Nottingham 2023 Candidate Interviews
I reached out to all of the candidates for contested positions - Board of Selectmen, School Board, Budget Committee - asking the same set of questions for each office. Here, verbatim, are their written responses.
Board of Selectmen
Matthew Shirland - no response
Roger Romeo Richard - does not use email
Stephen A. Welch
Timothy Dabrieo
QUESTION: What do you think about the current 4% cap on increases to the town budget? Do you think it should be kept or do you support warrant article #19 to repeal this cap?
WELCH
I work for a propane equipment wholesale company. In today’s climate product is still extremely hard to get we all face increase cost due to a decrease in production which raises pricing. At his current time, I would support repealing the price cap. I do not want departments to be handcuffed to make unnecessary cuts due to uncontrolled prices. I also would like to make sure each department works hard to keep their budget close to no tax impact. However, if they cannot I would expect an explanation as to why the increase. Open Communication is crucial to negotiation. The voters have the final say.
DABRIEO
I think capping the operating budget is not the right approach to effective management of the town. This past budget season was extremely challenging and required the BOS to reduce the merit increase budget for employees as well as moving larger expenses (road repairs) to warrant articles. The town infrastructure is in disrepair and the cause has been underspending on maintenance for years. There were a number of people at the town deliberative session expressing their concerns for the condition of our town buildings and we can put the money into making costly repairs but the ongoing maintenance needs to be addressed as well. When we are challenged with historically high inflation and an incredibly tight labor market, a tax cap forces the board to make decisions that may not be in the towns best interest.
QUESTION: Do you think the town’s budget is allocated optimally among the major departments (e.g., highways, recreation, police, etc.)? If not, which departments should be better funded and which should receive less funding?
WELSH
Without having all the information and talking with each department I don’t feel I can answer that question. I do think we need to look at some of our dirt roads and try to address some of the mud issues.
DABRIEO
I think the budget is properly allocated amongst departments. When thinking about the future and what the taxpayers would like to see done with town buildings and property, the BOS may need to shift funds year to year. I would encourage our community to provide feedback to the BOS so that money is spent on what is important to them. I would also listen to the department heads and town administrator to understand what they need as well.
QUESTION: The costs of running the recycling center keep going up. Should the town charge user fees for access to the recycling center or provide incentives for using private trash collection to reduce usage of the recycling center?
WELSH
Again I think we need to take a look at the recycling center. I am sure there may be alternative ideas and would be open to discuss them after receiving all the facts.
DABRIEO
I believe we need to get to work right away on how to improve the recycling center. Working with our partners like Northeast Resource Recovery Association on how to increase revenue for recycled materials and/or reduce expenses. I don’t think charging user fees is going to solve the problem, we need perform a deeper dive into the operations and the current market for recycled material and trash and figure out a longer term solution.
QUESTION: Concerns have been expressed (here and here) that the town is not paying its employees adequately. Do you think this is the case? If so, what (if anything) do you think should be done about it?
WELSH
Does anybody not want more money in their paycheck, I think not? But what is their base pay including benefits. One thought is to put a price cap on a position. That does not mean we need to hire at the top of the cap. But it lets potential new hires know what they can expect. I would ask employees if they think they are being adequately paid and find out what they think. What changes can be made to make them happy. It might surprise you how little it takes to retain people.
DABRIEO
We have lost a number of town employees to other NH towns in part due to our lower wages. I do believe, like any employer, the town needs to look at the wages for employees and make sure they are competitive if we want to keep quality employees working in all of our departments. This is another reason why I disagree with the tax cap of 4%. If the town would like to increase salaries to retain our great town employees, it will be very challenging to cut other items when costs for fuel, materials and services are increasing by 6-8%. I don’t think that the town budget should increase over 4% year over year but I do think that having the cap hampers the ability of the town to deal with short term challenges and still plan for the future.
QUESTION: Is there an issue that, in the past few years, you think the Board of Selectmen decided particularly badly? If so, what decision and why do you think it was decided badly?
WELSH
I think the Selectboard has worked hard to do what is best for our Town. Looking back and pointing fingers does nothing. Lets look forward and hopefully make good and informed decisions.
DABRIEO
I think the change in classification of some of our town roads a few years ago could have been handled better. I think it left a number of residents feeling literally stranded. Like any problem, I think asking the right questions and involving impacted parties in the process of making a change is important. It felt like there was uncertainty about how the decision was made and why because it was not clearly communicated.
QUESTION: Warrant article #18, which would fund $40k for building maintenance, is controversial. All of the selectmen are in favor of it while no one on the budget committee is in favor of it. What is your stand on this article?
WELSH
I feel we have neglected our buildings for a long time. It is time to evaluate and come up with a plan to save these buildings before they fall into a state of disrepair. By neglecting them we will be faced with a much larger bill.
