WHERE THE MAYORAL CANDIDATES STAND ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

The Green Decade Board has developed series of positions which we, as an organization, support. These positions provide the basis for our activities in the upcoming elections for Mayor and in legislative activity within the City.

We distributed a questionnaire to each of the mayoral candidates who has qualified for the Preliminary Election on September 15, asking them to review the positions endorsed by our organization. The table below are the candidates' responses to our positions. Candidates were offered an option to comment on the issues. Items on which candidates commented are marked with an asterisk “*”. Their comments appear below. Please consider this information in making your choice for Mayor.

The two candidates who remain after the September 15 Preliminary Election will be interviewed, in person, at 7 p.m. on October 5, at the Main Library’s Druker Auditorium in an event sponsored by Green Decade/Newton, the Newton Free Library, and NewTV.

S = Support
O = Disagrees
? = Unsure
* = Candidate's comment is provided below

  ISSUE
Ruth Balser
 Paul Coletti
Bill Heck
Ken Parker
setti warren
A.
 Install solar photovoltaic panels on every public building with appropriate solar exposure and orientation.
S
S
S
S
S
B.
 Establish “betterment” process for energy efficiency and solar installations on private structures, which will enable the cost of these improvements to be added to the building’s property tax bill.
S
O*
S*
?
S
C.
 Institute and publicize steeper block rates for water/sewer to encourage conservation.
S
?*
?*
S
?*
D.
 Utilize the most advanced pollution controls on City-owned and City-contracted diesel construction equipment and vehicles.
S
S
S
S
S
E.
 Ban gasoline-powered leaf blowers from use within the City.
?*
O
O
O*
?*
F.
 Plant all municipal properties and require all new municipal and private developments to install low-water plantings and/or use native species.
S*
S
S*
S
S
G.
 Replace gas street lamps with the highest efficiency streetlights available.
S
S
S*
 S*
S
H.
 Require a HERS (Home Energy Rating System) or other appropriate rating at the time of sale of any residence.
S
?
S
S*
?*
I.
 Ban sale or serving of bottled water in City buildings and at City facilities.
?8
O*
O*
S
S
J.
 Require implementation of business, multifamily, institution, and school recycling of paper, cardboard, plastic, and glass and recycling at all parks and public spaces.
S
?
S
S
S
K.
 Require recycling of all paper, cardboard, plastic, and glass used in City facilities.
S
S
S
S
S
L.
 Institute Pay-As-You-Throw trash collection, with the first 35 gallons free.
?*
O*
?*
O*
?*
M.
 Establish separate municipal collection and composting of organic waste.
S
S
S
S
?*
N.
 Require building contractors to recycle all recyclable construction and demolition waste prior to obtaining an occupancy permit.
S
?
S
S
S
O.
 Require stores to charge a small fee for all paper and plastic shopping bags.
O*
S
O
?*
S
P.
 Mandate residential snow shoveling to promote pedestrian safety.
?*
?*
?*
?*
S
Q.
 Establish marked bicycle lanes on all main streets, with no requests for State waivers.
?*
S
O
O*
S
R.
 Create secure and accessible bicycle parking at village centers, T stops, including commuter rail, at Crystal Lake, Gath Pool, and municipal buildings.
S
S
S
S
S
S.
 Establish preferred parking for low-emission vehicles and ride-sharing vehicles in all municipal lots and at all new private developments.
O*
S
O
S
S
T.
 Establish free parking at meters for low-emission vehicles.
O*
O
O
S
S
U.
 Commit to City purchase of only low-emission vehicles whenever available for application.
S
S
S
S*
S
V.
 Support and advocate for proposed walking/bicycle path from Riverside to Wellesley.
S
O*
?
S*
?*
W.
 Modify zoning ordinance to encourage transit-oriented development with greater residential density, dwellings above retail space, and reduced parking requirements near public transportation hubs.
S
S
S*
S
S
X.
 Adopt Town of Wellesley by-law limiting by-right residential renovation/replacement to 10 per cent increase over existing square footage.
O*
O*
?
O
?
Y.
 Take all steps necessary to qualify as a “Green Community” under the State’s Green Communities Act, including adoption of the “stretch code.”
S*
S
?
S*
S

We offered each candidate a maximum of 600 words in which to comment on the subjects addressed in our questions. Their comments appear below, following the relevant question letter.

