest.  I am not one of the “Good Ole Boys” either.  My wife Lizzette and I have built up many relationships over a large cross section of the community so I feel I can represent all residents effectively.  

My independence, experience, and objectivity will allow me to oversee the town administration with no bias.  Keeping the budget in check in the face of declining state aid will be a top priority.  This will require looking for ways to reduce waste and redundancies among departments.  The administration is in the challenging position of simultaneously serving the residents and burdening them with the taxes needed to provide those services.  An example of potential cost cutting is reviewing retirements as the current board is doing and thoughtfully deciding whether replacements are needed rather than making them automatic.  We also need to make investments in technology and infrastructure to reduce operating costs and improve residents’ experience in interacting with their own town government.  

Preserving open space and controlling growth are important in their own right, but they are also tied to budget and tax growth.  In a poll recently done on my website all respondents said we should not sell the land locked parcel for commercial development.  This has been my position since before the outset of this campaign.  There may be some opportunities for municipal use that are compatible with the green nature of keeping it open.  We shouldn’t plan on selling it and becoming dependent upon the accompanying revenue growth.  It would be better to control spending and not create a need for the revenue in the first place.  We currently have millions of square feet of permitted commercial space so we should continue to safeguard our watershed and make roadway, sewer, water and drainage improvements to continue to make Burlington an attractive place to live and do business.  

For the many thousands of residents with whom I didn’t get to meet I look forward to hearing from you.  To all, I will always be available and listening.  I respectfully ask for your vote for Board of Selectman on Saturday April 9.

Daniel Grattan