2023 Survey: Town Meeting Precinct 7

Town Meeting is made up of 36 members from each of the Town’s eight precincts, with each member serving overlapping, 3 year terms. That means each year, twelve Representative Town Meeting Members from each of our eight voting precincts are elected. Should a Town Meeting member resign before their three year term is complete, a replacement Town Meeting member will be elected for a one, or two year period to replace them.

Three year position (vote for not more than 12)

Click on the links below to view the candidate’s survey. A check mark (✓ ) indicates candidates who have submitted surveys. You will be asked to vote for no more than 12 candidates.

Three year position (vote for not more than 12)

Margaret C. Callanan | 21 Sargent Rd. | Candidate for Re-election

No response received.

Name	Clare Crawford
I’m a candidate for:	Town Meeting
I am running as a:	Candidate for re-election
I live in:	Precinct 7
Candidate’s Statement	My experience navigating the Belmont Public Schools as a parent over the past 13 years has shown me first-hand how important it is to build and maintain trust between the School Department, BPS families, and the wider Belmont community. As an active member of the high school PTSO Board, I particularly focus on and prioritize communication and transparency. Community trust and collaboration around funding priorities will be critical for maintaining the quality of our schools given our town’s budget crisis.
Accomplishments	Issues that are of particular interest to me include how to maintain the excellence of our schools in our current financial crunch; how to keep our town walkable and reduce car traffic; and how to continue to invest in much-needed capital projects around town.
Government reform	I have read the Collins report, and I support reforms to Belmont’s government structure to streamline management and decision-making in the town.

Name	Claudia Albert
I’m a candidate for:	Town Meeting
I am running as a:	First-time candidate
I live in:	Precinct 7
Volunteer & community activities? (optional)	Volunteer – Burbank School Library Before moving to Belmont – Condominium Board President – 2014-2019
Candidate’s Statement	To me, my role as a town meeting member means representing the people of Belmont. I practice creative problem-solving, which requires listening, learning, debating, cooperation, prioritization, long-range planning, and well-monitored, fiscally responsible actions. As a lifelong educator (teacher, administrator, and professor) with grandchildren in Belmont schools, I support continuous improvement of our school system—improvement that will meet all students’ needs based on data, educational research, and consideration of a rapidly changing world. My approach to all town issues follows a similar process of gathering information, identifying needs, prioritizing, and taking responsible actions to make Belmont better for all.
Government reform	In my LWV’s statement, I speak to representing the people of Belmont and making the town a better place for all. As a Town Meeting Member I hope to help make connections among what the Collin’s Committee Report calls “silos” within Belmont. There is an adage that a picture is worth a thousand words. If one looks at the chart of Belmont’s Financial Organizational Structure (page 13 in the report), Town Meeting (with its eight constituencies) is one of six separate entities that all have major fiscal responsibilities. If elected I will represent Precinct 7; however, having read the Collin’s Report, I see an urgent need for the precincts and other governing bodies to come together to consider the Committee’s recommendations for improving coherence of the town’s financial operations. Gaining clarity of the financial “big picture”—current and future—is crucial to improving all the workings of the town and, thereby, ensuring a better Belmont.

