Salem Community Patriot March 4, 2011 - 5


More Letters to our Editor Vote Yes on Article 3, School Ballot March 8


continued from page 3 Please Vote for Susan Covey on March 8


Why should you support a two-year collective bargaining agreement between the Salem School District and the Salem Education Association by voting “Yes” on Article 3? There are several reasons, but primarily because it’s good for our District and taxpayers. The agreement calls for two years of cost-of-living increases below two


percent. These are the lowest non-zero cost-of-living increases in over a decade. This shows that both the School Board and the Association recognize the current economic conditions. The agreement will save taxpayers about $190,000 on medical plan costs


in year two of the agreement. This actually provides a reduction in the tax impact of the contract in the second year. Some people are concerned about the change to binding arbitration.


However, our experience shows that we manage our contracts so well that adverse rulings haven’t happened. Even in advisory arbitration, legal counsel would likely advise us to accept an adverse ruling rather than face additional expense and nearly certain defeat before the Public Employee Labor Relations Board. Binding arbitration shouldn’t be a concern. Finally and most importantly, we need to maintain the ability to retain and


hire above-average teachers and staff. Every year, we replace staff members that resign for any number of reasons. It isn’t reasonable to expect to retain and hire above-average employees if we pay below-average salaries. We don’t live in Lake Wobegon; not all the available job candidates are above average and we don’t want to hire below-average candidates. Hiring below- average candidates doesn’t save a few hundred dollars; it wastes tens of thousands of dollars. Hiring and retaining above-average teachers is an investment in our children’s future. We’ve had two years of zero wage increases in Salem, while the majority of districts around us have increased salaries. As a result, our salary scales have fallen from above-average to below-average. Don’t give our current staff a financial incentive to leave and don’t prevent us from hiring replacement staff that meet our standards. Our staff is too good and we’ve invested too much money in professional development to let the quality of our staff deteriorate. Vote once to secure a good two year agreement. Spend your money


wisely. Help maintain the quality of our school district and our children’s education. Vote Yes on Article 3.


Vote Mike Lyons for Selectman Salem needs smart leaders, and Mike Lyons is the top choice for our Board of Selectmen. Mike believes in smart strategies and wise spending to reinvest in our town’s infrastructure. We don’t want people on our Board of Selectmen who are willing to let our town fall into disrepair with the excuse of a down economy. We want people who can lead our town and keep it vital.


Peter Morgan, School Board Secretary - Salem Area News Group’s


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Susan Covey is currently doing a fantastic job serving as selectman filling the seat vacated by Arthur Barnes. Susan, a lifelong resident of Salem, has worked in banking locally for over 20 years while raising her family in Salem. Susan spent many years on the Budget Committee and on the board of the Boys & Girls Club long after her children were grown. As a leader in local banking, she sees the impact her decisions have on local business owners and their families. During Susan’s tenure on the budget committee, it was obvious that Susan’s priorities were always in the best interest of the town and the community. She takes the time to weigh the issues and make a decision that is fair and best for all concerned. She is not serving out of ego or personal agenda. She has a thorough understanding of financial responsibility, business management, and strategic planning. She wants Salem to be a prosperous and successful community for future generations to work and raise their families. In support of Susan and her continued contribution, I ask that you vote for Susan Covey on March 8.


Mary Reese - Salem Response to Ed Brooks


This is in reference to Mr. Ed Brooks’ recent editorial regarding the Health Care Bill. This “unread” piece of legislation is easily accessible in its entirety online. I went to each and every page Mr. Brooks quoted, and without exception, there is not one truth. I know you would not intentionally distort the facts, but maybe your sources are the problem. Space prohibits me from going through all of your claims, but I will focus on one in particular: Your claim ... “Page 425, More bureaucracy: Employ advance care planning consultants


for: Senior Citizens, for probable assisted suicide, and euthanasia? Some could interpret this as death panels. Also, on page 425, government provides an approved list of end-of-life resources, guiding you to death.” There is absolutely nothing on page 425 or any other page that supports


