2023 Fitchburg Mayoral election

Roads, downtown and teachers dominate mayors debate

November 2, 2023 by pkzadmin

FITCHBURG — Mayor Stephen L. DiNatale, the incumbent candidate, squared off with challenger and City Councilor-A-Large Samantha Squailia during the final debate before the polls open on Tuesday.

The Oct. 26 debate, hosted by Fitchburg Access Television (FATV), covered a number of topics that have been concerning candidates and residents of Fitchburg alike for the last several years. All 2023 Fitchburg municipal election debates and election videos can be found at www.fatv.org/debates.

“When I began working in public office three decades ago residents had three concerns; roads, Unitil, and taxes – particularly roads,” said DiNatale. “ I understand the frustration with the roads. I ride them every day. It’s our priority to get them in better shape.”

Although the debate covered a number of topics, like transparency and accessibility concerning the mayor’s administration, the revitalization of Fitchburg’s downtown, and retaining staff within public schools, the topic that dominated the majority of the debate was the condition of Fitchburg’s roads and the effectiveness of the Department of Public Works (DPW).

Condition of roads

DiNatale kicked off the debate by asking Squailia what her funding plan is to have the roads paved. DiNatale believes that the real story in Fitchburg is about how his administration has moved forward through economic development, “which has been unequaled in recent memory, with over 60 new businesses open.”

Squailia rebutted by noting the time in office DiNatale has spent and how she believes there has been nothing to show for it.

“I don’t know if it’s about a plan or if it’s about funding with the current administration, but [DiNatale] has been mayor for eight years, state representative for ten years before that, and city councilor before that,” she said. “If he hasn’t come up with a creative idea in 21 years to fix the roads, and the advocating for Chapter 90 funding increases has not been met with success, and it’s not about a plan, I’d like to know what the plan for the roads will be from the current administration, if reelected.”

DiNatale noted that the main factor that is causing the streets to be in poor condition is funding, quoting the opinion of former DPW Commissioner Lenny Laxo.

“While our new street scan system will result in a more efficient method for selecting public streets for paving, please keep in mind that we are so far behind with no hope of getting funds cashed up. It is futile to argue whether one street deserves to get paved more than the next one,” DiNatale said, continuing to quote Laxo. “While everyone likes to complain about the condition of the streets, nobody wants to pay for it. The reality is that, unless and until the funding problem is solved, our streets will only get worse.”

On the other hand, Squailia is convinced that the problem lies not only in funding but how the funding is used once received.

“I think, actually, it is a priority problem. I think the mayor’s administration is hamstringing the DPW, as they do with other departments, and not allowing them to focus on the little things,” said Squailia.

In an interview after the debate, Squailia said that she believes the DPW to be one of the historically least funded within the mayor’s administration budget. She believes that the DPW does an amazing job with the resources that they have but, in her experience, they have priority projects that the public is not allowed to know until they are complete at the mayor’s discretion.

DiNatale believes that Squailia fails to see the numerous other responsibilities that the DPW encounters in a city like Fitchburg, something that he explained in an interview after the debate.

“We probably have more DPW people than surrounding cities and towns, but we have more needs as well. What the councilor was alleging was that the DPW is not filling potholes [or cutting brush] at a rate that she finds to be acceptable,” said DiNatale. “There’s a host of functions that they deal with. It’s not just potholes and brush. If that’s all they had to do, there wouldn’t be an overabundance of potholes and brush.”

Revitalization of downtown vs. repaving of the roads

Throughout DiNatale’s administration, the revitalization of downtown has been something that the mayor has kept at the forefront of Fitchburg’s duties, something that Squailia views as a problem.

“Economic development is great. We absolutely need economic development, but the problem is that we don’t fully utilize that revenue to repair the roads. The priority for the residents of Fitchburg, that I speak with, is fixing the roads. And the priority has not been fixing the roads, the priority has been the revitalization of Main Street,” said Squailia.

