To the Editor,
Thank you for covering the Warren Select Board candidate forum. The forum lasted over an hour, and there was obviously not enough space for the Valley Reporter to include everything. That leads to some of the quotes being out of context, and some discussions being omitted.
One Zoom participant asked the board if they felt overworked, and needed two more members. The response was “No.” Asked why they were interviewing, the response was “because the statute requires the vacancies be filled “forthwith.”
I am quoted as saying that people in Warren “seem to have enough,” which contrasts with the question on income disparity. My observation is that the “haves” in Warren have enough to be generous in taking care of the “have-nots.” I would not contradict John (12:8), who reports his boss said “The poor you will always have with you.” Warren does a much better job than most towns in taking care of them.
My statement that “crime is low” was in response to a questioner who asked about reducing the rapidly rising crime rate. Neither the question nor the responses of the other candidates were reported.
As a Town Meeting member in Massachusetts, I dealt with affordable housing. Massachusetts requires 10% of each town’s housing units be affordable. Developers may need to provide more than 10% to obtain permits if the town is deficient. Developers were also required to compensate the town for the increased school enrollment. Warren could probably adopt similar rules.
In Lexington, there were problematic intersections in town, and there was a push for “complete streets,” which accommodate pedestrians and cyclists. I helped collect historical traffic and accident data which informed the discussion of options for improvement. Options included signage, traffic lights, roundabouts, and one way routing. My experience there might be helpful in communicating with both VTrans and townspeople regarding the section of Route 100 near the northern entrance to town and Vaughn Brown Rd.
Regardless of the board’s decisions, I plan to be a Warren resident for the rest of my life. I want the town to be the best it can be.
Michael McGuirk
