Q: What aspects of your personal and/or professional experience most qualify you to serve on the Select Board?
Henry Dane
For the three years I have served on the Board, and especially this year as Chair, I have worked to make town government better organized, more rational, better informed, effective, and action-oriented. I see the number of candidates running this year as a mark of our success. A resident for over 50 years and a graduate of Harvard Law School, I served as attorney to the Concord School Committees and Concord Housing Authority and have extensive experience as a lawyer with municipal law, land use, planning and zoning, and litigation. I have monitored the quality and cost of legal services to the town. I have appeared before and served on numerous boards and committees including the Finance Committee for Concord’s 350th Anniversary, the Concord 2025 Executive Committee, and as president of the Concord250 Corporation. My knowledge, experience, judgment, and leadership skills are my most important asset.
Joe Laurin
Up front I’d like to acknowledge all the candidates for SB have a deep stake in Concord and we’ve all given countless hours back to Concord in our own ways. That said, there are two things I’d like voters to know about me. First, I’m trained as a Mechanical Engineer and a Management Consultant, which means I’ve learned to take a structured approach to break down and solve problems; develop creative solutions and options (including looking outside for best practices, new ideas); ensure practical solutions; be a fast learner to quickly understand key issues, stakeholder perspectives, and cultural dynamics; and successfully work with all stakeholders from the CEO to staff to gain perspective on problems and possible solutions, and to build consensus. The second thing is that, no — I haven’t spent years working within town government, steeped in “how we do things.” While I value that experience, I believe my “outsider” view will be a valuable complement and I will not be bound or biased by how things have been done in the past.
Cameron McKennitt
Concord is in my blood. I grew up in Thoreau Hills and my four children attended Willard, Sanborn, and CCHS. My parents still live in the house I grew up in. Over the years, I have been active in many school, sports, theater, and community programs. I have 33 years of professional experience, successfully working with senior leaders, Boards of Directors, and multiple government agencies. I bring a broad viewpoint from working as a consultant and leader in multiple industries, including retail, manufacturing, distribution, medical device and services, and utilities. In addition to building and managing teams to solve the most pressing strategic and financial issues facing companies ranging from Fortune 500 entities to local venture-backed startups, I have spent almost 20 years in two heavily regulated industries — health care and energy — where I have worked with local, state, and federal regulators to design policies and programs that meet the needs of all stakeholders.
Wendy Rovelli
I have been an active volunteer since 2004 starting with the Concord Children’s Center as board member and treasurer. I subsequently served on the Finance Committee, Concord Municipal Light Board, and Financial Audit Advisory Committee and am currently serving on the Solar Implementation Task Force. I graduated with a major in Mathematics and Psychology, and earned an MBA and Master’s in economics. I have spent my 40-year career in finance and managed care, earning a reputation as a strong leader, known for my analytic skills, ability to collaborate, problem solve, synthesize complex topics, and communicate effectively. I want to leverage my skills and collaborate with key stakeholders to make well informed decisions on issues impacting the town.
Q: Going ahead, would you maintain, increase, decrease, or eliminate the new 10% residential tax exemption, and why?
Henry Dane
I am an unequivocal advocate for the residential exemption. Over a year ago, I saw it as an innovative way to address the tax burden of the $110 million middle school on lower income, and in many cases, long-time residents. It was not a perfect solution, but there are few options available under state law. The major components of tax increases some have felt are not the RTE, but the middle school debt and higher assessments, matters over which the Select Board has little control. 10% seemed like a fair estimate of the tax relief needed for the purpose, and I would not favor any increase.
Joe Laurin
While I believe we need to find ways to keep Concord affordable and a place to retire in with dignity, I believe the RTE is too blunt a tool in achieving those goals: For example, we may penalize elderly residents who have lived in town while home prices have skyrocketed, making them “house rich” (while not necessarily “cash rich”). Instead, we need to be disciplined to stick to budgets that are guided by a long-term plan. Then, we need a more precise tool to help those who truly need assistance with taxes.
Cameron McKennitt
I believe further study of this issue is required — it is a complicated issue with common misperceptions. For example, Lexington did a detailed study on the impacts of the Massachusetts Residential Exemption (SRE). In this study they describe multiple misunderstandings about the policy, including that “while the SRE may appear to be progressive when considering only owner-occupied single-family homes, when considering all types of residential properties and their occupants, it is not progressive.” While conducting further study, I would be strongly against increasing the 10% residential tax exemption.
Wendy Rovelli
I would not increase the tax exemption. I would like to see an evaluation of whether the town has seen a change in requests for financial assistance, assuming those struggling with affordability have historically requested some form of financial relief. If we had fewer requests from taxpayers, then we may have helped with affordability. The analysis will specifically need to assess whether the requests for relief are coming from property owners with higher vs. lower valued property. It is also important to understand what the percentage and distribution of eligible property owners is by range of property value, and whether all residents who are eligible for the tax exemption filed for the exemption. The decision to continue the residential exemption should occur following completion of the above analysis and conducting a public forum to discuss tax fairness (focused on how best to minimize the tax burden on those who are struggling with financial payments).
Q: Of the potential options for redevelopment
of the MCI-Concord property, what are your top priorities, and why?
Henry Dane
The options discussed include upgrades to the Rotary, conservation and recreation, housing (market and affordable), municipal use, retail and commercial development, and ownership of the on-site treatment plant. The Select Board, and I as chair, have been working with the Lt. Governor, the director of the Department of Capital Asset Management, and our three state legislators to refine the process outlined in the State Budget and to form our own Advisory Committee to shape the process and to assure that it reflects the priorities and needs of the town. It is likely that some will go to housing, some to realignment of Route 2, and that the town will obtain control of the treatment plant. In addition, I think it essential that the ultimate uses provide the town with the significant net revenue growth which, along with fiscal restraint, is needed to keep our taxes under control.
Joe Laurin
I would suggest caution with anyone who claims they know at this point in the process what MCI should become. We first need an overarching plan for all of Concord that: incorporates MCI and the other development properties available to us; sets priorities for spending, and includes our needs and wants for schools, housing (incl. affordable), sustainability, commercial growth, etc.; considers what other towns across the country have done with development opportunities like MCI; considers the implications of all of these actions (e.g., what does new housing mean for demand on other town services?). Only with such a plan can we confidently make decisions about what MCI should look like.
Cameron McKennitt
My top priority is making sure Concord has a formal seat at the table to work with the state of Massachusetts and other key stakeholders to come up with the most viable redevelopment alternatives. I fully support our state representative Simon Cataldo in his efforts to get Concord into this position. From there, it is about engaging the community and subject matter experts to develop feasible alternatives. There will be multiple aspects of this amazing opportunity that will need to be balanced, including desires for housing, an expansion of the non-residential tax base, and impacts on town schools, infrastructure, and character. This is precisely the type of strategic, integrated planning that I have successfully accomplished throughout my career and would be excited to help Concord execute.
Wendy Rovelli
I strongly support a mixed-use development combining retail business and housing. Tax revenues from business entities have declined in recent years and increasing commercial business will help defray the balance of taxes on residential property owners. It is critical that the town acquire the water treatment plan which will help address the current capacity constraints which are impeding development today. The CHDC owns property adjacent to the site which is designated for affordable housing. Ideally, MCI land closest to that property could be developed for housing and an arrangement negotiated with DCAMM where affordable housing can be interspersed with market rate housing, including option for elderly and disabled individuals. Additional investment supporting public access to the adjoining Assabet River will expand recreation options and public waterfront park area for citizens.