>>Selectmen: Alan Reiss

Town Service:

Board of Selectman (2005-2008)
Electronic Communications Committee (2008-2009)
WayCAM freelance town government filming projects
Ground Water Protection Group, Hingham, MA (1994-1998)

Professional Career:

Engineer (1998-present)
Product Specialist and Product Manger (1984-1998)
High School Science Teacher (1976-1979)

Educational Background:

MSEE 24 Cr.Hrs towards degree. Drexel U, Phila, Pa. Thesis Complete (Automatic Stimulus Generator)
BSEE May 1981, Drexel U, Phila., Pa. (3.51 G.P.A.)
BS PHYSICS December, 1975 Temple U., Phila., Pa.

Website: www.ajreiss.com

Email Contact: alan@ajreiss.com

Candidate Statement:

Dear Wayland Neighbor:

During my first term as your selectman, I spoke to people of varied interests, ages and personal resources. I learned that Wayland is a diverse community. Some struggle to make ends meet while others are freer to concentrate on having more and giving more.

Perhaps you recently moved to Wayland, or perhaps you’ve raised a family and have resided in Wayland for many years. You might live here because of Wayland’s central location and favorable commute. You might have chosen Wayland because of our schools and their reputation for academic excellence. What we all have in common is a town that is scenic, tranquil, and safe. Personally, my wife Helen and I decided 21 years ago that Wayland was a great place to plant roots and raise our two children.

Wayland has remained a desirable place to live for many, many years, but an economic sea change now threatens our community. Those who once struggled are now on the edge and some who were once comfortable may find themselves unemployed and facing troublesome financial decisions. Unemployment in Wayland, though less than state and national averages, has doubled in the last 12 months. Wayland’s foreclosure rate is accelerating. Our Parmenter Food Pantry has seen a 25% increase over the past few months. Our real estate values, once highly regarded, have dropped dramatically in comparison with our peer towns, Weston, Sudbury and Wellesley.

During my previous term as your selectman, I was an advocate for fiscal realism. Today, a significant portion of Wayland households struggle to absorb five overrides in seven years. Recent real estate assessment increases resulting from the last override, leaves many families worrying how they can afford to remain in their homes. For long-time Wayland residents, many of whom paid off their mortgages long ago and have owned their homes for years, tax bills now resemble mortgage payments… again!

I believe we can’t always get everything we want, but in times like these we should strive to preserve what we need as a community. Getting what we need during these challenging times means we are no longer able to simply save our services. Some services obviously remain priorities. But, for government to expect residents to support an “all services or no services” mantra is wrong. As your selectman, I strongly supported a menu override, enabling you to decide how best to spend, or not spend, your money. That’s not for me to say, nor any elected official or committee. Government has no right to expect to keep dipping into the public well when there’s not enough water to go around.

Currently, our Moody’s rating is AAA. That rating is not as much a measure of how well managed we are as a town, as it is a consequence of Wayland’s willingness to consistently raise more taxes to pass overrides. Spiraling tax increases and their resulting tax rates, and budgets with increases requiring you to continue to support overrides are not fiscally prudent. We need fiscally responsible leadership in place now more than ever.

Our charity must now become ‘Wayland to Wayland’. My fiscal beliefs have always focused on creating a compromise between saving services and saving the citizens of our community. My fiscal beliefs have not changed in order to be in vogue. We must make tough decisions and urgently consider salary cuts, wage freezes, reopening contracts, and tax moratoriums. A strong future for our town depends on the difficult but necessary decisions we make now.

Wayland needs a strong voice of reason, restraint and alternative thinking. On April 7th, 2009, I ask for your vote to re-elect me as your selectman. I have been deeply honored to be your voice, a responsibility I pledge to proudly and passionately continue to represent.

Respectfully,
Alan J. Reiss