Squailia believes that the renovation of City Hall impeded on the funding of other projects, to which DiNatale rebutted by asking: “What would you propose doing with that building?”

“One thing I would have looked to see is put the project on hold until we could actually afford it,” said Squailia. “What I would say is let’s look at this in a fiscally responsible manner, and let’s look at the holistic approach to all the capital needs that we have in the city, and then let’s determine what the best use forward is.”

DiNatale noted that while his administration focused on moving the city forward, Squailia was focused on voting no on a number of economic developments.

“You’re now running to sit in the office of a City Hall you oppose,” said DiNatale.

According to Squailia, the number one concern of constituents that she has heard over the past six years is to fix the roads. She explains that although the revitalization of Main Street is on the list of priorities, it is not among the top three priorities.

“Investing in the downtown can’t come at the detriment of the number one priority of the city of Fitchburg and see our road infrastructure continue to fail. So really what we need to do is utilize both strategies — all strategies at once — and then really focus on when it comes to the road’s efficiency and how we are spending our money on them,” said Squailia in an interview after the debate.

Retaining staff in Fitchburg public schools

Nearing the end of the debate, Squailia asked DiNatale how he will assure teachers that the mayor’s best interest is with them and the education of students; and if he can speak to why they are having such a hard time retaining staff within Fitchburg’s public schools.

“Retaining staff is a condition that exists everywhere. It’s been difficult for most communities to keep people in their jobs. We’re trying desperately. We’ve done a great job of putting together a plan to hire people that look more like the students that we have,” said DiNatale. “Seventy-eight percent of our student population identifies as non-white. Fifty-eight percent are Hispanic. We’re trying to meet that need, and we’re doing the best we can right now.”

DiNatale mentioned that the Fitchburg Education Association (FEA) commended Interim Superintendent Jonathan Thompson on their “outstanding job.”

“[The FEA is] getting along well with him. There’s a working relationship that’s going to be more effective for the population in the school system,” said DiNatale.

Squailia responded by saying that former School Superintendent Robert Jokela fired three administrators of color and filled those positions with white staff to take their place. DiNatale responded to this in confusion, asking why they are discussing the individual when they are no longer school personnel.

In an interview after the debate, DiNatale also assured that his support for teachers and education includes the support of Fitchburg State University, and that bringing students in from the university into the downtown area is something that he wants to chip away at.

“We have a terrific relationship with Fitchburg State. That relationship is based on a partnership. We nurture that. We want to stress to people that we work in unison. We work together and I think we’re pretty effective at it,” said DiNatale. “What we can do a better job at, and this hopefully will come about when we talk about improving downtown, is trying to bring some of those students more into the downtown area. Make it more appealing to them and something that they will seek out and want to be a part of.”

The 2023 municipal election will take place from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., on November 7.

Fitchburg Mayor Stephen L. DiNatale makes a point during the debate broadcast live on FATV Oct. 26, 2023. (GARY FOURNIER)

Mayoral candidate Sam Squailia gave voters an idea of how she would deal with some of the pressing issues facing Fitchburg. (GARY FOURNIER)

Fitchburg City Councilor-At-Large and mayoral candidate Sam Squailia discusses important campaign issues at the mayoral debate last Thursday. (GARY FOURNIER)

From left, Fitchburg Mayor Stephen L. DiNatale , moderator Kevin Cormier and Fitchburg City Councilor-At-Large Sam Squailia. (GARY FOURNIER)

Squailia, DiNatale win preliminary mayoral

September 27, 2023 by pkzadmin

FITCHBUG — City Councilor-At-Large Samantha Squailia and Mayor Stephen DiNatale topped the four-way preliminary mayoral race and now have six weeks to tell voters why they should be chosen for the top elected position.

“I thought it went really well,” said Fitchburg Town Clerk Joanna Bilotta. “Everything at the polls went very smoothly.”

Squailia brought in the most votes at 53.9% and DiNatale was second, garnering 35% of registered voters, according to unofficial results from Bilotta. By number of votes, DiNatale grabbed a total of 1,532 votes, out of the roughly 4,400 votes cast Tuesday, but Squailia saw the larger draw at 2,361 votes.

