Burlington 2026 Town Meeting Candidates: Precinct 3

Tell voters a little about your background.
I have lived in Burlington with my husband and three children since 2012 and we are deeply rooted in this community. As a local realtor, I've had the opportunity to connect with many families and understand what makes Burlington such a special place to live.

Why do you want to serve on Town Meeting, or why are you seeking re-election?
I care deeply about our town and am passionate about giving back and staying involved in the community.

What do you see as your charge as a Town Meeting Member in your precinct?
I see my role as a Town Meeting Member as being a thoughtful and informed representative of our community.

What do you see as the three biggest issues facing Burlington right now and how should Town Meeting address them?
Managing growth, supporting our schools and services, and balancing investments with the financial realities residents are facing.

The high school debt exclusion vote failed last fall. What do you think happens next and what role should Town Meeting play?
The outcome of the vote made it clear that many residents have concerns. It's important that we move forward in a way that balances the needs of our students with the financial realities that residents are facing.

Burlington has significant capital needs — including a new high school — at a time when many residents are feeling the pressure of rising costs. How will you weigh those competing realities when voting on major expenditures?
Town Meeting should play a key role in ensuring transparency, encouraging open dialogue and helping evaluate alternative options or adjustments that better align with the community.

How will you solicit input from your constituents?
As someone who is already active in the community, I plan to connect with residents both in person and online.

Tell voters a little about your background.
I am a lifelong resident and small business owner. I have been involved in town government and community involvement for over a decade. I am the current Chairman of The Zoning Board of Appeals, I'm a member of the 4th of July Parade committee, the Senior Vice Commander of the Sons of the American Legion on Winn Street, I have worked and contributed to many different political campaigns, and I also serve on other town government committees and subcommittees. I am also currently in the process of facilitating renovations and repairs to the gazebo on the common which I was able to secure as a 100% donation to the town.

Why do you want to serve on Town Meeting, or why are you seeking re-election?
This will be my third term as an elected town meeting member and hope to serve for many more!

What do you see as your charge as a Town Meeting Member in your precinct?
My charge has always been the same, to stand up and be a voice for residents needs and concerns.

What do you see as the three biggest issues facing Burlington right now and how should Town Meeting address them?

1. Rising tax rates affecting residents in all different situations. Town meeting needs to be cognizant of budgets and decisions being made that can negatively affect residents disproportionately.
2. Rapid growth without guardrails. We are seeing more and more dense housing proposals coming forward, and town meeting needs to make sure that the town is enacting proper judgement with what it allows. Dense growth brings the need for more infrastructure and public services, and they need to be planned for accordingly, such as having enough water for these projects without affecting our current needs.
3. Water and drainage efficiencies. Like I mentioned in my previous statement about being able to have enough drinking water supply, we need to recognize the issues with our groundwater and drainage. Now that the town has shifted away from pulling water from groundwater wells, we should be more mindful of allowing water to flow out of town more readily now that our well water needs aren't as necessary. Streams need a full dredging to allow water to flow efficiently, as they haven't been done in many years. The reservoir is fed by the Shawsheen river and it as well as the Ipswich river are fed by Burlington's water runoff, more recently these rivers have been running low at times, we need to do what we can to feed them, which will also help residents not have to pump their basements constantly.

The high school debt exclusion vote failed last fall. What do you think happens next and what role should Town Meeting play?
I ran the 'No' committee for the debt exclusion and was the first person to speak at a public meeting after the election. I was clear that the town needs to take an approach in two ways.

1. The filing of a proper Statement of Interest with the MSBA with the inclusion of a professional grant writer, to see how the town truly qualifies.
2. The creation of a school building facilities committee that examines the issues and intricacies of the buildings. Determining the best course of action to remediate issues whether it be renovations, repairs, or replacement, while also utilizing the expertise of many of our commercial real estate development neighbors located right in town.

