GREENFIELD — Implementing a local tax on recreational marijuana, reducing Greenfield’s tax rate and addressing the opioid crisis were among the topics discussed during a forum for at-large Town Council candidates Thursday night.
The debate, held in the GCTV studio, featured the four at-large candidates vying for two seats on the Town Council. The candidates answered questions from the audience and two panelists — Suzanne Patnaude from the League of Women Voters of Franklin County, and Joshua Solomon, reporter for The Recorder — which ranged from Greenfield’s high tax rate to plans for a new library and public safety complex.
When asked about the best location for a needle exchange program and what actions should be taken to help address the opioid epidemic, all candidates agreed that the program is a good idea.
Ashli Stempel, who recently stepped down from her seat as Precinct 8 councilor after moving, said she thinks housing the needle exchange in an RV is an excellent idea, as it would allow the service to move from place to place. Precinct 6 Councilor Maria Burge agreed, saying she doesn’t believe a needle exchange should be located on Main Street.
“People are already scared by the people who are hanging out in the parks and stuff, so I believe that a mobile unit right now would probably be the best choice because that way it could go all over town, whenever the problem is,” Burge said.
Incumbent Penny Ricketts said she would like to see sharps disposal containers in as many places as possible to prevent needles from being dropped on the streets or in parks.
For newcomer Andrew Killeen, the opioid epidemic has become more of a health crisis than a legal crisis, and he believes the town should not erect any roadblocks for those seeking help. However, he said the council should be proactive yet discretionary in its approach to the problem.
“We need to be careful about where we place these, but accessible,” he said of the sharps disposal containers, adding the council should resolve to work with any private entities that want to help.
Candidates were also asked about plans to build a new library on Main Street. The current proposal would involve the demolition of the fire station, and some hope to build a new public safety complex that would house the police and fire departments.
Burge said although the town is set to receive a $9.3 million construction grant for the library, the decision comes down to needs versus wants, and right now Greenfield cannot afford such a big expenditure.
If the current library building could be put to a different use, Killeen said he might be more inclined to support the project, which he said could be a wonderful community space.
“That, for me, would be a little bit of a tipping point, if I could understand how that would be a win/win/win for the town,” he said.
Ricketts said although she doesn’t want the town to lose its grant, the council needs to set a limit for how much it plans to spend on a new library and receive more complete information from the mayor about what exactly is wrong with the current police station.
Stempel agreed, saying she wants to see more transparency on the public safety complex side.
Greenfield’s high tax rate was also a topic of discussion, and candidates were asked what they believe are the best strategies for reducing the tax rate.
“If there were any easy answers to that question, I think they would have been done already,” Killeen said. “What that tells me is we need to have a process of prudence going forward where each of the dollars we spend is carefully considered.”
He said expanding the tax base by attracting business to town is also part of his strategy.
Ricketts said the town has to keep an eye on spending for special projects like the new Community Center and proposed library, while Burge said she doesn’t have an answer for reducing the tax rate, saying she would rather focus on minimizing its impact on residents.
Stempel suggested that the town convert as many city services to municipally-owned utilities as possible, and be more thoughtful when approving Tax Increment Financing Agreements.
“We have more to offer businesses coming to town than to give them a tax break,” she said.
In August, the current council rejected a proposal to make Greenfield a “safe city” for undocumented immigrants, but several candidates for council say they hope to bring the idea back to the table. At-large candidates were asked about their thoughts on a future safe city proposal, which varied.
Stempel said she believes the previous proposal would have been a viable ordinance that would have prevented people from being subjected to discriminating random behaviors, such as stop and frisk. Ricketts agreed, saying she would still support a future ordinance.
Burge and Killeen, however, said they are not in support of labeling Greenfield a “safe city.”
“I feel Greenfield is already a safe city, why do we need to name it a safe city?” Burge said. “I’ve worked hand-in-hand with a lot of these folks who don’t want attention brought to them by being named a safe city.”
She added that the designation could make Greenfield the target of a federal immigration sweep.
Killeen said he believes that immigration and diversity are the lifeblood of the American Dream, and everybody should be afforded the basic assurance that if they call 911, they will not be deported from their family.
However, he added, “I believe that an ordinance that codifies that lack of cooperation between local police and their federal counterparts has potential to create discord between the spirits of the law of the land.”
When asked about implementing an optional 3 percent local tax on recreational marijuana sales, candidates agreed with the idea, but their answers varied as to where the money should go.
Burge said any revenue should go to education, while Killeen and Ricketts agreed that it should help alleviate the tax burden on businesses and residents.
Stempel said a 3 percent tax is not enough, and local leaders should put their heads together to determine how to best use the money.
Greenfield will hold its Biennial Town Election on Nov. 7.