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Natick election results: Select Board, School Committee seats decided

March 30, 2021 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

Natick has released unofficial results for Tuesday’s annual election, which saw Paul Joseph win a seat on the Select Board, and Catherine Brunell and incumbent Shai Fuxman victorious in the contested School Committee race.

Just 13% of registered voters cast ballots either on Tuesday or in advance.

Joseph returns to the Select Board, which he served on previously from 2010-2013. Joseph got about 58% of the votes, with Guimel DeCarvalho at 42%.

Fuxman and Brunell earned 37% and 34% of the votes, respectively, in the School Committee race, with incumbent Matt Brand finishing third at 29%.

Natick election 2021

 

The one ballot question—Shall the Town approve the Charter Amendment proposed by the vote of the Natick 2020 Fall Annual Town Meeting under Article 24, summarized below?—easily passed, with more than 90% voting yes.

Complete results, including for Town Meeting member seats, can be seen below.

Thanks to all who ran for office and for all who voted.

Natick election


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Filed Under: Government, Town election 2021



Natick votes Tuesday, March 30—Town election guide

March 29, 2021 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

Natick’s Annual Town Election will take place on Tuesday, March 30th. Here is Natick Report’s guide on all you need to know about casting your vote.

vote tuesday natick


Ways to cast your vote in Natick

Vote by mail: Completed mail-in ballots may be brought to the drop box outside of Natick Town Hall, 13 E. Central St. Completed mail-in ballots must be placed in the Natick Town Hall drop box no later than 8pm on Tuesday, Mar. 30, 2021.

Note: applications to vote by mail are no longer being accepted (the last day to get an application to the Town Clerk was Mar. 24).

Vote in person at the polls, 7am – 8pm:

Precinct 1: Natick High School, 15 West St.
Precinct 2: Natick High School, 15 West St.
Precinct 3: Natick High School, 15 West St.
Precinct 4: Wilson Middle School, 22 Rutledge Rd.
Precinct 5: Wilson Middle School, 22 Rutledge Rd.
Precinct 6: Lilja School, 41 Bacon St.
Precinct 7: Community Senior Center, 117 East Central St.
Precinct 8: Morse Institute Library, 14 East Central St.
Precinct 9: Community Senior Center, 117 East Central St.
Precinct 10: Community Senior Center, 117 East Central St.

Here is a Natick precincts map.

Don’t know which precinct you’re in? Here’s how to find out where to vote in Natick, Massachusetts.


Natick Town Election candidates:

Contested races (names are listed in the order on which they appear on the ballot):

  • Select Board: (2 candidates running for 1 seat for a 3-year term—Guimel DeCarvalho; Paul Joseph)
  • School Committee: (3 candidates running for 2 seats for a 3-year term—Matt Brand; Shai Fuxman; Catherine Brunell)

Uncontested races:

Planning Board: (one opening for a 5-year term—Andrew Meyer)

Recreation and Parks Commission: (one opening for a 3-year term—Kelly McPherson)

Morse Institute Library Trustees: (one opening for a 2-year term—Carol Gloff)

Board of Assessors: (one opening for a 3-year term—Molly Reed)

Board of Health: (one opening for a 3-year term—Peter Delli Colli)

Natick Housing Authority: (one opening for a 5-year term—David Parish)

Constable: (one opening for a 1-year term—no candidate is on the ballot)


Links to Natick Report’s candidate interviews for contested races:

Select Board:

Guimel DeCarvalho

Paul Joseph

School Committee:

Matt Brand

Shai Fuxman

Catherine Brunell


Town Meeting, contested precincts

Precinct 10—8 candidates for 7 seats

Sample ballots here for each precinct with list of Town Meeting candidates.


Ballot question summary

Question No. 1: Shall the Town approve the Charter Amendment proposed by the vote of the Natick 2020 Fall Annual Town Meeting under Article 24, summarized below? YES or NO

The proposed amendment would make three changes:

1) It would provide the authorization for Representative Town Meeting to require certain information on assets and liabilities be provided as part of the budge message, by adding after the words “ore the Board of the Selectmen may require” the following: “The representative Town Meeting may, by By-Law, require certain information on assets and liabilities of the Town to be provided as part of the budge message.”

2) Adding a new section 5-7, entitled: “Section 5-7, Budgets for the Current Fiscal Year.” The new section 5-7 would read: “The representative Town Meeting may, by By-Law, require an updated budget message and certain information to be provided in connection with annual operating and/or capital expenditures budgets for a current fiscal year at Spring Annual Town, Fall Annual Town Meeting and for any special town meeting which deals with fiscal or budgetary matters.”

3) Renumbering the current “Section 5-7, Capital Improvement Program” to be “Section 5-8, Capital Improvement Program.”


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Filed Under: Government, Town election 2021



Natick applications to vote by mail due Wed., March 24th

March 18, 2021 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

Natick will hold its 2021 annual Town election on March 30, 2021.