Burlington has significant capital needs — including a new high school — at a time when many residents are feeling the pressure of rising costs. How will you weigh those competing realities when voting on major expenditures?
This question has an implicit bias by saying "the town needs a new high school"— it was determined by voters by over 2 to 1 that the plan of a new high school building the way it was presented wasn't warranted or needed. I stand by my previous statements of what needs to be done. Town meeting voted in favor of the debt exclusion while voting residents voted overwhelmingly against. Town meeting members need to be more cognizant of the needs of residents and represent them more accurately instead of representing their own desires.

How will you solicit input from your constituents?
I speak with a diverse array of residents on a daily basis and stay in touch with current issues and pay attention to what their needs and desires are. If anyone wants to contact me my information is available on the town website.

Tell voters a little about your background.
I have lived in Burlington since 2010. I have been married since 2009, and I have two children in the public school system. I'm originally from Philadelphia, and moved to the Boston area to obtain my Master's in Computer Science from Northeastern University. I have a passion for music, I enjoy sports, and I try to stay active, both physically and mentally.

Why do you want to serve on Town Meeting, or why are you seeking re-election?
Burlington is a fantastic town with a diverse community and an interesting culture. I want to help further its progress and be a part of its influence, while learning as much as I can about the process.

What do you see as your charge as a Town Meeting Member in your precinct?
My commitment is simple: show up prepared, explain every vote in plain language, and try to communicate my perspective along the way.

What do you see as the three biggest issues facing Burlington right now and how should Town Meeting address them?
There are three things I hope to bring to Town Meeting, and these highlight three big issues facing the town:

1. I am politically unenrolled and try to have no bias, other than making sure the argument is fully delivered from all sides. Emotion should bow to logic.
2. I voted in favor of the recent new BHS plan, even as an abutter, and I want to hear from my precinct about this, including why this vote failed.
3. I strongly favor everyone's right to have an opinion, even one I might disagree with, and I promise to look for common ground while advocating for respect.

The high school debt exclusion vote failed last fall. What do you think happens next and what role should Town Meeting play?
Now we should all know what the words "debt exclusion" mean, and we should also have a much larger understanding of the complexity of this entire project. It will not go away. The vote will need to happen again in the future, either for a brand new school or for a major renovation project. Town Meeting already voted to advance this vote to the town, rather than make the decision itself, and I believe that was the correct decision. However, Town Meeting's job now is to come together and communicate facts about this vote to the residents in a way that does not incite fear, uncertainty, or doubt about the future. Town Meeting members in particular who do not support this project should all attend the High School Building Committee meetings so their issues can be directly addressed.

Burlington has significant capital needs — including a new high school — at a time when many residents are feeling the pressure of rising costs. How will you weigh those competing realities when voting on major expenditures?
Rising costs are simply an unfortunate reality of life. A lot of this results from outside influences that Town Meeting cannot control. For example, the cost of a new high school will probably not be going down over the next ten years, which is why I supported limiting that rising cost last fall. That said, there are still many things Town Meeting can control: we can make sure the bids are competitive without corruption, that the need can be easily defended, and that we actually have the money. I do believe that a strong need is worth any cost, but I also am very realistic and would have no regret about saying no if necessary.

How will you solicit input from your constituents?
I promise to maintain a website where I explain how I voted and why. I'd like to do fun snapshot polls to gauge interest and get feedback. I also may decide to start a blog about my journey through the Town Meeting process and how I feel about it. I welcome anyone to e-mail or meet with me.

Tell voters a little about your background.
I'm honored to say that I'm a 20+ year resident of Burlington. Both of my now adult children attended Burlington schools. I've also worked in Burlington over the last few decades as a technical writer and a medical office administrator. Currently, I'm employed in a public library in a nearby community where I extensively research topics and provide reader advisory services.

Why do you want to serve on Town Meeting, or why are you seeking re-election?
I'm passionate about giving back to my community, making sure our seniors have a voice, reaching out to help my neighbors.