Ruth Balser
E. Before endorsing this policy, I need more information about cost, performance, and potential burden on homeowners.
F. There are additional opportunities for Newton to improve water and wastewater management. For example, expanding the residential rain barrel program to promote conservation; retrofitting public areas over time to maximize use of permeable surfaces and to minimize run-off, and performing regular leak detection of the City's piping infrastructure are a few of the practices I will pursue as Mayor.
I. As a State Representative, I support the updated bottle bill to divert more containers from landfill sites or incinerators. Although I would prefer that the schools not sell bottled drinking water, immediately banning its sale could lead to students replacing water with sodas and other high-sugar, unhealthy beverages.
L. I believe that Newton residents need time to become used to the new single-stream-recycling and automated-trash program that the city is implementing before we make further changes to our system of trash collection.
O. I agree with the philosophy of discouraging use of paper and plastic shopping bags, but it is my preference to provide an incentive to shoppers by giving them a discount for supplying their own reusable bags.
P. Before I can support this plan, I will have to make sure there is an adequate plan to assist those who by virtue of age, disability, or income are unable to comply with it.
Q. I am a strong supporter of bicycle lanes and do not intend to seek waivers from the state, but there may be an unusual case in which one is warranted.
S. I support the growing use of low-emission vehicles; however, people who cannot afford to buy the new green vehicles should not be penalized by higher fees. I believe our focus should be to support legislation that will lead to a shift in policy that will regulate the automobile industry.
T. As a public policy matter, we need to legislate change in the auto industry instead of penalizing individuals who cannot afford to buy a new car. The change has to happen at a macro level
X. I prefer not to require individuals to make their living arrangements a political matter with the Board of Aldermen. I prefer to address this issue with a building code that requires efficiency.
Y. As a legislator, I supported the Green Communities Act, and I have made the reduction of GHG emissions and the promotion of environmental sustainability a top priority for my campaign and, eventually, for the Balser administration. I recently released a 5- point plan to green Newton that advocates declaring the city a Green Zone so that we can attract state green communities dollars as well as federal stimulus funds. (Please read the report in its entirety at www.ruthformayor.com.)

Paul Coletti
B. I would support a state or federal grant or low interest loan fund program similar to MWRA cleaning and re-lining grant or inflow and infiltration program to connect sump pumps to the storm drain to assist homeowners who install solar and high efficiency improvements.
C. I would first adjust the quantity limits for commercial and institutional and apartment users to reflect as we did with condominium units a reasonable minimum charge and usage amount before steeper block rates kick in.
I. Until we have newly installed filtered water coolers, and lead free pipes in all municipal buildings and schools we must make alternatives to drinking unsafe water available.
L. I supported and worked to pass the new trash collection program, and I supported the new recycling program, but I would wait to see the savings generated by removal of waste from the trash stream and cost avoidance before using trash as a revenue generator.
P. I would implement a city-wide sidewalk plowing program before mandating residential shoveling due to the city's inability to enforce such an ordinance.
V. I would support such a path without spending funds to repair the section from Concord Street to the Wellesley line including the dangerous bridge.
X. I do not believe that 10% allows a homeowner the ability to maximize the return the investment required to undertake such renovation and modernization efforts. I also believe such a policy would discriminate against owners who originally underdeveloped their properties and now need the extra square footage allowed under current zoning.

Bill Heck
B. This is a bit of a double whammy in the short run, but it raises the value of the property in the long run.
C. Steeper block rates mean different thing to different people. I need more information.
F. The word all is too limiting in all cases. There are many wonderful plants and trees from this region and elsewhere that create beauty and ought to be available for consideration. Beauty, especially natural beauty, has a price.
G. Some energy efficient lights produce very unattractive light. Beauty has the right to exist too.
I. People purchase water for many reasons, including later consumption elsewhere. Why limit the selection to soft drinks?
L. Trash output is not the same for everyone. A residence with six people will likely generate more trash than a residence with two people. One 35 gallon container is the one-size that doesn’t fit all; it is merely one size.
P. The need to remove snow on sidewalks varies, and so should the requirement. This is a good local issue for Ward Aldermen to address.
W. Great question! All of the village centers are locked into a period of the past, and I would look forward to opening the door to actively discussing redevelopment in the village centers.