The 2023 Fitchburg preliminary mayoral election unofficial results were broadcast on FATV or on FATV’s Government Channel Live Stream on Tuesday evening after the results were tabulated.

Squailia and DiNatale bested the two other candidates on the preliminary mayoral ballot, retired Fitchburg Police Officer Stanley Young, who grabbed 8.3% of votes, and School Committee member Maritza Knight, with 2.2%.

The preliminary election drew 16.8% of registered voters on Tuesday, out of the nearly 26,000 voters in the city. More voters did turnout in 2023 compared to the preliminary mayoral election in 2015, which saw 13.41% of voters; and also included DiNatale in the running with three other candidates.

The midterm elections last year comparatively dwarfed both preliminary mayoral elections with 39% of Fitchburg voters making the trek to their polling location.

The office of City Clerk has not yet released the official results.

Voters to choose two in preliminary mayoral

September 26, 2023 by pkzadmin

FITCHBURG — An unusually busy municipal election season kicks off Tuesday as voters head to the polls to choose the two mayoral candidates, out of four, that will face each other in the general election in November.

Being challenged by other city officials, Mayor Stephen DiNatale must go through the ringer twice this year in order to remain in the city’s top elected position. Currently finishing his fourth term, he faces School Committee member Maritza Knight, City Councilor-At-Large Samantha Squailia, and retired Fitchburg Police Officer Stanley Young.

The four candidates had debated early in the month on Sept. 12, and the final two candidates will face off in a final debate, produced by FATV and FLAP TV, on Oct. 26.

Polling locations for the preliminary mayoral election are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept 26.

There are six polling locations for the preliminary election: Ward 1 – Knights of Columbus Hall on Electric Avenue; Ward 2 – St. Joseph’s Church Hall; Ward 3 – Memorial Middle School; Ward 4 – Senior Citizens Center; Ward 5 – Rollstone Congregational Church; Ward 6 – St. Bernard’s Activity Center.

Mayoral debate: Rent control, Main St., and the future

September 24, 2023 by pkzadmin

FITCHBURG — The four candidates battled each other over key issues during the preliminary mayoral debate held earlier this month and, on Tuesday, two of them will move on to the general election on Nov. 4.

Going for his fifth term, Mayor Stephen DiNatale faces three challengers, City Councilor-At-Large Samantha Squailia, School Committee member Maritza Knight and retired Fitchburg Police Officer Stanley Young.

The two candidates chosen on Tuesday will face off in a final debate on Oct. 26.

The preliminary mayoral debate was produced locally at the downtown Fitchburg Access Television (FATV) studio by both FATV staff and FLAP TV staff and aired live on Sept. 12. It can also be found at FATV.org.

The polls open Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. The following is part 2 of a two-part series covering the debate.

Rent Control

Next, Cormier wanted to hear what the candidates thought about rent control.

“I have concerns…” Squailia said. But it’s a ballot question. “We’ll see what voters say,” she said.

Young, while not all in for the rent control idea, said there needs to be some “moderate” oversight.

Knight said rents should be tracked to see that landlords don’t overcharge tenants, citing the city’s “60%” poverty rate. She also agreed with Young that seniors want – and deserve – to know what can be done about easing the tax burden on retirees. “We need to do more for those people who helped build this city,” she said.

DiNatale said there are abatement options and the elderly can seek relief via the assessors office.

“That’s news to me,” Young said. “Why not just lower the rate [for people over 65, with conditions].” He said it would be “challenging” to do that, but it’s a break that seniors need.

Squailia agreed that taxes are a key concern for many seniors. But. short of a targeted tax cut or an abatement, there are other things the city can do, such as participating in the Senior Tax Work Off Program, as many other cities and towns in Massachusetts do.

Under the program, which the city hasn’t adopted, seniors who qualify can volunteer a set number of hours in a municipal department in return for tax credit.

