Kevin Manley

Ballot Position #10

ELCAT Intro Video

1) What is the role of a council member?

Council members’ Provide  community leadership and serve as a voice for the constituency. statutory duties are to be performed, almost without exception, by the council as a whole. For example, the council, not individual members, must supervise administrative officers, formulate policies, and exercise town powers. Council members should devote their official time to problems of basic policy and act as liaisons between the town and the general public. Council members should be concerned, not only with the conduct of daily affairs, but also with the future development of the town. The most important single responsibility of a council member is participation at council meetings. Each council member has full authority to make and second motions, participate in discussions, and vote on every matter before the council. In our charter the Chairman or any three members of the council may call a special meeting. Care should be exercised to give proper notice, however. As individuals, council members have no administrative authority. They cannot give orders or otherwise supervise city employees unless specifically directed to do so by the council. The council has complete authority over all administrative affairs in the town this authority is generally restricted to conducting investigations and establishing policies to be performed by the manager. The council members will appoint a town manager and conduct an annual review of his/her performance annually. The major areas of council authority and responsibility are: Appointment of a town manager, Judging the qualification and election of its own members, Setting and interpreting rules governing its own proceedings, Exercising all the powers of the town that the law does not delegate to others, Legislating for the town,  Directing the enforcement of town ordinances and by-laws, Appointing administrative personnel, commissions and boards, transacting town business, Managing the town's  financial operations / approving the budget submitted by the town manager, Appointing members of the boards, Conducting the town’s intergovernmental affairs, Protecting the welfare of the city and its inhabitants.

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

I am in favor of maintaining the current level tax rate utilized by the town. We currently have a level tax rate. This means that all property owners are taxed at the assessed value weather the property is commercial property or residential property. The “split” in split rate comes from the idea of separating residential properties from commercial and industrial properties with a view toward handling the latter differently while preserving the current assessment practices for residential properties. The split in the tax rate focuses on insulating both homeowners and renters from the effects of splitting the roll. The direct effect is the explicit change in revenues caused by the policy choice this results in lower net revenues for businesses.  As a result, these businesses have less income and, on the margin, and hire fewer workers. Once a business is paying more in taxes, it has fewer resources to spend on purchasing goods and labor to produce its products and it consequently buys fewer inputs to its trade and hires fewer employees. The businesses in turn purchase less from their vendors who hire fewer employees. The indirect effect of a split tax rate is, as employees earn less, or as fewer are employed, they purchase fewer goods and services for their personal use—resulting in yet another round of decreases in overall economic activity. Larger business generally will have more capital and resources to absorb the impact of the increased tax payments they would encounter under the split roll. Small firms, however, have less capital and are less capable of absorbing the impacts of the tax increases anticipated under the split roll. Thus they are more vulnerable to failure as a result of the tax increase associated with the split roll. East Longmeadow currently has roughly 20% commercial property, several of the property owners are also residents of the town, and there are several small business that would be negatively impacted by a split rate taxation system. This system also places additional burdens on the assessor’s office as any business run out of a residence would qualify for a portion of the real estate to be taxed at a higher rate. This would place additional strains on the business owners providing services to residents of the town.

3) What are the most pressing priorities for the first Town Council? 

The most pressing issue is to hire a qualified and credentialed Town Manager. Since being elected in April I have been in contact with the Massachusetts Municipal Administration, a non-profit agency that offers assistance and guidance to municipalities in several areas. I have researched the process by which Town Managers are selected, including criteria and qualifications. The process to hire a Town Manager is extensive and lengthy. The process from start to finish normally takes four to six months.  We need to work aggressively to hire and retain a Town Manager that is not only qualified but also a good fit for the community. We need to act responsibly and hire a qualified properly vetted candidate to fill the void of the town administrator who will have the interest of the community at hand while assisting in the recruitment and hiring process of a full time Town Manager. That is why I have researched potential candidates that have the qualifications and education that are required while also committing to serving on an interim basis with no intention of seeking the full time position. There are several candidates that have been vetted by the MMA and can assist in this transition. Additionally, we need to work proactively to recruit and hire a director of Human Resources. This individual will have the responsibility of working to streamline and formalize all functions of the Human Resources department across all factions of the town departments, boards and governance.

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

Education:  Bachelor's Degree in Public Administration or Business Administration or related field, Master’s Degree Preferred.

Experience:  Eight to ten years' experience in municipal environment, five of which must have been at the senior management level.  Experience overseeing large programs including operations and capital budgeting is required. An effective, service-oriented manager who respects employees, holds the organization accountable, leads necessary staff development and cultivates high morale.  The town manager should be a manager who seeks to delegate and empower his/her staff; appreciates the strengths of a talented and devoted management team.

Team builder and mentor; committed to developing town staff to their fullest potential, who is a proven Relationship-builder; proactive in establishing constructive and collaborative relationships within the town, organization.

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

I fully understand that to be accessible to the citizens of East Longmeadow the position of Town Council member is a 24 hour a day responsibility. The council will be tasked with implementing a new form of government which will require a significant amount of time. I feel that at a minimum the council members will be required to put in 20 hours a week. This will obviously vary depending on the issues and circumstances that arise during the implementation of the new form of governance. Members of the council should be available to all members of the community and ensure that they are willing to communicate with members of the community at all times. The Council Members should be aware that the position may impact their personal lives, as they may be called upon by the constituency to address concerns as they arise for the citizens.