Applications to vote by mail must be received in the Town Clerk’s office by 5pm on Wednesday, March 24th. Please note that you must fill out a new application for elections in 2021.

Massachusetts state law allowing mail-in voting has been extended in the Commonwealth through June 30, 2021.

More on voting by mail:

natick ballot box town hall

Download your vote-by-mail application here.

If you cannot download an application, call 508-647-6459 for assistance in receiving a vote-by-mail application, or with any other election questions.

The Natick Town Clerk’s office  has sent out early ballots to those who have so far applied for them. The Ballot Box in front of Town Hall located at 13 E. Central Street is open to return ballots, and for mail-in ballot applications.

All polling locations will be open on election day. The polls will be open from 7am – 8pm.

There will not be any in-person early voting.

Voting absentee:

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Government, Town election 2021, Voting

Natick Town Meeting candidates: Share your story

March 8, 2021 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

Protect Natick’s Future, a group whose mission is “to inform, engage and collaborate with residents and school and government officials on issues that matter to Natick’s future,” is inviting anyone running for Town Meeting to fill out a brief survey to let those in your precinct know something about you.

According to Protect Natick’s Future, there are more unfilled seats on the ballot than contested ones. Town Clerk Diane Packer tells us she’s hoping to have ballots up on the town website soon, maybe by March 9.

In the meantime, for those of you running for Town Meeting seats, here’s a link to the survey.

Town Meeting (see warrant) is being held remotely and is set to start on April 13 at 7:30pm.

Precinct Name
1 Andrea T. Adams
1 Michael D. Blaha
1 Angus A. Morrison
1 Marianne Senatore
1 Open Seat
1 Open Seat
1 Open Seat
1 Open Seat
1 Open Seat
1 Open Seat
1 Open Seat
2 Paul L. Dellarocca
2 Alfred R. Doig Jr.
2 Lynne K. Montross
2 Kathryn M. Coughlin
2 Cody Jacobs
2 Deborah L. Mitchell
2 Allison G. Roberts
2 Robin S. Sparr
3 Donna Volpe Casey
3 Judith A. Kuhn
3 Andrew J. Meyer
3 Bruce D. Whitney
3 Joshua Conte
3 Open Seat
4 Moire V. Balsam
4 Dirk Coburn Jr.
4 Jonathan H. Freedman
4 Elise A. Gorseth
4 Jeanette R. Szretter
4 Jane M. Dee
4 Rachele Beth Manning
5 Erica E. Ball
5 Andrew D. Eschtruth
5 William K. Johnson
5 Kelly L. McPherson
5 Harriet S. Merkowitz
5 Julian J. Munnich
6 Karen Adelman-Foster
6 William F. Gath
6 Mary A. Mitchell
6 Jeanne Williamson Ostroff
6 Joshua Ostroff
6 Martin McCrory
6 Claudia Trevor-Wright
7 Bruce T. Evans
7 Teresa M. Evans
7 Carol A. Gloff
7 Henry W. Haugland II
7 Richard Jennett Jr.
7 Linda Wollschlager
7 Helen Terry Checket
8 Sara R. Hanna
8 Richard Sidney
8 John P. Armstrong
8 Dominic W. Hall
8 Danielle M. Newland
8 Open Seat
9 Cathi Collins
9 James C. Duffy
9 Donald P. Friswell
9 James M. Williamson
9 Claire Frantz
9 Michael J. Hickey
9 Open seat
9 Open seat
9 Open seat
10 Kathleen Bacon
10 Edward J. Doherty
10 Martin Kessel
10 Reginald S. Leese
10 Dina L. Lutin
10 Susan A. Shea
10 Charlene S. Foss
10 Melissa A. Witham

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Filed Under: Government, Town election 2021

Meet candidate for Natick Select Board—Paul Joseph

March 5, 2021 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

The Town of Natick depends on the active participation of its citizens in governance of the Town. Natick voters will on March 30, 2021 cast their ballots for candidates running for Select Board, a contested race.

There are two candidates running for one open 3-year seat on the Select Board, which serves as the chief executive board of the Town and, as such, is vested with all the municipal authority not specifically retained by the Town’s legislative body, Town Meeting.

The Select Board candidates are Paul Joseph and Guimel DeCarvalho.

Natick Report invited the candidates to answer a few questions about their qualifications and priorities for the Town of Natick. Below is  Paul Joseph’s Q & A. Here is a link to Guimel DeCarvalho’s Q & A.

Paul Joseph—candidate for Select Board

Paul Joseph, Natick

Natick Report: What is your background and what qualifies you for a position on the Select Board?

