I am writing to encourage my fellow Lexington residents to vote to re-elect Jill Hai to the Select Board on March 5.
For those who are avid viewers of the Monday night Select Board meetings (on-site, on-line, or on Channel 37), you already know much of this, but for others it’s important to consider the range of issues covered by the Board on any given night and throughout the year and the experience that Jill brings to these decisions.
The Board continuously reviews proposals to deliver new projects and improved services to the town while staying within the bounds of the Town budget to avoid tax overrides (Jill served on the Capital Expenditures Committee for 5 years – Chair for 4 years). The Board regularly drops into executive session to review and approve the dozen union contracts that cover Town staff (Jill’s career was as a labor attorney and HR Director). Issues involving zoning and new developments are often raised (Jill served on the Zoning Board of Appeals, Safe Routes to School, and Sidewalk Committee). Importantly, Jill served as the President of the Massachusetts Municipal Association (MMA), representing and advocating for issues critical to all 351 cities and towns in the Commonwealth. Clearly, she is well respected by her peers across Massachusetts.
When it comes to sustainability issues, Jill will raise questions related to how the Town will pay the up-front costs for initiatives (acknowledging the long-term operational benefits) and whether the proposal will add unplanned hours of work for Town staff (as a Board member should). Proponents of those initiatives (like myself) have to make the case for the proposal (as we should). That said, Jill has been a reliable vote for these efforts. A quick review of recent efforts (and Jill’s votes) include: Municipal Fossil Fuel Free Building Demonstration Program (Yes), Opt-in Specialized Stretch Energy Code (Yes), funding for Curbside Composting (Yes), Zero Waste Plan (Yes), Resilient Lexington Climate Action & Resilience Plan (Yes), opposition to the private jet hangars expansion at Hanscom (Yes), updates to the Tree Bylaw (Yes, multiple times) . . . and the list goes on.
Jill brings a wealth of experience and proven leadership across a range of important issues in our town. With the new high school and other issues poised to test our ability to meet those challenges while remaining fiscally responsible, it is important to ensure that Jill’s experience remains on the Select Board.
Todd Rhodes
Treasurer, Jill Hai for Lexington
As a Town Meeting Member and citizen who actively engages with environmental sustainability issues in Lexington, I must disagree with Mr. Rhodes that as a Select Board member Ms. Hai has been a “reliable vote for these efforts.”
In 2022 I helped draft Article 27, the Zero Waste Resolution, a citizen’s petition that was nonbinding, i.e., it did not commit any financial resources of the town or make any by-law changes.
Nonbinding resolutions provide an opportunity for Town Meeting Members to vote our values without having to weigh up-front costs or unanticipated staff time that Mr. Rhodes points out are necessary considerations for other articles. In other words, it’s a chance to speak up with one voice for Lexington in support of those issues we care about. In this case, it was an opportunity to demonstrate an intent to address issues regarding how we dispose of our waste in Lexington, including very real issues of environmental justice.
Although the Zero Waste Resolution passed overwhelmingly, 170-4, Ms. Hai did NOT join with most Town Meeting Members in support, but instead chose to “Abstain”.
Hi Janet,
Thanks for your feedback on my letter. With regard to the 2022 Zero Waste Resolution, you are correct that Jill abstained. As I wrote in my letter, Jill will question proposals when they call for actions that are not funded or staffed. While you correctly point out that this was a “nonbinding resolution”, I asked Jill about this vote before I wrote my letter and she replied that while votes like this are non-binding, she takes them very seriously (which is good – we don’t want to pass an article and then ignore it). She very much didn’t want to vote against it, but recognized the funding issue that the Town Manager raised. The second point in this resolution was to “Develop a Zero Waste Plan as soon as possible” and then identified six required elements of the plan. The development of this plan did, in fact, require staff time and funding that was not in the budget. Importantly, Jill voted in favor of the plan and has been a strong voice on the Select Board for using ARPA funding for the initial extension of the curbside composting program to 2,000 families and the subsequent funding to continue that program. There are many important programs that the town should support (Zero Waste is one of them). The value that Jill brings to the Select Board is her many years of experience in Town Meeting, Capital Expenditures, and other committees which provides her with the breadth of experience needed to weigh all the tradeoffs and figure out how to fund those programs that are most important to the community.
Best regards,
Todd