Name	Michael Atlas
I’m a candidate for:	Town Meeting
I am running as a:	First-time candidate
I live in:	Precinct 7
Candidate’s Statement	As a health-minded environmentalist, I helped work on the policy Town Meeting passed to phase out gas-powered leaf blowers in Belmont. Our community still faces many other forms of pollution and health risks beyond yard equipment: airplane noise, excess light at night, pesticides, rodents, storm runoff and more. All must be addressed as a community. As a five-year resident who works from home with my wife and baby daughter, I support electrification and other forward-looking municipal infrastructure projects, such as a town battery. I also support creative ideas to diversify and boost town revenues beyond property taxes.
Your Precinct (optional)	Precinct 7 is unfortunate in that it is directly located underneath a permanent “highway in the sky” airline departure path from Logan’s runway 33L. This “highway” was only recently established 2014 with the implementation of NextGen navigation. Prior to 2014, flights taking off from runway 33L would disperse fairly across the MetroWest communities, but since the change, they are now concentrated directly over our our homes in P7. The airplanes pass over us around 5,000 ft elevation, and many are trans-Atlantic internationals flights, fully-loaded with fuel, roaring overhead late at night, one after another, sometimes only 90 seconds apart from the prior one, shaking windows and sometimes even setting off car alarms. On weekends, it often is impossible to enjoy our backyards and porches, or to even let alone open our windows for some fresh air. There has been no meaningful hope for any kind of relief from the onslaught of these airplanes – not from the FAA and not from their airports or airlines, and not from our local or federal representatives. Good-faith efforts to study the problem and propose solutions have been tried to no avail. The government’s choice measurement for noise disturbance has been shown to inadequately capture the harm caused by these NextGen paths. Many other communities all over America have been subjected to these new air-highways and have experienced similar failures to address the problem. I believe the only remaining remedy is a class-action lawsuit against the federal government.
Government reform	My inclination would be to support the recommend reform improvements if brought to a vote by Town Meeting.

Name	Nina Del Vecchio
I’m a candidate for:	Town Meeting
I am running as a:	First-time candidate
I live in:	Precinct 7
Volunteer & community activities? (optional)	I was an assistant coach for my daughter’s soccer team for three years in elementary school, and an assistant coach for her basketball team in 6th grade.
Candidate’s Statement	There are numerous challenges facing Belmont, and therefore a lot of opportunities. If elected I will work on solutions that will positively impact the town my daughter and I have called home for the last ten years. I will advocate for keeping our schools strong, addressing traffic challenges, and improving our roads and sidewalks. Serving on Town Meeting is a chance to give back, and to maintain and improve the community for everyone who has lived here for generations, and will call Belmont home in the future.
Your Precinct (optional)	7th
Government reform	I support having an appointed treasurer.

Name	Deanna Earle
Campaign website/Facebook page/ Etc. (optional)	https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089869212400
I’m a candidate for:	Town Meeting
I am running as a:	First-time candidate
I live in:	Precinct 7
Candidate’s Statement	I am passionate about helping Belmont flourish! My priorities include increasing micro-mobility and improving public transit, which will ease traffic and make Belmont safer for everyone. Other priorities of mine are increasing the availability of affordable housing and advancing social justice. As a proud first-generation low-income Cornell University graduate and a current LSHTM MSc Epidemiology student, I understand the importance of green spaces; strong, inclusive communities; intersectionality; educational opportunities; and safe and affordable housing. With my education and grassroots, local government, state government, and academic medical center experience, I will make Belmont better for all current and future residents.
Your Precinct (optional)	Precinct 7, pedestrian safety has, unfortunately, been an issue for us. To start, our sidewalks are in dire need of repair. I often see parents of young children having to walk in the road with their strollers because they cannot navigate the uneven sidewalks. Our crosswalks also need to be made more visible by, for example, adding flashing lights. In conjunction with increased visibility and safer sidewalks, the addition of speed humps – they are more gradual than speed bumps – will improve safety as children walk or bike to school, neighbors head to their bus stop, or we are out and about enjoying our neighborhood.
Government reform	The Collins report is comprehensive, providing numerous recommendations to ward off Belmont’s seemingly impending financial ruin. Belmont’s government does need to be reformed to do so. We must prioritize 1) creating a Financial Management Team headed by an appointed, knowledgeable director; 2) increasing revenue by creating PILOT agreements; and 3) diversifying the tax base by attracting businesses. Our current practices are not sustainable. We are relying on non-recurring funds to cover expenses and our current conduct of financial management-related matters is unsatisfactory, without regularly scheduled meetings, a director, or any consensus. Additionally, we primarily rely on residential taxes for our revenue and receive little from commercial taxes. Our “Town of Homes” urgently needs to review our government’s structure and reevaluate our revenue streams. This will allow us to continue providing and to improve upon our services, including our excellent schools, our library, and our recreational options.

