Joe Ford

Ballot Position #23

ELCAT Intro Video

1.     What is the role of a council member? 

Answer: The role of a council member is to act as the legislative body for the Town; a function previously performed by the Town Meeting. The Council’s further obligation is the hire the Town Manager and to establish town polices. As a member of the Council I intend to dedicate most of my efforts on finding the right Town manager for our Town and then my focus will shift to other pressing matters.

2.     Are you in favor of a split or single tax rate? Why? 

Answer: I am not in favor of a split tax because I believe a single tax is the primary reason our industrial park has been so successful and attractive to new businesses. The success of the industrial park has brought increased value to that land which in turn has generated more tax revenue than a split tax ever could have. For this reason I am not in favor of a split-tax.

3.     What are the most pressing priorities for the first town council? 

ANSWER: The most pressing priority for the first town council is the selection of a qualified Town Manager. If the last few months of dysfunctional government has taught us anything, it’s that we need professional people running the day-to-day operations of our local government. Finding a Town Manager who fits that bill is critical to the success of the new charter and our Town.  I also believe the council must ensure a smooth transition from our previous form of government to the current one. Many departments who were previously overseen by various elected boards are now going to report to the Council and the Town Manager so that will be a challenge to make that work. Of course I look forward to meeting these challenges as a council member.

4.     What are your top three criteria to look for in a town manager search? 

ANSWER: I would expect a strong candidate to have 6+ years of experience as a town manager. I would want a town manager that has proven ability to execute the core responsibilities of this role, which means they are organized and confident in their ability to make decisions. They would need to show a strong ability to work with department heads, various boards, and unions to accomplish the town goals. Lastly and perhaps most importantly, the Town Manager must be able to listen to the concerns of the townspeople and to be flexible in meeting the public’s desires and concerns.

5.     What do you expect the weekly time commitment is going to be for a council member? 

ANSWER: I expect my time commitment as a council member to vary based on the topic for each meeting. I fully expect to average between 4-6 hours per week talking to residents, researching, preparing and attending meetings.

6.     People often make the suggestion that the Town should be run more like a business. What are some significant distinctions between a business and a municipality?

ANSWER: A town is a business. On a macro level, a town has income and expenses; it has employees that are governed by state and federal laws as well as a CBA for the various union members; towns have an infrastructure. Towns have to have short and long term plans. These are basic aspects of a business and they transcend all industries. Businesses invest in their infrastructure to make improvements and gain a competitive edge (or in the Town’s case- better efficiencies) and I believe a municipality can do the same. We can invest in our schools, police, fire, DPW, library, Recreation Department, and other core services to continue to build on our brand. That is what will continue to attract businesses and residents to East Longmeadow.

 7.     What is your vision for the Town of East Longmeadow in 10 years? 

ANSWER: I fully expect East Longmeadow to become one of the top ten places to live in the state. We will do that by continuing and building upon our commitment to our elderly, our children and our local business owners. We are a diverse community and one of the primary reasons for this is that we invest in our schools, we invest in our infrastructure and we take care of our elders. These commitments attract people who are seeking a better quality of life. By continuing our commitment in these three primary areas I have no doubt we will become one of the most desirable places to live in the state.  

8.     The FY 17 capital needs of the Town total over $30,000,000 with just over $1,000,000 in funding from the available budget. This is not inclusive of a new high school. How do you plan, as a councilor, to prioritize maintaining the Town's infrastructure over the next 20 years? 

ANSWER: The list of Capital projects must be prioritized by whether the project will enhance the value of our property and make living in our Town a more attractive experience. That means we need to invest in our schools by making them compatible with the realities of the 21^st century. At some point we will need to upgrade the Schools to better prepare our youth for the computer age and the changing work force they will need to compete in. We also need to continue to install sidewalks to promote safety and elevate the quality of life in our neighborhoods. I believe we can improve the quality of our ball fields and open spacing however; I would not support the purchase of private property that cannot be used for any public use other than open space.

9.     What are pros and cons of being on a town council with members who have no prior government experience, yet have to implement a new form of government? 

ANSWER: The pros of being a new town council member is you have no preconceived notions, no alliances, no baggage. I am coming to the table with energy and passion to help our town. However, I am not so naïve to think that government experience is not critical to our success. The downside is that there is a very strong possibility that most of the new council members will have no experience, which means we will all be on the same learning curve. That is why it is critical that we work as a team to accomplish a common goal.

10.  As a member the legislative body of the town, how will you ensure that your voice represents the will of the voters? 

ANSWER: As a member of the Town Council, it will be important to maintain a connection with the residents to understand their thoughts and ideas on our community. I will make myself available to residents that want to voice their opinions. I think it would be helpful to attend a luncheon or event at the senior center each month and make myself available via social media.