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Mike Lyons has helped steer Salem toward a more fiscally responsible capital plan to address our Town’s aging infrastructure. Bridges are a high priority, and in the last five years, Mike has supported re-building seven structurally deficient bridges in town, with nine more still left to do. Mike submitted a plan to the Board of Selectmen this past fall to address the rest of our bridges by 2017. As a result of this kind of planning, our Town will receive $1.8 million in state and federal money for these projects, and our bridges will get fixed so they don’t pose a danger to our community. Our town’s roads are in desperate need of repair and replacement. To address this, Mike Lyons developed a 10-Year Road Program with the Engineering and Public Works directors, and the Board of Selectman adopted this plan. The program efficiently prioritizes roadwork and will result in sensible spending because many roads will be rescued before they reach their crisis point. If we as voters work with the Board of Selectmen on this plan, we should see a big improvement in our roads in the next couple of years. This is money we have to spend to keep our roads decent and safe. Let’s spend it wisely and work with this comprehensive plan. We need smart leaders on our Board of Selectmen to lead our town


forward. Mike Lyons is a proven leader and honest person who is motivated by working for the best interest of the town. He has worked to control operating costs at the town level, while trying hard not to curtail services. His engineering credentials also make him qualified to efficiently develop and implement a superior road and bridge plan to fix our infrastructure. Mike is a true professional, and we need him on the Board of Selectmen to continue the progress we have made in the past several years. Your vote will make a difference in this election. Please cast one of your


April 15th, 22nd, 29th and May 6th


two votes for Mike Lyons. Also, please vote “yes” on Article 7 on the Town Ballot, and support the reinvestment in our infrastructure.


Kristine Nippert - Salem


Vote Mike Lyons, Everett McBride, and Susan Covey


It is with pleasure that I recommend the following for Selectmen: Mike


Lyons, Everett McBride, and Susan Covey. It seems to me that the Town of Salem, after years of revolving door town managers, is on an even keel. Mr. LaBranche, as Acting Town Manager, has brought stability to the position and this has been accomplished with the help and confidence of the Selectmen. There will soon be a new Town Manager. This is not an easy position, and he will need all the support the Board of Selectmen can provide and not have to fight for his life on a daily basis. I am also pleased to see the improvements that took place this summer.


The new bridges and the road work that were long overdue gave me a sense of pride and a feeling that the town was moving in the right direction. Some people might disagree, but I think the tax increases over the past few


years have been reasonable and in line with the economy and improvements to the infrastructure. Lastly, there are difficult times ahead, the State of New Hampshire is getting out of the business of governing, and is loading on to the backs of the towns many of the financial obligations that they no longer wish to assume. As such, it will take people on the Board of Selectmen who have common sense, good problem-solving skills, and business acumen to meet the challenges ahead. As such, I will be voting for Mike Lyons, Everett McBride, and Sue Covey


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your claims. I suggest you go to www.snopes.com and type in “euthanasia counseling” and you will see that your information is false. There is a consultation between the individual and a practitioner regarding advanced care planning such as living wills, durable power of attorney, health care proxy, etc. What the referenced portion of the bill describes is a modification to Section 1861 of the Social Security Act to add an “Advanced Care Planning Consultation” to the list of services provided by Medicare. It allows patients, if they choose, to prepare for the day when they might be seriously ill and unable to make medical decisions for themselves. These consults are not mandatory and have nothing whatsoever to do with euthanasia or suicide. When I seek the truth on a particular issue, l do not go to Fox News, Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, nor do I rely on chain e-mails ... l go to reliable Websites like www.snopes.com or www.factcheck.org or the Pulitzer Prize- winning Website www.politifact.com. Here, you can find what is true. They do not favor Republicans or Democrats ... they just search for the truth. That’s what I want ... the truth. And I will add one more reliable source of information on the health insurance industry and their attempt to derail Healthcare Reform: Wendell Potter’s book Deadly Spin written by a former insurance company insider ... now-turned whistleblower. This entire issue of Healthcare Reform has been so grossly distorted that it is an outright disgrace. How could anyone think that any Democrat would support the distorted, frightening Healthcare Bill as described by its opponents? I truly understand if you disagree with the bill ... that is certainly your right. But at the very least, your opinion should be based on the facts. I suggest you research the actual facts ... and although I don’t think you will change your position, you will at least know what is true and what is not.


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Maureen Seppa - Salem


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Don Sorcinelli for Budget Committee


My name is Don Sorcinelli, and I am running for a three-year term on the Budget Committee in Salem. Several years ago, my wife and I decided to make an investment in our future by moving to Salem. As parents of two young boys, the choice of where to raise our children and become active members of a community was, and remains today, one of the most important decisions we have ever made. As a resident, homeowner, and father, I know firsthand the challenges


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our town faces on a daily basis. We have all been impacted by difficult economic times in recent years. The decisions our town makes in how and where to invest revenue, including our own tax dollars, has been something I have followed closely.


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feel my personal vested interest in how our town budgets and apportions the monies available in and of itself makes me a worthy candidate for the Budget Committee. I have repeatedly heard calls for no more taxes. Often, these have come in the form of campaign promises and mantras. I believe we are all aware that such promises have proven hollow, and local taxes have continued to increase. At a time when oft-relied sources of revenue at the federal and state levels are


continued to page 6


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