Selectmen candidates share ideas at Candidates Night
By Ken Powers Community Reporter

(l to r) Rod Jané and Denzil "Denny" Drewry pose for pictures following Candidates Night at the Willows, sponsored by the Westborough Democratic Town Committee. PHOTO/KEN POWERS

Westborough - Denzil "Denny" Drewry and Rod Jané, the two candidates vying for the one open seat on the Board of Selectmen, kicked off their final week of campaigning by participating in Candidates Night April 27.

Held at the Willows at 1 Lyman St., and sponsored by the Westborough Democratic Town Com- mittee, Candidates Night featured eight of the 12 candidates that will be on the Tuesday May 6 ballot.

In addition to Drewry and Jané, candidates participating in Candidates Night were: Joanne Mallozzi, running for Planning Board; Dr. Lisa Freeman, running for library trustee; Joseph Harrington, running for town moderator; Paul George, running for Assabet Valley Regional Vocational District School Committee; Craig Harris, running for Westborough School Committee; and Ilyse Levine-Kanji, running for Westborough School Committee.

The only contested race is the one between Drewry and Jané.

Both Drewry and Jané delivered a three-minute opening statement, took questions and then off ered a twominute closing statement. In both candidates' opening and closing statements they asked voters - about 60 were on hand at the Willows and the event was televised by Westborough TV - to vote for them, but neither Drewry or Jané referred to the election after that.

After opening statements by both that contained details about their respective backgrounds, education, family and qualifications for the position, the candidates answered a series of questions, the first about whether they preferred a town manager or town coordinator for Westborough.

Both Drewry and Jané explained that they are in favor of the town going to the town manager form of government. Drewry said he has long considered Town Coordinator Henry Danis a town manager, going so far as to introduce him as such during his previous stints on the Board of Selectmen.

Jané stressed the need for a town manager and tied it in with having helped hire current Superintendent of Schools Anne Towle during his six years on School Committee. He believes switching to town manager is vital to helping Westborough navigate the current tough financial times.

Both candidates are concerned that current levels of taxation in town and the rate of increase of those taxes are adversely aff ecting seniors. Jané suggested, if it is feasible and permissible, that seniors on fixed incomes not be assessed property tax increases that are more than cost-of-living increases they will receive in Social Security. Drewry vowed to fight for tax relief for seniors at the state level.

Regarding a question about being on the Board of Selectmen and its connection to the environment, Drewry suggested investigating energy alternatives such as solar and wind power. Jané agreed and mapped out specific instances in his business background where he has been exposed to the energy alternatives and projects he's worked on that have remained in Massachusetts and are paying dividends for the state.

In summation, Drewry stressed that tough times are facing Westborough, but that the town is still on solid footing. He said that belttightening needs to happen so that police, fire, Department of Public Works and ambulance services remain at the level they're currently at, the rate of tax increases needs to be investigated and more business revenue needs to be brought to town.

Jané touched on all of the same topics in his closing statement, using a five-point plan to illustrate the challenges facing Westborough and how the town can best negotiate through them. Included in the five-point plan was hiring the best town manager possible, creating an economic development team, and finding a way to keep core services funded at current levels without the need for a Proposition 2-1/2 override in the coming years.