![]() Industrial Road, for example, Young noted, recently got a makeover. She also suggested partnering with public entities and private companies, coupled with other revenue-enhancing measures, such as “special” property (tax) assessments targeting areas in need of road repairs where businesses that would benefit from the work are located. Maritza Knight cited her expertise at grant writing and suggested that going after government grants was one way to help fund road projects. “This administration spent $10 million on capital needs…” DiNatale said, including DPW projects and “street engineering.” The efforts will continue, he said, but he acknowledged “it’s not enough.” He’d also push harder for state and federal funding, citing what he said was a promise from the governor to set aside $200 million for municipal road repair and improvement projects throughout the state.ĭiNatale said Young’s response “baffles” him and that the potential revenue sources he’d cited would not come close to paying for needed roadwork in the city.ĭefending his administration’s efforts to tackle the problem, he said they’ve been hampered in part by the fact that annual state transportation funding, called Chapter 90, has been at $1.1 million for 12 years and hasn’t increased, despite state Legislators’ repeated requests. He also suggested tapping into what he called the Police Department’s “$58,000 slush fund,” which he said comes mainly from towing charges. If it’s a matter of money, Young said he’d forfeit “my $35,000 raise,” to help fund road projects. People want to know what the plan is to fix the city’s roads and neighborhood streets, how much repairs would cost and where the money would come from. The debate also featured opening and closing statements from each candidate. While views differed, and the incumbent dodged some pointed criticisms, candidates on a whole were polite and followed the rules, not needing any inventions from the moderator. ![]() Over the course of the program – approximately one and a half hours – the moderator parceled out questions from residents and asked general questions based on citizen input, zeroing in on major concerns such as roads and infrastructure, housing costs, commercial development and, of course, taxes, among many others.Įach candidate was given equal time to answer the questions posed to them and had the option to respond to one another. Finalists will face off in a debate next month, prior to the Nov. 26 preliminary election – reportedly the first since 2015 - that will narrow the field of candidates to two, the three challengers vying for the mayor’s seat are City Councilor-at-Large Samantha Squailia, Fitchburg School Committee member Maritza Knight and Stanley Young, a retired city police officer. ![]() FITCHBURG - Seeking a fifth term in office, Mayor Steven DiNatale was one of four mayoral candidates who took the stage in a recent televised debate presented by FLAP TV, with the assistance of FATV, the city’s local access channel, and moderated by FLAP TV host Kevin Cormier. ![]()
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