Clete Kijek, At-large


Friday, September 26, 2003


12A Walnut St.


1. What is your background? Please include community and civic involvement, experience in local government, family and professional background and how long you have been a Newburyport resident.

I have been a resident of Newburyport since 1991 and a homeowner since 1992. I was appointed by former Mayor Lisa Mead to represent the residents of Newburyport on the Waterfront Development Committee. My main concern was, first, to find out who personally on the committee would gain financially from waterfront development. Second, if the waterfront was developed, would the developer have the financial resources to finish - and the taxpayers of Newburyport would not be left holding the bag. This current year, I have attended approximately 10 City Council meetings to better understand the duties of the council.


2. Why are you choosing to run for City Council?

To represent first the residential property taxpayers who currently pay 84.4 percent of the Newburyport city budget. Keep a hold on the residential property tax rate so all residents who currently live in Newburyport can look forward to retiring here.


3. What do you see as the new City Council's most important priority next year and why?

The most important priority is the allocation of spending in the city budget and increasing the size of the Newburyport City Finance Committee from three to seven or nine voting members.


4. How serious are the city's elementary school building needs and what should be done about it?

The elementary schools in Newburyport have not been maintained properly for many years. This is the main reason why I am not in favor of building a new West End school, because we do not maintain properly the schools we have now.


5. Should the Community Preservation Act surcharge be lowered from 2 percent and why?

As a homeowner, I personally voted no for the Community Preservation Act. The majority of the residents voted for the CPA. Paying for the CPA should be done differently. For example, if $500,000 is raised with the current 2 percent property tax, I submit the $500,000 is divided evenly among all individual city residents over the age of 18. The burden of the CPA, therefore, does not fall on the residential homeowner.


6. Is enough being done to monitor the capping of the Crow Lane landfill? Should the city hire a licensed site professional to monitor it and why?

No, we need to watch what is being dumped on the Crow Lane landfill, since it is near the Little River and close to watershed areas for our water supply. Currently, $25,000 per year for three years is set aside for professional site management. This should be spent accordingly. Total allocation is $75,000.


7. Are there any city departments where you would you like to see fundamental changes? Which ones and why? How should such changes be carried out?

I have seen a great deal of hard work from Newburyport city employees and volunteers helping our city run. I hope fellow residents could give 40 minutes per month, 10 minutes per week doing something to be involved in Newburyport.


8. What's your position on the abandoned Interstate 95-roadbed/Little River Nature Trail area regarding industrial development versus preservation?

My position is to represent what the majority of residents of Newburyport want, which at this time I believe is preservation.


9. How serious is the parking problem in the downtown/waterfront area and what actions, if any, need to be taken to address the problem?

I am not sure of how serious parking is downtown. Maybe diagonal parking on our wide streets would gain spaces? This suggestion comes from a fellow resident, trying to help, passed on to me. Spending money on parking when elementary schools are in such need of repair makes no sense.


10. Where do you stand on the Plum Island water and sewer project? Should a closer look be take regarding the specific needs of individual homeowners on the island?

We owe to date approximately $2.5 million no matter where the project goes from here. I believe the project will go forward. Will the current sewer treatment plant be able to handle the added sewer flow and also the added flow from the huge condo complex off Storey Avenue? Will we in Newburyport need to build a new sewer plant or expand the sewer plant we operate now? If the project does not go forward, many homes on Plum Island will be condemned for health reasons. Poor planning and years of over development are the cause(s) of the Plum Island problem.


 

 
 
(This article replicated online with permission of the Merrimack River Current.)
 
 
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