Eight former Selectmen say... NO NEW TAXES

On Nov. 8 in Danvers, Question 5 will ask for a vote on the proposed Community Preservation Act (CPA). We are asking voters to please vote no on Question 5.

As former members of the Board of Selectmen, we each worked, and continue to work, individually and collectively, to insure Danvers continues to have the best services, the best resources and the best fiscal position of any city or town in our region. We each worked hard on projects that were important to the town and to get them accomplished without resorting to special tax increases that are outside of Proposition 2 1/2 limits.

The current proposal to create a new CPA tax, outside of Proposition 2 1/2 limits, is contradictory to what we, as former selectmen and selectwomen, have worked to accomplish and we feel it should be rejected. The current and future boards of selectmen simply need to work harder to fund projects that are important to the town, without a new tax on the backs of the taxpayer.

Make no mistake, those who support the CPA are advocates of special interests and more importantly favor raising taxes to support their special interests. Special interest projects require careful and direct consideration by our elected leaders on a case-by-case basis, and are already very well funded and supported.

Danvers does not need a new CPA tax.

Please vote no on Question 5 on Nov. 8 and keep Danvers affordable.

Thank you for your consideration.

Ken Hersey, selectman 1978-1980

Doug Bean, selectman, 1985-1991; chairman, 1989-1990

Pamela Bartlett, selectwoman, 1994-1997

Mark Zuberek, selectman, 1995-2001; chairman, 2000-2001

Randall Sparkas, selectman, 2000-2006; chairman, 2004-2005

Ken Brown, selectman, 2000-2006; chairman, 2005-2006

Stan Svensson, selectman, 2004-2007; chairman, 2006-2007

Keith Lucy, selectman, 2004-2013; chairman 2007-2008