Name	Paul Gormisky
I’m a candidate for:	Town Meeting
I am running as a:	First-time candidate
I live in:	Precinct 7
Candidate’s Statement	I’m the parent of a current Burbank kindergartner and a 3-year old. My wife is a public school teacher. I’m also a research scientist and I will bring data driven decision making and search for creative solutions to my role as TMM. I was motivated to run because it is clear that Belmont is facing difficult challenges to maintain the quality and benefits longtime residents have enjoyed. I believe I can bring the perspective of those in town with young families to Town Meeting along with an open-mindedness that seeks solutions beneficial to all town residents. I would prioritize properly funding our schools and long-term investments in town infrastructure (e.g., safe roads, sidewalks, Community Path). I’m currently concerned about the proposed cuts to school programming and employees, which will have a negative impact on our students, teachers and staff. Many families are drawn to Belmont for the school system and it is a cornerstone of any strong community, which provides a high-quality education for children, supports growth increase the tax base and fuel local business, and raises property values for homeowners. Being realistic about the financial challenges facing the town, I would also work to support sustainable development to increase overall tax revenue, while lessening the tax burden on homeowners. In my view, the Belmont Hill School parking lot and Beatrice Circle do not meet that goal. I would like to explore opportunities for redevelopment to provide opportunities for denser housing and commercial tenants.
Your Precinct (optional)	The poor quality roads and sidewalks and inadequate crosswalks in precinct 7 are obvious. This is a top issue for me as many residents routinely walk in the street or face dangerous crossings to get to school.
Government reform	I found the Collins report both informative and devastating to read. In watching meetings of the various committees working through the FY24 budget, the process seems chaotic, a fact even to which many of the participants make reference. While I very much value the independence of committees composed of experts to bring forward solutions, there needs to be more centralized accountability. This in turn increases transparency in government because a patchwork of decision makers is difficult for residents to follow and hold accountable. I would like to see the formation of a Financial Management Team as well a reduction of reliance on free cash and addressing the structural deficit as top priorities. As a resident, my preferred solutions are to focus on expanding the tax base (e.g. sustainable development/redevelopment) and looking for efficiencies rather than broad cuts. In the future, with a stable revenue stream established, other priorities like building reserves can be addressed.

Name	Brian Edward Iler
I’m a candidate for:	Town Meeting
I am running as a:	First-time candidate
I live in:	Precinct 7
Volunteer & community activities? (optional)	5+ years coaching youth soccer 10+ years working in youth program at 1st Church Belmont (Unitarian/Universalist) 3 years Belmont election worker 2 years monitoring Belmont Middle & High School Building Committee to advocate for renewable energy infrastructure, and cost accountability (attend meetings, send update emails to 300+)
Candidate’s Statement	As a Town Meeting Member I will support measures to: — make Belmont’s government more efficient (aggressively adopt Collins Ctr report) — make Belmont solvent, via expansion of tax base, PILOT payments from non-profits, adoption of Structural Change committee suggestions, etc. — make Belmont more diverse: encourage racial integration through housing policy, and tax relief for property-rich-income-poor seniors — make Belmont carbon free, (see my article in this month’s Belmont Citizens Forum)
Your Precinct (optional)	Reckless driving on Grove and School streets endangers residents, especially children walking to school or traveling to playgrounds. We must engage the police to more aggressively enforce speed limits and respect for pedestrians in cross walks. Rodent control in the Grove Street fields should be poison-free, to protect wildlife.
Government reform	We should move forward aggressively to adopt most of the Collins Ctr report suggestions, starting with passage of Question 2 on the ballot in April. Belmont needs a more professional, streamlined government in order to make the changes it needs to preserve our quality of life.

