Sangerville select chair seeks reelection at town meeting

My name is Michael Wark. I am the chairman of the Sangerville selectboard and have served as a member since 2016. I am seeking reelection at the town meeting scheduled for March 31, 2018.

Prior to my present position, I served on the Sangerville budget committee and the Sangerville planning board.

I have worked in the field of investments and financial planning as a financial advisor for the past 20 years.

My interest in continuing to serve as a selectboard member came from my time served as a budget committee member. It was there that I gained an understanding as to what drives the town’s accelerating tax increases. I am convinced that the town’s rate of property tax increase is unsustainable.

My work with the other members of the selectboard and the town manager has been professional, respectful and productive. As a board we have made our goal to listen carefully to public input. We have made transparency and unbiased decisions a priority. I believe it is this positive energy that has allowed us to accomplish more, than I had thought possible.

Under my leadership this board has accomplished:

The hiring of Town Manager Lois Jones who started working for Sangerville in the spring of 2017.

The successful implementation of the entire road improvement allotment. With the prep work already completed we will be able to pave in the spring.

The board has invested the town’s reserves. This has created a conservative investment that will generate over $24,000 per year. This resource in no way jeopardizes the day-to-day cost obligations of the town. This new-found income equates to a third of a mill ($75,000 = 1 mill) for every tax payer, year after year.

The employee benefit package was reviewed and revised. While maintaining a fair benefit package for the employees, we were able to reduce costs yearly to the taxpayers by thousands of dollars

The 2018 budget is near completion. I anticipate that it will reflect a mill rate reduction with no negative impact to services.

I believe that a continued willingness to address the needs of the town of Sangerville in a constructive, apolitical and respectful environment will continue to foster the energy for positive outcomes. Thus, creating a venue in which people are not afraid to share their hopes and ideas.

Therefore, I’m seeking your vote, for the opportunity and honor to continue serving as a Sangerville selectboard member.

Thank you for your consideration.