Forum Provides First Look at Housing Authority Hopefuls

The Concord-Carlisle League of Women Voters had its candidates forum Sunday where most of the interest was in three candidates for Housing Authority since the selectmen and candidates are running unopposed.

Newcomer to Concord Anita Barker, Stephen Newbold and K.C. Winslow are running for a single five-year seat on the Housing Authority, the body that oversees and manages all the public housing units in Concord. There are 141 units scattered throughout the town.

Winslow is a realtor and said her professional experience would serve her well on the authority. Newbold is a project manager who said he is accustomed to handling complex projects and solving problems in a collaborative way. Barker moved to Concord just two years ago, but worked on the housing authority in Williamstown. She said many of the issues pertain to both communities although Concord is larger.

Wieand said he values the opportunity to run "even if it is unopposed."

"It is an enormous honor to be a Concord selectman and the ultimate opportunity to serve the town," Wieand said.

The two outstanding issues, he said, are the renovation and increasing the capacity of the wastewater treatment plant.

"Both remain significant issues," he said. And, he said he will spend the next three years pursuing state aid, looking for new revenue for the town, and looking at ways to reduce the town's carbon footprint.

Gannon said she has been involved in parent bodies since she moved to Concord some 20 years ago and put her three children in the Concord schools. She has been chairman of the , on a policy subcommittee, served as liaison to the and the Concord-Carlisle Parent Initiative (CCPI).

"The common denominator is youth," said Gannon. "We need to sustain a high quality of education while developing reasonable budgets. I will continue to collaborate with the selectmen and Finance Committee."

From the audience, Louise Haldeman asked Wieand if there were any possibility that the state highway department would make the Route 2 rotary safer. Wieand said no, the rotary was off the state's radar for the next decade at least.

Gannon said rebuilding CCHS was the most significant project for the future.

"It is in such poor condition that we are now purchasing spare parts from antique stores on eBay," she said.

Gannon said education standards for schools have changed since the high school was built, not to mention that it is too small to accommodate modern academic needs.

Cynthia Wood from the audience said the School Committee had a sub-par budget presentation, and Wood suggested they retool it for Town Meeting. Gannon said the committee was aware of the complaints and would comply before April 25 when the school budget will be up for a vote.

Wieand was asked about the paucity of information on streetlight removal. Wieand said it was brought up at the coordination meeting last fall, and the selectmen backed the who felt it was a good way to save some money.

"People who knew about it didn't know which ones (would be removed)," said Wieand. There was an article to remove them last year, but they were taken down before Town Meeting where the article passed. There is a petition article to replace the streetlights this year.

Barker said she decided to run for Housing Authority after hearing there were no candidates. She served on several town boards in Williamstown, including one for housing, and feels the two towns share many of the same problems with public housing.

Barker said in Williamstown, the Springfield Archdiocese "de-sanctified a Catholic Church" and the housing authority there created six affordable units. She said she was at the forum "to learn."

Newbold said he grew up in Concord and was asked to run for the seat on the strength of his knowledge of the town and his technical project management background.

Winslow, a realtor, "knows every square inch of the town," and thinks the Housing Authority is a good vehicle for "keeping our doors open" to all income levels. She is on the Cemetery Committee and the town's representative to the Metropolitan Area Planning Council, or MAPC.

Barker said she would like to insure good communication between the and the Housing Authority. "We want to provide housing for those who want to stay and can't afford it," said Barker.

Newbold said the job went beyond housing. "People want to live and enjoy the benefits of living in Concord." He sees a role for the housing authority in accessing programs and transportation for seniors.

Winslow said with a new director coming on board, there is an opportunity to share information on programming for all seniors.