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

Government” refers to the system and the institution of governing and managing a certain society or country while “business” is the systemic organization of providing industries, services, products, and profits to people. Governments have a wider jurisdiction compared to businesses. Governments also have numerous agencies that cater to public services. The institution provides a sense of equality as well as of national identity. On the other hand, businesses provide people with opportunities to earn and make money with their skills and talents. All businesses are under the government’s control. The government provides the business an opportunity and legality to earn profits in return for taxes. Government laws regarding trade, operations, and transactions are implemented and incorporated in many business laws. A certain corporation or business must adhere to the existing government rules and standards aside from their own business practices and concerns. A government’s head or leader is decided depending on the nature or form of government. The business head is traditionally the owner or the entrepreneur unless another body dismisses the owner for various reasons. A business gains profits by selling goods and services and making use of a market as its intended receivers (of goods and services). On the other hand, a government also earns profits from implemented taxes from eligible workers, businesses, and other various entities. Governments can also earn profits by imposing a transaction fee for a particular service in the various government agencies and offices. A government can also own businesses or corporations to increase its assets. When it is stated that government should run more like a business normally people are referring to perceived waste or inefficiency. At times this perception is accurate and government operates at woefully inefficient levels. This cannot happen in a business as the bottom line is profitability. We can learn from business models how to streamline and improve processes to better serve the community as a whole. We need to keep in mind that the tax payers are the stakeholders in government. We should always remember that we are entrusted to manage tax dollars responsibly.

7) What is your vision for the Town of East Longmeadow in 10 Years?

I envision  4 strategic goals to ensure a sound future for the town of East Longmeadow, these are as follows: 1 - Develop and implement fiscal sustainability policies to support core services that pro-actively ensure the health, safety and welfare of our citizens; attract, develop, and retain a high performing municipal workforce; and fund internal infrastructure needs. 2 - Through collaboration and partnership with town enterprises, other public entities, and private entities, support economic development efforts that attract, retain and create quality jobs to ensure a diverse economic base, a resilient and growing tax base, and thriving neighborhoods. 3 - Maximize resources that provide quality of life services and programs, including adherence to the aforementioned town services, Sustainable Growth and Economic Vitality Goals; enhancing conveniences of or our citizens; preserving environmental resources including our natural landscape; and providing the art, cultural and recreational amenities befitting the size and geographic location of East Longmeadow. 4 - Fully realize the talents and positive contributions of non-profits, private and public entities, civic leaders, political leaders, and engaged citizens to develop a shared sense of community and help achieve Council’s vision. Over the next ten years I would like to see a 24 hour fire department, the establishment of a regional emergency dispatch center, and an updated high school that is competitive with other communities.

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? 

When establishing CIP priorities the we should use the following project prioritization and selection process as part of the update to the town's CIP Plan.

1. Each CIP major program area (MPA) establishes criteria to be used in the prioritization of specific projects submitted for funding. These specific criteria are developed in conjunction with Town Council priorities and input from citizens and associated town boards and commissions (if applicable). 

2. The appropriations committee has revenue projections available to determine the amount of resources available for new projects for each new plan. 

3. The Town Manager and representatives from the Town's departments evaluate the various CIP projects. 

4. Within the available funding, the highest priority projects are then selected and funded in the CIP. 

5. CIP program area managers recommend an expenditure plan to the Town Manager, which includes all capital costs and any applicable maintenance and operations (m&o) and/or required short-term financing costs. Program area managers are responsible for the cost estimates of their proposed programs, including future m&o costs related to the implementation of completed projects. 

6. A Preliminary CIP Plan is recommended to the Town Council by the Town Manager along with the operating budget recommendations. 

7. The Town Council reviews the Operating and Preliminary CIP Plan, holds public hearings to allow for citizen input, makes desired alterations, and then officially adopts the budget and establishes

related appropriations as a part of the town's budget process.

9) What are the 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?

 The pros of being on the town council with individuals that have no prior government experience: 1. These individuals bring a fresh set of ideas and experience to the table. 2. There are no personal conflicts with existing staff or department heads. 3. They are open to learn the processes and will be willing to accept the changes for the betterment of the town. The cons are: 1. They have limited knowledge of the requirements of the position. 2. They may have an idea what the new form of government entails however these ideas may be far from the intended form of government. 3. The process of educating individuals about the processes while attempting to implement change can prove to be difficult, implementing a new form of government presents its own unique challenges and will be time consuming. Teaching new members with no experience while attempting to implement a new form of government could take away from the effective implementation process which could be a serious issue.  

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

Since being elected as a Selectman I have made every effort to ensure the voice of the community is heard. I have made myself available through various forms of social media, email, and telephone and in person. I will continue to provide these effective forms of communication with the community. Additionally, we should remember that the charter allows for a forum at meetings for public input and discussion. This is an effective way to gauge the needs and desires of the community. The council is a representative form of government, as council members we are beholden to the voters of the community to ensure that they are represented in a fair and impartial manner, this especially important while implementing a new form of government that voters are not familiar with. As council members we should understand that in the initial implementation there will be numerous questions and the community will expect that we provide the answers and leadership needed during the transition. This process will not occur without issues arising that need to be addressed immediately. We should understand that we are going to have to sacrifice our time and energy to address these issues head on and earn the trust of the community. Earning the trust of the community and restoring their faith in the system of government is paramount this will not happen without effective communication and availability.