Candidates for Selectman answer questions from public
By Caitlyn Kelleher JOURNAL REPORTER

Selectman Mark Carlisle and Advisory Board member Margaret Whitney answer questions from town residents during a Candidates' Night sponsored by the Ashburnham Business Council. JOURNAL PHOTO/CAITLYN KELLEHER

Ashburnham Selectman Mark Carlisle said voters are going to have to choose between "two philosophies" as they pick between him and challenger Margaret Whitney on Tuesday, April 29.

That comment in his opening statement during a Candidates' Night sponsored by the Ashburnham Business Council on Thursday, April 17, drew agreement from Whitney.

The candidates agreed in their answers on a lot of questions, except when they got into a discussion on the management of the town and the role of the Board of Selectmen and its ability to control the town administrator, including a discussion had later at the Selectmen's Monday night meeting (see the story on page 1).

"All I asked (the Department of Revenue) was when the free cash was certified," Whitney said. She also expressed concern with the lack of information being presented to voters.

The moderator of the event, Bill Webber, put an end to the debate after four or five minutes and geared the comments back to the questions being asked by the ABC and audience members.

Many of the questions asked by the audience focused on the candidates' abilities to resolve tensions between board members and how they would deal with conflict, as well as asking them what they would do if they lost a vote.

Carlisle said that he and fellow Selectman Christopher Gagnon often have heated debates, but can then step back and work well together.

"You need to take the personality out of it," he said. "You say, 'Okay I lost that one.' You dust the dirt off and you keep going."

Whitney said she has many controversies with people and emphasized that no matter what side of a vote she was on that she would speak her mind.

"You work it out. You need to disagree," she said. "I'd still need to move forward."

Both candidates also focused on the growing financial difficulties being experienced by the town.

"I've been able to balance our budget," Carlisle said.

Carlisle said he has not had to lobby for a municipal override, despite the fact that the town is adding a much-needed police officer and paramedic to the staff. He said the important thing is to keep the future in mind when budgeting.

"The next three years are going to be even harder than this year," Carlisle said.

Whitney said that she wants to have more time to review proposed budgets during the fiscal year, as well as to have a capital plan developed for the future.

"The taxpayer is not an unlimited checkbook," Whitney said.

In answers to the questions, candidates agreed that there are limited incentives that can be offered to potential companies that are looking to move into town. But Carlisle said over the last few years, steps have been taken to make the application process simpler for applicants and that steps should be continued to that way.

Whitney and Carlisle agreed that making a more active Main Street was a key to bringing business and residents. Whitney said she would like to see downtown Ashburnham look and feel more like Peterborough, N.H.

Carlisle said the town also has to capture the large number of people that move to town during the summer, which can increase the population by 1,500.

"It's not a great thing if these people are leaving to spend their dollar," he said.

Rick Ahlin, a member of the Municipal Light Board, asked both candidates about their view on providing medical insurance to the town's retired employees. Whitney called it "a difficult decision" because of the high costs of health care, but said it might be an option if the town considers the state GIC health insurance options.

Carlisle said, "We need to do it. We need to do it right." He said steps need to be taken slowly as the town also brought up the wages of the town's employees to be competitive with other area towns.