DiNatale skipped over Squailia’s suggestion but asked Young how his would work.

Young said a registry could be established to determine whether seniors qualify for a tax cut and reduce their bills accordingly.

“How do we make up that lost revenue?” the mayor asked.

“It all comes down to money,” Young agreed, but he has some ideas. He said they should hire temporary summer workers, for example, with no benefits. He said more funds could come from his idea for the city to run its own ambulance services as well as buy specific public works equipment that will save money, both suggestions which were mentioned by Young earlier in the debate.

Knight said she’d look at how other big cities deal with the issue, such as Washington, for example.

Getting back to Main Street

Cormier’s next asked if downtown upgrades were headed in the right direction.

“Yes,” said Squailia, citing the significant investments and the new two-way traffic pattern. Regarding the vacant commercial buildings that still line Main Street and abandoned mill buildings that dot the city, she said the best plan is to redevelop the properties, despite it being an effort that will take multiple decades.

“[It’s] best bang for our buck,” she said.

Still, she favors casting a wider net. “We need to go beyond…into the neighborhoods,” she said.

Young agreed. He’s on a committee that has toured the city more than once and, as a longtime resident, he’s noted the cluster of businesses around city hall that tend to “come and go,” he said. “We have public safety issues all over.”

Boulder Drive has been repaved “a few times” he said, and that’s a good thing, sprucing up a thoroughfare in the city. But there are still traffic problems to be addressed, he said.

DiNatale said his administration has “chipped away” at the city’s vacancy rate, but it’s a challenge that comes with peripheral costs. Replacing water mains to allow new construction, for example, and other expensive must-do items, can deter developers from considering a building rehab project. Some of the city’s CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) funds might help out with that, he said.

Knight said that downtown revitalization is important but not the whole picture.

“We can’t forget the neighborhoods,” she said.

The “run-down” Cleghorn area, for example, needs attention, Knight said. The restorative needs are many and dealt to be dealt with. “It’s not right,” she said. As mayor, she’ll strive to make things better “for all residents,” Knight said.

Fitchburg was once a “booming” city and it could be again, she said.

Harking back to downtown, Knight said parking there is still a problem.

Squailia disagreed. “The parking problem is largely perception,” she said, with two downtown parking garages and plenty of space up and down Main Street.

Young spotlighted the kinds of restaurants on upper Main Street as business ventures that are welcome but too pricey in his view. “Are we looking at less expensive” options? he asked.

DiNatale said it’s all good. “We think fine dining venues are wonderful!” he said.

Squailia pointed out that the city can’t determine which businesses want to locate on Main Street, or regulate how much they charge for goods and services. “But we can advocate…reach out,” she said.

Young said that’s what he meant, bringing in more family-friendly enterprises.

Squailia quickly came up with one. Putnam Street Lanes, which she said may be the “second oldest” candlepin bowling set-up in the country, is “very affordable” for families,” she said.

Better now than 8 years ago?

Candidates had the opportunity in the next question to give straight forward reviews of DiNatale’s performance as mayor and DiNatale took the opportunity to make a crucial point about online criticism. Cormier asked, “Are we better off now that we were eight years ago?”

Young said, “No.” DiNatale got off to a good start when he was first elected, he said, citing road work, razing derelict buildings and other proactive measures. But that changed over time, he said. The streets are not in good shape, government salaries seem to be headed up while other items in the budget are stressed. Streetlights that are out but not repaired, for example, like the one near his home on Arlington Street, which has been unlit for two years, he said, despite many calls to the city.

Other people have similar complaints, he said, aired on social media but ignored at City Hall. “I’d do better,” he said.

DiNatale defended his administration as accessible and transparent. “I’m not running for mayor of Facebook,” DiNatale said following Young’s comments.

“Yes, we’re better off now,” said DiNatale. He said the majority of the city budget is made up of “non-discretionary” expenses and bills must be paid; community development, the city’s buildings, veterans; public safety, public works, trash pickup; and of course schools – the largest piece; all of which must be paid for, DiNatale said. Meanwhile, he said costs like health insurance just keep getting higher.

