Leaning on his Planning Board experience, Chair Taylor Yates focuses his campaign for the Select Board on financial stability and economic growth as Belmont’s main priorities in the coming years.
Yates is one of two candidates running for the open seat on the board, filling the seat to be vacated by member Roy Epstein, who chose not to run for a third term. The other candidate is Economic Development Chair Paul Joy.
In addition to the Planning Board, Yates is chair of the Vision Implementation 21 Committee.
“Our most important decisions are going to be about zoning over the next three years,” he said. “To me, it makes a lot of sense to round out the current Select Board team with someone who has Planning Board experience.”
He also touted his track record of collaboration and organization, pointing to his work on the Yes on Elected Treasurer Campaign, restaurant reform, and the MBTA Communities Act.
According to Yates, some of the biggest issues facing Belmont right now include determining the future of the schools and what that will require financially, exploring how the town can financially achieve a place where residents feel they’re getting the services they need for the taxes they’re willing to pay; and finally, expanding the commercial tax base, in part, through zoning reform.
“That’s kind of the only lever we have right now to really drive forward our long-term financial viability,” he added.
Some avenues to address this include the overlay district planning officials are considering in downtown Belmont, and the comprehensive plan, which he hopes will help to align competing priorities.
“There’s probably room for adding at least a second level of commercial in places like Belmont Center and Brighton Street, and maybe if you look at the other business districts in town, that might be an option, too. In some places, you might be able to go higher because abutters are further away.”
Yates also believes the permitting process needs to be reformed.
As for the budget, Yates emphasized the role economic development plays in supporting the budget and the importance of budget transparency – citing Select Board Vice Chair Matt Taylor’s visual budget presentation last year, which sought to make the information more understandable for residents.
“I don’t really think of it in terms of how much money should the schools get and how much should the town get; it’s about what are our priorities and where do we draw the line?” Yates said. “Where I think the Select Board is pretty well positioned is to make some progress by being really transparent with the town about what the situation is with the budget. There seems to be a knowledge gap between the services people want and how much money they cost.”
Whereas he believes the town doesn’t do enough for its seniors, namely in offering housing and tax relief, greater budget transparency may help residents to understand why some things – in particular schools – cost more than other things. In the case of schools, student enrollment plays a significant role in how much money has to be spent.
In terms of how he hopes to improve the functionality of the Select Board and its meetings, Yates said he wants to continue efforts to improve coordination between committees and the Select Board Chairs appearing before the board to talk about goals is one step that’s already been taken, he said.
“I think the logical iteration is bringing them in at the end of the year and [asking], “How did you do against your goals and why?’ If you really want to knock it out of the park, have a midyear check-in.”