What do you see as your charge as a Town Meeting Member in your precinct?
As a Town Meeting Member, I will listen and advocate for residents, engage with other Town Meeting Members and work hard to solve problems and develop a fair resolution. I will collaborate with other Town Meeting Members to continue to encourage balanced development in our commercial and residential areas. I will support the needs of all residents, including the diverse needs of our seniors, disabled residents, and our children. I will work to provide resources for our schools and for public safety.

What do you see as the three biggest issues facing Burlington right now and how should Town Meeting address them?
The three biggest issues facing Burlington are attracting new businesses to fill empty office and retail space, achieving a balance in development between commercial and residential areas, and mitigating traffic when planning new commercial or retail development.

Town Meeting should address these issues by being actively involved in the meetings generated by the Economic, Planning, and Zoning departments.

The high school debt exclusion vote failed last fall. What do you think happens next and what role should Town Meeting play?
The School Department needs to develop a viable plan to renovate/build the high school.Town Meeting should stay informed and involved in the High School Committee meetings. Also, Town Meeting should reach out to residents for input and advocate for what residents request.

Burlington has significant capital needs — including a new high school — at a time when many residents are feeling the pressure of rising costs. How will you weigh those competing realities when voting on major expenditures?
As a Town Meeting Member, I would listen to presentations on major capital expenditures and try to prioritize Burlington's greatest needs while balancing the financial concerns residents have. I would use a common sense approach to balance all needs.

How will you solicit input from your constituents?
As a Town Meeting Member, I will be available by email and by phone and will respond to any input or questions residents have.

Tell voters a little about your background.
Moved to Burlington in 1992. I have been a TM member since 2011.

Why do you want to serve on Town Meeting, or why are you seeking re-election?
Town Meeting has tremendous power to guide development in Burlington through its zoning powers. Since I became chair of the Land Use Committee in 2011 (until 2019, still a member), I have been able to work with TM members, the Planning Board, and other officials to manage growth so that a) our residential areas are protected from development, and b) our commercial areas remain vibrant, tax paying parts of Town. This is essential because 60% of our property tax revenues come from commercial areas, keeping residential rates low.

What do you see as your charge as a Town Meeting Member in your precinct?
My goals are to preserve the residential character of Precinct 3 and support smart growth in our commercial areas near it to keep residential taxes low. Smart growth at this time in economic history means allowing a mixture of residential and commercial development in our business districts so they remain healthy. Healthy means no abandoned store fronts, no abandoned commercial buildings, lots of foot traffic, and no drop in property tax revenues.

What do you see as the three biggest issues facing Burlington right now and how should Town Meeting address them?

1. How to encourage modernization of our commercial areas in ways that meet the rapidly changing world of a) people working from home and b) retaining stores that are competing with on-line stores.
2. How to enhance the High School building before Burlington develops a reputation for a bad high school, a reputation that will discourage people with families from moving into town. Why would a family pay $900,000 for a house when the high school they would send their kids to for 4 years is the worst facility in the north 128 suburban area? [Editor's Note: The preceding sentence represents a statement of opinion by the candidate.] A good high school is essential for getting your child into a good college — we must be competitive.
3. How to do long range facilities planning so we don't have lots of expensive projects being done all at once. The high school election was done against a background of failed planning for when and how buildings were financed.

The high school debt exclusion vote failed last fall. What do you think happens next and what role should Town Meeting play?
Some kind of short-term upgrades to the building must be undertaken so that vital electrical and HVAC systems don't simply collapse — forcing costly short-term repairs. I sponsored a bylaw change last spring that requires the Town Administrator to discuss with TM, each year, a five-year facilities budget plan that identifies major expenditures/building renovations or replacements and lays out how we will pay for them. TM can also help by deferring some smaller capital expenditures in order to create financial room for high school building upgrades.

