Editor’s note: Michael Terounzo is one of four candidates running for two At-Large City Council seats in the Nov. 5 Greenfield election.
Address: 171 Log Plain Road
Occupation (past/present): Landscaping business owner/operator; former road test examiner for the Registry of Motor Vehicles; former driving instructor
Political experience: This is my first time running for elected office.
How long have you lived in Greenfield? 35 of my 37 years
What qualities would you bring to the City Council? I would bring pragmatism, inquisitiveness, critical thinking and adaptability to name a few. I strive to be as efficient as possible. As I’ve stated before, I love puzzles. The handling of the intricacies of city matters is an enigma, one that I welcome trying to help solve. I feel I am very approachable, and by keeping an open mind, I can work well with others even when a difference of opinion exists. Having a long background in theater, I have directed and worked alongside many folks with strong, varied ideas of how a performance can/should be run. Working around the differences and finding the commonality to achieve the goal can be frustrating at times, but is also a wonderful tool to learn how to co-exist in a friendly and respectful manner.
Are you up-to-date on your property taxes? Have you ever been delinquent on your payments? Up-to-date, never been late.
Which subcommittees would you be interested in serving on and why? I would be happy to join any of the subcommittees. It’s hard to choose a favorite as they all deal with very different avenues of the city. I am kind of a “numbers guy” I suppose, but the ability to work with other departments of the city has it’s own intrigue.
Dissatisfied voters petitioned to put the library and safe city ordinance on the ballot. What does that say about the confidence voters have in the City Council to make decisions on their behalf? Though these are both hotly debated topics this year, I don’t think it’s a question of confidence in the council. There will always be dissatisfied voters on some topics as opinions, by nature, differ. The utilization of our charter’s democratic form of “checks and balances” to ensure that the decisions made by the council are representative of the majority of voters should not be frowned upon. This is democracy at its core. I do, however, caution that it should be used sparingly and responsibly, so as not to make a mockery of our system. I would offer that a potential lack of confidence in the council stems from so many matters being tabled, giving the appearance that not a whole lot is getting accomplished one way or the other.
The city charter is expected to undergo revisions next year. What changes should be made, if any? I do not necessarily believe that specific changes need to be made. I would be happy to be involved in the discussion of charter revisions and listen to those ideas that others may have for changes. There have been a few small tweaks throughout the tenure of our charter, and the fact that it has a built-in review process is a great asset to our city as times are ever-changing.