“Where do you cut?” DiNatale said. And there are so many other things, he said, “we can’t touch.”

Knight’s answer to the moderator’s question was “No.”

“The city is not better off!” she said. She spotlighted the schools, indicating that the city may not get what it pays for. The education system has declined, she said, and things have not run smoothly over the last few years.

The school superintendent left the position and was replaced with a contractor. “Then Covid hit,” said Knight, who is a member of the School Committee.

Runaway salaries – excluding teachers – should be examined, she said, while the “academic achievement gap” has widened. As an educator with a doctoral degree and experience in the field, she said she could help.

“I can assist the superintendent” to close that gap, she said.

Squailia said she likes to believe the answer is, “Yes.” Despite fiscal woes and housing issues, “we’ve seen growth,” she said. “We are better off.” But, still, she said bad decisions and poor planning did occur.

As a whole, she said the city has come a long way and she’s optimistic about its future.

“We are doing well, but we need to keep it up,” Squailia said.

DiNatale objected to Knight’s comments about the schools. While MCAS scores for ELA (English Language Arts) are down, math and science scores have gone up, he said, and the graduation rate was 85.5% in 2022. Fitchburg High School got its accreditation and that’s good news, he said.

“The state doesn’t rank schools,” said DiNatale, addressing a comment from Knight that suggested otherwise.

In response to another comment from Knight, DiNatale said his source of the information he was providing was the Fitchburg School Committee, not “third-party” sources.

Next big thing?

Moving on, the moderator asked them to predict what the future would bring. With the paper mills –once a major employer in the city – long gone, he asked: “What’s the next big thing?

DiNatale said advances in development at the airport and the area around it were high on his list. It is now a landing and take-off site for the Lifeflight helicopter, and there’s an anaerobic digestion system in process. Also, bio-development. The city has“loads of vacant industrial space” available, he said.

Knight said the city is located over an aquifer and might tap into it for profit, by bottling the water. It was proposed, years ago, she said, but was turned down. As mayor, she’d take another look, she said.

“What sector will drive future growth?” is a many-faceted question, in Squailia’s view. “We’re diverse,” she said. Noting that the state is all-in for bio-medical facilities right now, the city can capitalize on that, she said. Finding suitable space shouldn’t be an issue, either.

In fact, it’s attracted new enterprises already, including “the artist community.” Fitchburg State University is one of the city’s biggest employers, and the cannabis industry has also moved in, creating mobs, as well as the Game On Fitchburg recreational facility.

Young agreed with her and Knight on gains in the airport area but it’s still underutilized, he said. Given that the railroad runs into the city, he’d advocate for a train stop there, which he said could “draw more industry,” that the city needs.

Squailia liked the idea. “It’s a connection opportunity…interesting,” she said.

Fitchburg School Committee member and mayoral candidate Maritza Knight addresses an issue to candidate and City Councilor Sam Squailia during the mayoral debate last week. (GARY FOURNIER)

Fitchburg Mayor and mayoral incumbent Stephen DiNatale makes a point during the debate. (GARY FOURNIER)

Early ballots opened this week to help election workers

September 22, 2023 by pkzadmin

FITCHBURG — In efforts to assist election workers, City Clerk Joanna Bilotta released a notice this week saying that they would be opening the ballots from those who voted early in the preliminary mayoral election, coming up next Tuesday, Sept. 26.

But this doesn’t mean they’re starting to make tick marks. Bilotta said that they are simple processing ballots early to assist election workers. They open the ballots and then “deposit” them but do not see the specific votes.

“We can’t look at the results of the ballots until 8 p.m. on the night of the election, after the polls have closed,” said Bilotta.

In between busy times at the polls, she said election workers often will start working to deposit the early ballots that haven’t been processed.

“We’re doing it early to take the pressure off the poll workers,” said Bilotta.

The notice to the public said that they began opening early ballots at City Hall at 10 a.m. this past Monday, Sept. 18. They will continue on “subsequent days until complete.”

