On the issues: Thomaston Select Board Candidate Kimberly Matthews
Two Thomaston citizens, Kimberly Matthews and Emily McBrayer, have stepped forward to run for one open seat on the Thomaston Select Board. Voting will take place June 11 at the polls.
Penobscot Bay Pilot has posed questions to each candidate, providing the opportunity for the public to better understand their positions on issues. Here, candidate Kimberly Matthews responds:
Please provide a biography of yourself.
I graduated from Georges Valley High School and got my accounting degree from the University of Maine Thomaston campus, which is also where I went to Grammar School. Which is now the Academy Building which houses the Library.
My two daughters and three grandchildren all live in the Knox county area. My mother also lives in Thomaston and has been in the same house for over 40 years where I grew up.
Over 20 years ago I started my own accounting business and have always worked jobs in the Knox County area.
Many years ago I went to a Select Board meeting and decided that I needed to get involved but needed to start on committees to get a sense of how things worked in the town. Being on the Planning Board, Budget Committee and Rec Committee it has helped me learn and get prepared for the running for the Select Board.
What are Thomaston’s greatest strengths, and how do you hope to support them?
Thomaston greatest strength over many years is its community. I hope to be able to keep the community involved with decisions that are being made for our Town.
What are Thomaston’s greatest issues to address?
Thomaston greatest issue is the Dragon Cement, along with filling positions for the recent resignations. The Town of Thomaston has big shoes to fill.
Thomaston has embarked on drafting a Waterfront Master Plan that will affect the waste water treatment facilities as well as Water Street and businesses along that street. What do you hope this plan accomplishes?
I hope this plan takes in account all of the factors of the waterfront. The winter storms and higher tides are all factors that need to be considered. We also need to consider the future rise of the waters. All of these factors need to be considered before any Waterfront Master Plan is finalized.
How are you staying informed of Dragon Cement Plant’s future plans for its operations, quarries and associated land? And, how should the Select Board protect the town’s interests as Dragon Cement determines what its course of action will be?
The town office with a town resident have been in open communication with Dragon representatives. The town resident at the last Select Board meeting reported on his last communication with Dragon. At this point Dragon has no intention on selling, the plant is going to be a distribution center instead of a manufacturing plant. The town plans on having quarterly communication with the Dragon representative.
Appleton, Camden and Rockport have adopted the ballot-only method of holding town meeting by presenting voters at the polls with the municipal town meeting warrant, as opposed to holding traditional in-person town meetings with floor votes. Should Thomaston consider doing the same?
I think having the in-person town meetings helps with keeping the community informed and involved. This lets the community ask questions and make a better decision before they vote.
Thomaston’s solar array has been successful in producing power to cover electricity demand for its municipal accounts, but with more heat pumps and car chargers in use, the town is considering the addition of solar panels and acquire more acreage. What are your thoughts about this?
I am all for solar array if it will help the town keep down cost. I do feel as though we might want to make sure that we have done all of our research before putting any more solar arrays in. We need to make sure it will take care of what the town needs and if it will save a enough money to recover the cost of the land and solar array. We also have housing issues and I would want to make sure the land could not be used for housing.
Do Thomaston’s zoning and land use ordinances adequately accommodate the creation of affordable and workforce housing?
As a committee member of the Thomaston Planning Board, we have made sure that we have changed or defined affordable and workforce housing in our ordinances. We have also stayed well informed with any new State laws or regulations regarding this. We have stayed ahead of the changes and made sure that the ordinances are changed to help with affordable and workforce housing. We have also attended seminars on this subject to make sure we are well informed.
What public projects do you feel important to tackle over the next several years?
As a town we need to keep up the work of informing the public and keeping the town thriving. Most of all we need to keep the small historic community alive and well. We need to make sure any future projects are done with all the information needed and the future is part of the plan.
How do you see Thomaston fitting into the greater regional economy and culture, and how would you like develop that?
I think Thomaston has culture with its historic district and open spaces. We have some great big business along with small businesses that are thriving which helps the economy of Thomaston. Our town is very rounded in both economy and culture and we need make sure we keep all of these assets of the town.
What is the importance of local government, and how do you see yourself, as a Select Board member, in it?
Local government is very important to any town. As a select board member, I will always be available for any concerns, that any residence or business would like to discuss with me. I will always make sure that we try to resolve concerns even if the outcome is not always what we want but what the town needs.
Where are your favorite places to spend time in Thomaston?
I am not sure I have one favorite place in Thomaston. Some of my favorite things in Thomaston is to go for walks through town and see the beautiful town that we live in. I especially like seeing how we decorate for the holidays through out the town.
Thank you taking the time to read this article please reach out to me if you would like anymore explanation.
Please consider voting for me at the June 11 election.
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