By Drake Lucas
Staff writer
March 20, 2008 06:29 am NORTH ANDOVER — It was a case of two against one last night as School Committee candidates faced off over what it will take to negotiate a fair but affordable contract for teachers. Two three-year seats are available on the committee, and Stanley Limpert and Chris Nobile made it clear they support each other for those seats while drawing distinctions between themselves and Michael Quinlan on contract negotiations and the budget. They are all first-time candidates. Quinlan acknowledged that he is different from the other two candidates, saying what he will bring to the School Committee is a "new perspective." Meet the Candidate night was sponsored by the North Andover Middle School Parent-Teacher Advisory Council. Selectmen and School Committee candidates gave introductory statements and then fielded questions from an audience of about 50 people during the two-hour debate at the middle school. Quinlan's main platform was the role of the School Committee in negotiating a teachers contract the town can afford. He implied that the committee had not negotiated affordable contracts in the past, leading to teacher layoffs and budget cuts as money was drained from other parts of the budget to pay for the contracts. Quinlan estimated that raises would have to be negotiated at about 1 percent to be affordable because teachers also receive pay increases through "steps" based on education and the number of years they have taught. Both Limpert and Nobile steered clear of promising to limit budget discussions to a particular number, saying it is important to negotiate a contract large enough to keep good teachers in the district. "Do we really want to underpay the most important staff in our schools?" Limpert asked. Resident Cindy Jalbert said the cost of having lower raises could mean losing teachers to other districts and then having to put money and time into hiring and retraining new teachers. Quinlan countered that if the contracts offer too much, the town will have to cut teachers and programs, leading to lower morale and more teachers leaving. Quinlan also faced questions about decisions to home-school his five children, ages 5 to 12. Quinlan said he has always home-schooled them, but is considering placing them in private or public schools, especially when they reach high-school age. He said this can be beneficial because he can remain independent and not favor any teacher or school based on where his children go. When asked what could be done at the high school to make him want to send his children there, Quinlan mentioned having many options for Advanced Placement courses, but then said not any one thing would influence his decision to send his children there.
On the selectmen side The four candidates vying for two three-year seats on the Board of Selectmen fell on both sides of the issue of whether the town should enforce a bylaw that says cell phone towers and antennas should be 600 feet away from the nearest school or home. A cell phone antenna put on the tower of First-Cavalry Baptist Church has sparked controversy because it is less than 100 feet from homes and Atkinson Elementary School. Some residents want the antenna removed because they are worried about the negative effects of radiation on people nearby. Richard Nardella, a selectman candidate and chairman for the Planning Board that approved the antenna, called the town's requirement of 600-foot setbacks for cell phone towers "trash" and said the bylaw doesn't apply to First-Cavalry Baptist Church because the antenna was put on an existing tower. Nardella said the 600-foot bylaw is unenforceable and needs to be changed because it does not follow federal guidelines, meaning to enforce it would cost the town thousands of dollars in lawsuits. Candidate Tracy Watson agreed the town needs enforceable bylaws and said she is looking forward to a committee scheduled to suggest changes to the bylaw at the May 13 Town Meeting. Candidates Joe Edward Smith and Donald Stewart said the bylaw needs to be enforced. Smith said the town should stand by the bylaw even if it costs money. "You have to send a message to companies that the town is willing to fight for its citizens," he said. Stewart said cell phone towers should be as far from people as possible because of the uncertain health effects caused by radiation from the towers. All four candidates supported bringing new businesses to town as a way to increase revenue. Watson said the town needs to "roll out the red carpet to businesses" and that a key area to revitalize is the downtown/Main Street area. Stewart said zoning needs to be in place for when the economy improves and businesses are ready to come. Nardella said it is also important for the town to be ready to change zoning and act quickly if a business wants to locate in a particular area that fits in with the town's plan for development. Smith said another idea to bring more revenue to town would be to ask wealthy residents if they want to contribute more. Town elections will be Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. at North Andover High School, 430 Osgood St.
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