David Cadran – iBrattleboro 2013 Selectboard Candidate Interview

Each year, iBrattleboro sends questions to Selectboard candidates and invite them to use the site to connect with voters.

This year’s questions have been sent, and David Cadran is the first to respond.

Mr. Cadran is running for a 1 year seat on the Brattleboro Selectboard.

Why do you want to be on the Selectboard this year?

I grew up in Brattleboro and care about it deeply. I believe there’s a lot of progress to be made to make us a more resilient town. I am hoping to bring some fresh, young blood and new ideas to the table. I look forward to the opportunity to serve the people of Brattleboro.

Why run for the 1 year seat?

I chose to run for the 1 year seat because I believe it will allow me to get involved and “dip my feet in”. I would certainly be willing to run again and for a longer term in the future if it seems necessary.

Tell us about issues that interest you… what would you like to accomplish?

I am particularly interested in job growth and development. Brattleboro has done a tremendous job in supporting local businesses but I believe there is more that can be done to attract new businesses to town, particularly those in the STEM field. These are the jobs of the future. 

Also, transportation infrastructure is of particular interest to me. I am proposing that the Selectboard lobby the Legislature for the creation of a 1% Local Option Gas Tax that will be used to fund the creation of new and improved transportation infrastructure. 

What about Brattleboro do you feel is unique and worth preserving?

Brattleboro’s character is by far its biggest asset. People from far and wide know that Brattleboro is a terrific place to have fun, to work and raise a family. We need to preserve our culture and sense of community while we progress forward.

What are some short term issues facing Brattleboro? What are some of the long term issues you see?

Brattleboro is facing many complex issues. The macroeconomic climate continues to be Brattleboro’s biggest challenge, but this isn’t the end all be all. I actually see Brattleboro’s long term issues as far more challenging than the short term issues. 

Population growth continues to be our biggest challenge. The Census does not break out figures for a town of our size in terms of projections and the Town Plan projects slow continued growth, but I personally see this as being far too optimistic. Our population is stagnant right now, if not declining. We need to do more to bring people to Brattleboro so that more people can enjoy the best our community has to offer.

What we are seeing is ever rising town budgets and a slew of expensive capital projects that are placing a greater strain on the current tax base. Unless we can expand our tax base which is also stagnant, we will become a totally unaffordable place for families to live.

In your view, what does an aging population mean for Brattleboro?

Japan has struggled with this for many years and the effects of the Baby Boomer generation retiring is beginning to have an effect on the US. Brattleboro’s challenges with aging are two-fold. Those that remain in Brattleboro are aging rapidly, requiring ever greater resources from our community. At the same time, young people are leaving in greater and greater numbers for urban areas where far more opportunities exist. When these young people leave there is no one to pay for the services that the aging population requires. This creates an even greater strain on our budget.

Brattleboro must be far more proactive in attracting industries that employ youth, such as the STEM fields. In addition, Brattleboro needs to work harder to lobby the legislature for the same type of support that areas like Chittenden County receive in retaining their youth population. As a Selectboard member I will work with my colleagues to push the Legislature for the creation of a full-fledged public college in Brattleboro. Ideally I would like to see the creation of the first Vermont Institute of Technology. Businesses invest and locate around such institutions which are the wave of the future. It is time for Brattleboro to become a true college town.

Do we have enough housing and resources for people of limited means?

Not only do we lack enough housing and resources for the lower class but we are also lacking in housing and resources for the middle class. A strong middle class is the bread and butter of a sustainable society and we must do more to grow the middle class. The main challenge is housing.

Very little housing has been created outside of projects by the Windham & Windsor Housing Trust. They have done an incredible job bringing affordable housing to our community and I will continue to work with them to make sure that happens. What we lack is more housing for the Middle Class. Quite frankly, nothing is being done by the Town of Brattleboro to address this issue. As a Selectboard member I will put forth a proposal that every new-construction unit of housing built in Brattleboro will receive 5 years of Local Property Tax exemption. In addition any current landowner who sells a piece of their property for the creation of new housing will receive a 1 year Local Property Tax exemption. This is just the kind of investment Brattleboro can make to relieve our housing shortage and create real economic growth.

I’ve also been thinking a lot recently about the Putney Road Master Plan. Here is this great plan to facilitate the creation of a major new hub in town and it sits on a shelf collecting dust. It’s meant to be what we want the North End to look like in 50 years but that’s not going to happen if we don’t push it along. We need to turn the North End into a specialized tax district and hold outside investor forums to create the kind of public-private partnerships that will make that plan come to fruition. There is no excuse for why the town is doing nothing to encourage growth in this area.

What are your feelings on the proposed $14 million Police-Fire Facility project? Less than 100 Town Meeting Representatives approved such spending – is that a fair reflection of the will of Brattleboro taxpayers?

I fully support our Fire and Police departments and they desperately need renovated facilities. That being said, I felt that there was little real discussion about options and price tags. It seemed kind of rushed through. One of my proposals is a by-law to place Capital Expenditures exceeding $1 million on a general ballot that all residents will have the chance to vote on. 

What do you think should be done with the River Garden?

The River Garden is challenging for me. I’m still evolving on my opinion of it. I very much enjoy the space, I even had my High School Prom there so I am emotionally connected to it. However, the town can not afford to take over the space and operate it at such a significant loss. I support continued dialogue around the space and we should look into all solutions that will provide for its continued existence in one form or another.

What’s the best way for citizens to express their thoughts to the Selectboard?

Social Media! It’s quick and convenient. People aren’t involved in government because it doesn’t connect with them on a real level. It’s often cumbersome to get a hold of officials and you are lucky if you get any response at all. Brattleboro needs to do much more to engage its citizens through communication and the execution of business. Get a parking ticket? Why not scan a code on it and pay for it with your mobile phone? Dog license? Business permit? Water & Sewer bills? Why isn’t this all being done electronically? I’m afraid we may have become too comfortable with the phrase “but that’s how we’ve always done it.” It’s time for us to make meaning investments to increase the efficiency and dialogue within our local government.

Bonus: Anything else you’d like to say that no one asks you about?

My final note: It’s time for Brattleboro to make waves and think outside the box. We need to be putting forward bold and ambitious ideas to grow our community and make it even more sustainable. I look forward to working with the Selectboard and the town government to make these proposals a reality.

I invite you all to follow me on Twitter using my handle: @dcadran or to visit my website: www.davidcadran.com beginning Monday February 18 for the latest information on my campaign. A Facebook page is coming shortly as well.

Thank you

David Cadran