DABRIEO
I am in favor of the spending for building maintenance but as I mentioned above, we need a longer term plan for ongoing maintenance and improving the condition of the town infrastructure. Anybody that has done any type of home improvement in the past three years understands that $40k will not go far since close to 50% of that will go to labor alone. I believe that the wording of the article when originally presented was not clear and the budget committee was not in favor of simply giving that large sum of money to the town without a specific purpose. I voted for people serving on the Board of Selectmen and trust they will oversee the spending of these funds for the purpose as intended. If not, then they won’t get my vote next time! I believe that voting for people that we trust and know will do the right thing and make challenging decisions is what we will do in March.
School Board
Lisa M. Heath
Susan Levenson - no response
Danielle Roy - no response
Kathryn Brosnan - no response
QUESTION: What do you think about the proposed warrant article to impose a 10% cap on annual increases to the school budget?
HEATH
I was apprehensive at first with the idea of a 10% cap but after listening and attending school board meetings, attending the deliberative sessions, speaking to staff as well as students, and hearing the necessary maintenance and repairs needed just to make the school viable, I feel it all justified the 10%. I am disappointed that the word 'impose' was used to describe the proposed warrant. In my opinion, I do not believe anything facility, staff, or student-related could be considered "an imposition" to this community. Providing the staff and students with a safe learning environment as well as the resources needed to succeed in all aspects of education is critical. Our children are our future. We need to be able to provide them all the tools they need to succeed in life. However, there is also a responsibility to ensure that the budget is utilized properly and can demonstrate to the community how necessary those funds are.
QUESTION: Several citizens, including elected officials, have complained that some of the books in the school's library are inappropriate. Do you agree? If so, which books? How should the school handle complaints about library books?
HEATH
In my opinion, I do not believe that the books in the school's library are inappropriate. From the information that has been provided to parents by our school librarian, it was noted that several resources are used when determining what books are appropriate for our students per age group. The books in question (regarding gender identity) are providing an additional reference for students as well as their families. By complaining about such books, we are sending the message that those individuals/families are not accepted either. Students should feel understood and accepted regardless of outside personal opinions. If parents in our community think that there are books in our library that are not suitable for their own children, I believe those specific situations should be addressed directly with the librarian, administration as well as their children. Our school librarian and administration have provided an excellent option with the Opt-Out program as an extra measure for those books deemed YA (young adult). Another thing to consider is that these books are not assigned readings but are an additional resource for students to connect with.
QUESTION: The school board has been accused of ignoring the will of the voters. What do you think of this accusation? Has the school board been responsive to the voters or not?
HEATH
I do not believe that the school board has ignored the will of the voters, which was even more evident to me at the School District Deliberative Session. I believe there is always opportunity for transparency and better communication regarding decisions that will affect the entire community. For example, I believe that the school board has to proceed cautiously in regards to topics such as negotiations. By presenting recommended negotiations to the board members prior to meetings where the public are invited to attend and comment is the most realistic approach. This would allow the board the time to review those recommendations and be able to address potential public comments and concerns effectively.
QUESTION: Seacoast Classical Academy has been recruiting students from Nottingham. What do you think will be the impact of this on Nottingham?
HEATH
In my opinion, if there is an impact on the town, it will be very slight, if at all. This would not be any different than parents that choose to send their children to St. Thomas or Portsmouth Christian Academy. Parents are going to make decisions for their families and should be able to send their children to the school of their choice. Between the new families coming into town and those few that may decide to enroll their kids into a private academy, I believe it will have little-to-no impact on the town. If anything, it might provide a relief, as we currently do not have enough classroom space for those enrolled.
QUESTION: A member of the Budget Committee accused the school of over-paying teachers. Do you agree or disagree?
HEATH
I would be interested in seeing documentation to support this accusation. With that being said, I would think that there are a number of factors in determining teacher salaries: regional averages, years of service, level of education, etc. In my opinion, our teachers support our students in a number of ways, far more than just general education. They listen and advise, they empathize, and they make our children feel safe within the classroom setting, as well as the ability to speak freely about concerns at school or at home. Our teachers inspire our children to be the best that they can be, inside and outside of school. We have asked a lot of our teachers the last few years, far more than what has been asked in the past. At this time, without that supporting documentation, I do not feel I can agree nor disagree.
QUESTION: The politicization of school curricula has been a major issue in a large number of school districts throughout the country. Political activists on one side claim that the curricula have been co-opted by activists on the other side to indoctrinate children. How do you think Nottingham should approach this controversy?
