Marblehead park and rec candidates face off

MARBLEHEAD – Candidates for the Recreation and Park Commission didn’t agree on sharing the costs of maintaining the so-called Stramski property with the Harbors and Waters Board at Monday’s League of Women Voters candidates’ night.About 60 candidates and voters were present at the event held at the Marblehead High library. The presentation will be carried on cable TV over the next two weeks, until the May 11 town election.The Harbors and Waters Board has received Town Meeting approval to install a new pier at Stramski’s Beach on Salem Harbor, but neighbors have appealed the decision to the Department of Environmental Protection. The beach abuts the Gerry Playground, which the recreation and park workers maintain. The playground and beach area were donated to the town by the Stramski family.The seven candidates seeking the five available one-year commission seats are incumbents Derek Norcross, Charles "Chip" Osborne, Linda Rice Collins and Sam Ganglani and challengers Charles Nyren, Skip Likins and Rose Ann Wheeler McCarthy.McCarthy, a former member of the Recreation and Park Commission and Cemetery Commission, praised the Harbors and Waters Board for their plan to install a new pier at the park and decried the appeal, which she said Town Meeting should supercede.Likins, who has experience as a landscaper and teacher, said, "Anyone on the commission would be happy to work with any committee to get this done." He pointed out that the department maintains the playground.Norcross, a four-year commissioner and the current chair, said he would be happy to share more maintenance if the Harbors and Waters Board would share some of their new mooring fees and pointed out the difficulties of dealing with level-funding.Nyren is a retired Delta pilot with a lengthy volunteer resume, including playground redevelopment. He said, "The commission should be holding joint meetings with other groups to develop (recreation) property for all."Collins, a nine-year commissioner and longtime coach, listed several examples of departments working together on recreation projects.Ganglani, a commissioner for the past eight years, submitted a statement in which he said the recreation department manages to provide the same services despite the fact that the budget has shrunk by 30 percent. He was away on business.Osborne, an eight-year commissioner and consultant in natural turf management, was absent due to illness.In a telephone interview Tuesday he said, "If this does happen the land side of the property will always belong to the Recreation and Park Department. We were seen as partners with Harbor and Waters when Town Meeting approved this."All the candidates in turn praised the department employees and expressed the hope that new Superintendent Brendan Egan can find new revenue and grant money to help the department.