Donna DiGiovine, Westford Resident
Meghan O’Connell is running for one of the two open 3-year terms on our Select Board. I think she would be a fabulous addition and would bring new ideas, fresh perspectives and a diverse background to the board.
I first came to know Meghan by observing her active participation at many different town and board meetings. Here was a woman who was tirelessly asking great questions, kindly offering unique opinions and views, challenging the status quo and presenting well thought out, practical and economical alternatives. Eventually, we ended up sitting next to each other at one of these many meetings and I took the opportunity to thank her for consistently being willing to think “outside of the box” and to ask all our boards and town staff to think this way as well.
Meghan has expressed nothing but love for this town, support for the schools that her children attend and great ideas about how the town can live within its budget, spend on priorities and remain affordable for all residents.
Diverse opinions, thoughts and ideas are where breakthroughs can occur. Current town leaders have warned of structural deficits in town operations. Debt exclusions, previously approved building projects and new large capital spending requests loom on the horizon. Fewer services will be covered within our property taxes: fees are being implemented for trash pickup (over one small barrel) and we are hiring a new administrative town employee whose responsibilities include looking at what other fees can be increased. The current path will have us exacerbating the affordability challenge that many of our residents face.
We need a different approach if we want to get different results. Doing the same thing isn’t working. Meghan has brought forth many great ideas such as pushing for regionalization of select services, reducing the ratio of taxes paid by residents, streamlining administrative costs and finding ways to attract and increase commercial revenue. Many of these have been discussed for years but the work to evaluate and implement is not being completed. Meghan has demonstrated the consistency and the will that is needed to get some of these projects done. I have all the confidence in the world that Meghan will not shy away from hard work and will provide great service to us in this volunteer position.
On (or before) May 5, please join me in voting for Meghan O’Connell for one of the two open 3-year Select Board terms so she can participate in creating a Westford where we can all thrive.
