Tell us about yourself
My name is Albert Fuccillo, but my neighbors call me “Trey”. I’m a lifelong Marlborough resident and proud candidate for Ward 6 City Councilor. I’m a product of our public schools, played baseball in our parks, and learned the value of public service in our city. I am currently finishing my undergraduate degree at Emerson College. I have spent the last two years working at Marlborough City Hall and the Marlborough Community Development Authority (MCDA). While working for the city, I collected outstanding account receivables that were owed to our taxpayers and I worked in tandem with our finance department, helping streamline important processes including the automation of the city payroll. With the MCDA, I found affordable housing opportunities for many of our most vulnerable residents. It was an honor to show struggling residents how supportive and compassionate our city can be.
What are the biggest issues facing the city?
The single most pressing issue facing Ward 6 and our entire city is unsustainable development. Big, out-of-state developers are setting their sights on Marlborough, and if we don’t act now, we risk losing our city’s small-town charm and our revered outdoor spaces. If I’m elected, I’ll stand up to those developers who are looking to profit at the expense of our community. Additionally, I’ll make sure we maintain the necessary affordable housing stock required by the state so that we can continue to enforce our local zoning codes.
As a city councilor, how would you approach issues regarding traffic, public safety and speeding?
Much of our traffic is due to development projects in Marlborough. Fixing the traffic problem starts by limiting the unsustainable development going on in our city. Not just to prevent traffic congestion, but also as a means of ensuring public safety. I have talked to many residents in Ward 6 who have serious concerns with speed limits in residential neighborhoods; many of which are being used to go around ongoing developments like those in our downtown district. These folks tell me that when they inquire about changes to our speed limits, local officials respond by saying “it’s a state issue”. I will never brush off your concerns. I believe the first step towards solving this problem is by advocating for our residents. As your next City Councilor, I will work closely with residents and MassDOT to define streets of high risk. Together, we can implement important speed zoning studies with our Police Department and urge the state to reduce speed limits on high risk roads.
Do you think the city is on the right track in relation to residential and commercial development?
I know we can get on the right track by working together. Residential development is necessary to meet the housing needs of the city, so it is critical we work to strike a balance between supporting new housing opportunities while also maintaining our city’s charm. We must always examine the long-term impacts that projects could have on our city. For example, I do not support the proposed Sasseville Way Overlay District. This overlay change and eventual 300-unit development is a burden to all Marlborough residents, our environment, wildlife, and waterways. There’s no compromise on this project and I will do everything in my power to ensure the parcel goes undeveloped. In fact, I attended the September public hearing on this issue and spoke in opposition to the project – it is vital we have action-oriented leaders who will stand up for our values. By striking a balance between commercial and residential development, we can expand job opportunities, increase our affordable housing stock, and maintain our city’s way of life.
A series of zoning changes were vetoed by Mayor Arthur Vigeant earlier this year. Now, there are proposed changes in the Village District’s zoning. How would these changes improve the district?
I agree with Mayor Vigeant’s veto of the City Council’s proposed affordable housing ordinance. The ordinance would have required all developments of 20 or more units to designate at least 20% of their units as affordable. At face value, I would love to increase the affordable housing minimum in our city’s zoning, but the reality is, if we increase that minimum, developers will begin to raise prices on the other units. This will cause the market value to rise here in Marlborough, increasing the affordability gap for some of our most vulnerable residents. I do believe that our city possesses the necessary oversight to manage large changes to zoning, but it is paramount that we stick to state guidelines, and manage our affordable housing stock one development at a time. If elected, I will do everything to preserve the integrity of our community and always be cognizant of state guidelines so that we can remain in charge of our local zoning codes while improving our Village District.
Currently, there are several vacancies on Main Street, in addition to the vacant lot next to Welly’s. As a councilor, how would you support downtown revitalization?
I’ve heard countless local officials promise to revitalize our downtown, and still we’ve seen very little progress. Right now, we have eleven different visions in the City Council chamber as to how we revitalize our downtown district – my goal is to get everyone on the same page. This starts by putting power back in the hands of our small business owners. They know what works best for downtown Marlborough, and I look forward to ensuring they have more than just a seat at the table when discussing revitalization. It is the City Council’s responsibility to make investments in our downtown infrastructure that will allow for small businesses to be the driving force in this revitalization effort. Our neighbors in Hudson have chosen a downtown that prioritizes convenience and walkability. I truly believe that we can have that same kind of downtown if the City Council becomes committed to a shared vision. By doing this, I know we can create a place that unites our community, attracts visitors, and supports businesses for years to come.
What skills and experience do you have to prepare you to be a member of the city council?
As I mentioned previously, I worked at City Hall for two years, handling constituent concerns and finding solutions for some of our community’s toughest problems. I also have experience at the Marlborough Community Development Authority, our local housing authority, where I found affordable housing opportunities for many of our most vulnerable residents. With all of the changes happening in our city, we need leaders who are ready to get to work on day one. My recent experience working for our city will allow me to make that smooth transition to the City Council and deliver for our residents.
