Future Priorities

The future of democracy is local. When a community is connected, respected and heard, together we can create a town where everyone can thrive and prosper. What will Rockland residents thank us for 20 years from now?

  • According to surveys, the number one wish list item of Rockland residents is having a grocery store in town. The road to having that become a reality is to repair our infrastructure, which is currently being done. In fact, managed new growth ultimately results in tax relief for our residents, without having to rely on tax overrides and debt exclusions to fund building projects. I know that people are concerned about Rockland becoming a community of urban sprawl and losing its "small-town" appeal. First, we don't have the developable land to make this so, and there are design requirements in place to have new buildings either be repurposed from what already exists, or to seamlessly blend into our iconic small-town vibe.

  • Did you know that, on average, in the past five years less than 2% of registered Rockland voters showed up for Town Meeting? This means that a handful of people make decisions on important issues like how the budget is dispersed, how much our taxes are raised or lowered, and which services will be provided for everyone. It would be great to see more participation both at the polls (15 minutes) and at Town Meeting (+/- two hours per year). The more voices that are heard, the more we can work together to drive Rockland in a direction that benefits everyone.

  • Our Town Charter is the Constitution of Rockland, and it has essentially not been updated since 1970. There are elected positions that should perhaps be appointed to attain the most effective and professional talent available to serve residents best. By changing certain aspects of the Charter, it better enables us to join together in recognizing and solving community challenges.

 

  • Our Fire Department needs a new building. Pardon the pun, but this project has been put on the back burner for 30 years. Our current station is out of date, too small, and most importantly poses a terminal health risk to our firefighters. Not only does Rockland spend thousands on customizing fire trucks to fit into our station, but several studies, published between 1959 and 2018 consistently reported a significant increase in the US of incidence of rectal, prostate, bladder and testicular cancers, as well as mesothelioma and malignant melanoma in firefighters compared to the general population. A modern station will have separate living quarters from the carcinogenic, contaminated areas, provide efficient exhaust systems to properly contain contaminants, as well as other best practices to ensure that the risk of occupational cancer is minimized for our first responders. 

  • A conversation can be started about whether a Department of Public Works would benefit Rockland. All of the quaint New England towns that we love have a DPW (think Northampton, Salem, Orleans, Stockbridge, Lenox). It provides a community with a significant advantage by maintaining and improving critical infrastructure like roads, bridges, sidewalks, drainage systems, and public spaces, ensuring the safety and functionality of the community, promoting property values, and enhancing overall quality of life for residents. With several departments under one umbrella, bulk purchases can be made, budgets can be combined, and staff can be shared between departments to conserve funds typically spent on outside vendors.