Burlington has significant capital needs — including a new high school — at a time when many residents are feeling the pressure of rising costs. How will you weigh those competing realities when voting on major expenditures?
We need to defer some capital expenditures in order to create financial room for essential high school building upgrades. If we don't do that, then future building failures will force us into emergency situations that require emergency spending without having planned budget space. Such emergencies can lead to costly borrowing situations.

How will you solicit input from your constituents?
My name and phone number are listed and my email is listed in the TM roster. I also talk to many people around town at events like the beer festival in the fall.

Tell voters a little about your background.
Born Phipps's Wisc. in 1949 into a Military Family, I have lived in 3 countries and 6 states by the time I was 13 years old, went into the US Air force and was in Vietnam 2 Years 1 Day and 23 Hours. 10 tough years later I went in the US Postal service and for 26 years. 23 years delivering my own house and neighborhood.

Why do you want to serve on Town Meeting, or why are you seeking re-election?
Through the years I was part of a group of town reps. that put homeowners first before developers which living in Precinct 3 we have more development pressure than all other precincts in town. The old saying if it is not a house put in it Pre 3.

What do you see as your charge as a Town Meeting Member in your precinct?
Reps forget they represent their precinct 3 first.

What do you see as the three biggest issues facing Burlington right now and how should Town Meeting address them?

Redevelopment of businesses to accommodate the opportunities of today. Office buildings to condos or apartments.

A new High School.

Hold developers to high standards.

The high school debt exclusion vote failed last fall. What do you think happens next and what role should Town Meeting play?
When the heating systems fail because there are no parts, we can resort to a boiler in the parking lot as before.

Burlington has significant capital needs — including a new high school — at a time when many residents are feeling the pressure of rising costs. How will you weigh those competing realities when voting on major expenditures?
Homeowners first.

How will you solicit input from your constituents?
Always.

No response was received.

Tell voters a little about your background.
I have lived in Burlington for 16 years, am a home owner, and married. I have three grown married children and five grandchildren. I served on the Burlington Housing Partnership (Chapter 40b) committee for 5 years.

Why do you want to serve on Town Meeting, or why are you seeking re-election?
My introduction to politics and giving back to my community was established in my youth. My father was a school committee member for over fifteen years and I was active in the Boy Scouts of America. Both experiences taught me many valuable lessons I use to this day. I view my service on town meeting and other volunteer efforts as my civic duty to make Burlington a better place for all citizens.

What do you see as your charge as a Town Meeting Member in your precinct?
To gain an understanding of each issue and make the best possible decisions for all the citizens of Precinct 3.

What do you see as the three biggest issues facing Burlington right now and how should Town Meeting address them?

1. Business Community: Support for the continued success of our businesses that currently pay 68% of our town taxes. Use every tool we have available, within reason, to help existing and new businesses prosper. Our economic development department should continue their efforts to recruit new businesses.
2. What to do about Burlington High School: I am an abutter to Burlington High School. I took a keen interest in the process for a new high school and the debt exclusion election. By an overwhelming margin the voters said NO. I will keep an open mind regarding future proposals from the School and Building Committees.
3. Taxes: Make sure our tax money is used wisely.

The high school debt exclusion vote failed last fall. What do you think happens next and what role should Town Meeting play?
Just like the first process I will be watching the School and Building Committees closely. When a new proposal is presented to town meeting I will keep an open mind and vote based on the best interest of the abutters and citizens of Precinct 3.

Burlington has significant capital needs — including a new high school — at a time when many residents are feeling the pressure of rising costs. How will you weigh those competing realities when voting on major expenditures?
Regardless of age I believe all Burlington residents are concerned about the cost of living, housing, real estate taxes and fees. For each proposal I will review the available information and use common sense and experience to make the best decision.

How will you solicit input from your constituents?
As I traverse around Precinct 3 I will engage in conversations with constituents about issues they deem important. My contact information is available on the town website. I am available to speak with voters via cell phone or email.