Westport in Brief!
EverythingWestport.com
Friday, March 17, 2017
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Weinberg announces candidacy for Health Board.
Former selectman and contractor Brian Valcourt announces
his candidacy for Selectman.
Richard
Spirlet announces his candidacy for Westport Selectman.
Letter to the Editor: Residents seek
individuals who are honest, sincere, and compassionate.
Maurice
(Maury) E. May announces his candidacy for the 3-year Board of Health slot.
Weinberg announces candidacy for Health Board. EverythingWestport.com Friday, March 17, 2017 Phil Weinberg, an experienced
environmental manager, announces his candidacy for the vacant one-year seat
on the Westport Board of Health, vowing to bring knowledge, experience and
professionalism to the important role of safeguarding the town’s public health
and environment. Weinberg
serves on the Westport Conservation Commission and the Water Resource
Management Committee. He also spent nearly 30 years in senior management and
legal positions at the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection
before retiring in 2015. The
Board of Health is the primary authority responsible for safeguarding
Westport’s public health and environment in a number of key areas, including
water quality protection, disease prevention, food safety, animal welfare,
solid waste management and nuisance response. The board issues permits,
conducts compliance inspections and enforcement, operates the transfer
station and provides a range of medical services. “The
scope and importance of the Board’s work requires that it accomplish its
current priorities effectively while educating itself and the community about
challenges to come,” Weinberg says. “I have the experience of working
collaboratively to tackle the issues the board will face.” Weinberg is a graduate of Boston University Law School and spent 15
years in private practice before the state and federal courts before joining MassDEP. Former selectman and
contractor Brian Valcourt announces his candidacy for Selectman. EverythingWestport.com Friday, March 24, 2017 My name is
Brian Valcourt, and I am running for a seat on the Westport Board of
Selectmen. Many of you may know me from my previous BOS
tenure (2008-2011), and others from growing up in town with me. Others,
still, may have never met me, so allow me to introduce myself. I am a
self-employed general contractor and have been in business since 2000. I am a
graduate of WHS and UMD. My wife, Shelley, and I have raised our two
boys here, with our younger son still in WHS.
I began to get involved in town government in 2005 when I learned that
a too large, too densely populated 40-B development was being proposed in
town. I began to work with the Housing
Partnership Committee to develop more appropriate affordable housing options
for Westport. As a
Selectman I always strived to give everyone a voice at our meetings, and to
appoint people with various backgrounds and perspectives to our
mostly-volunteer town boards and committees. Different viewpoints are key to
a properly functioning democratic government, and vital to arriving at
solutions where a majority of townspeople can accept the outcome and move
forward together. During my
term on the BOS, we accomplished much that I remain proud of. Going forward I
will continue to advocate for good policy: Move
forward to develop housing options in order to stem the tide of
state-mandated 40-B developments, and help our young families and retired
folks be able to remain here in town. Develop
alternative revenue streams, such as solar and wind energy projects. Protect
open space, the river and historical landmarks through partnerships with the
Watershed Alliance, Trustees of Reservations, Land Conservation Trust,
Community Preservation Committee, Agriculture and Open Space Council and
others in order to preserve the rural nature of our town. Form a
budget sub-committee to address the needs of the town offices, schools,
police, and fire departments to better streamline the budgeting process, make
it more transparent and better serve the expressed needs of the community. Recognize
the critical role of volunteers and assure an unbiased approach to the
appointments process. Many of
these initiatives are now bearing fruit.
