7 Questions with the Mansfield Selectmen Candidates

MANSFIELD, MA - When votes in Mansfield head to the polls on Tuesday, they will have a chance to choose three candidates for two spots on the Board of Selectmen.

Selectman Olivier Kozlowski faces a challenge from School Committee Chairman Michael Trowbridge and Finance Committee Chairman Steve Schoonveld. Selectman Doug Annino has elected not to run for reelection.

The race is the only contested contest on the ballot.

With the election only days away, Mansfield Patch sent the candidates seven questions. Here are their answers in their entirety:

Olivier Kozlowski (Incumbent)

1. What is your occupation?

Attorney

2. What is your political background?

Two-term incumbent on the Board of Selectmen. 19 years of service to the Town of Mansfield, including Board of Selectmen, Planning Board, Mansfield Housing Corporation, Housing Authority and Zoning Board of Appeals.

3. Why are you running for selectmen?

Public service is in my nature, as evidenced by my 19 years of service to the town detailed above, and I believe I have a lot to offer the citizens of Mansfield. In my view, the Board of Selectmen is the role that allows for the most opportunity to be creative and to do the most good for all of Mansfield's residents. I'm honored to have been given the opportunity to serve the town and would be happy to continue.

4. Why should the voters choose you to represent them?

I'm the only candidate with experience as a selectman, and that experience has been as part of a core group on the board that began a great turnaround in Mansfield six years ago. A well-functioning Board of Selectmen led to far better cooperation with the school department and a better functioning, "one town" model that continues today. I'm also the only attorney among the board / candidates and I have a well-rounded track record of experience serving the town. Finally, I recognize that while we need to continue the progress we've made, we need to make sure we keep the costs of government under control for the benefit of all our citizens.

5. What is the most important issue in Mansfield?

We need to promote Mansfield and further develop the healthy mix of commercial and residential uses we have. A thriving industrial park brings good jobs to town and keeps costs under control for all residents. Even the most creative financial planning won't be able to overcome too great a shift in this balance.

6. What issue do you think deserves more attention?

I believe we have untapped opportunities that can be developed by more interaction among town boards. When I was chairman I began the effort to facilitate this, and I want to see it move forward. We will soon be considering a proposal for an open space committee that will bring conservation, recreation and other interests to the same table. There are other examples where two or more boards have the potential to develop synergy on issues that impact all of their jurisdictions, and the Board of Selectmen is in a great position to identify these opportunities and begin the interaction.

7. Are you in favor of a the recent proposal to build a medical marijuana dispensary in Mansfield?

When medicinal marijuana was a statewide ballot initiative, Mansfield voted in favor by a healthy margin. At a subsequent Town Meeting, residents chose where a dispensary could go if one came to town. The proposal we had before us met all the local and state requirements for location. The 4-1 vote we took - and I voted yes - is just the beginning of a lengthy process the applicant will go through to demonstrate whether it's right for our community. They'll have to satisfy our police and fire departments' concerns, go before the zoning and planning boards and negotiate a host community agreement with the Board of Selectmen, a task I look forward to putting my legal and negotiation skills to use on. Personally, I believe the research in this relatively new area is beginning to show promise. If done right, I think a dispensary can work in Mansfield.

Steve Schoonveld (Finance Committee Chairman)

1. What is your occupation?

Actuary and Product Manager developing solutions for families to fund Long-Term Care Expenses

2. What is your political background?

I am the current Chairman of the Mansfield Finance Committee and prior Vice Chairman. I have served on the Budget Sub-committee every year while on the Finance Committee. As an expert on Long-Term Care public policy I have also worked with the past two White House Administrations and with Congress in a bipartisan manner for over 15 years.

3. Why are you running for selectmen?

I am running because in many ways, my work on the Finance Committee is complete. While yes, each year brings another budget and additional financial matters will need to be addressed, the foundation is now there to be built upon. Not only are we in a good financial position today but we have built a strong structure for which to maintain that strength. So indeed now is the right time to further work on behalf of all residents of Mansfield so that we can collaboratively make the most of our Town, financially and then some.

I am also running because I believe that my skill set and prior record on the Finance Committee prove that I will work successfully with my colleagues. Through five budget seasons, the Finance Committee has successfully brought a collaborative approach to one of the most important tasks of boards and committees: spending taxpayer money appropriately and efficiently. We can now plan ahead for our needs and indeed build well thought out strategies for success. As a selectman, I will continue working collaboratively and with the zeal to do what is best for all of us.

4. Why should the voters choose you to represent them?

While our current national politics may be embarrassing to many of us, the work of our elected officials and volunteers here in our home town should not. These days what passes as character on the national stage is appalling to many. I personally believe that character and integrity matter. I believe that doing what is right for the town of Mansfield is neither about a political party nor one’s political leanings. A vast majority of our volunteers and elected officials do the work of the town with a high level of integrity and take their oaths seriously regardless of their own personal views. As your selectman, I promise to continue to serve all residents of Mansfield to the best of my ability. I will work on behalf of everyone to make the most of our great home.

5. What is the most important issue in Mansfield?

Our tax base is at best stagnant and the tax impact on residents continues to grow. We need to make certain that the industrial and commercial properties and businesses in town are growing and enhancing our tax base so that the burden does not fall to us as residents. We currently do not have a strategy in place to ensure we have a thriving downtown area and a competitive industrial park. This indeed is the most important issue in Mansfield as if it is not addressed the impact on each of us; our seniors, our families, our kids and our businesses is unacceptable.

