NORTH ANDOVER — Overrides, classroom space and a new police station were the topics debated last night by selectmen and school committee candidates during the League of Women Voters Candidate Forum at Town Hall.
Four candidates are running for two open seats on the Board of Selectmen. The main focus of their questions was money, from how to save by limiting raises to whether they support overrides.
None of the candidates said they would never endorse a Proposition 21/2 override, but they all said it's not a measure they would encourage. A Proposition 21/2 override raises property taxes above the 21/2 percent limit.
The town voted to pass a $1.65 million override last year, with most of the money going toward the schools.
"I believe overrides are tough," said Joe Edward Smith. "When you raise your neighbors' and your own taxes, some of us can afford it and some cannot."
Donald Stewart said he would consider voting for an override on a case by case basis because, for many, it's hard to come up with the extra money.
Richard Nardella said the important thing is not to put the town in a position where an override is needed.
Tracy Watson agreed. "We need to be more fiscally responsible," she said.
As to whether they would limit raises in town employee contracts to 3 percent, the candidates said it is something they would consider.
Watson said one of the main costs of contracts is health insurance, something that is affected by the health insurance industry. Stewart said big raises in the past, especially in the schools, have cost the town money and have made it more difficult to afford other things the town needs. Nardella called 3 percent an "admirable goal" but didn't say he would definitely agree to that limit.
The one thing candidates did agree on was a need for a new police station.
Town and police officials have focused on the former Bradstreet School on Main Street as a location, but they recently turned their attention to the former Merrimack Valley Credit Union building on Route 125.
Smith said he wasn't sold on either site and the town should continue looking at different locations. Watson and Stewart both said the Bradstreet School does not look like the best option. Nardella said the Bradstreet School could work, especially since it would mean a police station downtown.
"The fact is we need one," he said. "If the Bradstreet School is the best financial alternative, then that's where it should go."
For the three School Committee candidates vying for two open seats, the questions centered around how to measure student achievement, the superintendent search and the coordination of the School Committee and selectmen.
Chris Nobile said MCAS scores, grades and how many students are going to college can all be important standards to gauge how students are doing, depending on if the school wants to produce high scores or well-rounded citizens.
Michael Quinlan said without these measures, it is difficult to compare students in North Andover to students in other towns.
"We have to measure all these things," said Stanley Limpert.
One job the new members will face is hiring a new superintendent. The district has an interim superintendent - James Marini - but he will stay only until the end of the 2009 school year at the latest.
The candidates said what they are basically looking for is another Marini.
Limpert said that is because of Marini's leadership and the way that he has gotten people enthusiastic about the schools. Nobile said that leadership extends from the School Committee meetings and into the schools.
Quinlan said Marini takes the goals from the School Committee and figures out how to get them done.
All the candidates said one important way to help the schools is by working with selectmen and the Finance Committee as a way for everyone to understand how the budget fits together and what the needs of all the departments are.
The forum was videotaped and will be shown regularly on local Channel 8 leading up to the March 25 election.
