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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.

 

Former Chair, Board of Selectmen and former Chair, Finance Committee gives nod to Richard Spirlet for Westport Selectman.

 

Letter to the Editor: Brian Valcourt and Steve Ouellette are candidates for the Westport Board of Selectmen.  

 

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

 

 

 

Letter to the Editor:

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

 

 

 

Letter to the Editor:

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 RMS pick with gavelexcited 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

www.ElectSpirlet.com

rspirlet3868@gmail.com

 

 

 

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:

 

  • Office procedures - to make Board of Health regulations more accessible to our citizens;
  • Farmers market fees – they need to be rationalized to help our food vendors;
  • Septic systems – we need to require denitrifying systems in certain areas of Town to improve the health of the Westport River;
  • Town Nurse – we need to discuss how she can best serve our Senior Citizens;
  • Community Septic Program – we need to lower the interest rate charged on loans to those who need to upgrade their systems;
  • Transfer Station – we need to find the most efficient way to provide trash and recycling services for our citizens.

 

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

508.636.9934

 

 

 

 

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