Rockport Select Board candidate Mark Kelley
1) Please provide a concise (paragraph) biography of yourself.
I was born in Washington county, grew up in Lubec, spent a time in the Army Military Police, then the last 35 years in civilian law enforcement holding various positions to include chief. Avid motorcycle enthusiast and traveler.
2) What are the 3 most pressing issues facing Rockport today, and how would you like to see them resolved?
Controlled spending within the town, the only place we have control over!
Maintain current infrastructure, not deferring cost for future generations.
Strive to maintain Rockport’s attractiveness to younger families, who will be its tomorrow’s heartbeat, and attract business to help support efforts.
3) How will you protect the Rockport taxpayer as you shape and govern a municipal budget, and juggle various interests that request municipal funding throughout the year?
We take care of our current infrastructure and its employees. Don't over extend ourselves with new expenditures and unlike the current board, stay within LD1.
Penobscot Bay Pilot has posed questions to each candidate running for the Rockport Select Board, providing the opportunity for the public to better understand their position on issues important to the town and region.
There are three seats available on the Select Board, two three-year terms currently held by Geoff Parker and William Chapman.
Both are seeking reelection.
There is also a one two-year seat available, following the resignation of Brendan Riordan last winter.
Tom Gray is seeking that seat.
The candidates have responded with their individual written answers.
Mark Kelley
Theodore Skowronkski
4) Does Rockport need a new town library, and if so, where should it be built?
It should be at 1 Limerock Street, increase the foot print by 2,000 square feet on one level ( if the lot size allows) and as far as costs, let's keep reasonable.
5) Should Rockport invest in a municipally-owned fiber network so that all residents have access to high-speed internet?
No.
6) How do you see Rockport positioned in the larger regional Midcoast economy?
We don't have a pedestrian-based economy and need to find a draw that's different than our neighbors and still keeping the small town atmosphere.
7) Is Rockport's zoning adequate enough to sustain economic vitality and quality of life?
Yes, it is adequate and we'd rely on the appropriate committee(s) to keep it so.
8) What municipal committee would you like to be a liaison to, and why?
Unsure.
9) How do you envision the future of solid waste processing for the four towns; i.e., recycling, waste stream reduction?
Encouraging recycling is key and always exploring options presented by the department head is prudent.
10) Camden and Rockport now share a police chief and an assessor. Are there other cost-sharing arrangements that Rockport could do, with Camden or other towns, to spread the staffing responsibilities; e.g., share a planner? Public works director?
With regards to expanding our efforts to do more things together I’ve been open-minded in the past with efforts to join police departments and will remain so in the future. Things in place now haven't been in place long enough in my opinion to give a fair assessment, no pun intended.
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