Name	Laura Kane
I’m a candidate for:	Town Meeting
I am running as a:	First-time candidate
I live in:	Precinct 7
Volunteer & community activities? (optional)	I serve as a member of the Board of Directors for the Belmont After School Enrichment Collaborative (BASEC).
Candidate’s Statement	Since moving to Belmont in early 2021, my family has quickly become active in the town community. Specifically, we have volunteered in our children’s school classrooms and library, and have fundraised for, organized, and participated in extra-curricular activities because we recognize the unique opportunities that our public schools offer to Belmont children. I currently serve as a member of the Board of Directors for the Belmont After School Enrichment Collaborative (BASEC) and regularly volunteer with the Burbank PTA. I support funding and staffing our schools because I recognize the role that public school plays in building a strong community for our own children as well as future Belmont generations, who will benefit from the investments we make right now.
Government reform	I believe that following DLS guidelines for formalizing a financial planning cycle should be a priority, as well as developing other sources of revenue to reduce reliance on non-recurring funds.

Name	Anne Mahon
Campaign website/Facebook page/ Etc. (optional)	http://annemahon.com
I’m a candidate for:	Town Meeting
I am running as a:	Candidate for re-election
I live in:	Precinct 7
Volunteer & community activities? (optional)	Commissioner of the Belmont Housing Authority, TMM member of Precinct 4 for over 15 years, and a Housing Production Plan Committee Member. I’ve recently moved to Precinct 7 from Precinct 4 so running to represent these constituents. I’ve coached the Belmont soccer and basketball in-town teams, and consider myself a Community Activist with a goal of helping our residents that struggle in an effective way. Sponsor of Housing Families, Belmont Foundation for Education Business, Refugee International, Belmont Spelling Bee, Community of Solidarity, Belmont Social Action Committee, The Bail Project, UU Church Performing Arts, Belmont Robotics, Belmont Helps, Belmont Food Pantry, Belmont Library, Belmont HS plays, Belmont Basketball Court, PQ park improvements, Community Path, Belmont Clean up day and try to contribute to the organizations that need financial sponsorship to continue their good work that improves the lives and outcomes of many.
Candidate’s Statement	Anne Mahon 617-990-7660 – 29 Livermore Road, Belmont I’m concerned about our schools and the budget deficit’s impact on our children’s education. If you lose everything, all you have is what’s between your ears, so let’s make sure we don’t let our Belmont kids down. As a Commissioner of the BHA and a member of the Housing Production Plan Committee, I look to create housing for residents wanting to downsize but age in place in a setting that is safe, makes them happy, and remains affordable. As a Realtor, doing both of these things increases the equity of every resident’s home – investment in community increases sale price.
Accomplishments	I was the one who wrote up a Citizens Petition years ago with Paul Roberts to make Belmont a “Welcoming Town” and worked with Belmont Against Racism and the Belmont Police Dept to arrive at a place where Belmont can be a safe community for EVERYONE here. Prior to that I had done a Citizen’s petition to keep our elementary school libraries open by using revenues from our Reserves since reading is the foundation of learning and it gave children an opportunity to pick out a book that they wanted instead of just reading the assigned books from the teachers. I am concerned about the book bans that other states are implementing and don’t want that here. My daughter Jane’s favorite books in elementary school were about Rosa Parks and Anne Frank and see those as important texts for children to feel empowered when they see wrongs of the world.
Your Precinct (optional)	I’ve moved to Precinct 7 from Precinct 4 and here we have enjoyed the Grove Street park that had Town Meeting invest in paths that made the park accessible to those in wheelchairs and have watched grandparents in wheelchairs be able to cheer their grandkids on from the sidelines. Having a son with Cerebral Palsy, I appreciate the ease with which he is able to come out and traverse what was previously uneven ground without a fear of falling.
Government reform	I believe that we should have the Selectpersons report to a City Manager instead of the other way around and have the ability to hire candidates that have proven successful experience running a town and hiring staff that can investigate state grants for town funding needs as well as implement the 10 year plans that we have had done repeatedly, but consistently shelved. The Town’s Treasurer shouldn’t be elected but instead appointed as a hire so we make sure to have someone with an expertise in that area take the position instead of someone that looks nice on a postcard, but doesn’t have the breadth of knowledge required for this position. I agree that an assessor should have the same expertise and be hired (appointed) instead of elected as well.