As I see it, our overarching need, as a town, is to pull together to
figure out how best to protect Westport’s rural character and natural beauty
while encouraging well-considered, community-appropriate housing and
commercial development. We also must
attend to our public infrastructure and services, especially our community
schools. On April
11, we have the opportunity to elect two Selectmen. Steve Ouellette and I are campaigning
together and, with your support to us both, we anticipate that the Board of
Selectmen will work constructively, creatively, and collaboratively with
residents on the difficult issues and promising opportunities facing our
Town. Please Vote
Brian Valcourt for BOS! 219 H Tickle Rd,
Westport, MA reelectBrianValcourt@gmail.com 774-201-9734 FB: Reelect
Brian Valcourt Former
Chair, Board of Selectmen and former Chair, Finance Committee gives nod to
Richard Spirlet for Westport Selectman. EverythingWestport.com Tuesday, March 28, 2017 Richard Spirlet has the experience and knowledge that will be needed to
ensure the economic, social, and financial stability for our town. He respects special interests but his decisions as former Selectmen
were always made in the best interest of the town. Unlike other candidates running for Selectmen, he is not influenced or
financially supported by any special interest group. He is a veteran and retired policemen. He is also a grandfather and
college professor. Both he and his wife Lois are active town supporters and
participate in community related activities. He is not running for the job of Selectmen for some political agenda or
career, but he is willing to serve for the good of all town residents. His
experience and abilities are proven. His political ambition was and is to
serve our town. I am a former Chair of the Westport Board of Selectmen and former Chair
of the Westport Finance Committee. With that perspective, I believe Westport
residents are fortunate that he is willing to serve. My wife and I will gladly support Mr. Richard Spirlet for the Board of
Selectmen. We believe he is a voice for all residents. I ask you cast a vote on Tuesday, April 11th for him as well. Please
vote! Antone
Vieira 8 Kelly Ave. Westport, MA Brian Valcourt and Steve Ouellette are candidates for the Westport
Board of Selectmen. EverythingWestport.com Monday,
April 10, 2017 Brian Valcourt and
Steve Ouellette are candidates for the Westport Board of Selectmen. Both have served us well in the past and we are fortunate that they are
willing to devote their time and energy to the town. They are knowledgeable, hardworking people
who have shown good judgment in their approach to the important issues in
town. More... They understand the importance of economic development tempered by the
goal of keeping Westport rural and with a clean healthy river. They are open-minded and look for solutions
that serve all the people of Westport. We urge the voters of Westport to vote for Brian Valcourt and Steve
Ouellette. Betty Slade and David Cole Westport Point, MA Richard Spirlet
announces his candidacy for Westport Selectman. The former three-term Selectman cites his work experience and
community involvement, and keeping Westport affordable. EverythngWestport.com Monday, April 10, 2017 It has
been my privilege and pleasure to serve our community on the Board of
Selectmen for three terms (2010 through 2016) and I am excited to announce my
candidacy for Selectman of Westport. “I
believe I have made considerable contributions to the Town of Westport and
the board during my previous three terms as your Selectman. I have served on
the Conservation Commission, and the Community Preservation Committee and I
believe I can continue to make a positive difference.” Richard
Spirlet As
your Selectman, I will continue my promise to utilize my abilities to develop
and nurture alliances to honor and acknowledge the many concerns our resident
have about issues and challenges which we encounter. I am available and
approachable and I will always make time to listen to the citizens of
Westport, as I represent their collective voices to move forward the desired
initiatives which will always have Westport’s best interest at heart. I
remain vigilant to maintain an open and transparent government, with
accountability for all actions. I support strategic planning with long-term
vision, which inspires and motivates members of our community. I strive to
establish benchmarks and timelines to accomplish goals in an acceptable and
reasonable manner. Westport residents need and want innovative leadership,
with experience and stability to ensure fiscal responsibility and knowledge
in town government. Westport has special character, natural beauty, and a
rich heritage that I will continue to protect, preserve, and maintain through
local controls. We
live in Westport for many reasons, but we all know that quality of life is
why we stay. Keeping Westport affordable depends upon a strong commercial tax
base. If elected, I will focus on growing Westport’s economy with commercial
expansion and potential rezoning could bring a much needed revitalization to
Route 6 and grow Westport’s commercial tax base, which would essentially
reduce the burden on the residential taxpayer as well as potentially bring
jobs for Westport residents. I have
lived in Westport with my wife Lois, for over 29 years and have raised three
children. I have been involved with a multitude of organizations, groups and
agencies that have provided me the knowledge and ability to work well with
people and get things done. I am a retired Police Captain with 36 years of
service, as well as a retired Veteran from the US Coast Guard Reserves, where
I served as a Special Agent for Coast Guard Intelligence.
