PROMISED MADE,
PROMISES KEPT!
• Improve safety of our roadways for all users through Education, Engineering, and Enforcement. Focused on improving safety high crash intersections with flashing stop signs on Hampton @ Jerome and Bryn Mawr @ Leicester; reduced speed limit on Pinehurst Ave; and increased enforcement on neighborhood streets.
• Invest in our public schools and improve our core services including maintenance of our greenspaces, our library, trash & recycling, aging infrastructure, etc. Pushed for improvements, funding, and introduction of new technology in our roadway and other critical infrastructure improvements; advocated for dedicated sidewalk construction funding; advocated for the new Fire Station; supported our School Committee and Superintendent; pushed for the completion of Camp Gleason and Goddard Park; advocated for increased funding for our recreation program; advocated for fully funding Auburn Youth & Family Services for the services they provide to the Town and School Department.
• Support our growing senior population by addressing rising costs and by expanding services to help seniors age in place with dignity. Drafted and co-sponsored several senior and veteran tax abatement expansion programs to ensure they can remain in Auburn; streamlined other discounts for trash and sewer; pushed for more local and state support for the seniors living in the JB and Mary D apartments; and advocated on behalf of the residents of the Auburn Housing Authority.
• Meet our regional housing needs with responsible, context sensitive development. Pushed for zoning bylaws changes to help our regulatory boards address 40B projects; advocated for changes on the state level to improve the fairness of the 40B law; pushed for an expansion of the Town’s efforts to implement our master plan by recruiting developers to build housing on our terms in locations we want; advocate on behalf of residents impacted by 40B projects to ensure safety is addressed.
• Expand our support for small businesses and expand the commercial tax base to slow the growth of residential taxes. Drafted and co-sponsored an expansion of the small business tax abatement program to ensure small businesses with triple net leases could afford to stay in town; pushed for the appointment of the Town’s first Economic Development Director to focus on bringing new businesses into town implementing our master plan and lower our taxes by increasing new growth; supported reasonable tax classification changes to support our businesses while not negatively impacting our residential tax payers; helping to lead the development of a wage theft policy to protect employees working on public infrastructure projects and ensure tax payer funds are not fraudulent spent.
• Provide experienced executive leadership in partnership with the other members of the Selectmen, School Committee, and Town Manager to support our hard-working public employees and ensure accountability. Supported the hiring of a new Town Manager, Assistant Town Manager/Economic Development Director, Police Chief, Library Director, Assistant DPW Director/Sewer Superintendent, and others; created a process to recognize retiring employees with Select Board proclamations; push to ensure equitable treatment between union and management; worked collaboratively to create a responsible budget that maintained the level of service expected by our residents; advocated for investment in the training of employees and their professional development; pushed for a better website and additional means of communication with residents to improve transparency and accountability; instituted monthly office hours to provide residents with an additional means of communication with the board, and publicly recognize outstanding achievements and going above and beyond the call of duty by Town employees.
• Ensuring your voice is heard and making local government work for you. Proudly became the go to select board member for residents, small business owners, and others who needed support including pushing for improved communication and transparency; advocating for fair treatment relative to tax/refuge/sewer bills; inquiring on issues related to licensing; authoring and cosponsoring a warrant article to prohibit land clearing; advocating for replacement of sunken stormwater catch basins; maintenance and construction of new sidewalks including Bryn Mawr; building and code enforcement; improved snow plowing; and personally shoveling out storm water drains so roads don’t flood in front of some elderly residents houses.
BUT THERE IS MORE WORK TO DO
• Pursue additional engineering safety measures, enforcement, and investment to help keep our residents safe and improve the maintenance of our roads, sidewalks, and other critical infrastructure
• Pursue my proposal to explore capping the growth in property assessment and other strategies to address the main reason our tax bills go up annually so we can keep Auburn affordable for all residents
• Push our partners on the state level to pass our proposals for increased tax programs for seniors and small businesses and reform the 40B law to better meet the needs of communities like ours
• Work to pass and enforce my proposal to alter the Land Disturbance Permitting to protect our neighborhoods from the blight caused by premature clear cutting by developers
• Partner with our Town Administration and the Economic Development department to increase new growth on our terms and in areas we want to see it so we can reduce our property tax while maintaining the level of service we all expect from the Town
• Continue to support our Town and School employees and empower them though professional development because when we invest in them – they better serve us
• Ensure you continue to have a strong voice and person on the board who fights for you and makes Auburn the best pace to live.
My name is Todd Kirrane and I am running for re-election to the Auburn Select Board.
I am not a lifelong Auburn resident. Instead, like many of you, my wife & I chose Auburn as our home because of its reputation for strong schools, good municipal services, and proximity to Worcester, major highways, and recreational opportunities. We loved Auburn so much we relocated my parents and older sister here so we could help take care of them as they age. But our community is not without its challenges – roadway safety, real estate development pressures, critical infrastructure needs, and escalating costs of living to enable long-time residents to age in place.
I was raised by a hard-working, blue collar union laborer and a stay-at-home mom who taught my siblings and I the importance of education by going back to school to become a medical assistant and help provide for our family. During tough times, we survived with the help of a range of social services, the support of family, and community groups like the Elks and Globe Santa. At a young age I learned the value of hard work, perseverance, importance of family, and what is meant when someone says ‘it takes a village to raise a child’. My life experiences drive my passion to advocate for others and have led to a career of service to others.
For the last 20 plus years I have earned the reputation as a nationally recognized municipal leader who embraces technology to deliver on time and on budget public infrastructure improvements that focus on safety and access for our most vulnerable. I am currently the Vice Chair of the Auburn Select Board, member of the Wage Theft Policy Committee, former Vice Chair of the Planning Board, former elected Town Meeting Member from Precinct 3, and former Auburn representative to the Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Council. As a senior manager in the Public Works field, I am the only candidate with the in-depth experience in public administration and municipal finance to ensure that your voice is well represented at the decision-making table.
Over the last 3 years I have worked hard to ensure that the promises made in my first campaign became promises kept. But there is still work to do! My priorities as your Select Board member remain:
Improving safety of our roadways for all users through Education, Engineering, and Enforcement.
Investing in our public schools and improve our core services including maintenance of our greenspaces, our library, trash & recycling, aging infrastructure, etc.
Supporting our growing senior population by addressing rising costs and by expanding services to help seniors age in place with dignity.
Meeting our regional housing needs with responsible, context sensitive development.
Expanding our support for small businesses and expand the commercial tax base to slow the growth of residential taxes.
Providing experienced executive leadership in partnership with the other members of the Selectmen, School Committee, and Town Manager to support our hard-working public employees.
Ensuring your voice is heard and making local government work for you.
If you share my belief in the important role that local government can and should play in supporting it’s residents, regardless of their age, employer, socio-economic status, or education than please LIKE my Facebook page, volunteer for my campaign, and most important of all cast your vote for me on Tuesday, May 19th.
It would be my honor to continue to serve Auburn as your Select Board member.
Warmest Regards,
Todd M. Kirrane