Letter was “cheap shot” at Espindola
[In response to Adam Abelha’s letter in the 11/30/17 issue] Cheap shot at Selectman Espindola. Yes, he is fortunate to work for a large corporation. He wouldn’t have been hired in his current role were he not prepared to do the job. Good for him.Employment aside, Mr. Espindola is an honorable man, does his research, follows through and follows up. The town is fortunate to have him to shepherd and spearhead some thorny issues.
Pay as you throw is a program designed to correct lazy and selfish behavior. Has our current recycling program been effective? As no or little data has been released to the public, it is hard to know. But I do feel that Mr. Espindola has the town’s best interests at heart and I for one, support him completely.
Susan Spooner, Fairhaven
Espindola happy to meet with the little guys, et. al.
This letter is in response to one written last week by a resident of Fairhaven concerned that I am in favor of raising taxes on residents in Fairhaven and that I am “not for the little guy”.
I am here to tell you that I absolutely am here for the little guy. You see, community leaders don’t work on economic development just because we like business, we do so because the net result is to spread the tax base, to make that tax base more resilient, and to create jobs. All those things, in the end, wind up benefiting the little guy and thoughts about the little guy are always underlying what we do.
Fairhaven provides very good value in services on the tax dollar as consultants working on the Town Master Plan (VHB) and the consultant working on a special Economic Development study (FXM) have highlighted in their work. Our school system, public safety, public works and Town Services in general are, in my opinion, among the best offered per tax dollar in this area.
My goal is to make sure we maintain, over the long haul, the value we currently provide per tax dollar or, ideally, to improve on that efficiency.
I like to base decisions on data and analysis, and that is what I have asked our Board of Assessors and the Department of Revenue to provide for us, so that we can make informed decisions. I have no desire to make any changes in the tax structure until such time the analysis shows it is (without question) in the overall best interest of the Town (especially the little guy) to do so.
I would be happy to sit with any “little guy”, “big guy” (or anyone else for that matter) who would like to know more about my view on the Town’s finances and economic development outlook.
My office hours are the first Tuesday of every month and I am always willing to set up an appointment at other times as required.
Bob Espindola, Fairhaven
Mr. Espindola is a member of the Fairhaven Selectboard, an elected post.
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