Ken Parker
B. I support tax credits for businesses and residents installing solar panels, passive heating and cooling systems, and other energy- efficiency improvements. I have not seen the “betterment” proposal, however.
E. Gas-powered leaf blowers generate air and noise pollution, and many Newton residents would like to see them banned. However, it is not appropriate to single out this technology while other devices, like gas-powered lawn mowers, are permitted. Instead, I support updating the City’s noise ordinance and establishing a uniform standard for air pollutants to improve the quality of life and environment equally for all.
G. I support the gradual replacement of our few remaining gas streetlights with energy-efficient alternatives, but these lights are mostly in historic districts, so conversion needs to be consistent with their historic character. Besides energy efficiency, we should also consider public safety (adequate lighting) and the toxicity of waste products in the bulbs.
H. HERS ratings should be required, but this needs to be accomplished via the state building code (currently included in Appendix 12.AA), not as a local ordinance. I think we can pilot this with a voluntary program on a local level.
L. I do not support PAYT trash collection because the resulting fees are regressive: People with lower incomes would pay a higher percentage of their incomes for trash collection. Trash collection should continue to be funded through property taxes and the City should seek to reduce its waste stream by increased recycling and source reduction. I have proposed a goal of 75% recycling by 2011 and explain how this would be accomplished at www.parker2009.org/improve-recycling
O. I prefer the “bring your own bag” discount model used by stores like Whole Foods. A great deal can be accomplished here through public education and cooperative discussion with store owners.
P. Snowy sidewalks are a serious issue for Newton pedestrians, but I am not convinced such a law will actually solve the problem. For instance, City snow plows sometimes erase the hard shoveling work of conscientious residents by throwing snow back onto the sidewalk, and they create large walls of snow on street corners. While residents must do their part to keep sidewalks clean, I support working with the Department of Public Works to improve its snow-clearing process.
Q. I strongly support implementing a comprehensive, three-tiered bicycle route system in Newton to accommodate scenic, recreational, and commuter biking. However, not all streets are equal, and a blanket policy may decrease safety by implementing lanes in inappropriate locations that create a false sense of security for cyclists. I support strong, comprehensive bicycle accommodation. Streets should be examined on a case-by-case basis for suitability for bike lanes, share-the-street designation, or other accommodation strategies. My detailed plan is at www.parker2009.org/pedestrian-access
U. I support fleet-management strategies to reduce energy consumption by city vehicles, including replacing older diesel vehicles with cleaner new vehicles, taking advantage of the Federal “Clean Diesel” program, purchasing low-emission vehicles, and limiting use of city vehicles to necessary municipal purposes. We should factor financial and environmental costs into all of our vehicle- purchasing decisions.
V. I strongly support having a bicycle and pedestrian path between Newton and Wellesley. I hope that a scenic route along the Charles River and the Leo J. Martin golf course can be worked out.
Y. I strongly support the objectives of the Green Communities Act and will work aggressively to achieve Green Community designation for Newton. The “stretch code” has just been adopted by the state, and I would like to consult with the Planning, Law, and Inspectional Services Departments and the Board of Aldermen, before adopting it in its current form.

Setti Warren
C. I strongly favor this concept in principle but would need to see the specific cost increase recommendation before implementing it. In addition, as with many of the issues raised here, I would want to make sure the impact on Newton’s most vulnerable citizens – particularly those on fixed income – was not cost prohibitive.
E. I strongly favor the concept but would want to understand the cost to the small businesses that are the primary users of this equipment. We might want to consider implementing this change over time so that businesses (and residents) would be able to absorb the cost of acquiring new equipment. If the cost of operating the equipment was not less than the cost of operating gasoline-powered blowers, I might want to consider some tax incentive to help defray the cost of acquiring the new equipment.
H. I certainly would encourage people to use the HERS system but would want to understand the cost of the assessment and the availability of certified experts. In the current housing market I think we should be cautious about implementing a requirement that deters home sales.
L. I am on record supporting Pay As You Throw provided our most vulnerable citizens are not financially impacted. The over 35 gallons provision advocated by Green Decade may well safeguard these families but I would want to see hard data before supported this specific proposal.
M. I find this an extremely intriguing idea – win-win for both business and the environment. However, since the concept is new to me, I would like to see specific proposals from potential haulers before implementing. I am very anxious to reduce Newton’s carbon footprint and contribute what we can to the environment but want to do so in a cost effective and budget neutral way where we can.
V. As an avid biker (and now canvasser), I would certainly like to see more bike/walk paths. However, the property involved in the Wellesley-Newton project is currently owned by the State and their plans for that property are being disputed in the courts. We will have to wait for judicial resolution before taking action. In addition, any plans for the use of this property for biking would have to take the needs of the abutters into account. I believe we can work through a solution, which will please both bikers and residents, possibly involving other routes that include a path that runs by the river.
X. An Aldermanic taskforce is currently reviewing this concept and I would like to see the results of their study before coming to a conclusion.