I applaud the Industrial Development Commission for their fast start and am anxious to work with them as a selectman. Collaboratively we will develop an approach to attract the investors and the businesses and therefore reduce the tax burden on us as residents.

6. What issue do you think deserves more attention?

As a community, we have a great sense of volunteerism that few other communities enjoy. There is so much activity that there isn’t enough room here to list each committee, group or event that occurs in town. While that is indeed something to be proud of I do think we may be leaving some residents behind. In particular, our growing senior population is something I think about regularly. While we have strong senior groups, including the Council on Aging and many others who are volunteering behind the scenes, our seniors face fixed incomes and have unplanned expenses that adversely impact their lives. Some of these expenses include minor home repair and maintenance as well as snow removal and caring for their lawns and gardens. As a town, we can encourage volunteerism by our residents with programs and support efforts where our seniors can be assisted and therefore reduce these overall expenses. As a selectman, I would like to enhance our Senior Tax Work-off Program to increase the limits and find areas where seniors who may be less physically able can participate.

7. Are you in favor of the recent proposal to build a medical marijuana dispensary in Mansfield?

I work in long-term care and help families who are caring for their chronically ill loved ones. Almost all of us have had a long-term care experience with one or more of our own extended family members and we have seen and felt their suffering. While there are many that truly benefit from medical marijuana, the demand on town services and how the site fits in with the surrounding area should be considered. The Town’s zoning regulations, adopted just last year, must be respected regardless of the applicant. Currently, the Commonwealth regulations are quite onerous and meant to ensure proper use but I am very concerned as regulations can change and recreational legalization may indeed occur. As of today, there are few dispensaries that are operational and for a very short period of time. The impact to communities is still very much unknown. While only 1 percent of the population may be patients who are chronically ill, I wonder why dozens of dispensaries across the state are indeed necessary and where they may be best located? One would think that the preferred locations would be near hospitals or large physician offices where these patients visit regularly.

As with all issues that will be discussed, I will be glad to review any new information as it becomes available and make future opinions based on the most current information.

Michael Trowbridge (School Committee Chairman)

1. What is your occupation?

Registered Professional Land Surveyor & Certified Soil Evaluator. Own and operate Hutchins-Trowbridge Assoc. Inc, a small civil engineering and surveying firm in Mansfield between 1986-2016.

2. What is your political background?

A member of the Mansfield School Committee since 1996-2016, current chairman; Capital Improvement Committee 1996-2016; Strategic planning committee; Superintendent Search Committee; Principal Search Committee; Selectman/Finance Committee/Schools Subcommittee-Consolidation Subcommittee; Negotiations Subcommittee-Sick Bank Subcommittee; Town Manager Search Committee; and Bleacher/Concession/Turf Field for Alumni Field Committee.

3. Why are you running for selectmen?

I feel my 20 years on the school committee and the work I have done within the town of Mansfield gives me a unique perspective from which to be an effective Selectman.

I see Mansfield in a transitional stage compared to 20 years ago. We are moving from a high ratio of student population to a to a more balanced demographic. Planning has to be done to make sure rising number of seniors citizens have adequate programming, resources, and facilities in Mansfield.

4. Why should the voters choose you to represent them?

I have shown a strong commitment to the town and the schools. I have made decisions in my 20 plus years on the School Committee that were not just in the interest of the schools. I have tried to have a global approach as a town is not just schools, but it is the totality of everything such as police, fire, public works and all the numerous departments that serve all the residents. I feel I am uniquely qualified and the candidate who is well rounded. My experience over the past 38 years of dealing with the municipal government gives me a leg up above any candidate in the race.

5. What is the most important issue in Mansfield?

A priority for me is to establish goals with the remaining selectmen. A workshop setting would allow the selectman to have focused conversations in regards to short term and long term goals. Although this would be a meeting open to the public, I would like to see an agenda that allows time, just for that discussion. Recent focus has been on improving year-to-year budgeting and operations, but at this point, we need a broader and more long-term view. Selectmen are policy makers, not a day-to-day operation and need to set goals and a vision for the town based on the Joint Municipal-Schools Master Plan.

6. What issue do you think deserves more attention?

One goal I believe is extremely important , is to fully fund the Industrial Development Commission. A budget has to be developed to fund some of the ideas that they have. This group has been rejuvenated and has some extremely bright individuals who have a tremendous desire to grow businesses and bring jobs to Mansfield. The IDC has begun to work with other boards and organizations with interests in the downtown and economic development across the town (Cultural Council, School Department, etc.)

We have rezoned to allow higher density in the Industrial park to attract businesses. We have not sought out people as well as we should have to bring them to the park. One idea that was mentioned to me during this campaign was to hire a consultant to look at leases and see who is coming close to the end of the lease and try to market those sites to firms willing to come in and rebuild on those sites. New buildings would mean in increase in square footage, and therefore more tax revenue for the town.

7. Are you in favor of a the recent proposal to build a medical marijuana dispensary in Mansfield?

This is process that is new to all selectman in Mansfield. A medical dispensary had not applied to Mansfield prior to this. The town was proactive in establishing where and where not dispensaries could be established. There is a great deal of rules and regulations that apply not only by the town but also by the state. I am not privy to all the documents that were submitted by the applicant as well as the police and fire chiefs. I don’t tend to like to be a Monday morning quarterback without having all the information. The chiefs had some concerns and I think only time will tell to see if those were legitimate or not. I don’t envy anyone who was part of that decision as this is not something the selectman, or chiefs have seen. Very few towns and cities have dealt with this yet. We will all learn from the process though.