If you
believe that commitment, communication, and collaboration, coupled with
experience, knowledge, and proven leadership is what you want in your
Selectman; then I would be honored to have your support and your vote on
April 11th. I would like
to continue to work on your behalf for Westport. Thank you for your continued
support. Sincerely, Richard
Spirlet Letter to the Editor:
Residents seek individuals who are honest, sincere, and compassionate. The diversity of a five member
board is essential to making certain that all voters and residents of
Westport are represented on all the important issues that come before them. EverythingWestport.com Sunday,
March 20, 2016 Westport
Selectman, Richard Spirlet is exemplary in diplomacy, equality, checks and
balances, and integrity across the board. Richard is genuinely
interested in the citizens of Westport and he engages voters. He is a
listener, a great mediator and friend to all. Richard
funds his own campaign, which in a small town is so important to keep
conflicts of interest at bay. There are those who think that elected
officials who do personal favors, is a reason to vote for that official. That
kind of voting doesn’t serve anyone well in the long term, and certainly doesn’t
serve the best interest of the town and the future of Westport. You should
not want an individual in office who is obligated to return favors and does
not vote for what is best for the town. The
diversity of a five member board is essential to making certain that ALL
voters and residents of Westport are represented on all the important issues
that come before them. There are important changes on the horizon for
varying complexities and challenges within our town. The only way to
address all the viewpoints of a topic is to have diversity in perspectives
during discussions to assure our elected officials are informed before they
vote on the future of Westport.
Citizens seek to elect their officials to guide the future of their
town with people who are experienced, knowledgeable and informed. We seek individuals who are honest,
sincere, and compassionate. We seek
individuals who have strong moral character, self-reliance, are fair-minded
and reasonable. Richard
Spirlet brings his vast experience to every personal and formal
meeting. For the past six years, Westport has witnessed his honest and
fair and balanced approach to resolving problems. We all have had front row
seats watching how passionate he is to do what is best for our town. We know
this man. He has knocked on our doors
and solicited voter’s perspectives on issues affecting our town. He cares about Westport and the people who
live here. This is the man who works to do what is right for the people of
Westport. This is the man who will continue
to do the right thing, if we allow him to be able to so. It is
essential that we all step forward and participate in the future of our town,
by voting for Richard “Dick” Spirlet on April 12th. Vote for fairness and representation for
all. Get involved and Vote Spirlet. Kristie
Furrow and Samuel Riley Residents
and Voters of Westport Maury May announces his candidacy for the 3-year Board
of Health slot. EverythingWestport.com Monday,
April 10, 2017 Hello
Westport Voters, Our
Town Election is fast approaching – April 11th – and I am running for
the three-year term on the Board of Health for the seat being vacated by Karl Santos who is
not running for re-election. I look forward to working with Phil
Weinberg who is running for the one-year term. Until
about a week ago I was running a low-key campaign as the only candidate on
the ballot. However, I now have a challenger - a write-in
candidate who comes from the animal rights groups that were formed last
summer in response to the deplorable conditions found on the Medeiros tenant
farm. Cruelty to animals is appalling, that situation should
never have happened, and the Board of Health obviously did nothing to prevent
it. As I look ahead, however, I see a new team running the Board
of Health, one that will work hard to regain the trust of Westporters. If
elected, I will ask to visit the tenant farm in question to get a better
sense of what actually happened there. I will review the file of
barn-inspection reports to find out how it happened in the first place and
where it might happen again. I will also work to eliminate
jurisdictional confusion by bringing the Animal Control Officer and her
Animal Inspectors back to the Board of Health so they can more effectively
enforce our animal regulations. However,
my desire to be on the Board of Health is about much more than
animals. It is about many issues that I believe are important,
including:
My
Westport experience includes twelve years on the Economic Development Task
Force (now Vice Chair), five years on the Water Resources Management
Committee (now Chair), six years on the old Water & Sewer Committee, and
eight years on the board of the Westport River Watershed Alliance (including
two as Treasurer). I have
done the research to learn how I can be an effective member of the Board of
Health. I strongly believe in a combination of continuity
and change. I want to continue the good traditions of Westport,
while improving on those procedures that no longer serve us well. Maurice
E. May Board
of Health Candidate © 2017 Community Events of
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