David J. McFarlane, Ward 1


Friday, September 12, 2003


20 57th 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 am a retired engineer and the Ward 1 councilor. I was educated in Andover Public Schools and UMASS Amherst with a bachelor's of science and master's of science in civil engineering. My wife, Zaida, and I have seven children, and eight grandchildren, one who just graduated from Newburyport High School. I have professional background in construction, planning and development including expansion of the UMASS campus in the 1960s and affordable housing in Russia in the 1990s with a U.S. Trade & Development Agency contract. My career included system engineering and design for Apollo and other space programs at Boeing, program management for the Patriot Missile at Raytheon and manager of a multidivisional office on strategic defense programs at Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC). I'm a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and a voting resident of Newburyport since 1997. My family has owned property on Plum Island since the 1950s.


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

I am running for re-election for Ward 1 city councilor for the same reasons I ran the last time. A great number of issues are still before the city. Resolving these requires skillful planning, meaningful citizen input and a full-time councilor who takes the time to understand and clearly communicates about them. My prior professional background and recent experience on the council provide me with effective experience for contributing to resolving many of these issues in a manner that makes Newburyport an even better place to live for everyone.


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

A number of important existing and future issues will be of different priorities to different people and the council will have many new faces next term. What's most important is that the city's elected officials learn how to effectively address and resolve them. I don't mean by trading this vote for that vote. I mean real professional problem-solving involving good definitions of problems/issues backed up with good data (including dollars and constraint information) prior to proposing solutions, examining alternatives and very importantly soliciting and reacting to citizen input. All councilors, new and old, should remember that part of the council's legislative function is to discuss and debate diverse views, not let the majority trample on the minority, and provide oversight and a checks-and-balances on the executive office; not a rubber stamp.


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

I've always recognized the importance and value of good education which begins with elementary schools and what's most important are good teachers and good curriculum. I do not believe school buildings need to be Taj Mahals, but do need to be safe and not overcrowded. I'm aware of some safety concerns with current buildings, but have been assured they are being addressed. As to the future, a new school will likely be needed in the next five to seven years, but I definitely want to see good population projections and sound planning data. There's time to do that and I will support such a planning effort.


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

No and for three key reasons. First and most important, the citizens voted for it. Second, it provides important fiscal resources for open space, affordable housing and maintaining our historic city. Third, it is sound economically as long as the state matches the funds. If that changes, it can then be re-looked at.


6. Is enough being done to monitor the capping of the Crow Lane landfill?

No. More monitoring needs to be done for future safety and economy. If problems result from what's in a capped landfill they are unlikely to surface for years or decades with resulting damage involving considerable safety, environmental and very costly impacts to everyone.

Should the city hire a licensed site professional to monitor it and why?

Yes. This is a job for a professional and the professional needs to provide good written reports that can be reviewed by the public. I would also like to say that I have been impressed and thankful that local citizen groups are watching this and alerting people of some of the potential problems.


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

I believe many of the city's departments and boards do a good job, recognizing they are constrained by limited staff and budgets. I do believe some boards should have easy access to expert or professional help when needed such as the Conservation Commission and the Zoning Board of Appeals, particularly when new regulations need to be interpreted so as to provide appropriate and consistent decisions.


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

I think Newburyport is a jewel, with its waterfront, Maudslay State Park, High Street and, yes, even Plum Island - and now the Little River Nature Trail that a group of citizens came together to protect - or should I say to maintain some environmental balance? Balance between development and the environment is not anti-development, nor am I. It can be a win-win situation for the community and makes long-term economic sense when development is well planned, environmentally sound and compatibly balanced with community wants and needs. Development is not being prevented by environmental concern. But what's best for the city will not always be agreed upon and requires planning, data and discussion prior to implementation.


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?

Parking downtown is tolerable. The real question is what it will be several years into the future. As should be apparent, the city is growing and businesses are always trying to attract more people. These are facts of life in our country and culture. I've heard some good suggestions from citizens and have confidence in the Planning Office's focus on the city's long-term interest. The idea of purchasing property now is to prevent limiting future options. As yet, I don't have all the answers but do not believe the purchase represents inordinate financial risk. I do believe that the city will lose, as well as all taxpayers, if proper planning is not done and the city becomes clogged in the future, with the attendant negative reputation.


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

I've long supported and understood the need for water on the island. I'm not against water and sewer, but I am appalled by the political process that spawned this project that added sewer without proper study and with no planning which puts the island and the whole city at risk and which tramples on the right of individuals. Not only are islanders paying for this over $30 million project but must pay for part of the March's Hill water tank twice, once in a betterment tax and again in future water rates and are also paying for new water and sewer mains in the city. These include water mains from Beacon Street down Union and Water streets to the Audubon Center, which people can already hook into, and a new sewer main all the way from the plant to the end of the Ocean Avenue area, which customers can hook into when old sewer lines need replacing. Islanders must also pay to pave dirt roads even though they pay in taxes to have all other city roads paved and repaired.

The project also will put sewer and water mains across people's property without getting easements required elsewhere in the state and the state is being asked for a new law to make these unfair and illegal costs and actions legal. Earlier, islanders' right to vote was taken away by dissolving their water district by slipping an amendment onto a state budget bill. While voting rights were taken, Newbury's water rights were saved by rejuvenating an old water district excluding Plum Island. I have also made it clear that if this project goes forward as planned, I will continue trying to make it fair economically and as safe as possible for the residents and the environment.

I have also been very clear about the risk to the South End and the entire city. Adding 20 percent more sewage to the aging sewer plant is phenomenally risky from a safety, an odor and a pollution viewpoint and will definitely require everyone to pay for a new, very expensive sewer plant much sooner with Plum Island, which is not even being addressed in any near or long-term planning. Currently, the plant uses tons of chlorine, which is not only hazardous but toxic to all aquatic life. According to the department's own risk analysis, if only one of many stored chlorine cylinders leak from an accident or drop, it creates a poison gas cloud that will affect over 5,000 residents. More sewerage from Plum Island means more chlorine, odors and estuary pollution.

Politics plays a role in most decisions but overwhelmed this project without properly identifying the need or the city's water and sewer resources. A closer look is definitely needed.

 

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