Election 2019
Since January 2018, I have devoted my life to this job. It has come with great sacrifice but it has also been very rewarding.
I am seeking another 2 years to continue the work that I started in 2018. I'm here for you if you need me.
Call me if you have any questions or concerns.
Paul
I am seeking another 2 years to continue the work that I started in 2018. I'm here for you if you need me.
Call me if you have any questions or concerns.
Paul
Downtown Revitalization is Underway!
My downtown revitalization plan is based in reality. It is not wishful thinking and pretty pictures based on the hope that rich people will save us by buying buildings that are not even for sale - such as the Sun Chronicle or much of the Union Street district.
For nearly two years, my administration and I have been working with the current property owners to either incentivize or nudge them to rehabilitate their properties, or find someone who will take the incentives the city has to offer. By offering my administration's support obtaining a TIF or HDIP, or offering CDBG money, my approach has worked!
A large portion of the Union Street district is under new ownership who is going to invest in Attleboro. The building formerly known as the Kids Town or Salvation Army building on Union Street will be coming down in the months to come. The owner of another building on Union Street is having discussions with a buyer. Renaissance South is going to break ground soon. We have several buyers interested in buying another blighted property in the downtown on South Main Street. By proposing an ordinance to hold blighted vacant properties and individual units subject to pay fines, one downtown property owner decided to rehabilitate his previously boarded up street level storefront. By working with the ARA, GATRA, and MassDOT, we are collaborating with companies to build a parking structure near the MBTA lot for additional commuter and downtown parking. Nothing happens overnight. Talks started early in my administration. Negotiations have happened. Plans are being drafted. My efforts are producing changes in the downtown.
At the center of many of these projects is my economic development director, a position that I campaigned on, funded in the budget, and filled in December 2018. This is not something that was a priority before my time as mayor.
By revitalizing the downtown area and increasing the number of apartments and condos, we are not only going to have a stronger tax base, but we are going to have more people living in the downtown. With an increase in people living in the downtown, we are going to have a demand for more restaurants and shoppes.
This is a REAL plan and it is underway. As property is under new ownership, these new owners are now in the design phase of redevelopment. This is not pretty pictures and wishful thinking. This is happening with me as Mayor of Attleboro.
For nearly two years, my administration and I have been working with the current property owners to either incentivize or nudge them to rehabilitate their properties, or find someone who will take the incentives the city has to offer. By offering my administration's support obtaining a TIF or HDIP, or offering CDBG money, my approach has worked!
A large portion of the Union Street district is under new ownership who is going to invest in Attleboro. The building formerly known as the Kids Town or Salvation Army building on Union Street will be coming down in the months to come. The owner of another building on Union Street is having discussions with a buyer. Renaissance South is going to break ground soon. We have several buyers interested in buying another blighted property in the downtown on South Main Street. By proposing an ordinance to hold blighted vacant properties and individual units subject to pay fines, one downtown property owner decided to rehabilitate his previously boarded up street level storefront. By working with the ARA, GATRA, and MassDOT, we are collaborating with companies to build a parking structure near the MBTA lot for additional commuter and downtown parking. Nothing happens overnight. Talks started early in my administration. Negotiations have happened. Plans are being drafted. My efforts are producing changes in the downtown.
At the center of many of these projects is my economic development director, a position that I campaigned on, funded in the budget, and filled in December 2018. This is not something that was a priority before my time as mayor.
By revitalizing the downtown area and increasing the number of apartments and condos, we are not only going to have a stronger tax base, but we are going to have more people living in the downtown. With an increase in people living in the downtown, we are going to have a demand for more restaurants and shoppes.
This is a REAL plan and it is underway. As property is under new ownership, these new owners are now in the design phase of redevelopment. This is not pretty pictures and wishful thinking. This is happening with me as Mayor of Attleboro.
Attleboro Schools
Because of the budget crisis of 2016 and the trauma the city experienced because of that crisis, my number one budget priority has been to make sure that there are no layoffs in the school department, or any department for that matter. I have succeeded in this goal. I submitted two budgets (2018 and 2019) that went to the City Council and were so delicately balanced that the Council did not amend either year's budget. That is rare.
I have already started the process to repair the roofs and Brennan and Wamsutta Middle Schools in the summer of 2020. These have been leaking for over 20 years. I also budgeted to fix the gymnasium floors at Hill Roberts and Hyman Fine Elementary Schools this fiscal year!
