Desmond believes town departments have to be reviewed because of overall fiscal problems.
John A. DesmondWARE – Selectman John A. Desmond sees getting the town’s financial house in order as his main goal if re-elected April 11 and believes there may have to be difficult choices regarding budget cuts in the effort to achieve that goal.
“We recognize that state aid is decreasing and that we operate under Proposition 2½. We have to make sure that we utilize our money wisely and smartly,” Desmond said.
Desmond supports the review Town Manager Mary T. Tzambazakis is conducting of all town departments and their programs, personnel and finances and he expects the Board of Selectmen will face tough decisions on cuts when she has completed her review.
Desmond said many programs in town government expanded before the days when cuts in state aid became yearly happenings, and the town now has to think about the importance of these programs.
“Sometimes you have to take the hors d’ouvres off the tray and hopefully it will not be the meat and potatoes,” he said.
“The thing is, members of the Board of Selectmen have got to be able to say, ‘No. We always want to be able to say we want to able to accommodate all of the people all of the time, but we have people in fixed incomes, pulling their belt buckle in another notch or two,” Desmond said.
While he would await a report from the town manager on efficiency and potential cost savings in each department, Desmond has started thinking of possible areas to cut spending, including now allowing department heads to commute to work in town vehicles.
“When you are running into tough financial times, these are things you could say we cannot afford any more,” Desmond said. “Some people are going to be upset over this, but that is the way it is.”
Another issue Desmond wants to focus on is a serious look at how well the town is working under the charter adopted a few years ago.
“I think that we have enough time in there now to ask those questions,” said Desmond, who would like to see a committee formed to examine town government under the charter and possible steps to take.
Desmond, 69, is a native of Ware and has lived most of his life in the town.
He has a bachelor’s degree from Franklin Pierce University and a master’s degree in engineering from West Virginia University.
Desmond is retired. He worked as chief of the water supply for Worcester County for the state Department of Environmental Protection.
Desmond is competing against fellow incumbent Melissa D. Weise and Park Commissioner John E. Carroll for two seats on the Board of Selectmen.
The voting will be April 11 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. in Town Hall.