HEATH
Although I believe that this is probably a bigger concern for high school and college level students, I did reach out to friends and family in the educational system to obtain a better understanding of what they are seeing in their classrooms. From what I've gathered, teachers are tasked with educating our children based on a certain curriculum that has gone through its own processes and procedures. I believe that teachers should educate children on the events of the past, all the while keeping their personal opinions and agendas out of those conversations. While some discussions may be uncomfortable, they are important as they led us to where we are today. We are always learning and working on correcting our previous missteps. I am hopeful that the curriculum being taught is impartial and that personal opinions are kept out of the classroom setting.
Budget Committee
Owen Friend-Gray
Robert Kelly - no response
Charlotte M. Fyfe
Thomas Butkiewicz - no response
Alan Bersthein - no response
QUESTION: What do you think about the current 4% cap on increases to the town budget? Do you think it should be kept or do you support warrant article #19 to repeal this cap?
FRIEND-GRAY
I agree with the idea of having some fiscal limitations as an unbound budget isn't reasonable, but I find that the strict fixed number is not practical in all years. This past year for example saw a regional inflation of roughly 7% but with a 4% cap, the town wasn't able to keep up with the basics, much less improve items that are needed. A variable tax cap or faith in the elected officials seems more practical and reasonable to me.
FYFE
While tax caps may sound like a good idea, more-often-than-not they’ve ended up having negative and expensive outcomes for taxpayers. The unintended consequences of these caps result in the loss of essential services and infrastructure (as they already have here), and ultimately end up costing taxpayers more in large overrides and emergency expenditures. I believe Nottingham’s current tax cap of 4%, during a period of 7-8% inflation, is unrealistic and unnecessary. When used properly, we have an effective system of checks, balances and budget oversight which is more flexible and responsive to economic conditions than a tax cap can be. I support Warrant Article #19.
QUESTION: Do you think the town's budget is allocated optimally among the major departments (e.g., highways, recreation, police, etc.)? If not, which departments should be better funded and which should be receive less funding?
FRIEND-GRAY
The funding between the departments is the best that the current budget committee could provide given the tax cap and other related needs. This is something that should be explored every year and we should strive towards being as balanced as the citizens need us to be.
FYFE
The Town Department Heads have come in with responsible budgets and have been able to justify both increases and decreases in their line items. They have also been willing to go back and crunch numbers again and again when asked, which helps distribute funds optimally –and fairly - throughout our major departments.
QUESTION: Last year in a budget committee meeting the school board was accused of theft and extortion. Do you agree with this accusation? If so, what should be done about it?
FRIEND-GRAY
A single comment within a single meeting is not pertinent currently or representative of the entire board. It was handled in the moment and bears no impact going forward.
FYFE
These accusations against the School Board appeared to be out-of-order remarks. I don’t believe they are representative of the majority of the Budget Committee. Elected Budget Committee members should be in agreement not to use their position as a podium to advance singular political or social agendas, slander others, or promote unfounded accusations. I’d like to see the creation of a Code of Ethics and Rules of Order for all Town Boards and Committees, and move on from this unfortunate incident.
QUESTION: There are concerns (here and here) that the town is not paying its employees adequately. Do you think this is the case? If so, what (if anything) do you think should be done about it?
FRIEND-GRAY
There is significant evidence between area studies and the lack of current retention that shows the town does not pay well in comparison to neighboring communities. Going forward, the budget committee should keep retention and employee satisfaction at the forefront of their thoughts so that the town can continue to function.
FYFE
I am concerned about fair wages and working conditions for our Town Employees. Comparing our wages and salaries to demographically similar towns around us, Nottingham consistently comes in at the lowest end of the scale. This has already affected attracting and retaining employees, costing us money when we lose trained, professional personnel to better paying towns. We need to take a serious look at incrementally increasing wages, as well as consolidating services and facilities, creating safe and efficient work environments that will keep employees.
QUESTION: Warrant article #18, which would fund $40k for building maintenance, is controversial. All of the selectmen are in favor of it while no one on the budget committee is in favor of it. What is your stand on this article?
FRIEND-GRAY
The issue and concern with Article #18 came from the wording and the potential restrictive nature of who could be hired to perform the work. This warrant article was updated at the deliberative session and with its current configuration would get a different, more supportive vote from the budget committee.
FYFE
As a member of Nottingham’s Facilities Assessment Committee, I’ve been able to see what the lack of a maintenance plan for town buildings is truly costing us. The expensive “band aid” approach we are now applying to our deteriorating infrastructure is not a fiscally sound approach. I support Warrant Article #18 to fund a year’s maintenance contract, to help prevent further unnecessary damage or deterioration to our facilities. During this time, I would hope to see a more permanent, sustainable plan developed which would efficiently and cost effectively maintain our Town’s buildings and protect taxpayer investment in our community. If Article #18 had been clarified and re-worded to its final form before the Town Deliberative Session, I believe the majority of the Budget Committee would have supported it too.