Additionally, I have been working with the School Superintendent, Police Department and Fire Department to find the best school security system to help first responders in the event of an active shooter crisis. We have interviewed vendors, selected who we want to go with, and applied for a grant from the state to help cover the cost of funding the school safety system. Once we know how much the state will award Attleboro, I will send a request to the City Council to fund the balance. In an age when school shootings are far more common that a school fire, we must take this decisive action.
As the mayor, I am also the chair of the School Building Committee. The SBC oversees the construction of the new high school. The new high school will open on time in 2022 and on budget with me as Mayor of Attleboro.
I have already started the process to repair the roofs and Brennan and Wamsutta Middle Schools in the summer of 2020. These have been leaking for over 20 years. I also budgeted to fix the gymnasium floors at Hill Roberts and Hyman Fine Elementary Schools this fiscal year!
Additionally, I have been working with the School Superintendent, Police Department and Fire Department to find the best school security system to help first responders in the event of an active shooter crisis. We have interviewed vendors, selected who we want to go with, and applied for a grant from the state to help cover the cost of funding the school safety system. Once we know how much the state will award Attleboro, I will send a request to the City Council to fund the balance. In an age when school shootings are far more common that a school fire, we must take this decisive action.
As the mayor, I am also the chair of the School Building Committee. The SBC oversees the construction of the new high school. The new high school will open on time in 2022 and on budget with me as Mayor of Attleboro.
Taxes
A lot of people have been concerned about the increased tax burden of the high school. There were four specific things I can take credit for helping reduce the burden of the increased taxes on property owners in Attleboro.
- I made sure that we have a 30 year bond over a 20 year bond. By doing this it makes the payments more manageable for people having a hard time with a tax hike.
- I decided to sell three existing surplus city schools and apply that money towards the administrative portion of the new high school, which is not covered by the state. By doing this, we are not going to have to raise taxes by the several million dollars the city will get from selling these surplus schools.
- I decided to use existing revenues to pay for over $ 1 million of the new high school project. By doing this, we are not going to have to raise taxes by the several million dollars the city will get from selling these surplus schools.
- I appointed a new board of assessors. A new board of assessors was tasked with working with the assessor to find new ways to make the tax hike more manageable. The result of this was that taxpayers were able to pay for the high school over a greater period of time and started paying for the new high school earlier than was planned. This stretched out the tax payments over a longer period of time making the tax hike more manageable. Taxpayers eased into the smaller payments rather than being shocked with larger ones.
Quality of Life
Under my administration, streets have been paved, new sidewalks have been built, and city services have been expanded. We purchased 93 acres of prime real estate and turned it into Highland Park, a park that has walking and biking trails, a cross country course, and if I get my way, soon to have a performing arts venue. This performing arts venue will be paid for from the proceeds that the City will get from the sale of the Highland Country Club clubhouse. By using these proceeds and seeking grants from charitable foundations, Attleboro will not increase its debt, it will not take money from other departments, and it will not raise taxes to pay for this performing arts venue. This is realistic, achievable, and it will happen with me as Mayor of Attleboro.
Attleboro is not a wealthy city. We need to worry about people living on the margins. As mayor, I need to take care of city departments first as they are my primary responsibility. These departments provide important city services to constituents. But there are nonprofit agencies in the city that I have worked with for years. Some of these are at the city owned 95 Pine Street. That is a building that is a drain on other city departments. That is why I have proposed selling the building for $1 to any nonprofit who wants to take over operations and management of that building. Selling this building will free up the city from the financial burden that building is to the city, but also allow the nonprofit agencies to remain at 95 Pine Street helping people in need of support in Attleboro and surrounding communities. We can plan for success and we do with me as Mayor of Attleboro.
Attleboro is not a wealthy city. We need to worry about people living on the margins. As mayor, I need to take care of city departments first as they are my primary responsibility. These departments provide important city services to constituents. But there are nonprofit agencies in the city that I have worked with for years. Some of these are at the city owned 95 Pine Street. That is a building that is a drain on other city departments. That is why I have proposed selling the building for $1 to any nonprofit who wants to take over operations and management of that building. Selling this building will free up the city from the financial burden that building is to the city, but also allow the nonprofit agencies to remain at 95 Pine Street helping people in need of support in Attleboro and surrounding communities. We can plan for success and we do with me as Mayor of Attleboro.
On Leadership
Leadership requires surrounding yourself with the right people. It requires listening to the subject matter experts who run the different departments. It is giving the departments heads the freedom and support to do their job and keeping up to date with them and their needs. This is important so that city services are delivered to residents of Attleboro. I look forward to the mayoral debate to highlight specific points about why I should get another term as Mayor of Attleboro.
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