Swampscott selectmen candidates debate tax burdens, resident participation

SWAMPSCOTT – The four candidates for Board of Selectmen took a last chance to win over residents during Monday?s Candidates Night before voters take to the polls on April 30.The debate, sponsored by the Marblehead and Swampscott Reporters, drew about 30 townspeople to the high school to hear candidates Patryk Januszewski, John Callahan, Charles Patsios and Matthew Strauss battle it out for the two open seats on the board.Panelists questioned the candidates on how they would vote on home rule petition, what they would do to lower property taxes, address flooding issues, increase cooperation between board members and keep personal agendas at bay.The debate, for the most part, was kept civil, with the candidates agreeing with each other on the points of making drainage infrastructure a priority and voting no on Selectman Barry Greenfield?s proposed pension reform.Brief moments of candidate collision occurred when Patsios and Strauss disagreed with each other?s fiscal ideas. Strauss said he disagreed with Patsios? ideas to fix tax problems by just being fiscally conservative. “There are non-tax ways to drive revenue,” said Strauss, and mentioned funds from the state like that which would cover traffic control if Suffolk Downs gains a casino.Patsios claimed he had the solution for the town?s increasing tax burden with the proposed living facility for those aged 50 and up at Vaughn Place. He said senior residents would add tax revenue without adding children into the public school system. “I don?t have a problem with children, but I have a problem with paying for them,” said Patsios.Januszewski, a software developer, emphasized his ideas on how technology could increase communication between residents and town boards, therefore increasing resident participation in the town?s government.Callahan blamed the current board for creating a town culture of “siloed” committees with their personality conflicts. “There?s a culture of arrogance that needs to stop and that?s why I?m here, that?s why I?m running, so I can work for you,” he said in his closing statement.Kait Taylor can be reached at [email protected].