Q. Should Johnson School be closed?
A. It makes no sense to close Johnson School at a time when we are projecting a large increase in students from the hundreds of new residential developments that are being planned or are in development. Even if the over-ride does not pass, Johnson should remain open.

Q. Should we eliminate full-day kindergarten?
A. No. The latest proposal from the School Dept does not eliminate full-day kindergarten, even if the over-ride is voted down. I agree with this. Kindergarten is no longer a transition year for children, it is an important educational development year for our young students. Full day kindergarten is an important asset for the town and it is also important for working families.

Q. My understanding is that, in 1994 the money from construction of the Natick Mall was used to build Town Hall, Police Station, Fire station and Library, what has happened to the money the town has received from the "new" Natick Collection?
A. Most of the money that the new Natick Collections has given to the town so far has either been spent on road and infrastructure improvements, or is restricted for specific use (i.e. Open Space).

Q. What is the town doing with the increased tax revenue from the Natick Mall?
A. Don't forget that there are also increased costs associated with schools, fire, police, water and sewer, etc. as a result of the Natick Collections. These costs get absorbed into the annual operating budgets.

Q. Why do we need an override?
A. Here is the standard answer. Proposition 2 ½ only allows the town's budget to increase 2.5% annually (not including new growth). Most of the town's expenses are for employees and employee health insurance has been increasing by much more than 2.5% per year. We have been saving in other ways for many years in order to avoid an over-ride.

Q. Why does the town use it's own employees to pick up the trash, even though an outside contractor's bid would have done it for $500,000 less over a 5 year period?
A. This makes no sense to me at all. Even if those employees are available to do other jobs, it would still be cheaper for the town to outsource this service.

Q. If we regionalize fire services, what guarantees are there that a fire truck will arrive at my house before there are catastrophic results?
A. Regionalized response rates will be the same as our current response rates. In fact, they will probably improve because with a larger network of resources, there will be a lower likelihood that multiple fires or events will delay response.

Q. Natick Center is beautiful with many local merchants to select from, I have difficulty finding parking. What can be done so the downtown remains vibrant?
A. Additional parking is definitely needed. However, taxpayers should not have to foot the bill. I believe that the cost of additional parking (a new parking garage) should be spread across all the groups who benefit. Downtown businesses should pay their fair share via parking fees. People who are parking and taking the commuter rail should pay via parking fees. People who park short-term should pay via meter, and then a portion can be spread among taxpayers because a vibrant downtown is an asset to the entire town. There is also the potential for a private developer to subsidize the cost of a new parking garage by developing housing above it with some restricted for age and income eligibility.

Q. During rush hour traveling south on route 27 from route 9 is a nightmare, what can be done?
A. Natick is outgrowing it streets' capacity to provide "traffic free" mobility. We need to prioritize the areas where traffic is worst, and then figure out how to get money (i.e. state and federal funds) to improve those roads. We also need to make Natick more pedestrian and bicycle friendly. I don't see too many bicycle racks downtown.

Q. On your website you talk about improving education, how are you going to do it?
A. Top-notch education is provided by top-notch teachers. Although our students need a safe, clean environment to learn in, it is the quality of the teachers (and parental involvement) that has the biggest impact on our students' success in both their academics and in the world. I will always push to help our school administration hire and develop the best teachers possible, and to eliminate, or at least minimize the impact of sub-standard teachers.