“No election results shall be determined or announced until after the time the polls close on Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023,” said the notice posted on the city’s website. “At that time the results from the advance processed ballots will be added to the Election Day results and posted in a public place.”

Polls for the preliminary mayoral election open at 7 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 26, and close at 8 p.m.

Fitchburg mayoral debate tackles roads, disaster relief

September 21, 2023 by pkzadmin

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.

Heading into a Sept. 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. Finalists will face off in a debate next month, prior to the Nov. 7 general election.

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.

Each candidate was given equal time to answer the questions posed to them and had the option to respond to one another. 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.

The debate also featured opening and closing statements from each candidate.

Roads, Cormier said, are a top priority. 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.

Calling it a “big issue,” Young answered by posing the question as to why the city will fund roadwork in certain areas but not in others.

“Why did we get the money right away…to fund some road projects and not others? Industrial Road, for example,” said Young.

If it’s a matter of money, Young said he’d forfeit “my $35,000 raise,” to help fund road projects. He also suggested tapping into what he called the Police Department’s “$58,000 slush fund,” which he said comes mainly from towing charges.

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.

DiNatale 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.

Defending 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.

“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.”

Maritza Knight cited her expertise at grant writing and suggested that going after government grants was one way to help fund road projects. 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. Industrial Road, for example, Young noted, recently got a makeover.

Noting that her research into city issues showed that it costs $500,000 to repair a half mile of roadway, Knight said that over two years, “grant money alone” could pave an entire road.

City Counselor Samantha Squailia cited a study five years ago that showed it would take an estimated $75 million to $100 million to bring all the city’s roads up to par.

The Chapter 90 transportation funding the mayor alluded to earlier, for instance, is worth less in terms of spending power now than it was eight years ago.

“We let our roads go” into disrepair, she said, making it more costly to fix them. Delayed action on road repairs could result in re-paved roads being dug up again to replace pipes, she said.

Squailia proposed creating a long-term, comprehensive to-do list of road repairs and paving projects that would provide a blueprint to move forward, with regular maintenance included. The first step to ensuring that city roads are in good shape is not to let them fail in the first place, she said.

DiNatale called Squailia’s proposal “an affront” to the highway department, which does have a plan, he said, and as a member of the DPW Committee, she should already know that.

Squailia countered that any plan needs a strategy to carry it out.

“I’ve always advocated” for that, she said.

She cited a grant-funded “street scan study” some time ago that could have helped map out the kind of plan she was talking about. But $60,000 was spent on the study and “we still don’t have the results,” she said.

Knight questioned why, as a city councilor, Squailia had done nothing about that.

“If we love Fitchburg…we need to do these things,” she said.

Young said he had a couple more ideas to raise revenue. For about $90,000, the city could buy a recycling/resurfacing machine, which he said would be very cost effective over time.

He suggested that the city’s firefighters are all certified EMTs, so the city should buy an ambulance for “$200,000 or so” and run its own ambulance service instead of paying an outside firm.

DiNatale didn’t address the ambulance, but he brushed aside the notion that buying a piece of equipment to keep up road maintenance was a novel idea or that the DPW director hadn’t considered it already.

DiNatale asked if Young was suggesting that the “DPW director doesn’t know about the machine.”

Disaster Response

Cormier turned to disaster response, noting the recent destructive flooding in Leominster.

“We know the mayor’s job is about leadership,” he said. “The question is, how would each of the candidates, as mayor, work with other agencies to get help when needed?”

DiNatale cited a previous, “smaller” flooding event in Fitchburg during his tenure that his administration had responded to.

“We brought in the lieutenant governor,” he said. “It’s all documented.”

The mayor touted his administrator’s successful record working with others to solve problems.

“Relationships are key,” DiNatale said about the network of fellow community members he is part of. “We take good advantage of that for the city.”

