Opinion: Selectman Schoonveld On Mansfield's Continued Success

The following is a letter to the editor from Selectmen Steve Schoonveld highlighting what he sees as recent financial successes for Mansfield and what needs to be done to continue the town's success in the future:

As a town we have had a very successful stretch in recent years. Our financial house is finally in order. We are collaborating across our town departments, boards, and committees with strong leaders and staff in place. During this time we have seen this success attract further success. As we became a strong financially sound town, many have wanted to work for us and many have sought to join our committees and boards. Our stable finances also encourage thoughtful investment in town. And finally, we have been able to take on the challenges we face not passively but with forethought because of our position. A clear example of this is our recent urgent need for fire apparatus. This was an additional challenge that we were able to absorb without a tax override. This may not have been possible just seven years ago when we were not in such a strong financial position.

So now it is time to focus intensely on maintaining this while we address a few specific areas to allow our success to continue.

First, we need to continue the strong management of our budgets and capital improvement programs. Our bond rating has never been higher. Our stabilization reserves have never been as robust. Our financial policies have never been as well defined. This is what we strived to accomplish as I joined the Finance Committee and have continued to achieve as your representative on the Select Board. We need to be even more diligent to find ways to put every tax dollar to work. This includes being smart in our employee benefits and insurance programs as our pension and employee benefit costs make up well over 10% of our budget. We need to ensure that we adequately fund our future costs and that when we add a new employee we fully understand the long-term financial commitment we are making.

A strong example of this effort was seen in our review of our Health Insurance purchasing arrangement. While we were seeking a new Town Manager, I served on the board of our then Health Insurance purchasing group. It was clear to me that the arrangement was not optimal and not meeting our needs. I helped create and then served on an Insurance Task Force to address these concerns and the increasingly adverse impact of rising health insurance costs. Our work allowed Mansfield to save the town and employees a combined 1 million dollars a year without changing our health insurer or any of the employee premiums or copays. Furthermore, we enhanced our reserves for future cost increases by close to 2 million dollars. These savings are felt by all residents as it helped limit potential budget increases and thus your tax bill. This example is one of many where teams are collaborating to address shared concerns and achieve a positive outcome for all.

A second area to address is further developing our strategies to promote sustainable growth across all areas of our town. Our approach should be modernized to encourage competition among developers so that we make the most of each of our business, industrial and residential zones. This is especially true of the Downtown and the Cabot Business Park areas. These areas need to maintain strong employment opportunities for residents, good retail and restaurant options, and produce a vibrancy and sustainability like no other industrial park or downtown anywhere.

These strategies will be examined as the Town begins the 10-year update to the Comprehensive Master Plan. I encourage you to participate by responding to surveys and attending focus groups and meetings to express your thoughts during this critical process. This process begins on May 15th. Check the town website for information.

Third, we need to help make town management work for you. We may be the envy of other towns for our school system, our financial position, and for our ideal location, but our communication, our cultural activities, our services and supports for residents need to have a renewed focus. While there is more that we can collaboratively accomplish, I am pleased to see that we have enhanced one area of support by doubling the Senior Tax Work-off Program.

Finally, please vote in the May 14th Town Election at Mansfield High School. It only takes a few minutes and you can even go to Town Hall to vote absentee if necessary. Every candidate on the ballot has served the community for many years and each have been key in our shared success as a town.

On a personal note, I greatly appreciate the many calls, emails, and expressions of encouragement from you over the years. Indeed, we have a great Town because of the residents of Mansfield. I look forward to our continued success.