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On September 5th the following letter was hand delivered to the City Clerk:
September 5, 2007
To the City Council:
Waltham continues
to suffer from over development. The character of our neighborhoods is being
eroded. Traffic continues to be a problem throughout the city, and our infrastructure
is under constant strain.
The City Council should enact a building
moratorium until we can create a more restrictive zoning code that will protect the city’s neighborhoods.
Joseph Willaim Vizard
100 Elson Road, Apt 2
Waltham, MA
Council candidates say
city is their top priority
By Nicole Haley/Daily News staff
GHS
Wed Sep 05, 2007, 12:39 AM EDT
Story Tools: Email This | Print This
Waltham -
Editor's note: This is the third
installment of the Tribune's weekly series to help readers get acquainted with at-large City Council candidates.
WALTHAM - Whether through sound financial planning
or by making the informed decisions, candidates for six City Council at-large seats overwhelmingly agree that their number
one job is serving the interests of the people who put them in office.
The Tribune spoke with nine of the
10 candidates who will square off in November's City Council at-large election and asked each the same question: What is the
most important responsibility of a city councilor?
Candidate David Gately is away training
with the Army Reserves could not be reached for this story.
"A councilor's most important responsibility
is to be in touch with the electorate so that he can understand what the will of the people is," Joe Vizard said. "If a councilor
substitutes their personal preferences for the will of the people, it can lead to decisions that are in the councilor's self
interest, rather than promoting the common good."
Incumbent Paul J. Brasco agreed that
responsiveness to constituents should be the top goal of a councilor.
"I think the most difficult part
of that is you're trying to balance what people want and make everybody happy," Brasco said.
Incumbent Kathleen B. McMenimen talked
about a councilor's responsibility to make "informed and impartial financial and quality of life decisions" and to share knowledge
with constituents.
"I have a responsibility to inform
Waltham citizens about the current and future ramifications
of issues that come before the City Council and to explain those issues based on my experience, knowledge of pertinent history,
and understanding of the issues," McMemimen said.
Incumbent Patrick J. O'Brien talked
about steps he has taken to "serve and protect" the taxpayers' interests since he joined the council.
"Two recent votes that demonstrate
my commitment to the neighborhoods was my vote against the Overlay District in 2006 and a Lexington
development's tie-in to the Waltham water and sewer system
in 2005," O'Brien said.
Incumbent David H. Marcou Jr., said
his primary responsibility on the council has been "to make Waltham
a first class city." Marcou listed his involvement with the school building program, open space purchases, and various capital
improvements as examples of ways the council can improve the city.
"My job as a city councilor is to
work with the councilors and the mayor to accomplish these goals," Marcou said.
Candidate William Fowler also spoke
on representing constituent interests, promising, "If I'm elected to the council it is my responsibility to ensure that the
city is a better place to live when I leave office than it was when I was elected."
Fellow candidate Robert McGurrin
said his goal as a councilor would be "to engage in the debate of all the issues, get all the information that's available
and then vote objectively, honestly and fairly in the best interests of the citizens of Waltham."
Incumbent Sarafina "Sally" Collura
says a councilor's first responsibility is to "uphold the city's charter and make the wisest decisions possible for the future
of the city."
Incumbent Thomas M. Stanley named
his most important responsibility as "ensuring a strong municipal government," which Stanley
says is accomplished through "fiscal responsibility, efficient service delivery, and attention to constituent needs."
Nicole Haley can be reached at nhaley@cnc.com
or 781-398-8004.
By Nicole Haley/Daily News staff
GHS
 Wed Aug 22, 2007, 01:03 AM EDT
Waltham -
As summer campaigning comes to a close, the 10 candidates for six at-large City Council seats were asked to name their
most pressing concerns.
The top answers centered on taxes and development, with eight of the 10 candidates speaking on one of the two.
Candidates Robert McGurrin, William Fowler, and Joseph Vizard all singled out overdevelopment as a major problem.
"We need to stop development in order to avert disaster," said Vizard. "Our population has grown faster than our infrastructure
can handle."
McGurrin, a former School Committee member, wants to update the city's zoning ordinances "to reflect the current reality"
and "protect our quality of life."
Fowler talked about a new policy instituting linkage payments for large residential developments that would go toward upgrading
city infrastructure. He referenced the Walter E. Fernald Development Center and said controlling development is also about
protecting undeveloped land.
"We should have an architectural review board to ensure all new development fits into the neighborhood where it is built,"
Fowler said.
Incumbent Sarafina "Sally" Collura said she wants to focus on "smart development" to make sure all new projects are "a
good fit for our city." She said attracting the right kind of economic development is important for the city's vitality.
"I think we need to encourage businesses to make their home here," Collura said.
While their competitors focused on development, the city's fiscal responsibility topped the agenda for incumbents David
H. Marcou Jr., Paul J. Brasco, and Kathleen B. McMenimen, as well as candidate David Gately.
Calling himself a "fiscal watchdog," Marcou, chairman of the council's Finance Committee, said the city's financial picture
has always been his most important concern.
"I'm getting more and more concerned as we spend all this money," said Marcou, who mentioned over-budget city projects
and a sharp rise in Waltham's outstanding debt this fiscal year. "We have to take a more long-term strategic plan for capital
expenditures."
