WESTFORD - Don Siriani, President of the Westford Kiwanis and candidate for the Westford Board of Selectman, released a five point plan today which will increase civic participation and access to important public information. “Each element of my Working For Westford Plan is about connecting residents with relevant information and resources to empower them and town officials to make Westford a financially and civically robust community,” said Siriani. “These five tools cost little to nothing and they will produce measurable results for the people of Westford.”
The Working For Westford Plan includes:
- Open Public Sessions - Residents will be welcomed to regularly scheduled Selectmen meetings with only one agenda item, listening to the public. Westford citizen volunteers add extraordinary value to our lives, however, a continued decline in civic involvement is noticeable. Transparency will remove barriers and restore faith as we treat taxpayers with respect and in good-faith.
The Budget Box - The Westford Budget Box will be a web-based interactive application which will allow taxpayers to enter their tax bill and see exactly how their money is distributed to each school and town department. Residents and budget writers will access and understand complex financial data displayed in tables, time-lines, and graphs. The Budget Box will empower citizens to be more involved in decision making and give them an opportunity to offer ideas on town revenues and expenses.
Find out what's happening in Westfordwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Maximize awareness of the state-funded senior citizen Circuit Breaker Tax Credit. 65 year-olds and older represent less than 10% of our population, this is much smaller than state average and it underscores the financial instability that our seniors face. More than 15% of those seniors have less than $20,000 a year in income. Helping seniors stay in Westford bolsters our town finances and quality of life. Seniors need, and use, far fewer town resources than others. $300,000 is saved by Westford seniors each year under the Circuit Breaker law that I helped write, we can reach many more.
Public-private partnerships that promote sustainable growth and development. Westford should align with the Middlesex 3 Coalition and the The 495/MetroWest Partnership consistent with the implementation of our Master Plan for zoning, traffic, housing, economic development, and best practices for historic and natural resources.
Find out what's happening in Westfordwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Regional partnerships with area communities to; expand advocacy for state Local Aid equity, create inter-municipal agreements to drive down the costs of goods and services, and coordinate maximum pressure on Pan Am Railroad to secure accountability.
“I can think of no more appropriate time than Tax Week to offer taxpayers a clear plan for Westford’s future,”- Don Siriani.
Don can be reached at www.ElectDonSiriani.com.
This, is what Westford can and should do-