I’ve been politically active in Natick for more than 13 years. An extensive overview of my experience can be found on my website (onenatick.com); however, some highlights include:

  • Natick Select Board member from 2010-2013, chair of the Economic Development Committee (EDC) for 6 years, and Town Meeting member for almost 10 years
  • More than 30 years of business experience, spanning start-ups to Fortune 100 companies. I’ve started or co-founded three business, served on several non-profit boards, and worked as the CEO of the MetroWest Chamber of Commerce from 2015-2019
  • Extensive experience supervising people, including hiring, firing, disciplining and developing; managing high performing teams; and, serving on executive task forces during two major corporate mergers, consolidating different corporate cultures into unified teams
  • Business strategy consultant and teacher, including adjunct faculty at Babson, WPI, and in several Executive Education programs. I’ve used simulations to provide experiential education and coaching to business leaders, including international audiences in Asia, Europe and the Middle East.
  • Recipient of the Foundation for MetroWest’s “2017 Civic Leader of the Year” award.

My platform is focused on four priorities, including:

1) Hiring Natick’s next Town Administrator
2) Navigating the impacts of a post-pandemic economy on Town revenue and operations, especially municipal services and school budgets
3) More effectively incorporating community feedback into policy decisions, operations, and volunteer appointments
4) Examining Natick’s governance model and operating norms and their impacts on the Town’s ability to grow and operate more effectively and equitably

I became politically active in late 2007, when Natick Public Schools proposed closing Johnson Elementary School to close an anticipated gap in the Town’s FY2009 budget. My interest in one issue sparked curiosity about “why” did things get to that point, “how” does local government work, and “what” can I do about it? I went from volunteering on the 2018 YES for Natick Operating Override initiative to serving extensively in various local government and non-profit roles.

My wife of 23 years, Magdalena (“Lena”) and I moved to Natick in 1995 to attend graduate school. After a brief move to Austin, TX for my job, we bought our first home in Natick in 2002 where we’ve raised our two children. Now aged 20 and 18 years old, our children benefitted substantially from Natick’s public schools, local athletics programs and community resources. Most valuable have been the relationships with our Natick neighbors and our “village,” the lifelong friends we’ve made as fellow parents and community members.

NR: How can Natick further support existing businesses and encourage new ones to come into Natick?

Joseph: Natick must:

1) Update and simplify its zoning bylaws and hearing processes
2) Invest more heavily in economic development, ideally earmarking budget from local options taxes and creating a economic development corporation as a non-profit, public-private partnership with the Town
3) Create and implement a robust business retention and expansion (BRE) action plan in collaboration with local businesses, commercial property owners, the Natick Mall, Natick Soldiers Systems Center, and various Town constituencies, including the Natick Public Schools.

These efforts should leverage the extensive work already completed, including the Natick 2030 Master Plan, the Natick Public Schools 5-Year Strategic Plan, the Natick Center Strategic Plan, the “Golden Triangle” Study, and the 2050 Net-Zero Action Plan, to name a few. These should inform a unified “revenue generation” plan that spans the municipal services and school department budgets and defines measurable and time-bound objectives for growing our commercial tax base.

Throughout the pandemic, our Community and Economic Development (CED) Department, Board of Health, and key community partners, notably the Natick Center Cultural District, have done a great job educating businesses about changing guidance from the Federal and State agencies, conducting inspections, promoting grant and loan programs, and serving as vital resources to our struggling businesses. The CED also effectively partnered with the EDC and outside vendors to launch new a website and online resources to “hook” prospective new businesses during their site-selection processes.

Further, we’ve become more agile and flexible, allowing some short-term changes to zoning and permitted uses of space—curbside pick-up, sidewalk dining, etc. We “must not waste a good crisis” and make sure that some of these improvements don’t get lost when we return to our new normal! Let’s learn from these “exceptions” and permanently adopt those practices that will accelerate our economic recovery and enhance our quality of life!

NR: How should Natick manage the financial implications of the pandemic going forward?

Joseph: Effective planning must take both a longer-term and “singular” view of our revenue and operations—we must get away from the parallel processes undertaken annually by the school department and municipal services “sides” which then subsequently try to reconcile gaps through often heated, “zero sum” negotiations. Our taxpayers are better served when we focus more on growing the pie together and less on fighting over the slices.

Natick must employ more sophisticated, and multi-year, scenario planning, working from a unified accounting/IT system, and through a process predicated on the effective and respectful collaboration between the town’s two “chief executives, the Town Administrator and Superintendent, their department heads, and the major policy boards.

We need to leverage Natick’s strong bond rating and reserves by focusing our budget with “the end in mind” – big picture thinking about what the community wants from its schools and municipal services in the next several years, not just one year at-a-time, and establishing the goals, and metrics, that will take us there. On the operations side, we should establish metrics such as “service level agreements” (SLAs), “quality of service” (QOS), etc. while potentially sharing services across departments. This approach will help each “side” take baby steps toward a more unified, transparent, and value-oriented budgeting process.

If we continue to build budgets with an “incremental” or “level services” mindset, compounded by our parallel planning and budgeting processes, Natick will rapidly fall behind other communities with more agile systems and governance already in place.

NR: How can Natick best continue to act on the concerns of its residents of diverse backgrounds?

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Election, Government, Town election 2021

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