McMenimen, the longest serving councilor of all the candidates, said "responsibility to the taxpayers" has driven her tenure
on the council.
"Coupling fiscal responsibility and integrity with overseeing responsible growth and development in Waltham is my priority
issue," she said.
Brasco said it is especially important to keep taxes low for the city's elderly population and to "make sure people can
stay within their homes."
Gately, Waltham's former mayor, wants to make sure those tax dollars "are being spent wisely and efficiently."
"I happen to think the most important task is to review the budget," Gately said.
Straying from the pack, incumbent Patrick J. O'Brien said the first issue he would focus on if re-elected would be finding
space for a youth center.
"I want to see a community youth center in one of the surplus schools," O'Brien said.
Incumbent Thomas M. Stanley said he was "reluctant to pick one" but his priority would have to be ensuring a high quality
of life for residents.
"It means preserving open space, reducing the residential tax burden, and addressing traffic," Stanley said.
Boston-
On June 1, 2007 at the recommendation of the dean and faculty of the McCormack School of Policy Studies the degree of Master
of Science in Public Affairs was conferred upon Joe Vizard by the President and Trustees of the University
of Massachusetts.
Below are pictures from the commencement
ceremony.
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| Joe and Dean Steve Crosby |
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| Joe and His Family |
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| Joe and His Class |
News
New faces in running for offices
By Nicole Haley/Daily News staff
GHS
Thu May 03, 2007, 12:27 AM EDT
Waltham - While many college students his age were probably making weekend party arrangements,
25-year-old Joe Vizard was at City Hall yesterday pulling nomination papers to run for city councilor at large.
"I've always had a feeling that local government is the sector of government that has the most effect on the daily lives
of its citizens," said Vizard, a lifetime resident who will graduate from the University of Massachusetts at Boston with a degree
in public affairs June 1.
Tuesday was the first day candidates for City Council, School Committee and mayor were able to pull papers for the November
election. City Clerk Russ Malone said all candidates must collect signatures and turn in paperwork by June 28.
Vizard is a former legislative aide to City Councilor at large and state Rep. Thomas M. Stanley, D-Waltham. He is one of
two newcomers to announce plans to run for the council. The other is William Fowler, 57, who unsuccessfully ran for an at-large
seat two years ago.
"The zoning and development is out of control," said Fowler, a 30-year veteran of the Somerville Fire Department. Fowler
moved to Waltham five years ago with his wife.
The only incumbent at-large candidate to pull papers so far is Sarafina "Sally" Collura. There are six at-large seats.
Of the nine incumbent ward councilors, five have pulled papers to run again this year and no challengers have stepped up as
of yet. Ward 9 Councilor Robert G. Logan was the first person at Malone's door Tuesday morning.
"I'm always excited about the opportunity to run again," said Logan, who has been the Ward 9 councilor for 18 years. "I
always think, 'Why put off until tomorrow what you can do today?' "
Ward 2 Councilor Edmund P. Tarallo also grabbed the sign-up sheet early on Tuesday. Tarallo started as an at-large councilor
in 1989 and took over Ward 2 in 2000. He previously served as president of the City Council for two years.
"There are still things I think we need to accomplish for the rest of this year and hopefully for the next two years as
well," said Tarallo, chairman of the Committee on Ordinances and Rules.
Ward 5 Councilor Gary Marchese and Ward 7 Councilor Joseph Giordano Jr., were also on the list. Council President Thomas
J. Curtin signed up to continue representing Ward 4.
While there is not necessarily a rush, Logan found it strange that Ward 6 Councilor Kenneth B. Doucette had not pulled
his papers yet.
"He (Doucette) is usually one of the first ones," said Logan.
Yesterday afternoon Doucette confirmed reports that he has been thinking of running for mayor.
"I am in the final days of making my decision on that, I'll either be running for mayor or councilor of Ward 6," said Doucette,
who has been a ward councilor for seven and a half years. "A lot of people have come up to me and asked me to run for mayor
and I am looking into that."
As of yesterday, Mayor Jeannette A. McCarthy had no challengers on the sign-up sheet. McCarthy took office in January 2004.
All three incumbents up for re-election on the School Committee - Susan Burstein, Harold Walker, and Stephen Rando Jr.
- have pulled their nomination papers. The six members of the committee have staggered terms, with three seats opening up
every two years. Each member is elected for a four-year term.
"The theory behind that is you would never have a whole brand-new School Committee," said Margaret Donnelly, the only non-incumbent
who has pulled papers for this election.
Donnelly lost her seat on School Committee after 12 years when she came in fourth in the last election.
"When I first ran I ran because I was teaching at the time and Education Reform came in," said Donnelly, a 33-year Waltham
resident. "It was very exciting to be a part of that."
In each race, the final number of candidates will determine whether there will be a primary election, Malone said. The
standard, he said, is one more than double the number of available seats. For example, there are six councilor at-large seats
and a primary election will only be held if 13 or more candidates come forward.
Any primary elections will be held Sept. 18 with the final election in November, Malone said.
Nicole Haley can be reached at nhaley@cnc.com or 781-398-8004.
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