Name	Ira Morgenstern
I’m a candidate for:	Town Meeting
I am running as a:	First-time candidate
I live in:	Precinct 7
Volunteer & community activities? (optional)	Belmont Vision 21 Committee – member IINE (Afghan resettlement) – volunteer Belmont Helps – volunteer staff Teach for America – member and inner-city teacher Build Boston – student team leader Newton Schools Foundation Board – member Newton Schools Strategic Planning Committee – volunteer member Charles River Watershed Association – sampling volunteer
Candidate’s Statement	Belmont is a great place to live, but the structural deficit is endangering our schools, our quality of life, and affordability, particularly for seniors. Our financial problems have been years in the making. Town Government has not prioritized solving this problem, relying instead on periodic, increasing overrides. Had revenue opportunities been acted on earlier, they would be part of the solution today. We need a realistic action plan that reduces the structural deficit now. PILOT monies from not-for-profits must start to hit town coffers in 2023. Proactive plans for commercial development on Belmont Street, Pleasant Street, Trapelo Road and others are imperatives. We need to make Belmont more business friendly for the types of development we want and need and work with interested parties to solve development delays and problems promptly. We need to re-negotiate more realistic economic arrangements with Belmont Golf Club and any other non-residential properties not paying their fair share of taxes. Town Meeting must be the checks and balances to ensure Town Government is making the right decisions and setting the correct priorities for our residents. Problems must be explicitly addressed, with urgency. I bring financial, negotiating and leadership experience working with struggling companies to ensure Belmont’s bright future. I respectfully ask for your vote.
Your Precinct (optional)	Belmont’s structural deficit must be addressed promptly and realistically to maintain the resident diversity and quality of life in Precinct 7.
Government reform	In 2023, Belmont’s top priority must be developing and implementing a revenue focused plan to address our structural deficit. We must also improve transparency, realistic long-term planning, priority setting and accountability.

2023 Survey: Town Meeting Precinct 7

Three year position (vote for not more than 12)

Three year position (vote for not more than 12)

Margaret C. Callanan | 21 Sargent Rd. | Candidate for Re-election

Clare G. Crawford | 134 Dalton Rd. | Candidate for Re-election

Comments/Notes

Nancy Hempstead Donald | 31 Marlboro St. | Candidate for Re-election

Natalie M. Kostich | 262 Grove St. | Candidate for Re-election

Hannah S. Liberty | 43 Worcester St. | Candidate for Re-election

Benjamin Joel Meshoulam | 54 Newton St. | Candidate for Re-election

Alison M. Rhodes | 54 Newton St. | Candidate for Re-election

Heather Maxwell Rubeski | 133 Dalton Rd. | Candidate for Re-election

Brett C. Sorenson | 30 Woods Rd. | Candidate for Re-election

Claudia Home Albert | 67 Dalton Rd.

Michael R. Atlas | 49 Newton St.

Nina Del Vecchio | 125 Elm St.

Deanna Earle | 22 Park Rd., #1

Paul Gormisky | 79 Betts Rd.

Brian Edward Iler | 482 School St.

Laura Wildemann Kane | 67 Dalton Rd. #2

Jeffrey W. Liberty | 43 Worcester St.

Anne B. Mahon | 29 Livermore Rd.

Ira Buddy Morgenstern | 21 Clarendon Rd.

Susan Rebecca Titus | 26 Livermore Rd.

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