Knight said she’d use her skills to “inspire and motivate” people to go above and beyond to get things done. She’d also turn to “experts” to determine the root causes of a given problem, which she called a “preventative” approach. She said that her decisions would then solve those problems, from responding to flooded areas to repairing roads…anything that’s necessary “to benefit constituents,” she said.

Squailia said “outreach and communication” were essential tools. Leominster’s mayor knows this and it showed in his on-the-ground response and public updates in regard to the recent flood conditions in that city.

“He’s good at this,” she said, adding that he informs residents in “real time.”

Squailia said that the night before the debate, during the rain storm that rocked Leominster, Fitchburg residents had to reach out to her to find out what was going on and where.

“This mayor has been checked out,” she said. “Fitchburg deserves better!”

Young said that as a police officer in the city for 30 years and with four years in a leadership position in the U.S. Air Force, he knows first hand how important communication and community relations are.

“I had to make big decisions,” he said. “I know how to work with departments.”

Young said that the city needs to get on the state’s “Code Red system” and put out information online.

“Citizens have a right to know,” Young said.

Knight agreed, but with a caveat.

“We need to listen to our constituents…get out there,” she said, adding that, as mayor, she would use social media more effectively as a communication tool.

“I can learn anything…and plan for it,” Knight said.

Squailia said the city is part of the Code Red system, paying $20,000 a year for it, but claims it is not used.

She said there are people in the Water Department and others in the city that share her concern and she would not cut it but figure out how to use it better.

Housing

Rents are rising all over the country, Cormier said, and it’s happening in Fitchburg as well. He then turned it to the candidates.

Knight said Fitchburg is “one of the most inexpensive” cities to live in throughout the state. But people still struggle, particularly those whose income is still too low.

“We need to develop more affordable housing,” she said, citing efforts to bring in “artist communities,” as a positive step. She also suggested tax breaks as an incentive for developers to fix up some of the city’s abandoned buildings.

Squailia said a resident recently asked her about rents that were going up when buildings receive renovations and asked her what she would do.

Squailia said it’s all about “supply and demand.” The city must work with the state to build more housing, she said, with rents or buy-ins that people can afford. Programs such as Habitat for Humanity, for example, and other nonprofits, including the Fitchburg Housing Authority, could work together toward that goal.

However, “it’s a complex issue” that won’t be solved overnight.

Young said there are 260 vacant buildings in the city that could be put to use.

“Let’s start making some housing,” he said. “We have a lot of absentee landlords” who might help, too, if it were less costly. Building codes, for instance, translate to higher costs for the owners of multi-family buildings and those costs get passed on to tenants.

“We need to ease off,” Young said about the cost of building codes.

DiNatale said the city has $4.4 billion in property value assets and that number has doubled since 2016. He said the city is a “vibrant” and affordable place to live and housing stock has continued to grow, with “major investments” from new business ventures, including Amazon, Game On, and the Flat Iron Building on Main Street.

“It’s not all gloom and doom,” he said.

Knight pounced on the Game On project the mayor mentioned, which damaged the area during construction but didn’t fix it.

“It’s upsetting” to residents, Knight said. “Who’s responsible?”

Squailia, the city councilor, said the DPW would fix it.

Re-addressing the housing question, she said that housing prices have doubled in the city and taxes have gone up as well. She characterized the mayor’s attempt to paint a rosier picture as political spin.

She has proposed that taxes not be raised “so quickly,” Squailia said.

Young said that rents for new apartments in the Flat Iron Building are not affordable on a fixed income and many seniors could not afford to live there. Besides, he questioned the focus only on Main Street.

“What about the rest of the city?” he asked.

Squailia said some of the development is too slow to help anyone now.

“These are multi-decade projects” she said, noting that one of them took 17 years to complete and started on the previous mayor’s watch, before DiNatale.

DiNatale disputed that assertion, however.

“Wasn’t that part of your 10-year plan,” Young asked the mayor.

“It was,” DiNatale responded. “But it’s not easy. Let’s see you do better!”

Find part two of the debate series in the Sentinel & Enterprise this weekend.