Question and Answer with Board of Selectmen Candidate Virginia Mooney

The April 9 Burlington town elections are fast approaching. Burlington Patch asked each candidate for the open seat on the Board of Selectmen six questions to help voters better understand their positions. Remember to vote on April 9, polls are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the , 123 Cambridge St.

This is the final installation in the series and today we feature candidate Virginia Mooney. For Daniel Grattan's piece click and for Michael Runyan's click .

Why did you decide to run for the Board of Selectmen?

I want to make change. I want to see a change in the way we do business in Burlington and the way we do business with developers. I’d like to see changes in the zoning bylaw.

I’d like to see changes in the business, in an all around way. The selectmen need say “no” occasionally; they always say, “yes” to developers. They just want to keep dragging business in, and unfortunately that’s not the way it happens. It doesn’t make sense to say that more business will always help us with our taxes, it doesn’t. In one tax year we went up 23 percent. I’m more interested in five to six thousands senior citizens in town and how they will survive if taxes keep increasing.

We also need to do more to build the services — sewer, police and fire. Currently there is no help for people in town on fixed income or people who are handicapped.

I love the town of Burlington and want to work to help it.

What is your professional background and how do you think it will help you on the board?

I’ve been on many committees. Been on ways and means for 7 years, from 1975 to 1982. I was on when Proposition 2 ½ went into effect. That was hard because we had to balance the budget.

I was also on the board of Selectmen from 1988 to 1991. I have a background and experiences with different offices. I’ve worked in all the different parts of public service. I know how to work with the police, fire the department of public works — I worked on subcommittees for all three. I was also on the library sub-committee and those experiences helped me learn how to work with the different parts of town.

What is your educational background and how do you think it will help you on the board?

I graduated high school and have taken classes in management and accounting. I also went to Middlesex Community College for public speaking. My profession was small business management and retired a few years ago from a family business.

That experience will give me perspective on the board. Any experience you have in business or government will help you be a town leader. I believe 38 years of experience in town affairs gives me the background needed and qualifies me to sit on the board.

What do you think is the biggest (or two) issues facing the town of Burlington at present and what would you like to see the board do to address them?

The sewers are a major issue that needs to get done. I understand we are going to get some money from the state, but I’m not privy to what they will get at front.  We’ll have to see what the state does with our requests.  I think that’s a major problem that involved the whole town.  

If elected I’d have people on site making sure it gets done properly and the town reports to the state. Not like in the old days, someone just running around to check – we have to have someone there monitoring the situation.

What would be your main goal for the first year if elected?

My first goal would be to address the Planned Development Districts (PDD). I’d like to see that taken out of our zoning bylaws. It was originally authored by developers and lawyers and approved by the Planning Board. A lot of people are upset over it. We don’t need that in our zoning bylaws. As written they can do same thing with a special permit.

I’d also like to see the liquor licenses taken from the Nordblom Company until they put up the restaurants. I still think 10 more liquor emporiums will not do the town much good. They will cause problems — we have more drunk drivers on the road and we need to do something about it.

Name something voters may not know about you but should:

I've lived in Burlington for 51 years and have been involved in the town for 38 years. I haven't changed much so I don't think there is much people don't know about me. People know me well and they know all the years I’ve been running. I was on the woman’s softball league n Burlington for many years, some people may not know I did that.

Would you like to add anything else?

I’d just like to ask residents to exercise their Constitutional right to vote. Many other countries don’t have that right and if we don’t exercise it than shame on us.