My name is Dawn Crescitelli.  I have been a North Andover resident for 13 years.  I am a registered nurse in a large non-union Boston Hospital where I have served on numerous committees.

I am an involved parent of 2 children at the Thomson school.  I tend to vote as a fiscal and social moderate. I did not support the trash fee proposal at town meeting in 2006 because I did not believe it was well organized.  In short, I put a lot of thought and research into issues before I agree to tax and spend.

The town of North Andover has endured several years of severe fiscal deficits that have resulted in the elimination of critical positions in town.  This is true of the majority of municipalities within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts because of cuts in state aide to the perceived affluent communities.  We can not sustain any further cuts to public safety, senior center support, the town library or academic services.

Our town is suffering.  There is no fat to trim.  Budgets have been scrutinized and deemed valid.  Harry Harutunian is gone.  The blame game is over.  Our town is struggling for 2 basic reasons.  First, we lost almost all of our commercial tax revenue when Lucent closed shop.  Second, we are forced to comply with unfunded state mandates.  North Andover must adhere to state regulations and mandates but we have no say in the distribution of state aide and receive less than our fair share.  We need to lobby our elected officials at the state level to advocate for a more equitable state aide formula.

I AM supporting the override initiative on June 19th.  I think this was a well-researched, honest initiative that will support public safety, seniors, the town library and schools.  It is also a modest override that will help us get through a difficult fiscal crisis without undue strain.  On average, a homeowner can expect a tax increase of $200.00 for a home valued at $500,000.00 by voting YES on June 19th.  In return for that modest $200.00 increase (which works out to 56 cents per day), a police officer will be restored.  An outreach worker for the senior center will be reinstated, the library will be able to hire an assistant director and children will not sit in classes with 36 students per class.  This override is an investment in our town with an invaluable return.  The opponents of the override will tell you we don’t need an override.  Ask yourself...do we need police officers?  Senior center outreach workers?  Library services?  Well educated children?  If you said yes to any of these questions, then you said yes to an override.

Next we move to the debate of override vs underride.  Did the under ride proponents do their homework?  No.  They rushed to put forth a sloppy, hastily prepared proposal at a minimally attended Selectmen’s meeting 30 minutes prior to the start of the second night of town meeting.

If an underride was truly desired, underride proponents should have availed themselves of their right to place their idea on the town meeting warrant or they should have proposed an amendment to the over ride proposal on the first night of town meeting during the Article 13 discussions.  Ben Franklin wisely stated, “Those that will not be counseled, can not be helped.  If you do not hear reason she will rap you on the knuckles.”

Opponents were rapped on the knuckles and surprised by the town wide momentum to support a modest override.  This momentum exists because townfolks have been counseled and witnessed the severity of need in all of the town departments.  

North Andover’s home prices fell by 10% last year.  Is that a coincidence?  I don’t believe it is.  Property values have a direct connection to quality town services and excellent schools. The MCAS scores in North Andover are dropping, so are our property values.  Home buyers are savvy about researching community resources and schools.   It’s obvious, they don’t like what they see.  For most of us, our home is our greatest financial investment.  Isn’t it worth $175.00 to increase your home value by several thousand?   Sometimes, you have to spend a little money to appreciate a larger financial gain.

Our leaders on the Board of Selectmen, School Committee and Finance Committee have all signed a Resolution called the Memorandum of Understanding tomake sure the town moves forward to embrace wise financial strategies to better ensure fiscal solidarity in the future.  They are showing a spirit of cooperation and good will.  We need to support these initiatives.  This is our town and no one is going to save town services except us, the citizens of North Andover.

To view a copy of the Memorandum of Understanding, the town and school department approved restoration lists, pending the success of an operational override, and honest up to date over ride information, please visit the following website: www.northandover.org.

Please join me in supporting our town on June 19th with a YES vote.  United we can achieve greatness!