For Your Consideration: Robert Lewis

Editor's Note: Every morning this week, Grafton.Patch.com will feature a profile and video introduction from each of the 5 candidates for 2 open seats for selectman. The candidates were each asked to answer questions submitted by our staff and the public and to include a video telling why they should receive your vote.

Candidate profiles are running in the order they were received. Today's candidate is Robert Lewis.

Name:  Robert W. Lewis

Age: 59

Address: 1 Ann Dr., North Grafton 

Occupation:  Realtor, RE/MAX Executive Realty

Relevant Exerience: Former Grafton Selectman (1986-1989); Finance Committee (1989-1991); Traffic Safety Committee (1987-1988); Moderator, Grafton Water District (1991); Affordable Housing Committee (1999-2001); Town-owned Land Committee (2001-2003)

Why did you decide to run for selectman?

When I first was elected selectman in 1986, I planned on running for at least 2 and maybe 3 terms, but during my first term, my wife's chronic illness worsened to the point of requiring much more of my attention at home, so I chose not to run for re-election. Following her death in 1997, I later re-married and applied my home attention to our new family and younger children, so I have been unable to reconsider running again until now.

What is the most pressing issue facing Grafton?

The most pressing issue for Grafton and most Massachusetts towns is an ability to continue its highest priority services while maintaining a balanced budget within the guidelines of Proposition 2 1/2 taxation restraints. I consider those priorities to be public safety (fire, police and ambulance) and proper maintenance of our infrastructure (roads, buildings and recreation facilities). By carefully sticking to those highest priorities, the appropriate dollars should still be available for the school system's priorities.

What will make you a good selectman?

My lifelong devotion to our town, my attention to detail, combined with communication skills and availability, and a total dedication to fairness for all citizen issues (even those to which I do not personally agree).  

The town’s infrastructure (roads, buildings, dams and vehicles) is crumbling. What is the best way to fix it? Should the town borrow $15M in one shot, introduce new taxes or take another approach?

Some of the obvious problems with our roads has come as a result of poor or improper work done after major road opening work, such as water line and sewer construction work. Those projects are almost always done by outside contractors. Much work needs to be done to assure that future projects are completed in the best possible manner so they will last for many years.  In some cases, our enemy is "Mother Nature,'' so we always need to be prepared to handle appropriate and quality repair work. Bridges and dams are an imposing problem, since almost all are quite old and we have fallen behind on their maintenance. Our vehicles have always been very well managed, maintained and utilized, however, by their nature they have the shortest lifespan, so proper financial planning is always necessary to be ready to replace vehicles as needed.

Fiscal times are tough. How can Grafton keep taxes and budgets under control as state revenues, property values and personal incomes shrink?

We have no control over the general economy, so the town must be ready and willing to address its priorities while managing its finances.  Certain critical capital expenses may be addressed, with Town Meeting approval, from the Stabilization Fund, a so-called "rainy day" fund, which Grafton has always managed well. For absolutely necessary items or projects, this may be exactly the time to utilize such funds. This will allow the otherwise belt-tightening maneuvers for the rest of our budget to keep the tax burden within guidelines, and still manage to operate our town's essential services.

Listen to Robert Lewis'  video to hear why he's running for Selectman: http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1825708715273&oid=208028489211892&comments