Selectman Candidate Profile: Sean Delaney

Selectman Sean Delaney first ran for office three years ago because the town’s financial picture was bleak and he said the school system was getting “hit pretty hard.”

Since winning election to the board, Delaney has been working to find way to save the town money while working on contract negotiations with town employees.

Delaney said one money-saving area is town employees’ sick day and vacation buybacks, as well as longevity bonuses. He said these contract items cost the town $300,000 to $400,000 annually and that is not sustainable. Delaney added that these contract items are engrained and unions leadership does not want to give up those perks.

However, unions need to work with the town to rework some of these provisions and find ways to cut employee health insurance costs, which increase 10 percent annually, he said.

“Most (union) members get it on an individual basis, but leadership doesn’t get it,” said Delaney ab0ut the need to make changes to contracts to save jobs and avoid layoffs.

Delaney said he wants the teachers union, the largest employee group in town, to take the lead with agreeing to health insurance savings.

“We have very dedicated town employees. They provide a great service, but I have to take a look at what is sustainable for the taxpayer,” said Delaney. 

Delaney said the goals for his next term would be:

• Ensure that the taxpayer gets value for every tax dollar spent
• Advocate for more help from the State House
• Push to get a secondary school building project approved
• Get a town wastewater project off the ground

Regarding state funding, Delaney said the commonwealth has a number of unfunded mandates, . The state initially helped fund a portion of the Quinn Bill, which are educational incentive payments for police officers, but that money has dried up and now the town has to pay another $200,000 for the program.

“Those weren't the rules when we entered the game,” he said.

On the subject of a secondary school building project, Delaney said the state will give North Reading 50 percent reimbursement for new construction and the middle and high schools face $10 million in repairs over the next five to 10 years.

“If you don’t jump on (state funding), we’re never going to have the opportunity to do that,” said Delaney about the secondary school building project. Delaney, who is a selectmen liasion to the Secondary School Building Committee, said he would ensure that any project is “not excessive.”

Regarding wastewater, Delaney said he would like to see projects resolve wastewater issues on Route 28 and Concord Street, which could spark more businesses to come to town.

Delaney, 46, grew up in Somerville and moved to North Reading in 1999. He and his wife are raising two children in the town.

As the only attorney on the board, Delaney said he is able to see things differently than other members. In his role as a selectman, Delaney views himself as an attorney and the town and taxpayers as his client.

He is able to review contracts and agreements. One wrong word in a contract could cost the town hundreds of thousands of dollars if it is not analyzed properly, he said.

Delaney said he wants to return to the board and continue to work at finding solutions for the town’s problems.

“It’s unfinished business. I want to continue down the right path to a conclusion,” he said.